The Clara B & W Aubre y Smith Charitable Foundation concentrates its support on North Texas community institutions, especially K–12 and higher education in the Grayson County/Texoma region, while also funding basic social services and community arts. Grants are often sizable and targeted to capital projects, program support (fine arts, campus renovations, internships) and unrestricted operating needs for local nonprofits. The foundation shows a preference for repeat awards to a few key local institutions alongside support for direct-service organizations serving families and seniors.
A defining feature of Clara B & W Aubrey Smith Charitable is its repeated support for Texoma family and shelter services, including a $200,000 unrestricted grant to Texoma Family Shelter in 2025. The foundation’s recent grants show a clear local pattern: sizable awards to a small set of North Texas institutions, with support for emergency shelter, education, senior nutrition, and community infrastructure. It funds both operating needs and project-specific work, from unrestricted support for direct-service nonprofits to campus renovations and classroom or fine arts grants. Several grantees appear more than once, which points to an ongoing relationship model rather than one-time gifts. Texoma Family Shelter received multiple awards across recent years, as did Austin College, Denison Independent School District, Tri County Senior Nutrition Project, Child & Family Guidance Center of Texoma, and Masterkey Ministries of Grayson County. The mix of beneficiaries includes schools, colleges, social service organizations, health and child advocacy groups, and civic groups serving Grayson County and nearby North Texas communities. The foundation also supports public-facing community assets. Recent awards include funding for a public library, playground upgrades, and building or campus renovations, alongside direct human services. That combination suggests a funder that backs both immediate service delivery and the physical or institutional settings where local programs operate.
In family shelter and emergency housing, Clara B & W Aubrey Smith Charitable gave $85,000 to Texoma Family Shelter for building renovation and $60,000 for residential support, alongside a larger unrestricted grant in 2025. In senior services, Tri County Senior Nutrition Project received $100,000 for home delivered meal program support and $75,000 in unrestricted support. Education is another visible theme. Denison Independent School District received $150,000 in 2024 to support fine arts, plus $40,000 grants for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 classroom grant support. Austin College received $150,000 for health campus renovations and later $31,000 in unrestricted support. The foundation also backs child and family support organizations. Child & Family Guidance Center of Texoma received grants of $75,000, $50,000, and $75,000 for unrestricted general support, while Casa of Grayson County received $30,000 for child advocacy and support for child advocacy. These awards show a mix of operating help and program-specific funding.
$905K
$18.5M
$1.7M
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $15K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Concentrated giving of relatively large awards (multiple six-figure grants) to a small set of local institutions, including repeat grants to anchor education partners; mix of capital/campus projects, program support, and unrestricted operating grants for community service providers.
Notable grantees: Denison Independent School District, Austin College, Texoma Family Shelter, Tri County Senior Nutrition Project, Junior League of Grayson County
Typical grant size clusters at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes larger awards, but the center of gravity is in the mid-five-figure range. The foundation appears to be a repeat funder. Several recipients show up across multiple years, including Texoma Family Shelter, Austin College, Denison Independent School District, Tri County Senior Nutrition Project, Child & Family Guidance Center of Texoma, and Masterkey Ministries of Grayson County. Grants include unrestricted general support, program support, and capital or facility funding, which indicates a flexible giving style rather than a single grant type. The foundation funds individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Grantmaking is fully concentrated in Texas: 100% of grants in the available data go to recipients in the HQ state, and the top giving state is also TX. Most awards land in Grayson County and the Texoma area, especially Denison and Sherman. Denison recipients include Texoma Family Shelter, Junior League of Grayson County, Tri County Senior Nutrition Project, Denison Independent School District, Greater Texoma Health Clinic, and the City of Denison. Sherman recipients include Austin College, Child & Family Guidance Center of Texoma, Masterkey Ministries of Grayson County, Family Promise of Grayson County, Casa of Grayson County, and House of Eli.
