Cotton Bowl Foundation logo

Cotton Bowl Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Arlington, TX EIN: 46-1433388 Website

To make a positive impact on those who play the game, attend the game, and support the game. To serve the communities associated with the cotton bowl classic by supporting: -programs that improve opportunities for underserved youth in North Texas; -programs that benefit competing team's community; -organizations with a legacy of contributing to the cotton bowl's success; and -specific, timely needs that present a unique opportunity for cbf to demonstrate community leadership and responsiveness (ex:natural disasters).

Cotton Bowl Foundation at a glance

In short: Cotton Bowl Foundation gave $761K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $152K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$760,500
+37.4% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
5
+66.7% vs 2024
Average grant
$152,100
-17.6% vs 2024
Median grant
$60,000
Total assets
$13,233,000
+5.8% vs 2024
Primary geography
Texas (80% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who Cotton Bowl Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2025

Communities Foundation of Texas: $491KCommunities Foundation ofTexas$491KEliot Arts Magnet Library - Pasadena CA: $150KEliot Arts Magnet Library -Pasadena CA$150KThe Dallas Foundation: $60KThe Dallas Foundation$60KAt Last: $50KAt Last$50KTarrant Area Food Bank: $10KTarrant Area Food Bank$10K

The largest 2025 recipient was Communities Foundation of Texas ($491K). Together the top 5 received $761K.

Grant Size Distribution

15 grants across all recorded years

6<$50K3$50–100K2$100–250K3$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 15 (40%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.

Cities

DallasFort WorthKansas CityKilgorePasadenaPlanoUniversity ParkSan Marcos

How Cotton Bowl Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 69% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K4 grants2021 1 grant2022 2 grants2023 3 grants2024 5 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $276K (2021) to $761K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $761K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Communities Foundation of Texas Dallas, TXDonor-advised fund & Art contest entries$490,500
Eliot Arts Magnet Library - Pasadena CA Pasadena, CAgeneral support$150,000
The Dallas Foundation Dallas, TXGeneral Support$60,000
At Last Dallas, TXgeneral support$50,000
Tarrant Area Food Bank Fort Worth, TXgeneral support$10,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Cotton Bowl Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrants
2025$13,233,000$607,458$786,830$760,5005
2024$12,509,818$786,652$571,162$553,5003
2023$11,407,026$1,179,266$588,097$561,5002
2022$10,673,555$685,728$460,484$450,0001
2021$10,772,488$1,753,995$285,280$276,4464

About Cotton Bowl Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Cotton Bowl Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Arlington, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $13.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $761K.

Focus Areas

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Cotton Bowl Foundation is led by Rick Baker, President & Trustee on every filing since 2021; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Rick Baker

    President & Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kelvin Walker

    Chair & Trustee

    Trustee → Chair & Trustee, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bill Jackman

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gillian Breidenbach

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dave Brown

    Trustee

    Chairman & Trustee → Trustee, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Fred McClure

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Isabell Novakov Higginbotham

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joseph DeWoody

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (6)
  • Former: Bry Patton (2021–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Carl Ice (2021–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Terrance Henderson (2021–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Monica Christopher (2023–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: david cole (2021–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Jay McAuley (2021–2022) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Cotton Bowl Foundation

How much does Cotton Bowl Foundation give each year?

Cotton Bowl Foundation gave $761K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $554K across 3 grants.

What is Cotton Bowl Foundation's typical grant size?

Cotton Bowl Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $60,000, and its average grant was $152,100, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Cotton Bowl Foundation give grants?

Cotton Bowl Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (3 grants).

Does Cotton Bowl Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 80% of Cotton Bowl Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Who are Cotton Bowl Foundation's largest grantees?

Cotton Bowl Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Communities Foundation of Texas ($490,500), Eliot Arts Magnet Library - Pasadena CA ($150,000) and The Dallas Foundation ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Cotton Bowl Foundation?

Cotton Bowl Foundation reported $13.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $607K.

What is Cotton Bowl Foundation?

Cotton Bowl Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Arlington, TX. It holds $13.2M in total assets as of 2025.

What is Cotton Bowl Foundation's EIN?

Cotton Bowl Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1433388. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(5)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 13, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 13, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 22, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 12, 2025)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 26, 2026)

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Cotton Bowl Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Similar funders in Texas

Communities Foundation of Texas Inc

Dallas, TX

Communities Foundation of Texas funds a broad range of community needs, including health, education, housing, and community development, primarily in North Texas and across Texas. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $18,800, though amounts varied widely; nearly all opportunities are by invitation, with some specific programs open for applications.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$1.2B

Grants

2,209

Total Given

$209.2M

Greater Houston Community Foundation

Houston, TX

The Foundation makes grants through donor-advised and other donor-established funds for public benefit, human services, education, and health, including initiatives addressing economic mobility and poverty in Harris County. In 2024, its median grant was $25,000; it serves Greater Houston, while grants also go to recipients elsewhere in Texas and beyond. It does not accept proposals for the upcoming High-Impact Grantmaking cycle and plans to invite selected organizations or collaboratives to apply.

Assets

$1.1B

Grants

1,724

Total Given

$232.3M

Baker Hughes Foundation

Houston, TX

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$2.2M

Grants

990

Total Given

$3.2M

BNSF Railway Foundation

Fort Worth, TX

The BNSF Railway Foundation funds civic, cultural, education, health and human services, environmental, and youth programs, including operating costs and specific projects. Its 2025 median grant was $2,500, though awards ranged from $100 to $500,000; it supports eligible organizations serving communities near BNSF rail lines across its 28 operating states. The foundation provides an online application process, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$23.0M

Grants

993

Total Given

$7.0M

Community Foundation of North Texas (Tax

Fort Worth, TX

The foundation supports nonprofits and community projects in areas including animal welfare, nonprofit capacity building, first responders, land conservation, neighborhood development, opportunity and access, and scholarships. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,100 to $1.5 million, with a median of $14,250; its service area covers 11 North Texas counties. It accepts applications for some competitive grant programs through its online portal, but donor-advised grants are not open to nonprofit applications.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$544.9M

Grants

872

Total Given

$41.3M

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

Austin, TX

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation funds education, health, jobs and livelihoods, and family economic stability, with its deepest U.S. focus in Texas and additional work across the U.S. and internationally. In 2024 it awarded 835 grants totaling about $164.6 million; grants ranged from $75 to $50 million, with a median of $19,324. It accepts unsolicited requests through its online application process.

Assets

$7.8B

Grants

835

Total Given

$164.6M

More similar funders

More Funders in Texas

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Cotton Bowl Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

Cotton Bowl Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?