East Texas Communities Foundation supports philanthropy by offering simple, tax‑wise and flexible ways for donors to achieve their charitable goals and to strengthen East Texas communities through grantmaking, scholarships and community initiatives.
East Texas Communities Foundation pairs donor-advised philanthropy with a strong local grantmaking pattern: 87% of its grants go to recipients in Texas, and its recent awards include a $4,075,236 grant to Bethesda Health Clinic in Tyler. The foundation’s portfolio reaches across education, health, human services, environment, arts, and libraries, while also supporting scholarships and community initiatives through donor-established funds. In the recent grants list, Tyler-based grants appear repeatedly, including sizable support for UT Tyler Office of Advancement and The Mentoring Alliance. The foundation’s work is not limited to one type of organization. It funds healthcare providers, universities, youth-development groups, churches, crisis services, and scholarship programs, reflecting a broad community-oriented grantmaking model. Recent awards also show support for organizations outside Texas, but the overall pattern remains centered on East Texas communities and nearby public-benefit institutions. The foundation also administers scholarships and community funds that connect donor intent with specific places such as Sabine County, Winnsboro, Smith County, and Henderson County.
Education is a major theme in East Texas Communities Foundation’s grantmaking. The foundation awarded $1,898,512 to UT Tyler Office of Advancement in Tyler for educational purposes, and it also made repeated educational grants to Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. Beyond institutional support, it administers scholarship programs for East Texas students, including donor-established and competitive awards. Health and related services are another clear priority. It gave $4,075,236 to Bethesda Health Clinic in Tyler for health, and $600,000 to Betterhumans in Gainesville for medical research. The foundation also supported The Xtra Mile Recov Assistanc in Ville Platte for mental health. Human services and youth development appear in multiple recent grants. It awarded $351,430 to East Texas Crisis Center in Tyler for human service work, $550,297 to The Mentoring Alliance in Tyler for youth development, and $232,111 to Azleway Inc in Tyler for youth development.
Typical grant sizes are modest relative to the foundation’s largest awards: the 25th percentile is $8,480, the median is $14,424, and the 75th percentile is $34,402. The recent-grants list also shows a mix of large institutional awards and smaller programmatic grants. East Texas Communities Foundation operates through donor-established funds, annual scholarship processes, and named community funds, so its grantmaking includes both open applications and restricted-purpose awards. Several organizations recur across multiple years, including UT Tyler Office of Advancement, The Mentoring Alliance, Bethesda Health Clinic, Texas Wesleyan University, and East Texas Crisis Center.
$15.4M
$129.5M
$21.3M
$19.1M
Most grants fall between $8K and $34K, with a median of $14K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$14K
75th Percentile
$34K
Kyle L Penney
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Grantmaking is strongly centered in Texas, with 87% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Tyler appears repeatedly in the recent-grants list, along with other East Texas locations such as Marshall, Whitehouse, and Fort Worth. The foundation’s local program funds also point to place-based support in Sabine County, Winnsboro, and Henderson County, while Smith County libraries receive dedicated annual grants. Outside Texas, recent recipients include New York, Colorado Springs, Gainesville, Ville Platte, and St. Joseph.
Its stated focus areas include education, health, human services, environment, arts, and libraries. Recent grants also show support for medical research, youth development, mental health, civil rights, and religion-related organizations.
The typical grant size is $8,480 at the 25th percentile, $14,424 at the median, and $34,402 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes much larger awards to universities and health organizations.
Yes. It administers multiple scholarship programs for East Texas students, including general matching scholarships, donor-established scholarships, and a non-traditional medical school scholarship for students currently attending or accepted to medical school in Texas.
Most grants go to recipients in Texas, which accounts for 87% of grants in the dataset. Tyler appears frequently among recipient cities, alongside other East Texas places such as Marshall, Whitehouse, and Smith County communities.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including UT Tyler Office of Advancement, The Mentoring Alliance, Bethesda Health Clinic, Texas Wesleyan University, and East Texas Crisis Center. That pattern suggests repeat support for some organizations rather than one-time awards only.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from East Texas Communities Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants may be public colleges or universities or private institutions with nonprofit 501(c)(3) status. Institutions must be located in one of the listed East Texas counties.
