The Nation Foundation concentrates funding on faith-affiliated higher education and local Baptist ministry in Texas, primarily supporting Christian colleges and churches in the Dallas/Austin area. Most dollars go to a small number of large awards, often repeat grants to the same institutions, reflecting a preference for supporting religiously‑identified education and congregational operations rather than broad national philanthropy.
THE NATION FOUNDATION formerly known as JAMES AND SALLY NATION FOUNDATION makes seven-figure gifts to a small set of Texas institutions, with its largest recent award going to Dallas Baptist University for $735,000 in 2024. That pattern places faith-affiliated higher education at the center of its grantmaking, alongside support for Baptist congregations and local ministries in North Texas. The foundation’s recent record shows repeated awards to the same recipients, including another $560,000 to Dallas Baptist University in 2023 and $519,000 to Park Cities Baptist Church in 2023, signaling sustained backing rather than one-time project funding. Smaller grants still follow the same local religious and community-service network, reaching churches, Christian colleges, and Dallas-area ministries. Across the recent grants list, the foundation’s work is concentrated in Texas and tied closely to Baptist or Christian institutions, especially in Dallas, Plano, Sherman, and College Station. It also appears to support a mix of education and civic purposes, with grants labeled for both categories in the recent record.
Faith-based higher education is a clear priority. THE NATION FOUNDATION formerly known as JAMES AND SALLY NATION FOUNDATION gave $215,000 in 2024 to Austin College and $20,000 in 2024 to Texas A&M University, both in the education category. It also supported Texas Tech University with $7,000 in 2023 and $3,500 in 2024. Church and congregation support is another consistent theme. The foundation gave $131,000 in 2024 to Park Cities Baptist Church after a $519,000 grant in 2023, and it awarded $10,000 in both 2023 and 2024 to Highland Country Fellowship Church. Local ministry and service organizations also appear in the record. Grants include $20,000 in 2024 to Healing Hands Ministries, $10,000 in 2024 to White Rock Center of Hope, and $10,000 in 2024 to Denison Ministries.
The recent grant list shows a typical grant size of $10,000, with p25 at $10,000, a median of $10,000, and p75 at $20,000. That distribution sits alongside a few much larger awards, including six- and seven-figure gifts to core institutions. Recipients often appear in multiple years, such as Dallas Baptist University, Park Cities Baptist Church, Austin College, Texas A&M University, and several local ministries, which points to repeat core-grantee funding. The foundation funds individuals: False and makes program-related investments: False, so the giving profile is centered on direct grants rather than those vehicles.
$3.3M
$18.9M
$2.4M
$3.4M
Most grants fall between $10K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Highly concentrated: few, large grants (two organizations received multiple awards) focused on local Texas beneficiaries; repeat funding to core grantees rather than many small or one-off grants.
Notable grantees: Dallas Baptist University, Park Cities Baptist Church, Austin College
The foundation’s giving is overwhelmingly Texas-based, with 97% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Dallas appears most often, followed by Plano, Sherman, College Station, Lubbock, and Fort Collins. In the recent list, Dallas recipients include Dallas Baptist University, Park Cities Baptist Church, and several local ministries. The only non-Texas recipient in the top grants list is Colorado State University in Fort Collins, which received one grant in 2024. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Its recent grants go mainly to Baptist-affiliated colleges and universities, evangelical Baptist churches, and local Texas ministries. Examples in the record include Dallas Baptist University, Park Cities Baptist Church, Austin College, and Healing Hands Ministries.
Yes. Dallas Baptist University received $560,000 in 2023 and $735,000 in 2024. Park Cities Baptist Church received $519,000 in 2023 and $131,000 in 2024. Several smaller recipients also appear in consecutive years, including Austin College and Texas A&M University.
The typical grant size is $10,000. The distribution is tight at the low end, with p25 at $10,000, median at $10,000, and p75 at $20,000, even though a few large awards are much higher.
It gives primarily in Texas: 97% of grants in the recent record went to recipients in the HQ state. Dallas is the most common recipient city, with additional grants in Plano, Sherman, College Station, Lubbock, and Fort Collins.
