A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin
A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin is a private family foundation headquartered in Austin, Texas. Established in 2000 by Texas philanthropists Philip and Donna Berber, the foundation operates with a dual focus: alleviating extreme poverty in rural Ethiopia and addressing poverty-related issues in Austin and Travis County, Texas. The Austin program, launched in 2003, operates as Glimmer|Austin under the leadership of Executive Director David Porter III.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$423K
-64.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+45.2% YoY
Grant Count
36
+125.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$45K
-35.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin reported a distributable amount of $25K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To empower and invest in local nonprofits and organizations that care for and uplift those who struggle from homelessness, hunger, women's services, shelter for children, and substance abuse. The foundation is dedicated to making a substantial impact by providing critical funding and resources to strengthen the efforts of essential organizations and enable them to expand their reach and enhance their services.
Primary Funding Areas in Austin:
- Homelessness
- Hunger and food insecurity
- Women's services and domestic violence support
- Shelter and protection for children
- Substance abuse and addiction recovery
- Skills training
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $20,000 to $350,000
Ready to take the next step with A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
- Primary: Austin and Travis County, Texas
- Secondary: Rural Ethiopia (international program)
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $1,183,113
- Total Revenues: $163,373
- Total Expenses: $579,388
- Number of Employees: 1
Alternative Asset Data (2024): $422,960
Total Giving (2024): $1,637,600
Historical Context: The foundation was established with $100 million in proceeds from the sale of online trading company CyBerCorp to Charles Schwab. Since inception, the foundation has invested over $100 million in Ethiopia and over $12 million in Austin programs.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $422,960 | $1,183,113 | $2,343,961 |
| Revenue | $898,000 | $163,373 | $2,566,685 |
| Expenses | $905,529 | $579,388 | $2,137,916 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,658,154 | $1,324,221 | $1,668,494 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $24,673 | $30,136 | $23,308 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
202 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Stand Together Trust ($352,000), Mobile Loaves & Fishes ($332,500), Sunrise Community Church ($261,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SAINT LOUISE HOUSE AUSTIN, TX | TO FURTHER THEIR TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| MISSION ACCOMPLISHED PFLUGERVILLE, TX | TO FURTHER THEIR TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| CASA MARIANELLA AUSTIN, TX | TO FURTHER THEIR TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| LATINITAS AUSTIN, TX | TO FURTHER THEIR TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $500 |
| AUSTIN ANGELS AUSTIN, TX | TO FURTHER THEIR TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| STREET YOUTH MINISTRY AUSTIN, TX | TO FURTHER THEIR TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $20,500 |
| KEEP AUSTIN FED AUSTIN, TX | TO FURTHER THEIR TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| CANDLELIGHT RANCH AUSTIN, TX | CAMP GLIMMER SUMMER 2024 ACTIVITIES | $48,250 |
| CARITAS OF AUSTIN AUSTIN, TX | TO FURTHER THEIR TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| LIFEWORKS AUSTIN, TX | TO FURTHER THEIR TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Co-Founders: Philip Berber and Donna Berber
- Executive Director (Austin): David Porter III
- Grants Manager: Salwa Yordi
- Board of Directors: Philip Berber, Donna Berber, Ryan Berber, Shane Berber, Santiago Montoya, and Jake Berber
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHILIP BERBER | CHAIRMAN, CO-FOUNDER | 20 | — |
| DONNA BERBER | DIRECTOR / PRESIDENT & CEO | 2 | — |
| RYAN BERBER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHANE BERBER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAKE BERBER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SANTIAGO MONTOYA | DIRECTOR / CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER | 5 | — |
Recent Activity & Strategic Shift
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, the foundation underwent a significant strategic transition from an international NGO model to a direct grantmaking approach. This shift reflects the foundation's evolution in how it deploys resources to achieve its mission of alleviating poverty and caring for those who struggle.
Contact Information
Address: 3103 Bee Caves Rd Suite 201, Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (512) 328-9944
Email: austin@glimmer.org
Grants Manager Email: salwa@glimmer.org
Website: www.glimmeraustin.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin fund?
**Mission Statement:** To empower and invest in local nonprofits and organizations that care for and uplift those who struggle from homelessness, hunger, women's services, shelter for children, and substance abuse. The foundation is dedicated to making a substantial impact by providing critical funding and resources to strengthen the efforts of essential organizations and enable them to expand their reach and enhance their services. **Primary Funding Areas in Austin:** • Homelessness • Hunger a…
How do I apply for a grant from A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin?
**Grant Range:** $20,000 to $350,000 **Annual Giving:** Approximately $1.1 million (2023) **Recent Grants (2023):** • Stand Together Trust: $344,000 (Phoenix Addiction Project - Multi-Year Grant) • Mobile Loaves and Fishes Support Corporation: $332,500 (Multiplying Goodness Campaign - Multi-Year Grant) • The Other Ones Foundation: $160,000 (To Further Their Tax Exempt Purpose) **Success Rate:** Approximately 29% (approximately 10 awards from 30-35 applications per cycle) **Historical Impact:** …
Where does A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin make grants?
• **Primary:** Austin and Travis County, Texas • **Secondary:** Rural Ethiopia (international program)
What size grants does A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin award?
In 2024, A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin awarded 36 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $45K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin reported a distributable amount of $25K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin's EIN?
A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0733502. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
William Z Hayes Foundation
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$629K
Grants
4
Total Given
$28K
Tr Uw Jane James Cook Item 19
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$861K
Grants
11
Total Given
$41K
Forsyth Fbo Leonard Wood Memorial
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$320K
Grants
1
Total Given
$18K
Teas Foundation
AMARILLO, TX
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
3
Total Given
$138K
Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$13.5M
Grants
41
Total Given
$3.9M
Nelson & Debbie Fox Charitable Fdtn
LUBBOCK, TX
Assets
$329K
Grants
9
Total Given
$90K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin to a real strategy.