The Sparrow Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on conservative evangelical Christian causes in the Dallas area and nationally, prioritizing church ministry, family-focused religious programming, and faith-aligned educational initiatives. Most dollars flow to a small group of repeat grantees that carry out missionary/Great Commission work, pro‑family church activities, and education programs with a religious or values-based orientation.
A single Great Commission grant stands out in The Sparrow Charitable Foundation’s recent record: $1,500,000 to Illuminations in 2026. That gift is paired with a smaller but repeated pattern of support for the same ministry across prior years, suggesting a sustained commitment rather than a one-time award. The foundation’s giving also reaches beyond evangelism into pro-family church programming, faith-aligned education, and world relief, with grants to organizations tied to those purposes in Texas and beyond. Recent awards include support for Northway Church in Dallas for pro-family work, International Justice Mission for world relief, and Lifenet for educational purposes. Their portfolio is not broad in count but is concentrated in a few recurring organizations and mission areas, with several grantees appearing multiple times across the recent grant list. The mix of religious outreach, family-centered church activity, schooling-related support, and humanitarian aid shows a funder that allocates most of its resources through project-based grants connected to conservative evangelical priorities. Although the foundation is relatively small on the balance sheet, its annual grantmaking is substantial and highly directed.
In evangelism and Great Commission outreach, the foundation gave $1,500,000 to Illuminations in 2026, after prior awards of $500,000 in 2023, $250,000 in 2025, and $100,000 in 2024. In pro-family programming, Northway Church received $550,500 in 2025 and $45,000 in 2024 for related work. Educational support appears in several grants, including $500,000 to Lifenet in 2026, $156,000 to Elevate USA in 2026, and $35,250 to Dallas Baptist University in 2025. World relief also holds a place in the portfolio, with $500,000 to International Justice Mission in 2026 and $100,000 to Samaritan’s Purse in 2025. The pattern points to a funder that backs faith-based ministries, schools, and humanitarian organizations through targeted project grants.
Typical grants cluster at a modest-to-mid scale, with p25 at $5,000, a median of $6,200, and p75 at $25,000, even as a handful of larger awards drive the annual total. The recent record shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Illuminations, Elevate USA, Lifenet, Northway Church, and Samaritan’s Purse. That repeat-grant pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated one-off gifts. The foundation appears to make programmatic grants tied to specific purposes, as shown by the category labels attached to awards. No application process is indicated in the provided data.
$2.9M
$22K
$2.9M
$2.9M
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $6K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$6K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Highly concentrated: a small number of large grants (including repeat awards) to a few core organizations rather than many small, diverse recipients.
Notable grantees: ILLUMINATIONS, NORTHWAY CHURCH, ELEVATE USA
Giving is regional and heavily Texas-centered: 45% of grants go to recipients in TX, and Dallas appears repeatedly in the recipient list. Beyond Dallas, recent grants went to Alpharetta, Georgia; Arlington, Virginia; Boone, North Carolina; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Red Bluff, California. The recipient footprint is entirely U.S.-based, with 130 grants recorded in the United States and no non-U.S. recipient countries listed. The pattern shows a local core with selected organizations elsewhere in the country.
The recent grants show three main areas: evangelical church ministry and Great Commission outreach, pro-family programming run by churches, and faith-aligned educational support. The list also includes world relief and humanitarian aid, with awards classified under that purpose.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Illuminations, Elevate USA, Lifenet, Northway Church, and Samaritan’s Purse. That indicates recurring support rather than a strictly one-time grant pattern.
Texas receives the largest share of grants, at 45% of recipient locations. Dallas appears often among the recipient cities, alongside other U.S. locations such as Alpharetta, Arlington, Boone, Colorado Springs, and Red Bluff.
The distribution is centered on smaller awards, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $6,200, and a p75 of $25,000. The recent list also includes several larger project grants above that range.