Deadline: Applications open June 15, 2027. Deadline is July 15, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. Recipients announced in August.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethesda Health Clinic | Tyler, TX | $4,075,236 | 2025 | Health, General |
| UT Tyler Office of Advancemen | Tyler, TX | $1,898,512 | 2025 | Educational |
| St Paul Lutheran Church | St Joseph, MO | $440,692 | 2025 | Educational |
| THE MENTORING ALLIANCE | Tyler, TX | $401,480 | 2025 | Youth Development |
| The Xtra Mile Recov Assistanc | Ville Platte, LA | $380,000 | 2025 | Mental Health |
| Encouragement Media Group | Tyler, TX | $375,457 | 2025 | Religion |
| Texas Wesleyan University | Fort Worth, TX | $263,282 | 2025 | Educational |
| Grace Community Church | Tyler, TX | $262,100 | 2025 | Religion |
| Azleway Inc | Tyler, TX | $232,111 | 2025 | Youth Development |
| Starbrite Therapeutic Equestr | Whitehouse, TX | $194,154 | 2025 | Disease/Disorder |
| Discovery Science Place | Tyler, TX | $191,766 | 2025 | Educational |
| YOUNG LIFE TYLER | TYLER, TX | $158,522 | 2025 | Religion |
| TJC Foundation | Tyler, TX | $157,267 | 2025 | Educational |
| Marvin Methodist Churc | Tyler, TX | $145,065 | 2025 | Religion |
| PATH | Tyler, TX | $141,496 | 2025 | Human Service |
| Childrens Advocacy Center of | Tyler, TX | $136,698 | 2025 | Civil Rights |
| East Texas Food Bank | Tyler, TX | $124,232 | 2025 | Food, Nutrition |
| Breckenridge Village of Tyler | Tyler, TX | $123,451 | 2025 | Housing, Shelter |
| Kings Academy Christian Scho | Tyler, TX | $123,000 | 2025 | Educational |
| Womens Fund of Smith County | Tyler, TX | $122,601 | 2025 | Philanthropy |
| Bethel Bible Church of Tyler | Tyler, TX | $121,175 | 2025 | Religion |
| First Presby Church-Palestine | Palestine, TX | $110,000 | 2025 | Religion |
| Colonial Hills Baptist Church | Tyler, TX | $105,000 | 2025 | Religion |
| SOUTH SPRING BAPTIST CHURCH | TYLER, TX | $103,000 | 2025 | Religion |
| The Park of ET Inc | Tyler, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | Educational |
| Circle Ten Council BSA | Dallas, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | Youth Development |
| The Eight at Tool Inc | Tool, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture |
| Promise Academy | Tyler, TX | $96,583 | 2025 | Educational |
| Samaritans Purse | Boone, NC | $92,900 | 2025 | Religion |
| Green Acres Baptist Church | Tyler, TX | $90,255 | 2025 | Religion |
| Christ Episcopal Church | Tyler, TX | $89,068 | 2025 | Religion |
| Selah Life Choices | Tyler, TX | $88,223 | 2025 | Human Service |
| All Saints Episcopal School | Tyler, TX | $88,061 | 2025 | Educational |
| Pollard United Methodist Chur | Tyler, TX | $86,175 | 2025 | Religion |
| Michael Gott Internl Evangel | Keller, TX | $85,000 | 2025 | Religion |
| East Texas Symphony Orchestra | Tyler, TX | $83,645 | 2025 | Arts, Culture |
| First Baptist Church of Tyler | Tyler, TX | $78,498 | 2025 | Religion |
| Grace Community School | Tyler, TX | $77,885 | 2025 | Educational |
| Miracle League of Tyler | Tyler, TX | $70,000 | 2025 | Youth Development |
| Salvation Army-Tyler | Tyler, TX | $68,644 | 2025 | Human Service |
| Marshall ISD | Marshall, TX | $68,208 | 2025 | Educational |
| Hospice of East Texas | Tyler, TX | $64,449 | 2025 | Health, General |
| Camp V | Tyler, TX | $63,973 | 2025 | Human Service |
| Campus Crusade for Christ | Orlando, FL | $60,600 | 2025 | Religion |
| Gold Network of East Texas | Tyler, TX | $57,872 | 2025 | Disease/Disorder |
| WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY | PULLMAN, WA | $55,000 | 2025 | Educational |
| First Baptist Church of Longv | Longview, TX | $53,250 | 2025 | Religion |
| Agape Advisory Board | Morristown, NJ | $52,000 | 2025 | International |
| Our Calling | Dallas, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | Housing, Shelter |
| Titus County Cares | Mount Pleasant, TX | $49,106 | 2025 | Human Service |
UT Tyler Office of Advancemen
$1,898,512Educational
St Paul Lutheran Church
$440,692Educational
The Xtra Mile Recov Assistanc
$380,000Mental Health
Encouragement Media Group
$375,457Religion
Texas Wesleyan University
$263,282Educational
Grace Community Church
$262,100Religion
Starbrite Therapeutic Equestr
$194,154Disease/Disorder
Discovery Science Place
$191,766Educational
Marvin Methodist Churc
$145,065Religion
Breckenridge Village of Tyler
$123,451Housing, Shelter
Kings Academy Christian Scho
$123,000Educational
Womens Fund of Smith County
$122,601Philanthropy
Bethel Bible Church of Tyler
$121,175Religion
First Presby Church-Palestine
$110,000Religion
Colonial Hills Baptist Church
$105,000Religion
SOUTH SPRING BAPTIST CHURCH
$103,000Religion
The Park of ET Inc
$100,000Educational
The Eight at Tool Inc
$100,000Arts, Culture
Green Acres Baptist Church
$90,255Religion
Christ Episcopal Church
$89,068Religion
Selah Life Choices
$88,223Human Service
All Saints Episcopal School
$88,061Educational
Pollard United Methodist Chur
$86,175Religion
Michael Gott Internl Evangel
$85,000Religion
First Baptist Church of Tyler
$78,498Religion
Grace Community School
$77,885Educational
Miracle League of Tyler
$70,000Youth Development
Salvation Army-Tyler
$68,644Human Service
Marshall ISD
$68,208Educational
Campus Crusade for Christ
$60,600Religion
Gold Network of East Texas
$57,872Disease/Disorder
First Baptist Church of Longv
$53,250Religion
Agape Advisory Board
$52,000International
Titus County Cares
$49,106Human Service