The recent grants show a strong mix of schools, colleges, family shelter providers, senior meal programs, child advocacy groups, and civic organizations. Named recipients include Denison Independent School District, Austin College, Texoma Family Shelter, Tri County Senior Nutrition Project, Child & Family Guidance Center of Texoma, and Junior League of Grayson County.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including Texoma Family Shelter, Austin College, Denison Independent School District, Tri County Senior Nutrition Project, Child & Family Guidance Center of Texoma, and Masterkey Ministries of Grayson County. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts.
The grant-size distribution centers at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger gifts, such as $200,000 and $168,000, but the typical grant sits in the mid-five-figure range.
Grantmaking is concentrated in Texas, with 100% of the grants in the available data going to recipients in TX. The most frequent recipient cities are Denison and Sherman, both in the Texoma and Grayson County area.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEXOMA FAMILY SHELTER | DENISON, TX | $200,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| JUNIOR LEAGUE OF GRAYSON COUNTY | DENISON, TX | $160,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHILD & FAMILY GUIDANCE CENTER OF TEXOMA | SHERMAN, TX | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| TRI COUNTY SENIOR NUTRITION PROJECT | DENISON, TX | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DENISON ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION | DENISON, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DENISON ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION | DENISON, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CITY OF DENISON | DENISON, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY |
| MASTERKEY MINISTRIES OF GRAYSON COUNTY | SHERMAN, TX | $32,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| AUSTIN COLLEGE | SHERMAN, TX | $31,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CASA OF GRAYSON COUNTY | SHERMAN, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC | DALLAS, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| NEW BEGINNING FELLOWSHIP CHURCH | DENISON, TX | $21,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| RED RIVER RAILROAD MUSEUM | DENISON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DENISON PERFORMING ARTS INC | DENISON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GRANT HALLIBURTON FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HOUSE OF ELI INC | SHERMAN, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| TEXOMA HEALTH FOUNDATION | DENISON, TX | $12,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| TEXAS RAMP PROJECT | RICHARDSON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH | DENISON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GRAYSON GRAND CENTRAL STATION | SHERMAN, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HOMELESS EMPOWERMENT ACTION TEAM | DENISON, TX | $8,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| FOUR RIVERS OUTREACH INC | SHERMAN, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $168,000 | 2024 | SOCIAL WORK INTERNSHIP FOR |
| DENISON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT | DENISON, TX | $150,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FINE ARTS |
| AUSTIN COLLEGE | SHERMAN, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | HEALTH CAMPUS RENOVATIONS |
| TRI COUNTY SENIOR NUTRITION PROJECT | DENISON, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | HOME DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM |
| TEXOMA FAMILY SHELTER | DENISON, TX | $85,000 | 2024 | BUILDING RENOVATION; |
| CHILD & FAMILY GUIDANCE CENTER OF TEXOMA | SHERMAN, TX | $50,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GREATER TEXOMA HEALTH CLINIC | DENISON, TX | $50,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DENISON ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION | DENISON, TX | $40,000 | 2024 | 2024-2025 CLASSROOM GRANT & |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF GRAYSON COUNTY INC | SHERMAN, TX | $35,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT 'FAMILY HOPE' |
| CASA OF GRAYSON COUNTY | SHERMAN, TX | $30,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT CHILD ADVOCACY |
| GRAYSON COUNTY CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER | SHERMAN, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | TRAUMA TREATMENT MENTAL |
| MASTERKEY MINISTRIES OF GRAYSON COUNTY INC | SHERMAN, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT MASTERKEY ACADEMY |
