The Billie and Gillis Thomas Family Foundation makes concentrated, hometown-focused investments in Dallas-area institutions that strengthen local education, social services, and community philanthropy. They favor sizable, often unrestricted or capital-focused grants to a few organizations—frequently renewing support over multiple years—rather than many small awards. Their giving emphasizes operational stability and capacity-building for established nonprofits that serve Dallas communities.
The Billie and Gillis Thomas Family Foundation repeatedly backs Dallas institutions that combine education access, shelter capacity, and community fundraising. One of its largest recent commitments was $200,000 to Shelter Ministries of Dallas for capital campaign support, pointing to a willingness to fund brick-and-mortar needs when an organization is building out services. The foundation also gave $100,000 to Sm Wright Foundation in 2025 for general operating support, alongside a $100,000 grant to Highland Park Education Foundation and another $100,000 to The Crystal Charity Ball, showing a pattern of substantial support for established local intermediaries and school-linked philanthropy. Its recent grants include tuition scholarships for students at West Dallas Community School, June Shelton School & Eval Center, Dallas Academy, and University of North Texas, along with general operating support for North Texas Food Bank, Community Partners of Dallas, and Education Opens Doors. The overall profile is one of concentrated, recurring giving to organizations that serve Dallas-area children, families, and neighborhood-based services.
Education is a major thread in the foundation’s giving. They awarded $51,000 to West Dallas Community School for tuition scholarships support and $41,267 to the University of North Texas for tuition for Naomi Bwalya. School-linked philanthropy also appears in grants to June Shelton School & Eval Center for tuition for Arwen Pena and Rhett Vana, as well as to Dallas Academy for tuition scholarships support. The foundation also supports community fundraising and local grantmaking infrastructure. It gave $100,000 to The Crystal Charity Ball for general operating support and $45,000 to Asas Ntx for general operating support, both in Dallas. In economic and neighborhood development, it awarded $100,000 to Sm Wright Foundation for general operating support, matching the foundation’s interest in underserved South Dallas initiatives. Food security appears as well through general operating support for North Texas Food Bank.
Typical grant size clusters in the mid-five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $15,000, the median is $22,114, and the 75th percentile is $36,975. The foundation’s grantmaking shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Sm Wright Foundation, The Crystal Charity Ball, North Texas Food Bank, West Dallas Community School, Shelton School Landmark Foundation, and June Shelton School & Eval Center. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation is a family foundation, and it also funds individuals, including tuition support for named students. Its recent awards include operating support, capital campaign support, tuition scholarships, and charitable donations.
$878K
$15M
$1.1M
$992K
Most grants fall between $15K and $37K, with a median of $22K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$22K
75th Percentile
$37K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Billie and Gillis Thomas Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 72 | $2.5M | 98.6% |
| 2 | Italy |
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated giving: a small number of large grants (three to four six-figure gifts totaling the majority of annual giving), repeated support to core grantees, and preference for general operating and capital campaign funding over many small, restricted awards.
Notable grantees: The Crystal Charity Ball, Shelter Ministries of Dallas, SM Wright Foundation, Highland Park Education Foundation
Grantmaking is heavily centered in Texas, with 89% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state and TX also ranking first by grant count. Dallas dominates the recipient map: Dallas-based organizations include Shelter Ministries of Dallas, Sm Wright Foundation, Highland Park Education Foundation, The Crystal Charity Ball, West Dallas Community School, Community Partners of Dallas, and Education Opens Doors. Other Texas recipients include North Texas Food Bank in Plano, University of North Texas in Denton, and Trinity Christian Academy Foundation in Addison. Outside the United States, the recipient distribution shows one grant in Italy.
It most often supports Dallas-area nonprofits tied to education, social services, and community philanthropy. Recent examples include school foundations, homeless-services organizations, food-bank support, and local grantmaking intermediaries, with many grants aimed at operating stability, scholarships, or capital needs.
Yes. Alongside organizational grants, it funds individuals through tuition support. Recent examples include tuition for Naomi Bwalya at the University of North Texas and tuition support for students at June Shelton School & Eval Center.
The grant-size distribution centers on mid-five-figure awards. The 25th percentile is $15,000, the median is $22,114, and the 75th percentile is $36,975, with larger awards occasionally reaching six figures for capital or general operating support.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Sm Wright Foundation, The Crystal Charity Ball, North Texas Food Bank, West Dallas Community School, Shelton School Landmark Foundation, and June Shelton School & Eval Center. That indicates recurring relationships rather than isolated gifts.
