Chandler Foundation

The Chandler Foundation is a small, family-governed private foundation headquartered in Slocomb, Alabama — a town of roughly 2,000 people in Geneva County in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama. With approximately $2 million in assets and $115,000–$152,000 in annual giving, it is a values-driven grantmaker with a tightly defined theological and geographic focus: advancing evangelical Protestant Christianity through local charity and international mission work, primarily in the Dominican Republic.

The foundation was incorporated in September 2015 (ruling date) and grew dramatically in 2020 when assets jumped from $743,368 to $1.9 million — a surge likely connected to a major gift or inheritance, as revenue that year reached $1.31 million versus a typical $80,000–$178,000. Leadership is entirely family-based: James D. Chandler (President), Jean Chandler (Vice President), and Regina C. Tolbert (Secretary/Treasurer), all uncompensated.

The foundation's primary institutional relationship is with Hope Here International Ministries, an Alabama-based 501(c)(3) that operates Christian schools and mission teams in the Dominican Republic. This partnership is longstanding and central — Hope Here received $40,000 in FY2020 and $17,575 in FY2022, making it the single largest recurring recipient. A second anchoring relationship is with San Rafael Church, which received $20,760 in FY2022 specifically for Dominican Republic mission team travel and activities. The Baptist College of Florida (Graceville, FL) is the foundation's education partner, receiving scholarships in both FY2020 ($30,000) and FY2022 ($15,000).

Beyond its flagship international mission focus, the foundation gives locally to Geneva County organizations: mobile food pantries, school lunch accounts, a women's halfway house (True Freedom Ministries), and a men's rehabilitation program (Freedom House). Small grants to Bighouse Foundation for backpack Bible distribution and to Gideons International for scripture placement round out a giving portfolio that is unified by a consistent theological framework — evangelism, discipleship, and practical service to the poor.

The foundation should be approached exclusively through relationship. All evidence indicates it is preselected-only: no website, no application portal, no solicitation materials, and no history of grants to organizations outside its established circle. Organizations eligible for consideration share common characteristics: Baptist-affiliated or evangelical Christian identity, demonstrated mission work in the Caribbean/Latin America or southeastern Alabama, and connections to the Chandler family or their pastoral community in Slocomb.

Total Giving Trajectory

The Chandler Foundation has been an active and growing grantmaker since 2020. Total giving by year:

• FY2015: $13,531 (early/startup phase)
• FY2019: $62,551
• FY2020: $152,338 (peak year, driven by large asset infusion)
• FY2021: $80,464
• FY2022: $96,652
• FY2023: $115,483 (most recent; upward trend)

The FY2020 spike coincides with a $1.31 million revenue year (versus $80K–$178K in all other years), strongly suggesting a major bequest or property transfer that temporarily inflated both assets and giving. Giving has since stabilized in the $80,000–$115,000 range with a mild upward trend through 2023.

Grant Distribution Patterns

Grant size data across FY2022 (12 confirmed grants): - Range: $341 (Alabama Power Benevolence utility assistance) to $20,760 (San Rafael Church/Dominican Republic mission) - Median: $3,860 - Average: $6,909 - Most frequent tier: $1,000–$5,000 (local community grants) - Large anchor grants: $15,000–$40,000 reserved for flagship partners (Hope Here, Baptist College of Florida, San Rafael Church)

Portfolio Categories

1. International Christian Missions (largest by dollar): Hope Here International Ministries, San Rafael Church, Young Life Ministries (Dominican Republic), Christian Light School (Haiti operations), Honduras Baptist Dental Mission, Orphelinat Matieu 28 (children's orphanage, Haiti/Dominican Republic area), One Twenty Seven Ministries (Africa) 2. Christian Education/Scholarships: Baptist College of Florida (two-year recurring commitment totaling $45,000 across FY2020 and FY2022), Providence Christian School (mission trip fund) 3. Bible Distribution: Gideons International ($10,000 in both FY2020 and FY2022 — consistent anchor), Bighouse Foundation (backpack Bibles), Child Outreach Ministry (Uganda distribution) 4. Local Geneva County Charity: Geneva County Community Church Mobile Food Pantry (two-year recurring), Geneva County Board of Education (school lunch accounts), Freedom House (men's rehabilitation), True Freedom Ministries (women's halfway house) 5. Disaster/Emergency Relief: Geneva Baptist Association (Hurricane Laura Louisiana cleanup), Honduras Baptist Dental Mission (Hurricane Eta relief), Fondren Church (seminary/hurricane relief)

Giving Consistency by Grantee

Multi-year grantees (strong retention signal): - Hope Here International Ministries: FY2020, FY2022 - Baptist College of Florida: FY2020, FY2022 - Gideons International: FY2020, FY2022 - Geneva County Community Church Mobile Food Pantry: FY2020, FY2022 - Bighouse Foundation: FY2020, FY2022 - Geneva County Board of Education: FY2020, FY2022

Peer Comparison: Alabama Religion-Focused Foundations (~$500K–$3M Assets)

Positioning Analysis

The Chandler Foundation sits in the mid-tier of Alabama's religion-focused foundation ecosystem — larger than most small single-church or ministry foundations ($100K–$500K assets) but well below Birmingham's major religious philanthropies. Its closest functional peer is the Woerner Foundation for World Missions (Foley, AL), which also provides financial support to missionaries with a similarly small asset base (~$900K) and comparable grant range ($250–$26,000).

