Supports local nonprofit organizations and community programs to improve well-being through philanthropy, volunteerism and financial education — following a 'people helping people' philosophy to elevate communities in Texas and New Mexico.
A defining pattern of Gecu Foundation’s recent grantmaking is its repeated support for El Paso and Borderplex institutions serving children, students, and local residents. The largest grants in the record go to United Way of El Paso County for general support, followed by multi-year support for Texas Tech University Foundation and school-supply related funding through El Paso Credit Union - Hoap. That mix points to a funder that combines broad community support with targeted help for education, health, and basic needs. The foundation’s portfolio also shows sustained attention to local infrastructure for community well-being. El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, YWCA El Paso Del Norte, and Project Amistad each appear among recent recipients, alongside donations for museums, memorials, and community foundations. Gecu Foundation also funds scholarship activity, health donations, and a Ukrainian fund, indicating that its philanthropy extends beyond one narrow program area while remaining rooted in local nonprofit support. The overall pattern is one of steady, place-based grantmaking with recurring relationships and a clear emphasis on organizations that serve the El Paso area and nearby communities in Texas and New Mexico.
Community development is central to Gecu Foundation’s giving. It awarded $146,675 to United Way of El Paso County for general support and $32,056 to Paso Del Norte Community Foundation for a community donation, both in El Paso. It also gave $30,000 to El Paso Gold Star Families Memorial and $24,506 to Community En Accion for community-related work. Education appears in both school and higher-education support. The foundation provided $50,000 to El Paso Credit Union - Hoap for backpacks and school supplies, and $64,600 to Texas Tech University Foundation for a funded scholarship. It also gave $25,000 to The Epc Museum for education. Health and human services are another consistent thread. Recent grants include $50,000 to Sw Foundation for Osteopathic Education & Research for health, $27,101 to Texas Tech Health Sciences Center El Paso for health donations, and $24,791 to Candlelighters of El Paso for general support.
Gecu Foundation’s typical grant size is fairly tight around the low five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $12,050, and the 75th percentile is $20,500. The recent record also shows several larger, recurring awards, including repeated support over multiple years for United Way of El Paso County and Texas Tech University Foundation. That recurring pattern suggests established relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation is a regular funder, and the active grant program listed does not accept unsolicited applications.
$877K
$683K
$1.6M
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $10K and $21K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$21K
EMMELINE GARCIA
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Giving is concentrated in Texas, which accounts for 89% of grants and is also the top state by grant count. El Paso dominates the recipient map, with many grants landing at local organizations such as United Way of El Paso County, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, and the Opportunity Center for the Homeless. Outside Texas, the record includes awards to Lubbock, Las Cruces, Madison, and Addison, all at much smaller volumes than El Paso.
The foundation supports local nonprofit organizations and community programs tied to community development, financial education, volunteerism, scholarships and youth programs, and fundraising or community events. Recent awards also show support for health, education, hunger relief, and humanitarian aid.
No. The active grant program listed for GECU Foundation Grants says it does not accept unsolicited applications.
Its grantmaking is concentrated in Texas, with 89% of grants going to recipients in the state. El Paso recipients account for much of the activity, and the foundation’s active program focuses on the Borderplex region, including El Paso and surrounding communities in Texas and New Mexico.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is centered in the low five figures. The 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $12,050, and the 75th percentile is $20,500.