Texas receives the large majority of grants, and 89% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Dallas is the main city in the recipient list, with additional Texas recipients in Plano, Denton, and Addison.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $5K |
1.4% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SM WRIGHT FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE CRYSTAL CHARITY BALL | DALLAS, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK | PLANO, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WEST DALLAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL | DALLAS, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | TO FUND TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT |
| SHELTON SCHOOL LANDMARK FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | TO FUND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS | DENTON, TX | $41,267 | 2025 | TUITION FOR NAOMI BWALYA |
| JUNE SHELTON SCHOOL & EVAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $39,900 | 2025 | TUITION FOR ARWEN PENA |
| DALLAS ACADEMY | DALLAS, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | TO FUND TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT |
| TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY FOUNDATIO | ADDISON, TX | $31,690 | 2025 | TO FUND TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT |
| JUNE SHELTON SCHOOL & EVAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $31,675 | 2025 | TUITION FOR RHETT VANA |
| JUNE SHELTON SCHOOL & EVAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $29,175 | 2025 | TUITION FOR NOLAN MERCER |
| JUNE SHELTON SCHOOL & EVAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $29,175 | 2025 | TUITION FOR HAYES HARVEY |
| UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $26,465 | 2025 | TUITION FOR MATTIE BENNINGFIELD |
| GREENHILL SCHOOL | ADDISON, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY | ORANGE, CA | $23,307 | 2025 | TUITION FOR ABBIE BENNINGFIELD |
| HIGHLAND PARK EDUCATION FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BONTON FARMS | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DWELL WITH DIGNITY | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ASAS NTX | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PANTEGO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | ARLINGTON, TX | $15,850 | 2025 | TUITION FOR TYSON BUNCH |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | TO FUND CHEERS FOR CHILDREN SUPPORT |
| PANTEGO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | ARLINGTON, TX | $14,824 | 2025 | TUITION FOR RYANN BUNCH |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY | SAN MARCOS, TX | $7,054 | 2025 | TUITION FOR EMILY SOTOMAYOR |
| OUTDOORS TOMORROW FOUNDATION | SOUTHLAKE, TX | $2,700 | 2025 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE CRYSTAL CHARITY BALL | DALLAS, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HIGHLAND PARK EDUCATION FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WEST DALLAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL | DALLAS, TX | $51,000 | 2024 | TO FUND TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT |
| NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK | PLANO, TX | $50,000 | 2024 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SHELTON SCHOOL LANDMARK FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $45,000 | 2024 | TO FUND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| JUNE SHELTON SCHOOL & EVAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $37,300 | 2024 | TUITION FOR ARWEN PENA |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS | DENTON, TX | $33,579 | 2024 | TUITION FOR NAOMI BWALYA |
| TRINITY CHRISITAN ACADEMY | DALLAS, TX | $32,040 | 2024 | TO FUND TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT |
| JUNE SHELTON SCHOOL & EVAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $30,000 | 2024 | TUITION FOR VANA RHETT |
| DALLAS ACADEMY | DALLAS, TX | $30,000 | 2024 | TO FUND TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT |
| EDUCATION OPENS DOORS | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DWELL WITH DIGNITY | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BONTON FARMS | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ASAS NTX | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $18,664 | 2024 | TUITION FOR MATTIE BENNINGFIELD |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | TO FUND CHEERS FOR CHILDREN SUPPORT |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DAY SCHOO | DALLAS, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JUNE SHELTON SCHOOL & EVAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $13,838 | 2024 | TUITION FOR HAYES HARVEY |
| PARKER COUNTY MIRACLE LEAGUE | FT WORTH, TX | $12,000 | 2024 | TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| URSULINE ACADEMY | DALLAS, TX | $10,211 | 2024 | TUITION FOR ABBEY BENNINGFIELD |
| TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY | SAN MARCOS, TX | $6,397 | 2024 | TUITION FOR EMILY SOTOMAYOR |
| JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY | ROME, IT | $5,235 | 2024 | HOUSING FOR MATTIE BENNINGFIELD |
COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF DALLAS
$50,000TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SHELTON SCHOOL LANDMARK FOUNDATION
$50,000TO FUND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
$41,267TUITION FOR NAOMI BWALYA
JUNE SHELTON SCHOOL & EVAL CENTER
$39,900TUITION FOR ARWEN PENA
DALLAS ACADEMY
$35,000TO FUND TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT
TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY FOUNDATIO
$31,690TO FUND TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT
JUNE SHELTON SCHOOL & EVAL CENTER
$31,675TUITION FOR RHETT VANA
JUNE SHELTON SCHOOL & EVAL CENTER
$29,175TUITION FOR HAYES HARVEY
UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO
$26,465TUITION FOR MATTIE BENNINGFIELD
GREENHILL SCHOOL
$25,000TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ASAS NTX
$20,000TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PANTEGO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
$15,850TUITION FOR TYSON BUNCH
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF DALLAS
$15,000TO FUND CHEERS FOR CHILDREN SUPPORT
PANTEGO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
$14,824TUITION FOR RYANN BUNCH
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$10,000TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
$7,054TUITION FOR EMILY SOTOMAYOR
SHELTON SCHOOL LANDMARK FOUNDATION
$45,000TO FUND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
$33,579TUITION FOR NAOMI BWALYA
TRINITY CHRISITAN ACADEMY
$32,040TO FUND TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT
DALLAS ACADEMY
$30,000TO FUND TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORT
ASAS NTX
$20,000TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF DALLAS
$15,000TO FUND CHEERS FOR CHILDREN SUPPORT
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DAY SCHOO
$15,000TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PARKER COUNTY MIRACLE LEAGUE
$12,000TO FUND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
URSULINE ACADEMY
$10,211TUITION FOR ABBEY BENNINGFIELD
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
$6,397TUITION FOR EMILY SOTOMAYOR
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
$5,235HOUSING FOR MATTIE BENNINGFIELD