Faith-affiliated higher education is a major part of the record. The largest recent grant was $735,000 to Dallas Baptist University in 2024, and other education grants went to Austin College, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, and Colorado State University.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | DALLAS, TX | $2,006,782 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | DALLAS, TX | $805,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH | DALLAS, TX | $110,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| THRUST FLIGHT SCHOOL | ADDISON, TX | $95,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| LAKE HIGHLANDS BAPTIST CHURCH | Dallas, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| TEXAS AM UNIVERSITY | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $40,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| HEALING HANDS MINISTRIES | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY | SAN MARCOS, TX | $13,097 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| US AVIATION ACADEMY | DENTON, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| DENISON MINISTRIES | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY | Stillwater, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| YOUNG LIFE | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| WHITE ROCK CENTER OF HOPE | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| OUR CALLING | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| TEXAS AM COMMERCE | COMMERCE, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| MERCY STREET | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| SAMFORD UNIVERSITY | Homewood, AL | $10,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| FINISHING WELL MINISTRIES | PLANO, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| DALLAS SYMPHONY | DALLAS, TX | $9,972 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| NATIONAL LASER INSTITUTE | Dallas, TX | $8,950 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| VENTANA BY BUCKNER | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| LAKE HIGHLANDS YMCA | DALLAS, TX | $2,500 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH | DALLAS, TX | $725,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| AUSTIN COLLEGE | SHERMAN, TX | $200,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| TEXAS AM UNIVERSITY | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| DALLAS SKIN INSTITUTE | DALLAS, TX | $20,539 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| US AVIATION ACADEMY | DENTON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| HEALING HANDS MINISTRIES | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| DENISON MINISTRIES | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| HIGHLAND COUNTRY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| OUR CALLING | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| MERCY STREET | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| FINISHING WELL MINISTRIES | PLANO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| YOUNG LIFE | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| WHITE ROCK CENTER OF HOPE | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| NEW SONG COMMUNITY CHOIR | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| LAKE HIGHLANDS YMCA | DALLAS, TX | $2,500 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | DALLAS, TX | $735,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| AUSTIN COLLEGE | SHERMAN, TX | $215,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH | DALLAS, TX | $131,000 | 2024 | CIVIC |
| INTERNATIONAL CHURCH ASSOCIATION | PLANO, TX | $114,995 | 2024 | CIVIC |
| TEXAS AM UNIVERSITY | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| HEALING HANDS MINISTRIES | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | CIVIC |
| HIGHLAND COUNTRY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | CIVIC |
| YOUNG LIFE | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | CIVIC |
| DENISON MINISTRIES | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | CIVIC |
| FINISHING WELL MINISTRIES | PLANO, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | CIVIC |
| WHITE ROCK CENTER OF HOPE | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | CIVIC |
| OUR CALLING | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | CIVIC |
PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH
$110,000CIVIC
THRUST FLIGHT SCHOOL
$95,000EDUCATION
LAKE HIGHLANDS BAPTIST CHURCH
$50,000CIVIC
TEXAS AM UNIVERSITY
$40,000EDUCATION
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
$13,097CIVIC
US AVIATION ACADEMY
$10,000EDUCATION
DENISON MINISTRIES
$10,000CIVIC
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000CIVIC
YOUNG LIFE
$10,000CIVIC
WHITE ROCK CENTER OF HOPE
$10,000CIVIC
TEXAS AM COMMERCE
$10,000CIVIC
FINISHING WELL MINISTRIES
$10,000CIVIC
DALLAS SYMPHONY
$9,972CIVIC
NATIONAL LASER INSTITUTE
$8,950EDUCATION
VENTANA BY BUCKNER
$5,000CIVIC
LAKE HIGHLANDS YMCA
$2,500CIVIC
PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH
$725,000CIVIC
AUSTIN COLLEGE
$200,000EDUCATION
TEXAS AM UNIVERSITY
$30,000EDUCATION
DALLAS SKIN INSTITUTE
$20,539EDUCATION
US AVIATION ACADEMY
$20,000EDUCATION
DENISON MINISTRIES
$10,000CIVIC
HIGHLAND COUNTRY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
$10,000CIVIC
FINISHING WELL MINISTRIES
$10,000CIVIC
YOUNG LIFE
$10,000CIVIC
WHITE ROCK CENTER OF HOPE
$10,000CIVIC
NEW SONG COMMUNITY CHOIR
$10,000CIVIC
LAKE HIGHLANDS YMCA
$2,500CIVIC
AUSTIN COLLEGE
$215,000EDUCATION
PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH
$131,000CIVIC
INTERNATIONAL CHURCH ASSOCIATION
$114,995CIVIC
TEXAS AM UNIVERSITY
$20,000EDUCATION
HIGHLAND COUNTRY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
$10,000CIVIC
YOUNG LIFE
$10,000CIVIC
DENISON MINISTRIES
$10,000CIVIC
FINISHING WELL MINISTRIES
$10,000CIVIC
WHITE ROCK CENTER OF HOPE
$10,000CIVIC