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.
children and adolescents (youth)students (K-12 and possibly higher education)low-income individuals and familiespeople with medical or mental health conditionspeople experiencing homelessness or housing insecuritymarginalized and underserved communities (civil rights beneficiaries)
About East Texas Communities Foundation
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.
What East Texas Communities Foundation Funds
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.
How East Texas Communities Foundation Gives
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.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$15.4M
Total Assets
$129.5M
Total Revenue
$21.3M
Total Expenses
$19.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $8K and $34K, with a median of $14K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$14K
75th Percentile
$34K
Geographic Reach
Local25 states funded
Intensidad de financiamiento
BajaAlta
Sede
Leadership
Kyle L Penney
Accepts unsolicited proposals
Deep Analysis
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EIN (identificación fiscal): 75-2309138Último Formulario 990: 2025Activos totales: 129,5 M US$3 declaraciones registradasEncuentra su declaración 990 completa →
multi-sector portfolioprogram/project supportresearch fundingdirect service delivery
Topics
K-12 and youth educationafter-school & youth development programsmedical and clinical researchmental health services and supportsfood security and nutrition programshousing stability and emergency sheltercivil rights and advocacy
Where East Texas Communities Foundation Makes Grants
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About East Texas Communities Foundation
What kinds of causes does East Texas Communities Foundation support?
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.
How large are its typical grants?
The typical grant size is $8,480 at the 25th percentile, $14,424 at the median, and $34,402 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes much larger awards to universities and health organizations.
Does the foundation support scholarships?
Yes. It administers multiple scholarship programs for East Texas students, including general matching scholarships, donor-established scholarships, and a non-traditional medical school scholarship for students currently attending or accepted to medical school in Texas.
Where does most of the foundation’s giving go?
Most grants go to recipients in Texas, which accounts for 87% of grants in the dataset. Tyler appears frequently among recipient cities, alongside other East Texas places such as Marshall, Whitehouse, and Smith County communities.
Are there recurring grantees in the recent grants list?
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including UT Tyler Office of Advancement, The Mentoring Alliance, Bethesda Health Clinic, Texas Wesleyan University, and East Texas Crisis Center. That pattern suggests repeat support for some organizations rather than one-time awards only.
Latest 990 Filing
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Oportunidades de Subvenciones Abiertas
Financiamiento actual y próximo de East Texas Communities Foundation al que tu organización sin fines de lucro podría postularse.
Abierta ahoraCierra en 3 días (30 sept 2026)Monto: Hasta 10 mil US$
T.J. and LaVerne Plunkett Foundation Grant
Arts and cultureEducation and job trainingHealth and human services+4 más
¿Quién puede postularse? Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofits with programs serving Cherokee, Gregg, Nacogdoches, Panola, or Rusk counties, with preference for Rusk County. Programs must align with the stated conservative Christian values.
Fecha límite: Applications open September 1, 2026; deadline September 30, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CST; recipients announced in November.
Próxima aperturaCierra el 15 jul 2027Monto: 0 US$ – 10 mil US$
John Reagan Harris Community Fund
Civic projectsReligious projectsCharitable projects+5 más
¿Quién puede postularse? Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status or governmental units benefiting the Center, Texas community. General operating support and memberships/licenses are discouraged. Organizations should submit only one application.
Fecha límite: Applications open June 15, 2027; deadline July 15, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.; recipients announced in August.
Próxima aperturaCierra el 15 jul 2027Monto: 0 US$ – 9 mil US$
Betty and Roy Erickson Charitable Fund for Nursing Grant
Nursing educationEquipmentTechnology+1 más
¿Quién puede postularse? Public colleges, universities, or private nonprofit 501(c)(3) institutions located in an eligible East Texas county. Administrative costs are discouraged.
Fecha límite: Applications open June 15, 2027; deadline July 15, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.; recipients announced in August.
Próxima aperturaCierra el 31 jul 2027Monto: Hasta 1 mil US$
Evans-Merrick Music Grants Fund
Traditional musicClassical musicProduction+5 más
¿Quién puede postularse? 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving East Texas. Programs must be public and offered without a required admission fee. Preference may be given to small groups with limited financial support.
Fecha límite: Applications open July 1, 2027; deadline July 31, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.; recipients announced in September.
Las fechas límite y los requisitos de elegibilidad son un resumen de fuentes públicas y pueden cambiar — confirma siempre los detalles en la página oficial de solicitud del financiador antes de postularte.