Private foundation · Birmingham, AL

Better Place Foundation

View org profile →Find similar funders →Invitation only
Typical grant size
$5K $10K $25K
25th · median · 75th percentile
Unique recipients
136
Repeat grantees
68
funded 2+ years

Application procedures · from 2024 990-PF

Leadership · from 2024 990-PF

William T Ratliff III
PRES/TREAS/DIRECTOR
Carl a Lessman
DIRECTOR
William T Ratliff Jr
PRES/TREAS/DIRECTOR

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part VII. Officers, directors, and trustees as reported by the foundation.

Payout rate · TY 2024
7.4%
grants paid ÷ assets · ~5% IRS minimum
'17
'18
'19
'20
'21
'22
'23
'24
419
Total grants awarded
$7.4M
Total amount
$18K
Average grant
$150K
Largest grant

Giving by year

2024
$883K
52 grants
2023
$863K
47 grants
2022
$752K
47 grants
2021
$1.0M
50 grants
2020
$1.1M
58 grants
2019
$933K
60 grants
2018
$717K
33 grants
2017
$507K
28 grants
2016
$13K
1 grants
2015
$250K
32 grants
2014
$40K
2 grants
2013
$275K
9 grants

Top recipients

9 grants · TN · ✓ Exact match
$377K
8 grants · AL · ✓ Exact match
$355K
8 grants · AL · ✓ Exact match
$321K
6 grants · MS · ✓ Exact match
$265K
Transgender Advocates Knowledge Empowering
5 grants · DC
$258K
First Teachers Home
7 grants · AL
$250K
4 grants · AL · ✓ Exact match
$243K
8 grants · AL · ✓ Exact match
$230K
5 grants · TN · ✓ Exact match
$212K
Oasis Counseling Center for Women & Children
6 grants · AL
$193K

Recipient names are as reported on the 990-PF. ✓ Exact match = EIN matched to IRS records by exact name + state; ≈ likely match = EIN inferred from a closely similar name. The recipient EIN is never stated on the form — it is DoubleNine’s match.

Recent grants · most recent filings first

Alaquest Collaborative for Education
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
AL · TY 2024
$70K
Gideons Army Grassroots Army for Children
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
TN · TY 2024
$64K
Cahaba River Society
ENVIRONMENTAL
AL · TY 2024
$63K
Youth Towers Inc
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
AL · TY 2024
$50K
Empower Schools of Alabama
EDUCATIONAL
AL · TY 2024
$50K
Mcrae Learning Center Inc
EDUCATIONAL
AL · TY 2024
$45K
Spring Valley School Foundation
EDUCATIONAL
AL · TY 2024
$40K
Embrace Alabama Kids
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
AL · TY 2024
$35K
Mcwane Science Center
EDUCATIONAL
AL · TY 2024
$33K
Oasis Counseling Center for Women & Children
HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
AL · TY 2024
$30K
H3w Inc
ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
AL · TY 2024
$30K
Showing Up for Racial Justice Education Fund
SOCIAL JUSTICE
NY · TY 2024
$25K
Hearts of Wheels
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
AL · TY 2024
$25K
Highlander Research & Education Center
EDUCATIONAL
TN · TY 2024
$23K
YMCA Junius Ward Johnson Memorial
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
MS · TY 2024
$23K
Alabama Oncology Foundation
MEDICAL RESEARCH
AL · TY 2024
$20K
Ecumenical Ministries Inc
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
AL · TY 2024
$20K
Vicksburg Catholic School
EDUCATIONAL
MS · TY 2024
$20K
Ekvnv Yefolecvlke
SOCIAL/ENVIRONMENTAL
AL · TY 2024
$20K
Under His Wings Inc
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
AL · TY 2024
$20K
Youth Serve Inc
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
AL · TY 2024
$20K
Bessemer Redevelopment Corp
COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT
AL · TY 2024
$18K
Edge Youth Leadership
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
CA · TY 2024
$10K
Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
IN · TY 2024
$10K
Central Brevard Humane Society Inc
HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
FL · TY 2024
$10K
The Center for Executive Leadership
COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND EDUCATION
AL · TY 2024
$10K
Transgender Advocates Knowledge Empowering
SOCIAL JUSTICE
DC · TY 2024
$10K
Haitian Bridge Alliance
SOCIAL JUSTICE
CA · TY 2024
$10K
Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition
HEALTH SUPPORT
TN · TY 2024
$8K
Holcomb Ministries
HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
AL · TY 2024
$8K
City Parks Foundation Inc
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
NY · TY 2024
$5K
Southern Environmental Law Center
SOCIAL JUSTICE
AL · TY 2024
$5K
Fpc Action Foundation
SOCIAL JUSTICE
NV · TY 2024
$5K
Berkshire Hills Music Academy Inc
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
MA · TY 2024
$5K
Maranathan Family Learning Center and Academy
EDUCATIONAL
AL · TY 2024
$5K
Springmont School Inc
EDUCATIONAL
GA · TY 2024
$5K
Citylax Inc
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
NY · TY 2024
$5K
Purpose Built Communities
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
GA · TY 2024
$4K
Lifeline Animal Project Inc
HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
GA · TY 2024
$4K
Marion Medical Mission
HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
IL · TY 2024
$3K
The Tender Foundation
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
GA · TY 2024
$3K
Rahab's Sisters
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
OR · TY 2024
$3K
Building Peace Inc
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
KS · TY 2024
$3K
Hand in Paw Inc
HEALTH AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
AL · TY 2024
$3K
The Penny Foundation
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
TX · TY 2024
$3K
Greater Birmingham Humane Society
HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
AL · TY 2024
$3K
Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism
EDUCATIONAL
AL · TY 2024
$3K
Sameyou Foundation
HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
TY 2024
$1K
Campus Outreach Birmingham
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
AL · TY 2024
$1K
National Fallen Firefighter's Foundation
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
MD · TY 2024
$100

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV. Up to 50 most recent grants shown.