Abilene Education Foundation
Abilene Education Foundation is a public charity based in Abilene, Texas. It supports education for students and teachers of Abilene Independent School District (AISD), including classroom grants, college and career readiness programs, scholarships, and teacher recognition.
Abilene Education Foundation at a glance
In short: Abilene Education Foundation reported $344K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $344,291 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- +31.0% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $1,549,291
- -8.0% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $584,146
- +14.9% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $32,327
- +23.9% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $794,578
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Abilene Education Foundation
- Review Cycle
- The website listed September 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. as the STAR application deadline. That deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The website listed September 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1999, Abilene, TX 79604
Phone: (325) 677-1444
Website: https://abileneef.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Abilene Education Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 4 grants of 5 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mission and program descriptions focus on students and teachers of Abilene Independent School District.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Abilene Education Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $223K (2020) to $344K (2025). In 2025 it reported $344K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Abilene Independent School District Abilene, TX | COOL Counselors Salaries & Benefits | $237,204 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $25,626 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,549,291 | $584,146 | $794,578 | $344,291 | Total only | $32,327 |
| 2024 | $1,683,332 | $508,273 | $722,555 | $262,830 | 2 | $26,096 |
| 2023 | $1,453,892 | $839,974 | $702,456 | $245,257 | 1 | $40,167 |
| 2022 | $1,273,035 | $378,069 | $649,527 | $239,145 | 1 | $56,964 |
| 2021 | $1,544,295 | $531,469 | $597,905 | $227,195 | 1 | $197,831 |
| 2020 | $1,640,261 | $1,009,255 | $637,267 | $222,645 | 1 | $47,667 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to “enhance and inspire excellence in education for the students and teachers of Abilene Independent School District.”
Its programs include classroom grants for projects and instructional materials that directly affect learning; COOL college advisors who help students with college planning and related steps; scholarships; and Teachers in the Limelight, which recognizes AISD educators. Its website also lists Polnick 21st Century Learning Grants and GIFT Grants for new-to-profession first-year teachers.
Grantmaking
IRS filing data reports two grants totaling $262,830 in 2024 and one grant totaling $245,257 in 2023. The 2025 filing reports zero grants. The available information does not identify the recipients or individual grant amounts.
The foundation’s website describes STAR Classroom Grants as funding projects that support AISD curriculum and enrichment activities. Community partners and AISD employee payroll deductions fund STAR Grants. Community volunteers and others review and score applications using a rubric. Applicants are instructed to apply online, obtain approval from their campus principal and content area coordinator, and provide a clear project description and current, tax-exempt budget with shipping costs. Proposals may include classroom supplies, manipulatives, equipment, or field trips; food is generally excluded, and building improvements should not be requested.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Adam Samuels as Executive Director; Dayton Borger as President; Callie Harris as Past President; Jennifer Eller as Treasurer; Debbie Langford as Secretary; Keathley Roan as Vice President; and Ann Hall, Amanda Pittman, Sandi Rainwater, and Jose Valenzuela as directors.
Abilene Education Foundation is led by Adam Samuels, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 19 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Adam Samuels
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$51K (2023) → $77K (2025)
Dayton Borger
President
Director → Vice President, 2024
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Pittman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy McAdams
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jose Valenzuela
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emerald Cassidy
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Newton
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Clancy
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leah Hymel
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandi Rainwater
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Hall
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcus Wiley
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Zeller
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Martinez
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean Aleman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Callie Harris
Past President
Vice President → President, 2024
President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Eller
Treasurer
Director → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keathley Roan
Vice President
Director → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debbie Langford
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Jessica Melson (2020–2024) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Mike McAuliffe (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Ashley Hall (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Josh Rader (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ryan Gibson (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Amy Adams (2022) — Director
- Former: Dee Dolton (2022) — Director
- Former: Amy Smith (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Basilia Hester (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mike Breckenridge (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mike Dudley (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Susan Mouser (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Tracy Howle (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kevin Campbell (2020) — Director
- Former: Mike Young (2020) — Director
- Former: Tiffany Lamb (2020) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $77K, to Adam Samuels (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Abilene Education Foundation
How much does Abilene Education Foundation give each year?
Abilene Education Foundation reported $344K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $263K across 2 grants.
How large is Abilene Education Foundation?
Abilene Education Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $584K.
What does Abilene Education Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to “enhance and inspire excellence in education for the students and teachers of Abilene Independent School District.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Abilene Education Foundation?
Abilene Education Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check abileneef.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Abilene Education Foundation make grants?
The foundation’s stated mission and program descriptions focus on students and teachers of Abilene Independent School District.
What is Abilene Education Foundation's EIN?
Abilene Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1741496. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 16, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Abilene Education Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Abilene Education Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Abilene Education Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?