East Texas Communities Foundation
East Texas Communities Foundation (ETCF) is a community foundation established in 1989 to serve the people and communities of East Texas. Based in Tyler, Texas, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity and manages charitable giving through a variety of fund structures including scholarships, endowments, designated funds, and donor-advised funds.
Key facts about East Texas Communities Foundation
- EIN
- 75-2309138
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,421,546
- Grants made (2024)
- 253
- Average grant
- $60,955
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (62 of 253, 2024)
- Total assets
- $129,511,863
- Primary geography
- Texas (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who East Texas Communities Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for East Texas Communities Foundation's 253 itemized 2024 grants were Texas (91%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tyler, TX (94 grants), Longview, TX (14 grants), Dallas, TX (11 grants) and Athens, TX (11 grants). 8% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Religion" (56 grants), "Educational" (47 grants) and "Human Service" (37 grants).
Is East Texas Communities Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 62 of 253 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $73K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $16K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with East Texas Communities Foundation
- How to evaluate East Texas Communities Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to East Texas Communities Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$129.5M
+2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$15.4M
+26.0% YoY
Grant Count
253
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$61K
+26.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Philanthropy builds community and changes lives. East Texas Communities Foundation supports philanthropy by offering simple ways for donors to achieve their charitable goals.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Health (25% of funding)
- Education (23% of funding)
- Youth Development (17% of funding)
- Human Services
- Religion
- Medical Research
- Environmental Protection
- Artistic Expression
Grantmaking
ETCF administers over 450 unique charitable funds and distributes grants to local, national, and international nonprofit organizations. In 2024, the foundation awarded more than $19.9 million in grants to over 800 different nonprofit organizations.
Grant Range
$1,000–$4,075,236
Ready to take the next step with East Texas Communities Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ETCF serves 32 counties in East Texas, with grant distribution extending to nonprofit organizations in Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 253 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $129,511,863–$137,679,511
- Total Revenues: $21,291,866
- Total Expenses: $19,134,507
- Annual Giving: $19,929,053
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $126,676,238–$127,000,000
- Total Revenues: $16,489,236
- Total Expenses: $15,749,671
Staff Size: 6–7 employees
Rating: Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a perfect score of 100% in Accountability & Finance
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $129,511,863 | $126,676,238 | $115,734,641 |
| Revenue | $21,291,866 | $16,489,236 | $14,270,368 |
| Expenses | $19,134,507 | $15,749,671 | $13,956,400 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $8,452,107 | $5,482,322 | $3,068,072 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
1,180 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
75 open opportunities from East Texas Communities Foundation
A.D. & Mary Winston Scholarship Grant
East Texas Communities Foundation
Amount
US $1,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Barbara Bass Community College Scholarship Grant
East Texas Communities Foundation
Amount
Up to US $1,250
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Betty and Roy Erickson Charitable Fund for Nursing Grant
East Texas Communities Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Bethesda Health Clinic ($4,075,236), UT Tyler Office of Advancemen ($1,898,512), St Paul Lutheran Church ($440,692).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bethesda Health Clinic Tyler, TX | Health, General | $4,075,236 |
| UT Tyler Office of Advancemen Tyler, TX | Educational | $1,898,512 |
| St Paul Lutheran Church St Joseph, MO | Educational | $440,692 |
| THE MENTORING ALLIANCE Tyler, TX | Youth Development | $401,480 |
| The Xtra Mile Recov Assistanc Ville Platte, LA | Mental Health | $380,000 |
| Encouragement Media Group Tyler, TX | Religion | $375,457 |
| Texas Wesleyan University Fort Worth, TX | Educational | $263,282 |
| Grace Community Church Tyler, TX | Religion | $262,100 |
| Azleway Inc Tyler, TX | Youth Development | $232,111 |
| Starbrite Therapeutic Equestr Whitehouse, TX | Disease/Disorder | $194,154 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President: Kyle Penney
Executive Committee:
- Barbara Bass, Board Chair (Benefits / Fundraising Auctioneer)
- Anthony Brooks, Vice Chair and Governance Chair (CEO, Azalea Orthopedic and Sports Medicine)
