The Holle Family Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 46-4166996 · since 2014hollefoundation.org·Bibb County, Blount County, Chilton County, Jefferson County, Shelby County, St. Clair County, Tusca…·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$2.3M

Annual giving, 2023 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$2,500 to $100k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$22,500

Typical grant (median)

34 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The foundation's stated areas are vulnerable populations, academic excellence, leadership development, outdoor recreation, community development, Alabama art and history, and veteran programmes, and its priority counties are Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Tuscaloosa and Walker, so a small nonprofit working in these areas and places has the clearest fit.
Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 74 grants to organisations fall between $2,500 and $100,000, and the median grant is $20,000, so a request near that size is realistic, although its largest grant was about $1,050,000.
Its latest filing shows that 59% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in the previous filing, which suggests relationships matter, so requests should clearly show a critical community need, collaboration, non-duplication and measurable impact.
Applications go through the online application and grantee guidelines on its website, during fixed deadlines that become available annually.
Organisations seeking capital campaign funds, general administrative or operating costs (other than the initial stages of a pilot project), fundraising or ticketed events, political or lobbying work, or replacement of government funding should not apply, and applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits closely aligned with its goals.

Overview

The Holle Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Birmingham, AL.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation supports nonprofit organisations that use entrepreneurial methods to address societal needs, promote individual achievement, develop young leaders and celebrate culture throughout central Alabama. It seeks to promote individuals and institutions that nurture individual accomplishment and worth, and supports grantees addressing local disparities in knowledge, opportunity and care. Its grant initiatives include services and advocacy for vulnerable populations, academic excellence, leadership development, outdoor recreation, community development, Alabama art, history and culture, and veteran programmes. For societal needs, proposals are accepted for physical needs of nonprofits delivering programmes to groups requiring specific assistance. Its geographic focus is concentrated in eight named counties, though grants outside that area may be considered at its discretion. It prefers critical community needs, innovative responses to root causes, collaboration, non-duplication and measurable impact.

Themes

Vulnerable populations
Academic excellence
Leadership development
Outdoor recreation
Community development
Alabama art and history
Veteran programs

Geographic Focus

Priority: Bibb; Blount; Chilton; Jefferson; Shelby; St. Clair; Tuscaloosa; Walker.

What They Don't Fund

Capital campaigns
General administrative and operating costs
Fundraising events
Dinners, balls or other ticketed events
Political purposes
Lobbying activities
Replacement of government grants or funding
Operating expenses unless they are for the initial stages of a pilot project

How to apply

Interested organisations can access the online grant application and grantee guidelines at the foundation’s website.

Deadlines: Applications become available annually.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 59% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 74 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

It prefers requests addressing a critical community need.
It prefers requests that solve an immediate physical need.
It favours work addressing root causes in an innovative or entrepreneurial manner.
It prefers projects that do not duplicate existing services.
It prefers pilot projects that could be expanded to serve a wider population or duplicated by other organisations.
It favours collaboration and cooperation with other organisations and agencies.
It looks for an effective way to measure the impact of its investment.
Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits closely aligned with the foundation’s goals.
Requests from large organisations with many branches or departments must be submitted through the development or president’s office and approved by its head.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.

Grant dollars by state

Alabama99%

Georgia<1%

District of Columbia<1%

The largest single recipient received 46% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2023, 59% of grant dollars went to organisations The Holle Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
<1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

34 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $22,500

How much do they typically give?

Share of 34 grants in tax year 2023 by size

Under $1k3%

$1k–$2.5k3%

$2.5k–$5k0%

$5k–$10k9%

$10k–$25k35%

$25k–$50k21%

$50k–$100k21%

$100k–$250k6%

$250k–$500k0%

$500k–$1M0%

$1M and over3%

Median $22,500 (tax year 2023)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

University of Alabama · Endowment and 2024 holle awards
$1,044,0002023 tax year
Bsa Black Warrior Council · Restroom facilities
$150,0002023 tax year
Presbyterian Home for Children · Phase 2 construction
$101,6202023 tax year
Alabama Childhood Food Solution · Building construction-new campus $100,000 current year; $150,000 2024
$99,7002023 tax year
Middle Alabama Agency on Aging · Replenish lift funds and donations for the elder jusice center renovations
$95,0002023 tax year
The Foundry · Phase 2 renovations
$90,6502023 tax year
Alabama School for the Blind · Pa system, uniforms, instruments
$87,0002023 tax year
Samford University · Complete scholarship endowment
$75,0002023 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Sharon Tinsley — Director
Mike Royer — Director
Don Brown — Director
Bill Martin — Secretary
Ray Acton — Treasurer
Patrick O'Neil — Chairman

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

2 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$1,176,585	$2,244,705	$46,594,225	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$1,795,985	$2,308,482	$47,915,584	Filing for 2023 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.