The Legett Foundation makes a small number of very large, targeted grants primarily in West Texas, supporting community infrastructure, health care and medical research, and higher-education professional programs. Grants favor capital projects and program amplification through local community foundations and institutions, indicating a preference for building lasting physical capacity (heritage sites, rehabilitation facilities, nursing school) as well as strategic investments in medical research.
The Legett Foundation’s largest recent grant went to the Community Foundation of Abilene for the Abilene Heritage Square project, a signal that it uses major gifts to shape physical community assets rather than spread funding thinly across many small awards. Its recent giving also includes a $2.1 million grant to Amarillo Area Foundation for the Panhandle Gives amplification fund, showing a pattern of backing local philanthropy infrastructure as well as direct service organizations. Another major commitment supported West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation for a capital project, alongside seven-figure grants for melanoma research at M D Anderson Cancer Center and the School of Nursing at Hardin-Simmons University. Across the recent grants list, the foundation favors targeted, high-dollar support for community development, health care, education, and research. The mix includes historic preservation, rehabilitation services, cancer science, nursing education, housing-related programming, and local cultural institutions. Grants also extend to emergency response and public-service organizations, reflecting a portfolio that blends civic infrastructure with practical community needs. The Legett Foundation’s giving is concentrated in a small number of large awards, often tied to a named project, program expansion, or capital buildout.
Community infrastructure is a clear theme. The foundation gave $2.5 million to the Community Foundation of Abilene to support the Abilene Heritage Square project, and $237,500 to the Abilene Improvement Corporation for the downtown Abilene hotel project. Health care and medical capacity also appear prominently. It awarded $600,000 to Hendrick Medical Center Foundation for “A Foundation for the Future,” $100,000 to Heal the City Free Clinic for operations, and $26,000 to UT Southwestern Medical Center for operations. Education and workforce development show up in higher education grants. The foundation gave $1 million to Hardin-Simmons University for the School of Nursing, $449,444 to Texas Christian University for medical school endowment support, and $125,000 to Angelo State University Foundation for the Cyberspace and AI Center of Excellence. Its cultural and community-service grants include $185,000 to United Way of Abilene for Winter Light Fest and $150,000 to Abilene Arts Alliance for Storybook Garden expansion.
$12.6M
$111.6M
$24M
$15.7M
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Highly concentrated giving: very few, large grants focused on regional institutions and capital or program-building projects rather than many small awards; tends to fund both intermediary community foundations and direct institutional capital or research investments.
Notable grantees: Community Foundation of Abilene, Amarillo Area Foundation, West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation, M D Anderson Cancer Center, Hardin‑Simmons University
The recent grants list shows a wide spread in grant size, from $25,000 at the low end of the listed awards to $2.5 million at the high end, with several awards at or above $1 million. The foundation is a private foundation, not a DAF, and it makes grants to individuals. Its giving pattern is project-oriented: many awards are labeled for capital projects, operations, endowments, or specific program support. The list also suggests some repeat institutional relationships within the same year, including more than one award to the Community Foundation of Abilene. Program-related investments are not part of its profile.
Grants are concentrated in Texas, but the recipient cities vary by region. Abilene appears repeatedly across local institutions, including community foundations, medical and social-service organizations, arts groups, and universities. The foundation also gives beyond Abilene to Amarillo, Clarendon, and institutions in other Texas metros such as Dallas and Houston through major medical and university partners. All listed recent grants go to U.S. recipients, and the country distribution shows 136 grants in the United States.
Its recent grants emphasize capital and project-specific support, including Abilene Heritage Square, a West Texas rehabilitation center capital project, a nursing school, a melanoma research project, and a downtown hotel project. The list also includes operations, endowment support, and event or program funding.
Yes. Recent examples include $1 million to Hardin-Simmons University for the School of Nursing, $449,444 to Texas Christian University for medical school endowment support, and $125,000 to Angelo State University Foundation for the Cyberspace and AI Center of Excellence.
The listed grants range from $25,000 to $2.5 million. Several awards are in the six-figure range, and the foundation also makes seven-figure grants for major community, health, and research projects.
No. Its recent awards include community foundations, hospitals, universities, arts organizations, homeless-services providers, clinics, and emergency-response groups. The pattern points to a mix of civic infrastructure, health care, education, and local service organizations.
