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El Paso Community Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker El Paso, TX EIN: 74-1839536 Website

The El Paso Community Foundation is a public charity based in El Paso, Texas. It provides grants and scholarships, manages charitable funds, and works with individuals and nonprofits to address needs and opportunities in the borderland region.

Key facts about El Paso Community Foundation

In short: El Paso Community Foundation gave $7.5M across 111 grants in 2024 (avg $67K), mostly in Texas. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

EIN
74-1839536
Latest 990 filing
Form 990 filing, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$7,481,806
Grants made (2024)
111
Average grant
$67,404
Median grant
$19,869
New grantees (estimate)
21% first-time grantees (23 of 111, 2024)
Total assets
$87,707,604
Primary geography
Texas (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Deadline
The general Foundation grant application opens January 1 and is due February 1, then opens July 1 and is due August 1.

Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Quick answers about El Paso Community Foundation

How much does El Paso Community Foundation give each year?

El Paso Community Foundation gave $7.5M across 111 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $5.6M across 103 grants.

What is El Paso Community Foundation's typical grant size?

El Paso Community Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $19,869, and its average grant was $67,404, across 111 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from El Paso Community Foundation that year got $38K on average.

Where does El Paso Community Foundation give grants?

El Paso Community Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were El Paso, TX (92 grants), Las Cruces, NM (2 grants), Galveston, TX (2 grants) and Austin, TX (2 grants).

Does El Paso Community Foundation give general operating support?

Occasionally: 1% of El Paso Community Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 111) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Recurring purposes include "Support of Programs and Services" (13 grants).

Who are El Paso Community Foundation's largest grantees?

El Paso Community Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The EPC Museum ($1,699,533), University of Texas El Paso ($1,507,283) and Foundation for Diocese of EP ($330,054), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Is El Paso Community Foundation open to new grantees?

21%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 23 of 111 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $75K. How we count

Medians: $14K first-time, $20K repeat.

  • 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 El Paso Community Foundation

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing

Total Assets

$87.7M

-1.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$7.5M

+32.8% YoY

Grant Count

111

+7.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$67K

+23.3% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization’s stated mission is to establish charitable funds, provide a vehicle for donors’ varied interests, promote local philanthropy, and provide leadership and resources to address local challenges and opportunities.

Its grantmaking areas include arts and humanities, education, environment and animals, health and disabilities, human services addressing basic needs, and economic development. The Foundation prioritizes projects that try more effective approaches, can make an impact with a moderate amount of grant money, or demonstrate collaboration.

Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work funded. STTE Foundation, which received $150,000 in 2024, describes its mission as expanding access to technology, entrepreneurship, and startup-focused education to drive economic development. El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, which received $117,700, says it combats hunger by procuring and distributing nutritious food through community partners. Creative Kids, which received $50,000, describes its work as using visual arts in a youth development program.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 111 grants totaling $7,481,806. Grant amounts ranged from $5,200 to $1,699,533, with a median of $19,869. Its largest reported awards included $1,699,533 to The EPC Museum for construction of exhibits and a building; $1,507,283 to the University of Texas El Paso for scholarships and support programs; and $330,054 to the Foundation for Diocese of EP for tuition assistance and professional development. Other notable awards included $210,800 to El Paso Special Needs Edu for education of special-needs children and $117,700 to El Pasoans Fighting Hunger for services for food-insecure people.

Review Cycle

** The general Foundation grant application opens January 1 and is due February 1, then opens July 1 and is due August 1.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Foundation describes its grant program as serving the El Paso region, far west Texas, southern New Mexico, and northern Chihuahua, Mexico. In 2024, 99% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 1% to recipients in New Mexico.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of all 111 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

El PasoHoustonGalvestonAustinSan AntonioCanutilloDenverFriscoNew YorkCollege StationLas CrucesDallasDell CityMidlandOdessaWashingtonAlpineAnthonyBuffaloCanyon

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants reported
2024 $87,707,604 $20,003,678 $20,223,645 $7,481,806
2023 $89,288,872 $10,400,508 $15,376,630 $5,632,818
2022 $84,449,606 $22,273,474 $22,466,528 $12,871,954
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$87,707,604$89,288,872$84,449,606
Revenue$20,003,678$10,400,508$22,273,474
Expenses$20,223,645$15,376,630$22,466,528
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income$7,816,742$3,933,695$3,273,029
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5M$10M$15M93 grants2020106 grants2021114 grants2022103 grants2023111 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

The EPC Museum: $1.7MThe EPC Museum$1.7MUniversity of Texas El Paso: $1.5MUniversity of Texas El Paso$1.5MFoundation for Diocese of EP: $330KFoundation for Diocese of EP$330KArchdiocese of Galveston: $258KArchdiocese of Galveston$258KEl Paso Special Needs Edu: $211KEl Paso Special Needs Edu$211KTech Frontier DBA Fab Lab EP: $161KTech Frontier DBA Fab Lab EP$161KArchdiocese of San Antonio: $150KArchdiocese of San Antonio$150KSTTE Foundation: $150KSTTE Foundation$150KEl Paso Matters Inc: $148KEl Paso Matters Inc$148KEl Paso Community College Fou: $137KEl Paso Community College Fou$137K

Grant Size Distribution

527 grants across all recorded years

402<$50K57$50–100K37$100–250K13$250–500K12$500K–1M6$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

4 open opportunities from El Paso Community Foundation

Show all 4 →

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The EPC Museum El Paso, TXConstruction of exhibits & building$1,699,533
University of Texas El Paso El Paso, TXScholarships and support programs$1,507,283
Foundation for Diocese of EP El Paso, TXTuition assist. & Prof. Development$330,054
Archdiocese of Galveston Houston, TXTuition Assistance and Field trips$257,500
El Paso Special Needs Edu El Paso, TXEducation of special needs children$210,800
Tech Frontier DBA Fab Lab EP El Paso, TXSupport of Edu Programs$161,300
Archdiocese of San Antonio San Antonio, TXTuition Assist. at Risk Students$150,000
STTE Foundation El Paso, TXStart-up support/ Border Programs$150,000
El Paso Matters Inc El Paso, TXSupport quality invest. journalism$148,066
El Paso Community College Fou El Paso, TXScholarship, tuition, edu expenses$136,575

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The Foundation’s 2024 filing lists Richard E Pearson as President / CEO and Manuel Pacillas as Chairman. Other listed officers and directors include Hector Villegas, VP COMM. DEVELOP.; Stephanie L Otero, Kathrin Berg, and Carmen M Vargas, Vice Presidents; Janice W Windle, Senior Advisor; and Gary L Williams, Andrea Tirres, and Alfredo Corchado, Senior Program Officers.

El Paso Community Foundation is led by Richard E Pearson, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 9 of 36 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Richard E Pearson

    President & CEO

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $222K (2020) → $347K (2024)

  • Manuel Pacillas

    Chairman

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chris A Cummings

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Helen Yancey

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • James Magee

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeannine Kennedy

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jim Ward

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Judith Gaskin

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laura Tate-Goldman

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Leigh Varner Bloss

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lyn McKee

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Margarita Kimmel

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mimi Gladstein

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rebecca Ramos

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert V Wingo

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ruth Gillett

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tammy Vasilatos

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Teresa Gallardo

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sylvia Borunda Firth

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Allen Gilmer

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Balliew

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tasha Hopper

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gus J Rodriguez Jr.

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Yvonne Loya

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carmen M Vargas

    Vice President

    CFO → Vice President, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $112K (2020) → $166K (2024)

  • Janice W Windle

    Senior Advisor

    Senior Vice President → Senior Advisor, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $223K (2020) → $115K (2024)

  • Kathrin Berg

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $102K (2020) → $165K (2024)

  • Stephanie L Otero

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $94K (2020) → $165K (2024)

  • Gary L Williams

    S. Program Officer

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $103K (2021) → $120K (2024)

  • Alfredo Corchado

    Sen. Program Officer

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $115K (2024)

  • Andrea Tirres

    Sen. Program Officer

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $110K (2024)

  • Hector Villegas

    Vice President Committee Development

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $210K (2024)

  • G Paul Porras

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joe Alcantar Jr.

    Past Chair

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lillian W Crouch

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Isha Rogers Santamaria

    Vice Chair

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (7)
  • Former: Mario A Porras (2023) — Director Binational Af
  • Former: Isha Rogers (2020–2022) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Chris Lane (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Sally Hurt-Deitch (2021) — Director
  • Former: John S McKee (2020) — Director
  • Former: Lanelle Boling (2020) — Director
  • Former: Tom Hussmann (2020) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Richard E Pearson — President / CEO: $347KRichard E PearsonPresident / CEO$347KHector Villegas — VP Comm. Develop.,: $210KHector VillegasVP Comm. Develop.,$210KCarmen M Vargas — Vice President: $166KCarmen M VargasVice President$166KKathrin Berg — Vice President: $165KKathrin BergVice President$165KStephanie L Otero — Vice President: $165KStephanie L OteroVice President$165KGary L Williams — S. Program Officer: $120KGary L WilliamsS. Program Officer$120KJanice W Windle — Senior Advisor: $115KJanice W WindleSenior Advisor$115KAlfredo Corchado — Sen. Prog. Officer: $115KAlfredo CorchadoSen. Prog. Officer$115KAndrea Tirres — Sen. Prog. Officer: $110KAndrea TirresSen. Prog. Officer$110K

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 272, El Paso, TX 79943
Phone: (915) 533-4020
Website: https://epcf.org

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does El Paso Community Foundation fund?

The organization’s stated mission is to establish charitable funds, provide a vehicle for donors’ varied interests, promote local philanthropy, and provide leadership and resources to address local challenges and opportunities. Its grantmaking areas include arts and humanities, education, environment and animals, health and disabilities, human services addressing basic needs, and economic development. The Foundation prioritizes projects that try more effective approaches, can make an impact wit…

How do I apply for a grant from El Paso Community Foundation?

In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 111 grants totaling $7,481,806. Grant amounts ranged from $5,200 to $1,699,533, with a median of $19,869. Its largest reported awards included $1,699,533 to The EPC Museum for construction of exhibits and a building; $1,507,283 to the University of Texas El Paso for scholarships and support programs; and $330,054 to the Foundation for Diocese of EP for tuition assistance and professional development. Other notable awards included $210,800 to El Paso …

What is El Paso Community Foundation's EIN?

El Paso Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-1839536. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

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