Several recipients appear across multiple years, including United Way of El Paso County, Texas Tech University Foundation, El Paso Credit Union - Hoap, and The Epc Museum. That pattern indicates that Gecu Foundation often renews support rather than making only one-time grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNITED WAY OF EL PASO COUNTY | EL PASO, TX | $146,675 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | LUBBOCK, TX | $64,600 | 2025 | FUNDED SCHOLARSHIP |
| SW FOUNDATION FOR OSTEOPATHIC EDUCATION & RESEARCH | LAS CRUCES, NM | $50,000 | 2025 | DONATION FOR HEALTH |
| EL PASO CREDIT UNION - HOAP | EL PASO, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND TO BENEFIT CHILDREN WITH BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES |
| PASO DEL NORTE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | EL PASO, TX | $32,056 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DONATION |
| EL PASO GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL | EL PASO, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DONATION |
| OPPORTUNITY CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS | EL PASO, TX | $28,048 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DONATION |
| TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $27,101 | 2025 | HEALTH DONATIONS |
| YWCA EL PASO DEL NORTE | EL PASO, TX | $26,584 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KELLY CENTER FOR HUNGER RELIEF | EL PASO, TX | $25,271 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE EPC MUSEUM | EL PASO, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | DONATION FOR EDUCATION |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTER OF EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $24,792 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CANDLELIGHTERS OF EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $24,791 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PROJECT AMISTAD | EL PASO, TX | $24,660 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY EN ACCION | EL PASO, TX | $24,506 | 2025 | DONATION FOR COMMUNITY |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION NORTH TEXAS | ADDISON, TX | $24,204 | 2025 | HEALTH DONATION |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS- EL PASO CHAPTER | CHARLOTTE, NC | $23,515 | 2025 | DONATION FOR COMMUNITY |
| REBUILDING TOGETHER EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION OF EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $16,667 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EL PASO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | EL PASO, TX | $16,667 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CREED FOUNDATION | EL PASO, TX | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CASA OF EL PASO INC | EL PASO, TX | $12,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY | BROWNWOOD, TX | $12,000 | 2025 | DONATION FOR SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | DONATION FOR HEALTH |
| EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | EL PASO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | FUNDED SCHOLARSHIP |
| EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER | EL PASO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SACRED HEART CHURCH | EL PASO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DONATION |
| THE SALVATION ARMY OF EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | DONATION FOR COMMUNITY |
| PROJECT ARRIBA | EL PASO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | DONATION FOR COMMUNITY |
| ROTACARE EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DONATION |
| HOSPICE EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN AT RISK | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CASA DE PEREGRINOS | LAS CRUCES, NM | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PROACTION INC | EL PASO, TX | $8,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $6,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOUNTAIN STAR SPORTS GROUP FOUNDATION | EL PASO, TX | $5,100 | 2025 | DONATION FOR HEALTH |
| UNITED WAY OF EL PASO COUNTY | EL PASO, TX | $145,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | LUBBOCK, TX | $64,600 | 2024 | — |
| EL PASO CREDIT UNION - HOAP | EL PASO, TX | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT AND TO BENEFIT CHILDREN WITH BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES |
| EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER | EL PASO, TX | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE EPC MUSEUM | EL PASO, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | DONATION FOR EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $19,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EL PASO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | EL PASO, TX | $16,667 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| REBUILDING TOGETHER EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CASA DE PEREGRINOS | LAS CRUCES, NM | $13,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | EL PASO, TX | $12,500 | 2024 | FUNDED SCHOLARSHIP |
| HOSPICE OF EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $11,600 | 2024 | DONATION FOR HEALTH |
| YMCA EL PASO | EL PASO, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CASA OF EL PASO INC | EL PASO, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
SW FOUNDATION FOR OSTEOPATHIC EDUCATION & RESEARCH
$50,000DONATION FOR HEALTH
EL PASO CREDIT UNION - HOAP
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND TO BENEFIT CHILDREN WITH BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES
EL PASO GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL
COMMUNITY DONATION
TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER EL PASO
$27,101HEALTH DONATIONS
CANDLELIGHTERS OF EL PASO
$24,791GENERAL SUPPORT
PROJECT AMISTAD
$24,660GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMUNITY EN ACCION
$24,506DONATION FOR COMMUNITY
REBUILDING TOGETHER EL PASO
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION OF EL PASO
$16,667GENERAL SUPPORT
EL PASO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$16,667GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CREED FOUNDATION
$12,500GENERAL SUPPORT
GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE EL PASO
$10,000DONATION FOR HEALTH
EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$10,000FUNDED SCHOLARSHIP
SACRED HEART CHURCH
$10,000COMMUNITY DONATION
THE SALVATION ARMY OF EL PASO
$10,000DONATION FOR COMMUNITY
PROJECT ARRIBA
$10,000DONATION FOR COMMUNITY
ROTACARE EL PASO
$10,000COMMUNITY DONATION
HOSPICE EL PASO
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CASA DE PEREGRINOS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PROACTION INC
$8,500GENERAL SUPPORT
YMCA OF EL PASO
$6,500GENERAL SUPPORT
MOUNTAIN STAR SPORTS GROUP FOUNDATION
$5,100DONATION FOR HEALTH
EL PASO CREDIT UNION - HOAP
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT AND TO BENEFIT CHILDREN WITH BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
$19,000GENERAL SUPPORT
REBUILDING TOGETHER EL PASO
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CASA DE PEREGRINOS
$13,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HOSPICE OF EL PASO
$11,600DONATION FOR HEALTH
YMCA EL PASO
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT