The W Earl Richards Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on evangelical Christian institutions, primarily supporting a local megachurch and its educational ministry as well as faith-based donor-advised philanthropy. Most dollars flow to a small set of large, purpose-driven grants that reinforce church operations, theological education, and Christian grantmaking vehicles. The foundation gives heavily in its home region (Birmingham area) and favors a few high-impact recipients over many small awards.
W Earl Richards Charitable Foundation Inc. concentrates its largest grants on evangelical Christian institutions and Christian philanthropic intermediaries. The biggest recent award in the data is $1,108,822 to The Signatry a Global Christian Foundation in Overland Park, Kansas, followed by a $950,000 grant to Church of the Highlands in Birmingham in 2025. That pairing points to a funder that supports both faith-based grantmaking vehicles and direct church ministry work. Highlands College also appears as a major recipient, with a $500,000 grant in 2024, reinforcing the foundation’s interest in church-affiliated education and ministerial training. The pattern is not broad-based across many sectors; it is centered on a small set of recurring organizations and religious institutions. Several recipients return in multiple years, including The Signatry, Church of the Highlands, Highlands College, and other Birmingham-area ministries. The foundation also gives to local religious and community organizations such as Second Wind Programs Inc., Grace House Ministries, and United Way of Central Alabama, showing that its grantmaking includes operational support for nearby institutions alongside larger strategic gifts. The overall picture is of a highly concentrated funder whose grants are designed to sustain specific Christian organizations and their related ministries.
One clear theme is support for faith-based intermediaries. The foundation gave $1,108,822 in 2023 and $902,500 in 2024 to The Signatry a Global Christian Foundation, then added another $500,000 in 2025. A second area is church ministry and education. Church of the Highlands received $950,000 in 2025, while Highlands College received $500,000 in 2024. Those grants link direct church operations with ministerial training. The foundation also backs local service and religious organizations. It gave $125,000 in 2025 and $100,000 in 2024 to Second Wind Programs Inc., plus $55,000 in 2025 to Grace House Ministries. Smaller support also reached Riverchase United Methodist Church and The Wellhouse Inc., indicating attention to Birmingham-area faith-connected organizations and social services.
Typical grants cluster around $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $38,750 at the 75th percentile, even though the top of the distribution includes several much larger strategic awards. Recipients often reappear across years: The Signatry, Church of the Highlands, Highlands College, Second Wind Programs Inc., Grace House Ministries, Union University, and United Way of Central Alabama all show repeat grants. The foundation is a charitable foundation rather than a DAF or operating nonprofit, and it does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals. No application process is indicated in the data.
$1.9M
$11.3M
$3.4M
$2.5M
Most grants fall between $15K and $39K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$39K
About 71% of grants go to recipients in KS.
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Highly concentrated: a very small number of large grants, repeat funding to a few core faith-based recipients (including multiple payments to The Signatry), focused regionally and on religious/education priorities rather than broadly distributed small grants.
Notable grantees: The Signatry — a Christian donor-advised fund intermediary, Church of the Highlands — large evangelical megachurch, Highlands College — church-affiliated higher education/ministerial training
Grantmaking is strongly centered in the Birmingham area, with 71% of grants going to recipients in Alabama. Birmingham recipients include Church of the Highlands, Highlands College, Second Wind Programs Inc., Riverchase United Methodist Church, and United Way of Central Alabama. Beyond Alabama, a key concentration appears in Kansas through The Signatry a Global Christian Foundation in Overland Park, the top state by grant count. Other recipient locations include Duluth, Georgia; High Point, North Carolina; Jackson, Tennessee; Lake Wales, Florida; and Odenvile, Alabama.
The data points to evangelical Christian institutions, church-affiliated higher education, and faith-based donor-advised philanthropy. Recent grants include $950,000 to Church of the Highlands, $500,000 to Highlands College, and $1,108,822 plus $902,500 to The Signatry a Global Christian Foundation.
The grant-size distribution centers around $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $38,750 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also shows much larger strategic awards, including seven-figure support and several six-figure gifts.
Yes. Multiple recipients appear across years, including The Signatry a Global Christian Foundation, Church of the Highlands, Highlands College, Second Wind Programs Inc., Grace House Ministries, Union University, and United Way of Central Alabama.
It gives most often in Kansas by grant count, while 71% of grants go to recipients in Alabama. The recent list shows concentrated giving in Birmingham, plus recurring support for Overland Park, Kansas, through The Signatry a Global Christian Foundation.
