The Terry & Laurie Ledbetter Foundation concentrates sizable gifts in faith-based higher education and global health/relief organizations. The foundation makes a small number of large, general-purpose grants—many to Christian seminaries and universities—and also supports international surgical and development charities addressing poverty, maternal health, and environmental restoration. Its giving reflects a blend of religious education philanthropy and pragmatic global humanitarian impact.
A defining feature of The Terry & Laurie Ledbetter Foundation is its repeated seven-figure support for Dallas Theological Seminary: $1,000,000 in 2024 and another $1,000,000 in 2025 for general charitable purpose. That pattern sits alongside a broader portfolio of large, flexible grants that reach evangelical Christian higher education and faith-based humanitarian work. The foundation’s recent giving includes a $681,181 grant to Concordia University Irvine, a $500,000 grant to CURE International, and a $500,000 grant to Plant With Purpose, showing a mix of theological education, Christian universities, and international service organizations. The scale is substantial. Its typical grants fall in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the recent record includes a single $3,645,673 grant to See Attachment A in Portland, Oregon. Several grants are unrestricted or broadly designated as general charitable purpose, which points to a funding style that emphasizes institutional support rather than narrow project grants. The recipient list is concentrated in the United States and includes both Texas and California organizations, with Christian higher education appearing as a consistent thread in the portfolio.
Faith-based higher education is a clear priority. The foundation gave $1,000,000 to Dallas Theological Seminary in 2024 and another $180,000 to Biola University in 2024, followed by a second $180,000 grant to Biola University in 2025. Its humanitarian grantmaking includes medical and development work. In 2024, it awarded $342,500 to Fistula Foundation for general charitable purpose, and $500,000 to CURE International. Environmental and livelihoods work also appears in the recent record. The foundation gave $500,000 to Plant With Purpose in 2024, alongside other general-purpose support for organizations operating outside traditional higher-education settings. A smaller set of grants supports Christian universities in California, including $270,000 to Azusa Pacific University in 2025 and $681,181 to Concordia University Irvine in 2024.
The foundation’s grant sizes skew large: the p25 is $301,875, the median is $500,000, and the p75 is $760,886. Recent gifts include both one-time awards and repeat support, most clearly shown by Dallas Theological Seminary and Biola University appearing in multiple years. The grant record also shows flexible funding language, with many awards listed as general charitable purpose. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments, which aligns with its nonprofit grantmaking profile.
$1.5M
$36.7M
$4.6M
$2.1M
Most grants fall between $302K and $761K, with a median of $500K.
25th Percentile
$302K
Median
$500K
75th Percentile
$761K
About 27% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Highly concentrated: few, very large general-purpose grants that account for most dollars. Repeated major support to religious education institutions alongside single large gifts to international health and development NGOs.
Notable grantees: Dallas Theological Seminary, Concordia University Irvine, CURE International, Plant With Purpose, Fistula Foundation
The grant record is entirely U.S.-based, with 11 grants to U.S. recipients. California appears most often as the recipient state, with grants to Irvine, San Diego, San Jose, Azusa, and La Mirada. Texas also receives multiple grants, including Dallas and Texarkana. Outside Texas and California, the recent record includes Portland, Oregon, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. The distribution suggests a regional U.S. footprint rather than national or international recipient geography.
The recent grants show support for evangelical Christian seminaries and universities, plus health and development nonprofits. Examples include Dallas Theological Seminary, Concordia University Irvine, CURE International, Plant With Purpose, and Fistula Foundation, all funded under general charitable purpose.
Its grant sizes are generally large. The p25 is $301,875, the median is $500,000, and the p75 is $760,886. The recent record also includes a $3,645,673 grant, which sits well above the rest of the portfolio.
Yes. Dallas Theological Seminary received $1,000,000 in 2024 and another $1,000,000 in 2025. Biola University also appears twice, with $180,000 in 2024 and $180,000 in 2025.
California is the top state by grant count. Recent California recipients include Concordia University Irvine, Plant With Purpose, Fistula Foundation, Azusa Pacific University, and Biola University. Texas is also a major recipient state, with grants to Dallas Theological Seminary and LifeNet Inc.
No. The foundation’s profile shows that it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments, indicating a grantmaking-only structure focused on nonprofit recipients.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Theological Seminary | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | General Charitable Purpose |
| AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY | AZUSA, CA | $270,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | $180,000 | 2025 | General Charitable Purpose |
| Dallas Theological Seminary | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2024 | General Charitable Purpose |
| Concordia University Irvine | Irvine, CA | $681,181 | 2024 | General Charitable Purpose |
| Plant With Purpose | San Diego, CA | $500,000 | 2024 | General Charitable Purpose |
| CURE International | Grand Rapids, MI | $500,000 | 2024 | General Charitable Purpose |
| Fistula Foundation | San Jose, CA | $342,500 | 2024 | General Charitable Purpose |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | $180,000 | 2024 | General Charitable Purpose |
| LifeNet Inc | Texarkana, TX | $162,500 | 2024 | General Charitable Purpose |
AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
$270,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
Biola University
$180,000General Charitable Purpose
General Charitable Purpose
Biola University
$180,000General Charitable Purpose
LifeNet Inc
$162,500General Charitable Purpose