Yes. Recent grants include Amarillo Area Foundation for Panhandle Gives, City of Clarendon for VFD operations, and medical and university partners in other Texas metros. The recipient-country distribution shows all listed grants going to U.S. organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF ABILENE | ABILENE, TX | $2,500,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ABILENE HERITAGE SQUARE PROJECT |
| AMARILLO AREA FOUNDATION | ABILENE, TX | $2,100,000 | 2025 | PANHANDLE GIVES AMPLIFICATION FUND |
| WEST TEXAS REHABILITATION CENTER FOUNDATION | ABILENE, TX | $1,683,667 | 2025 | CAPITAL PROJECT |
| HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY | ABILENE, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL OF NURSING |
| M D ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | ABILENE, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | NK CELL THERAPY MELANOMA RESEARCH |
| HENDRICK MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | ABILENE, TX | $600,000 | 2025 | A FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE |
| TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY | ABILENE, TX | $449,444 | 2025 | MEDICAL SCHOOL ENDOWMENT |
| TEXAS TECH FOUNDATION | ABILENE, TX | $310,000 | 2025 | DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI EVENT |
| ABILENE RESTORATION MINISTRIES | ABILENE, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | DORMITORY PROJECT |
| ABILENE IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION | ABILENE, TX | $237,500 | 2025 | DOWNTOWN ABILENE HOTEL PROJECT |
| UNITED WAY OF ABILENE | ABILENE, TX | $185,000 | 2025 | WINTER LIGHT FEST |
| ABILENE ARTS ALLIANCE | ABILENE, TX | $150,000 | 2025 | STORYBOOK GARDEN EXPANSION |
| THE GLOBAL ORPHAN PROJECT | ABILENE, TX | $150,000 | 2025 | CARE PORTAL PROGRAM IN TAYLOR COUNTY |
| BCFS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES | ABILENE, TX | $150,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT FOR OUR HOUSE |
| ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | ABILENE, TX | $125,000 | 2025 | CYBERSPACE AND AI CENTER OF EXCELLENCE |
| HEAL THE CITY FREE CLINIC | ABILENE, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| COMMUNIO FOUNDATION | ABILENE, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | NATIONAL STRATEGY TO SAVE THE FAMILY |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE | ABILENE, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | HURRICANE HELENE DISASTER RESPONSE |
| UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION | ABILENE, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | US NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM |
| GARY SINISE FOUNDATION | ABILENE, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| SALVATION ARMY | ABILENE, TX | $41,667 | 2025 | CAPITAL PROJECT AND OPERATIONS |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH | ABILENE, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| PRAGER UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | ABILENE, TX | $33,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF ABILENE | ABILENE, TX | $32,000 | 2025 | WEST TEXAS HOMELESS NETWORK |
| COOK CHILDREN'S HEALTH FOUNDATION | ABILENE, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | LOUDEN MEMORIAL |
| AMARILLO SYMPHONY | ABILENE, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | KINDER C+H64ONCERTS |
| HOOVER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC | ABILENE, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | VFD OPERATIONS |
| ST MATTHEW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH | ABILENE, TX | $28,000 | 2025 | ORGAN MUSIC PROGRAM |
| UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER | ABILENE, TX | $26,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| HERITAGE FOUNDATION | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| MIAMI-ROBERTS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | VFD OPERATIONS |
| YOUNG LIFE | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS - ABILENE |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| GRACE MUSEUM | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | ART VAULT RENOVATION |
| ABILENE HOPE HAVEN INC | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | 1:1 CHALLENGE TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR BUILDING REPAIRS/UPDATES |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF ABILENE | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | REGION 14 PACE COLLABORATIVE |
| WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM |
| ABILENE ARTS ALLIANCE | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | HEARTS FOR THE ARTS |
| SHARING IS CARING | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | LONESTAR ANGEL PROJECT |
| CITY OF CLARENDON | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | CLARENDON VFD |
| AMERICAN PRIVATE RADIO | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | OUR AMERICAN STORIES |
| TEXAS BUSINESS HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | MILLER HALL OF FAME HONORARIUM |
| INTERCOLLEGIATE STUDIES INSTITUTE INC | ABILENE, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | TEXAS INITIATIVES |
| CISCO COLLEGE | ABILENE, TX | $22,500 | 2025 | LVN DUAL CREDIT PILOT PROGRAM |
| FOUNDATION FOR CULTURAL REVIEW INC | ABILENE, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | THE NEW CRITERION OPERATIONS |
| AMARILLO TRIBUNE | ABILENE, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - AMARILLO | ABILENE, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| CAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER | ABILENE, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| BROTHER WOLF ANIMAL RESCUE | ABILENE, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | HURRICANE HELENE DISASTER RELIEF |
| FRIENDS OF THE GAP INC | ABILENE, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | SMITHSONIAN TRAVELING EXHIBIT |
HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000SCHOOL OF NURSING
M D ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$1,000,000NK CELL THERAPY MELANOMA RESEARCH
HENDRICK MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
A FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
$449,444MEDICAL SCHOOL ENDOWMENT
TEXAS TECH FOUNDATION
$310,000DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI EVENT
ABILENE RESTORATION MINISTRIES
$250,000DORMITORY PROJECT
ABILENE IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION
$237,500DOWNTOWN ABILENE HOTEL PROJECT
BCFS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
$150,000OPERATING SUPPORT FOR OUR HOUSE
HEAL THE CITY FREE CLINIC
$100,000OPERATIONS
GARY SINISE FOUNDATION
$50,000OPERATIONS
SALVATION ARMY
$41,667CAPITAL PROJECT AND OPERATIONS
AMARILLO SYMPHONY
$30,000KINDER C+H64ONCERTS
HOOVER VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC
$30,000VFD OPERATIONS
ST MATTHEW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$28,000ORGAN MUSIC PROGRAM
HERITAGE FOUNDATION
$25,000OPERATIONS
MIAMI-ROBERTS COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
$25,000VFD OPERATIONS
YOUNG LIFE
$25,000OPERATIONS - ABILENE
YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION
$25,000OPERATIONS
ABILENE HOPE HAVEN INC
$25,0001:1 CHALLENGE TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR BUILDING REPAIRS/UPDATES
SHARING IS CARING
$25,000LONESTAR ANGEL PROJECT
CITY OF CLARENDON
$25,000CLARENDON VFD
AMERICAN PRIVATE RADIO
$25,000OUR AMERICAN STORIES
CISCO COLLEGE
$22,500LVN DUAL CREDIT PILOT PROGRAM
FOUNDATION FOR CULTURAL REVIEW INC
$20,000THE NEW CRITERION OPERATIONS
AMARILLO TRIBUNE
$20,000OPERATIONS
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - AMARILLO
$20,000OPERATIONS
FRIENDS OF THE GAP INC
$20,000SMITHSONIAN TRAVELING EXHIBIT