- Richard Perryman, Investment Chair (Retired Investment Advisor)
- John Jones, Treasurer (CEO, Jones Legacy Ventures)
- Kris Gusa, Grants Chair (CPA / Partner, Gollob Morgan Peddy)
- Mark Hagan, Marketing Chair
Staff:
- Kyle Penney, President
- Lisa Justice, Assistant to the President
- Lindsay Sneed, Director of Finance and Administration
- Holly McFarlin, Director of Public Relations
- Dana Durman, Program Officer
- Kathryn Martinez, Program Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle L Penney | President | 40 | $216,945 |
| Marvin L Sneed | Finance Director | 40 | $138,603 |
| Rick Allen | Director | 1 | — |
| Robert Bailes | Director | 1 | — |
| Garnett Brookshire | Director | 1 | — |
| Shannon Dacus | Director | 1 | — |
| Barbara Bass | V Chr/Govn Chr | 1 | — |
| Amy Miller | Director | 1 | — |
| Rogers Pope Jr | Director | 1 | — |
| Toby Fails | Director | 1 | — |
| Jay Ferguson | Sppt/Eval Chair | 1 | — |
| Craig Adams | Director | 1 | — |
| Mark Hagan | Mktg/Dev Chair | 1 | — |
| Richard Perryman | Investmnt Chair | 1 | — |
| Dirk Coleman | Audit Chair | 1 | — |
| Lonny Uzzell | Director | 1 | — |
| Alan Roseman | Director | 1 | — |
| Lee Gearheart | Director | 1 | — |
| Shannon Glenney | Chairman | 1 | — |
| Steve Roosth | Director | 1 | — |
| Douglas G Bolles | Director | 1 | — |
| Bill Newburn | Director | 1 | — |
| Steve Spitzer | Director | 1 | — |
| Kris Gusa | Director | 1 | — |
| Kim Wright | Director | 1 | — |
| John Jones | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| David McWhorter | Director | 1 | — |
| Tiffany Kirgan | Past Chairman | 1 | — |
| Jeff Moore | Director | 1 | — |
| Greg Kimmel | Director | 1 | — |
| Anthony Brooks | Grants Chair | 1 | — |
| Mark Whatley | Policy Chair | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
ETCF ended 2025 with record grantmaking, continuing its strong annual growth trajectory. The foundation regularly announces available scholarships for East Texas students and maintains active engagement with nonprofit organizations through educational initiatives and grant support programs.
East Texas Communities Foundation announces scholarshipsContact Information
Address: 315 N Broadway Avenue, Suite 210, Tyler, TX 75702-5757
Phone: 903-533-0208
Toll Free: 866-533-0823
Email: etcf@etcf.org
Website: https://etcf.org
Grant Questions Contact: Dana Durman, Program Officer
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does East Texas Communities Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Philanthropy builds community and changes lives. East Texas Communities Foundation supports philanthropy by offering simple ways for donors to achieve their charitable goals. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Health (25% of funding) • Education (23% of funding) • Youth Development (17% of funding) • Human Services • Religion • Medical Research • Environmental Protection • Artistic Expression
How do I apply for a grant from East Texas Communities Foundation?
ETCF administers over 450 unique charitable funds and distributes grants to local, national, and international nonprofit organizations. In 2024, the foundation awarded more than $19.9 million in grants to over 800 different nonprofit organizations. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $1,000–$4,075,236 • 84 live grant opportunities available • Over 220 grants made annually • Total grants distributed since inception: Over $138 million **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Bethesda Hea…
Where does East Texas Communities Foundation make grants?
ETCF serves 32 counties in East Texas, with grant distribution extending to nonprofit organizations in Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma.
What size grants does East Texas Communities Foundation award?
In 2024, East Texas Communities Foundation awarded 253 grants totaling $15.4M — an average of about $61K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is East Texas Communities Foundation's EIN?
East Texas Communities Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2309138. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in East Texas Communities Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,724
Total Given
$232.3M
Texas Instruments Foundation
Dallas, TX
Assets
$73.0M
Grants
4,484
Total Given
$22.6M
Shell USA Company Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$52.3M
Grants
4,650
Total Given
$16.0M
Communities Foundation of Texas Inc
Dallas, TX
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
2,209
Total Given
$209.2M
Celanese Foundation
Irving, TX
Assets
—
Grants
1,423
Total Given
$1.8M
Once Upon a Time Foundation
Fort Worth, TX
Assets
$276.7M
Grants
1,039
Total Given
$10.7M
Baker Hughes Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
990
Total Given
$3.2M
BNSF Railway Foundation
Fort Worth, TX
Assets
$1.7M
Grants
920
Total Given
$6.1M
Community Foundation of North Texas (Tax
Fort Worth, TX
Assets
$544.9M
Grants
872
Total Given
$41.3M
The Houston Food Bank
Houston, TX
Assets
$156.8M
Grants
866
Total Given
$282.6M
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
Austin, TX
Assets
—
Grants
835
Total Given
$164.6M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
More Funders in Texas
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.