Spears Charitable Trust concentrates its giving on faith-based, Texas-centered religious causes, with a strong emphasis on pro-life and Baptist mission work. Most grants are general operating support, suggesting a preference for unrestricted funding to sustain grantee activities rather than project-specific grants.
Concentrated, small-scale portfolio: few grants overall with large share directed to one repeat grantee (Pre‑Born). Funding is repetitive and mission-aligned, primarily general-purpose support to religious organizations rather than broad, diversified philanthropy.
A recurring feature of Spears Charitable Trust’s grantmaking is its support for faith-based education and Baptist-affiliated institutions, especially through repeated scholarships to Baylor University and Oklahoma Baptist University. The trust also makes general-purpose grants to religious and pro-life organizations, with Pre-born receiving the largest recent award at $35,000 in 2024 and another $17,000 in 2025. That pattern shows a funder that combines larger general-purpose checks with steady, smaller awards across several years. Spears Charitable Trust gave $356,370 in annual grants and holds $2,700,838 in assets. Its recent activity includes support for churches, universities, mission foundations, and ministries, often labeled for general purposes or general operations. Texas recipients appear frequently, including First Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas Baptist Missions Foundation in Dallas, and Generation Next in Lake Dallas. The trust also supports scholarship aid, indicating that education is part of its religious giving profile. Across the recent grants list, the same organizations often reappear over multiple years, suggesting a sustained relationship rather than isolated awards.
Education and scholarship support is a clear thread in the trust’s giving. Baylor University received $10,000 scholarships in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Oklahoma Baptist University received $10,000 scholarships in 2023, 2024, and 2025, showing repeated support for student aid. Baptist mission work is another consistent area. Texas Baptist Missions Foundation received $10,000 in 2023 and 2024, followed by $20,000 in 2025, all for general purposes. The trust also backed Dallas Baptist University with a $10,000 general-operations grant in 2024. Local church and ministry support appears in several awards. First Baptist Church in Lubbock received $10,000 in 2023, $10,000 in 2024, and $10,000 in 2025 for general operations, and Redeemer Church in Lubbock received $5,000 for general operations in 2024.
Typical grants cluster tightly around the middle of the range: the p25 is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is also $10,000. That means most awards sit at $10,000, with a smaller number at $5,000 and a few larger grants above that level. The trust’s recent list shows repeat recipients across multiple years, including several organizations that appear in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The funding pattern is heavily oriented toward general-purpose and general-operations support, with scholarship grants also present. It appears to operate as a private charitable trust rather than a program-focused grantmaker, and it funds individuals.
$356K
$2.7M
$174K
$127K
Most grants fall between $5K and $10K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 76% of grants go to recipients in NC.
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Notable grantees: Pre‑Born, Texas Baptist Missions Foundation
Texas receives most of the trust’s grants, accounting for 76% of awards in the recent data. Lubbock appears often among recipients, alongside Dallas, Lake Dallas, Waco, and San Antonio. Outside Texas, the recent list includes Indianapolis, Shawnee, Washington, and Des Moines. All recorded grants go to U.S. recipients, with no non-U.S. countries appearing in the grant list.
The trust gives mostly to faith-based and Baptist-affiliated organizations, along with pro-life and scholarship-focused recipients. Recent grants include repeated support for churches, Baptist mission and university programs, and a pro-life organization, often labeled for general purposes, general operations, or scholarships.
The grant-size profile is tightly centered on $10,000. The p25 is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $10,000, so most recent grants fall at or near $10,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Baylor University, Oklahoma Baptist University, First Baptist Church, and Texas Baptist Missions Foundation. That pattern indicates ongoing relationships rather than only one-time awards.
Texas is the main recipient state, with 76% of grants going to organizations in Texas. Recent Texas cities include Lubbock, Dallas, Lake Dallas, Waco, and San Antonio.
Yes. Scholarship grants are a recurring part of the portfolio, including awards to Baylor University, Oklahoma Baptist University, and Wayland Baptist University.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEXAS BAPTIST MISSIONS FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PRE-BORN | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $17,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BAYLOR UNIVERSITY | WACO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH | LUBBOCK, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INTN'L FWSHP OF CHRISTIANS & JEWS | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | SHAWNEE, OK | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT CENTER | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GENERATION NEXT | LAKE DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | LUBBOCK, TX | $5,005 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE | BOONE, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| REDEEMER CHURCH | LUBBOCK, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BAPTIST UNIVERSITY OF THE AMERICAS | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MURPHY MINISTRIES | LUBBOCK, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT WORLDWIDE | LUBBOCK, TX | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PRE-BORN | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $35,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| TEXAS BAPTIST MISSIONS FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | SHAWNEE, OK | $10,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH | LUBBOCK, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GENERATION NEXT | LAKE DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BAYLOR UNIVERSITY | WACO, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT CENTER | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MURPHY MINISTRIES | LUBBOCK, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | LUBBOCK, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| REDEEMER CHURCH | LUBBOCK, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BAPTIST UNIVERSITY OF THE AMERICAS | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PEO FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $3,365 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT WORLDWIDE | LUBBOCK, TX | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PRE-BORN | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | SHAWNEE, OK | $10,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| TEXAS BAPTIST MISSIONS FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BAYLOR UNIVERSITY | WACO, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH | LUBBOCK, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT CENTER | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GENERATION NEXT | LAKE DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | LUBBOCK, TX | $5,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| MURPHY MINISTRIES | LUBBOCK, TX | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BAPTIST UNIVERSITY OF THE AMERICAS | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PEO FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| REDEEMER CHURCH | LUBBOCK, TX | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT WORLDWIDE | LUBBOCK, TX | $2,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
TEXAS BAPTIST MISSIONS FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSES
PRE-BORN
$17,000GENERAL PURPOSES
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
INTN'L FWSHP OF CHRISTIANS & JEWS
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP
CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT CENTER
GENERAL OPERATIONS
GENERATION NEXT
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
$5,005SCHOLARSHIP
SAMARITAN'S PURSE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
REDEEMER CHURCH
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
BAPTIST UNIVERSITY OF THE AMERICAS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
MURPHY MINISTRIES
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT WORLDWIDE
$2,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PRE-BORN
$35,000GENERAL PURPOSES
TEXAS BAPTIST MISSIONS FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSES
OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP
DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GENERATION NEXT
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP
CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT CENTER
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
MURPHY MINISTRIES
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
$5,000SCHOLARSHIP
REDEEMER CHURCH
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
BAPTIST UNIVERSITY OF THE AMERICAS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PEO FOUNDATION
$3,365GENERAL OPERATIONS
PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT WORLDWIDE
$2,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PRE-BORN
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSES
OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP
TEXAS BAPTIST MISSIONS FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSES
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT CENTER
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GENERATION NEXT
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
$5,000SCHOLARSHIP
MURPHY MINISTRIES
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSES
BAPTIST UNIVERSITY OF THE AMERICAS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PEO FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
REDEEMER CHURCH
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT WORLDWIDE
$2,000GENERAL OPERATIONS