Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation
The Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation is based in San Antonio, Texas, and its filing type is 990T. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in education, conservation, and other areas, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Texas.
Key facts about Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation
In short: Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation gave $5.0M across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $131K), mostly in Texas. 37% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 74-6060515
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,960,849
- Grants made (2024)
- 38
- Average grant
- $130,549
- Median grant
- $57,225
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (14 of 38, 2024)
- Total assets
- $105,548,041
- Primary geography
- Texas (93% 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).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$105.5M
+4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.0M
+3.7% YoY
Grant Count
38
+18.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$131K
-12.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 38 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $102K; repeat grants $147K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $80K repeat.
- 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 94% 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 (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for schools, universities, conservation and education initiatives, and organizations serving children. For example, the University of the Incarnate Word describes its mission as educational excellence in a context of faith and the development of the whole person; Trinity University describes its mission as excellence in teaching, research, and service. Harmony Public Schools says it prepares students for college and careers, with an emphasis on STEM, while New Frontiers Public Schools describes its work as educating students and developing their character.
Conservation-related recipients include Friends of Cibolo Wilderness, which describes its mission as promoting conservation and preservation in the Cibolo Creek watershed and providing environmental education. The Texas Biomedical Research Institute describes its work as advancing scientific breakthroughs to protect people from infectious diseases.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 38 grants totaling $4,960,849. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $1,125,000, with a median of $57,225.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 7% to recipients in New York. The listed grants include recipients in San Antonio and other Texas communities, as well as the Texas Facilities Fund in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4.7M (2021) to $5.2M (2022). In 2024 it made 38 grants totaling $5.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of the Incarnate Word ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $3.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
145 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 145 (43%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, TX | Maher mission and ministry fund for the cardinal cupboard and scholarships | $1,125,000 |
| Texas Wildlfe Association Foundation San Antonio, TX | Conservation and Education | $500,000 |
| Trinity University San Antonio, TX | Support the Center for Educational Leadership | $375,000 |
| Texas Facilities Fund New York, NY | Support charter schools with access to low-cost, long-term financing | $333,334 |
| School of Science and Technology San Antonio, TX | Acquisition Costs Associated with Future Campus | $300,000 |
| Harmony Public Schools San Antonio, TX | General Support | $250,000 |
| Texas Agricultural Land Trust San Antonio, TX | Conservation/Education | $230,000 |
| St Andrew's United Methodist Church San Antonio, TX | School Operations, Pastoral Care Fund | $180,000 |
| Choose to Succeed San Antonio, TX | General Operations | $175,000 |
| Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation San Antonio, TX | Support for Impoverished Children in Bexar County, TX | $175,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $105,548,041 | $8,961,491 | $5,959,591 | $4,960,849 | 38 |
| 2023 | $101,030,189 | $9,546,270 | $5,613,606 | $4,781,633 | 32 |
| 2022 | $96,790,692 | $6,844,059 | $5,956,246 | $5,221,006 | 26 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $105,548,041 | $101,030,189 | $96,790,692 |
| Revenue | $8,961,491 | $9,546,270 | $6,844,059 |
| Expenses | $5,959,591 | $5,613,606 | $5,956,246 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,960,849 | $4,781,633 | $5,221,006 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,168,927 | $8,901,100 | $4,896,670 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,290,148 | $4,962,565 | $4,779,917 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Steve C. Lewis as president, AJ Lewis III as vice president and treasurer, Kathy Sutton as secretary and administrative director, and Louis H. Stumberg Jr. as vice president.
Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation is led by Steve C. Lewis, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Steve C. Lewis
President
President & Treasurer → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$95K (2020) → $95K (2024)
Kathy Sutton
Secretary & Administrator Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$24K (2020) → $24K (2024)
Aj Lewis III
Vice President & Treasurer
Vice President → Vice President & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Louis H. Stumberg Jr.
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $95K, to Steve C Lewis (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1900 Broadway 1405, San Antonio, TX 78215-1497
Phone: (210) 733-1930
Frequently asked questions about Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation
How much does Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation give each year?
Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation gave $5.0M across 38 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.8M across 32 grants.
What is Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation's typical grant size?
Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $57,225, and its average grant was $130,549, across 38 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation that year got $102K on average.
Where does Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation give grants?
Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Antonio, TX (25 grants) and Boerne, TX (3 grants).
Does Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 26% of Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation's largest grantees?
Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of the Incarnate Word ($1,125,000), Texas Wildlfe Association Foundation ($500,000) and Trinity University ($375,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation?
Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation reported $105.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.3M (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 Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for schools, universities, conservation and education initiatives, and organizations serving children. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation?
Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation's EIN?
Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6060515. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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