The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the provided data, with 130 grants to U.S. recipients and no non-U.S. recipient countries listed.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILLUMINATIONS | ALPHARETTA, GA | $1,500,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION | ARLINGTON, VA | $500,000 | 2026 | IV - WORLD RELIEF |
| LIFENET | RED BLUFF, CA | $500,000 | 2026 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| ELEVATE USA | ARVADA, CO | $156,000 | 2026 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION | NORMAN, OK | $30,000 | 2026 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| NORTHWAY CHURCH | DALLAS, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | II - PRO FAMILY |
| SPOKEN WORLDWIDE | DALLAS, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| ELEVATE DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| ENRIGHT FOUNDATIONAL MINISTRIES | POST ORANGE, FL | $25,000 | 2026 | IV - WORLD RELIEF |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE | BOONE, NC | $25,000 | 2026 | IV - WORLD RELIEF |
| EAST WEST INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES | PLANO, TX | $12,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| POINT OF VIEW | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | II - PRO FAMILY |
| DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK | PLANO, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | IV - WORLD RELIEF |
| OUR CALLING | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | IV - WORLD RELIEF |
| DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| NCF - KAY ARUTHUR MEMORIAL | ALPHARETTA, GA | $5,000 | 2026 | V - OTHER PURPOSES |
| HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY | BROWNWOOD, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| ASHA-GF | DALALS, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST | ORLANDO, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| CHRISTAR | RICHARDSON, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH | ST PAUL, MN | $5,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| 100 FOLD STUDIO | LAKESIDE, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| MISSION QUEST | WHEATON, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| OMF INTERNATIONAL | LITTLETON, CO | $4,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS INC | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $2,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| THE NAVIGATORS | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $2,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| COUNSELING FOR BRAZIL MINISTRIES | FORT WORTH, TX | $2,000 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| OUTRAGEOUS LOVE | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $1,000 | 2026 | IV - WORLD RELIEF |
| HERITAGE SCHOOL OF TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2026 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| ULMAN FOUNDATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $500 | 2026 | V - OTHER PURPOSES |
| DALLAS BAPTIST ASSOCIATION | DALLAS, TX | $500 | 2026 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| WORLD MOVERS (WORLD NEWS GROUP) | ASHEVILLE, NC | $500 | 2026 | V - OTHER PURPOSES |
| FAMILY LEGACY | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2026 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| NORTHWAY CHURCH | DALLAS, TX | $550,500 | 2025 | II - PRO FAMILY |
| ILLUMINATIONS | ALPHARETTA, GA | $250,000 | 2025 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| ELEVATE USA | ARVADA, CO | $150,000 | 2025 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| STARFISH PROJECT | GOSHEN, IN | $100,000 | 2025 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE | BOONE, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | IV - WORLD RELIEF |
| COME AND SEE FOUNDATION | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | II - PRO FAMILY |
| INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION | ARLINGTON, VA | $60,000 | 2025 | IV - WORLD RELIEF |
| LIFENET | RED BLUFF, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | DALLAS, TX | $35,250 | 2025 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY | DALLAS, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| POINT OF VIEW | DALLAS, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | II - PRO FAMILY |
| OUR CALLING | DALLAS, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | IV - WORLD RELIEF |
| EAST WEST INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES | PLANO, TX | $12,000 | 2025 | I - GREAT COMMISSION |
| BRIDGES TO LIFE | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| ELEVATE DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA FOUNDATION | NORMAN, OK | $5,400 | 2025 | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES |
ILLUMINATIONS
$1,500,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
LIFENET
$500,000III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
NORTHWAY CHURCH
$25,000II - PRO FAMILY
ENRIGHT FOUNDATIONAL MINISTRIES
$25,000IV - WORLD RELIEF
EAST WEST INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES
$12,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
POINT OF VIEW
$10,000II - PRO FAMILY
NCF - KAY ARUTHUR MEMORIAL
$5,000V - OTHER PURPOSES
ASHA-GF
$5,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST
$5,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
CHRISTAR
$5,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH
$5,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
100 FOLD STUDIO
$5,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
MISSION QUEST
$5,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
OMF INTERNATIONAL
$4,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS INC
$2,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
THE NAVIGATORS
$2,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
COUNSELING FOR BRAZIL MINISTRIES
$2,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
OUTRAGEOUS LOVE
$1,000IV - WORLD RELIEF
HERITAGE SCHOOL OF TEXAS
$1,000III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
DALLAS BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
$500III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
WORLD MOVERS (WORLD NEWS GROUP)
$500V - OTHER PURPOSES
FAMILY LEGACY
$500I - GREAT COMMISSION
NORTHWAY CHURCH
$550,500II - PRO FAMILY
ILLUMINATIONS
$250,000I - GREAT COMMISSION
ELEVATE USA
$150,000III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
STARFISH PROJECT
$100,000III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
COME AND SEE FOUNDATION
$100,000II - PRO FAMILY
LIFENET
$50,000III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
POINT OF VIEW
$15,000II - PRO FAMILY
EAST WEST INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES
$12,000I - GREAT COMMISSION