| DENISON MAIN STREET INC | DENISON, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT MUSIC ON MAIN |
| NEW BEGINNING FELLOWSHIP CHURCH | DENISON, TX | $23,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR FELLOWSHIP FOOD |
| DENISON HELPING HANDS | DENISON, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FEEDING THE HUNGRY |
| REHABILITATION CENTER THERAPEUTIC SOLUTIONS FOR CHILDREN/ADULTS | SHERMAN, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT "SMALL BUT MIGHTY" |
| GRANT HALLIBURTON FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION & |
| MULTICULTURAL FAMILY CENTER | SHERMAN, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT ADULT EDUCATION |
| DENISON ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION | DENISON, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR MENTORING |
| UNITED WAY OF GRAYSON COUNTY | SHERMAN, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | WHOLE FAMILY APPROACH TO |
| DENISON PERFORMING ARTS INC | DENISON, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT ARTS EDUCATION |
| THE SHERMAN MUSEUM | SHERMAN, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | DINO DAYS AT THE SHERMAN |
| TEXAS RAMP PROJECT | RICHARDSON, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT TEXOMA RAMP PROJECT |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEXAS INC | RICHLAND HILLS, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | GRAYSON COUNTY PROGRAMMING |
| RED RIVER RAILROAD MUSEUM | DENISON, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| AUSTIN COLLEGE | SHERMAN, TX | $150,000 | 2023 | HEALTH CAMPUS RENOVATIONS |
| DENISON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT | DENISON, TX | $150,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FINE ARTS |
| CITY OF DENISON | DENISON, TX | $75,000 | 2023 | FAIRVIEW-MAPLE GRVE |
TEXOMA FAMILY SHELTER
$200,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF GRAYSON COUNTY
$160,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
TRI COUNTY SENIOR NUTRITION PROJECT
$75,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
DENISON ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$50,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
DENISON ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$40,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CITY OF DENISON
$35,000SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY
MASTERKEY MINISTRIES OF GRAYSON COUNTY
$32,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
AUSTIN COLLEGE
$31,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CASA OF GRAYSON COUNTY
$30,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC
$25,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
NEW BEGINNING FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
$21,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
RED RIVER RAILROAD MUSEUM
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
DENISON PERFORMING ARTS INC
$20,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
TEXOMA HEALTH FOUNDATION
$12,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
GRAYSON GRAND CENTRAL STATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
HOMELESS EMPOWERMENT ACTION TEAM
$8,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
FOUR RIVERS OUTREACH INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
DENISON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
$150,000SUPPORT FINE ARTS
AUSTIN COLLEGE
$100,000HEALTH CAMPUS RENOVATIONS
TRI COUNTY SENIOR NUTRITION PROJECT
$100,000HOME DELIVERED MEAL PROGRAM
TEXOMA FAMILY SHELTER
$85,000BUILDING RENOVATION;
DENISON ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$40,0002024-2025 CLASSROOM GRANT &
FAMILY PROMISE OF GRAYSON COUNTY INC
$35,000SUPPORT 'FAMILY HOPE'
CASA OF GRAYSON COUNTY
$30,000SUPPORT CHILD ADVOCACY
MASTERKEY MINISTRIES OF GRAYSON COUNTY INC
$25,000SUPPORT MASTERKEY ACADEMY
DENISON MAIN STREET INC
$25,000SUPPORT MUSIC ON MAIN
NEW BEGINNING FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
$23,000SUPPORT FOR FELLOWSHIP FOOD
DENISON HELPING HANDS
$20,000SUPPORT FEEDING THE HUNGRY
REHABILITATION CENTER THERAPEUTIC SOLUTIONS FOR CHILDREN/ADULTS
$20,000SUPPORT "SMALL BUT MIGHTY"
MULTICULTURAL FAMILY CENTER
$15,000SUPPORT ADULT EDUCATION
DENISON ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$15,000SUPPORT FOR MENTORING
UNITED WAY OF GRAYSON COUNTY
$10,000WHOLE FAMILY APPROACH TO
DENISON PERFORMING ARTS INC
$10,000SUPPORT ARTS EDUCATION
THE SHERMAN MUSEUM
$10,000DINO DAYS AT THE SHERMAN
RED RIVER RAILROAD MUSEUM
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
AUSTIN COLLEGE
$150,000HEALTH CAMPUS RENOVATIONS
DENISON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
$150,000SUPPORT FINE ARTS
CITY OF DENISON
$75,000FAIRVIEW-MAPLE GRVE