Recent grantees include Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Highlands College in Birmingham, Second Wind Programs Inc. in Birmingham, Grace House Ministries in Fairfield, and Union University in Jackson.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHURCH OF THE HIGHLANDS | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $950,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE SIGNATRY A GLOBAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $500,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SECOND WIND PROGRAMS INC | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $125,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| VAPOR INTERNATIONAL | SYLACAUGA, AL | $103,480 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GRACE HOUSE MINISTRIES | FAIRFIELD, AL | $55,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY | HIGH POINT, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| EQUIP LEADERSHIP INC | DULUTH, GA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| UNION UNIVERSITY | JACKSON, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE WELLHOUSE INC | ODENVILLE, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MILO'S FOUNDATION INC | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CHRIST HEALTH CENTER | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JAMES E HUGHES JR FOUNDATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $5,200 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TIPPING POINT COMMUNITY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PASSTHROUGH | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $912 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE SIGNATRY A GLOBAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $902,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HIGHLANDS COLLEGE | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $500,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| VAPOR INTERNATIONAL | SYLACAUGA, AL | $103,480 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| SECOND WIND PROGRAMS INC | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $100,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| EQUIP LEADERSHIP INC | DULUTH, GA | $50,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| RIVERCHASE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $35,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| MILO'S FOUNDATION INC | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $30,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| BOK TOWER GARDENS | LAKE WALES, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| GRACE HOUSE MINISTRIES | FAIRFIELD, AL | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| UNION UNIVERSITY | JACKSON, TN | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE WELLHOUSE INC | ODENVILLE, AL | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CHRIST HEALTH CENTER | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $15,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $2,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PASSTHROUGH | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $1,829 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| TRIVELA FOUNDATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE SIGNATRY A GLOBAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION | OVERLAND PARK, KS | $1,108,822 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| EQUIP LEADERSHIP INC | DULUTH, GA | $50,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| RIVERCHASE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $35,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY | HIGH POINT, NC | $25,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL ALABAMA | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| GRACE HOUSE MINISTRIES | FAIRFIELD, AL | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| THE WELLHOUSE INC | ODENVILLE, AL | $20,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| UNION UNIVERSITY | JACKSON, TN | $20,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| CHRIST HEALTH CENTER | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $15,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| ARLINGTON PARTNERS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $5,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| VAPOR INTERNATIONAL | SYLACAUGA, AL | $3,024 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PASSTHROUGH | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $1,202 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
CHURCH OF THE HIGHLANDS
$950,000CHARITABLE
THE SIGNATRY A GLOBAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
$500,000CHARITABLE
SECOND WIND PROGRAMS INC
$125,000CHARITABLE
VAPOR INTERNATIONAL
$103,480CHARITABLE
GRACE HOUSE MINISTRIES
$55,000CHARITABLE
HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY
$50,000EDUCATION
EQUIP LEADERSHIP INC
CHARITABLE
UNION UNIVERSITY
$25,000CHARITABLE
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
$25,000CHARITABLE
THE WELLHOUSE INC
$20,000CHARITABLE
MILO'S FOUNDATION INC
$15,000CHARITABLE
CHRIST HEALTH CENTER
$15,000CHARITABLE
JAMES E HUGHES JR FOUNDATION
$5,200CHARITABLE
TIPPING POINT COMMUNITY
$1,500CHARITABLE
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PASSTHROUGH
$912CHARITABLE
THE SIGNATRY A GLOBAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
$902,500CHARITABLE
HIGHLANDS COLLEGE
$500,000EDUCATION
VAPOR INTERNATIONAL
$103,480CHARITABLE
SECOND WIND PROGRAMS INC
$100,000CHARITABLE
EQUIP LEADERSHIP INC
$50,000CHARITABLE
RIVERCHASE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$35,000CHARITABLE
MILO'S FOUNDATION INC
$30,000CHARITABLE
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
$25,000CHARITABLE
BOK TOWER GARDENS
$25,000CHARITABLE
GRACE HOUSE MINISTRIES
$25,000CHARITABLE
UNION UNIVERSITY
$20,000CHARITABLE
THE WELLHOUSE INC
$20,000CHARITABLE
CHRIST HEALTH CENTER
$15,000CHARITABLE
ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$2,500CHARITABLE
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PASSTHROUGH
$1,829CHARITABLE
TRIVELA FOUNDATION
$1,000CHARITABLE
THE SIGNATRY A GLOBAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
$1,108,822CHARITABLE
EQUIP LEADERSHIP INC
$50,000CHARITABLE
RIVERCHASE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$35,000CHARITABLE
HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY
$25,000EDUCATION
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
$25,000CHARITABLE
GRACE HOUSE MINISTRIES
$25,000CHARITABLE
THE WELLHOUSE INC
$20,000CHARITABLE
UNION UNIVERSITY
$20,000CHARITABLE
CHRIST HEALTH CENTER
$15,000CHARITABLE
ARLINGTON PARTNERS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
$5,000CHARITABLE
VAPOR INTERNATIONAL
$3,024CHARITABLE
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PASSTHROUGH
$1,202CHARITABLE