The foundation's international focus — particularly its multi-year commitment to the Dominican Republic — distinguishes it from purely local Southeast Alabama religious funders. Among its peer group, Chandler is unusually committed to a specific geographic mission zone (Dominican Republic), mirroring the pattern of specialized international mission funders like Honduras Baptist Dental Mission (a grantee, not a peer) and Christian Light School (Haiti).

Asset Quartile Context (Alabama, Religion Category)

Among Alabama's 1,260 grantmaking foundations, the Chandler Foundation's $1.99 million in assets places it: - Above the median (median Alabama foundation assets: ~$458K) - Below the mean ($3.8M), pulled up by large Birmingham/Huntsville foundations - At approximately the 60th–65th percentile among Alabama grantmakers overall - At approximately the 3rd-largest religion-category foundation in Geneva/Houston/Coffee county area

Most Recent Filing: FY2023

The most recent 990-PF data (FY2023) shows: - Total assets: $1,971,666 (up from $1,907,668 in FY2022) - Total giving: $115,483 (up 19.5% from $96,652 in FY2022) - Revenue: $178,413 (highest since the FY2020 spike year)

Asset growth is stable and positive — assets have grown from $1.90M (FY2021) to $1.97M (FY2023), suggesting modest investment returns on top of operating distributions. The foundation is solvent and on an upward trajectory in both assets and giving.

Grant Activity (FY2022 — most detailed year available)

The FY2022 990-PF lists 12 distinct grants totaling $96,652, with the following notable distributions: - $20,760 to San Rafael Church (Dominican Republic mission team travel) - $17,575 to Hope Here International Ministries (Dominican Republic ministry/mission) - $15,000 to Baptist College of Florida (scholarship assistance) - $10,000 to Gideons International (Bible distribution) - $5,000 each to True Freedom Ministries and Freedom House (local rehabilitation) - $2,720 to Bighouse Foundation (backpack Bibles) - $2,000 each to Child Outreach Ministry (Uganda Bible distribution) and Geneva County Community Church Mobile Food Pantry - $1,510 to Geneva County Board of Education (school lunch balances) - $1,000 to One Twenty Seven Ministries (Africa mission work) - $341 to Alabama Power Benevolence (LIHEAP utility assistance)

Website Status

The foundation maintains a website at chandlerfoundation.org. The site does not appear to have an online grant application portal — consistent with the foundation's preselected grantmaking approach. No application deadlines or RFP materials have been published.

Trend Assessment

The foundation's giving trajectory is positive: FY2023 giving ($115,483) exceeded FY2022 ($96,652) by 19.5%, and asset growth has been consistent since FY2021. If the FY2023 trend continues, FY2024–2025 giving could reach $120,000–$135,000. The core partnership with Hope Here International Ministries and Baptist College of Florida appears durable, with both receiving multi-year support.

Strategic Reality: This Foundation Does Not Accept Unsolicited Applications

The Chandler Foundation is a family foundation governed entirely by the Chandler family from Slocomb, Alabama. All available evidence — no public application portal, consistent preselected grantee list, multi-year repeat grants to the same organizations, and family-only governance — indicates this is a closed, preselected-only foundation. Cold outreach to request funding is unlikely to succeed.

Who Has a Realistic Path

Organizations with a genuine connection to any of the following have the only realistic path to consideration:

1. Existing grantees and their networks: Hope Here International Ministries, San Rafael Church, Baptist College of Florida, Gideons International, True Freedom Ministries, Freedom House, Bighouse Foundation, Geneva County Community Church. If your organization collaborates with, was recommended by, or emerged from one of these networks, a warm introduction to the Chandler family is feasible.

2. First Baptist Church of Slocomb or its alumni: The FY2020 grant of $28,050 to First Baptist Church of Slocomb (general fund) establishes the foundation's home church relationship. Ministries or missionaries connected to this church have a credible introduction path.

3. Geneva County, Alabama community organizations: Local nonprofits addressing food insecurity, youth education, or poverty in Geneva County have received grants ($341–$2,000 range). Municipal or school-affiliated organizations serving underprivileged children have a modest opening.

4. Dominican Republic or Haiti mission organizations: The foundation's clearest international priority is the Dominican Republic (three distinct grantees in FY2022 alone plus FY2020). Christian organizations operating schools, clinics, or missions in the Dominican Republic and able to demonstrate alignment with Hope Here International's approach have the strongest external path.

If You Pursue This Foundation

• Do not submit a cold grant application. The foundation has no application infrastructure and likely no staff to process unsolicited requests.
• Seek a personal introduction through Hope Here International Ministries (the foundation's primary international partner) or the Slocomb evangelical community.
• Frame any outreach around theological alignment: evangelical Christian identity, Great Commission mission work, and practical service to the poor. Secular or non-Christian organizations should not pursue this foundation.
• Grant size calibration: Realistic first-time grants (if through warm introduction) would likely fall in the $1,000–$5,000 range. The $15,000–$40,000 tier is reserved for long-standing partners.
• Contact: Phone (334) 596-1311 is on record. Direct communication with James D. Chandler (President) or Jean Chandler (Vice President) is the appropriate channel. Any outreach should be personal, relationship-oriented, and theologically grounded.