Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation
The Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation is a private foundation based in Clifton, Texas. In 2025, it reported 23 grants totaling $186,100 to charitable organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Texas.
Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation at a glance
In short: Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation gave $186K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Texas. 35% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $186,100
- -6.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,091
- -15.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $4,410,042
- -0.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (8 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (73% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 513, Clifton, TX 76634
Phone: (254) 675-4600
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Clifton Church of Christ ($87K). Together the top 10 received $179K.
Grant Size Distribution
105 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 101 grants of 105 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 15% to Tennessee, 8% to Pennsylvania, and 4% to Missouri. The filing also lists a recipient in Wisconsin, with the state accounting for 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 23 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $319; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $225 first-time, $5K repeat.
- 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 81% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $175K (2021) to $238K (2023). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $186K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Clifton Church of Christ Clifton, TX | Donation | $87,050 |
| Freed Hardeman University Henderson, TN | Donation | $26,500 |
| Fara Downingtown, PA | Donation | $15,000 |
| Schreiner University Kerrville, TX | Donation | $10,000 |
| Bosque Museum Clifton, TX | Donation | $10,000 |
| St Marks School of Texas Dallas, TX | Donation | $10,000 |
| KAA Branson, MO | Donation | $8,000 |
| Abilene Christian Univ Abilene, TX | Donation | $5,000 |
| Center for Pursuit Houston, TX | Donation | $5,000 |
| Leah Demaree Douglas Imaginaton Fou Clifton, TX | Donation | $2,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,410,042 | $233,949 | $231,966 | $186,100 | 23 | $231,966 | $188,083 | $285,757 |
| 2024 | $4,413,479 | $326,660 | $236,121 | $199,800 | 21 | $236,121 | $290,339 | $263,435 |
| 2023 | $4,350,604 | $2,021,834 | $250,065 | $237,800 | 21 | $250,065 | $2,009,569 | $211,601 |
| 2022 | $2,588,333 | $234,078 | $216,103 | $211,065 | 19 | $216,103 | $226,370 | $238,754 |
| 2021 | $2,563,502 | $197,994 | $178,083 | $174,940 | 21 | — | $191,934 | $217,119 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation reported a distributable amount of $286K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for educational institutions, religious organizations, museums, arts organizations, and other charitable organizations. For example, the Bosque Museum describes its mission as preserving Bosque County’s historic and prehistoric resources for public use, education, enjoyment, and economic benefit. The Bosque Arts Center says it promotes and supports performing and visual arts in Bosque County.
Other 2025 recipients describe a range of work: Schreiner University focuses on student achievement and higher education; St. Mark’s School of Texas provides a college-preparatory education for boys in grades 1–12; and Care for Cats provides veterinary care, food support, and rehoming for cats and kittens.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 23 grants totaling $186,100. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $87,050; the median grant was $1,000. The largest grants included $87,050 to Clifton Church of Christ, $26,500 to Freed Hardeman University, $15,000 to FARA, and $10,000 each to Schreiner University, Bosque Museum, and St. Mark’s School of Texas. The filing lists the purpose of these grants as “donation.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Stephen A. Wells as President and Director; Ran K. Wells as Director; Judy K. Wells as Secretary and Director; Cayce W. McCormick as Director; and Dansby W. Erwin as Director.
Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation is led by Stephen A. Wells, President & Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stephen A. Wells
President & Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cayce W. McCormick
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Dansby W. Erwin
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Judy K. Wells
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ran K. Wells
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
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 Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation
How much does Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation give each year?
Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation gave $186K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $200K across 21 grants.
What is Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation's typical grant size?
Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $8,091, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation that year got $319 on average.
Where does Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation give grants?
Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (15%) and Pennsylvania (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Clifton, TX (5 grants), Dallas, TX (4 grants) and Temple, TX (3 grants).
Does Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (23 grants).
Who are Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation's largest grantees?
Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Clifton Church of Christ ($87,050), Freed Hardeman University ($26,500) and Fara ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation?
Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $232K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $286K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for educational institutions, religious organizations, museums, arts organizations, and other charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation's EIN?
Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-1822990. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dan-kirkland-wells-foundation-morg_e1e7301bc7f84b3dadd6cafa8818499b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_751822990_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Dan Kirkland Wells Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dan-kirkland-wells-foundation-morg_e1e7301bc7f84b3dadd6cafa8818499b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Dan Kirkland Wells 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.
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