Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation
The Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation is a private foundation based in San Antonio, Texas. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including education, conservation, and services for children.
Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation at a glance
In short: Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation gave $5.0M across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $131K), mostly in Texas. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,960,849
- +3.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 38
- +18.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $130,549
- -12.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $57,225
- Total assets
- $105,548,041
- +4.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (12 of 38, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Elma Dill Russell Spencer 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: 1900 Broadway 1405, San Antonio, TX 78215-1497
Phone: (210) 733-1930
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation funds
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%).
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.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 38 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $63K; repeat grants $162K. How we count
Medians: $35K first-time, $93K repeat.
- 58% 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.
Giving History
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.
Grants by year
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 |
Ready to take the next step with Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $105,548,041 | $8,961,491 | $5,959,591 | $4,960,849 | 38 | $4,960,849 | $8,168,927 | $5,290,148 |
| 2023 | $101,030,189 | $9,546,270 | $5,613,606 | $4,781,633 | 32 | $4,781,633 | $8,901,100 | $4,962,565 |
| 2022 | $96,790,692 | $6,844,059 | $5,956,246 | $5,221,006 | 26 | $5,221,006 | $4,896,670 | $4,779,917 |
| 2021 | $108,260,248 | $3,554,092 | $5,442,265 | $4,706,282 | 29 | $4,706,282 | $2,867,262 | $5,221,006 |
| 2020 | $102,320,349 | $380,151 | $5,584,566 | $4,819,360 | 20 | — | $1,149,797 | $4,706,282 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for schools and universities, conservation and education, and organizations serving children.
The University of the Incarnate Word describes its mission as educational excellence in a context of faith, cultivating the development of the whole person and lifelong learning. Trinity University describes its mission as excellence in teaching, research, and service. Harmony Public Schools says it prepares students for college and career with a strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation says it supports activities and programs benefiting children in Texas. Hill Country Youth Ranch describes its mission as sheltering homeless children and operating a charter school.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 38 grants totaling $4,960,849. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $1,125,000, with a median of $57,225.
The largest reported grants included $1,125,000 to the University of the Incarnate Word for the Maher Mission and Ministry Fund for the Cardinal Cupboard and scholarships; $500,000 to the Texas Wildlife Association Foundation for conservation and education; $375,000 to Trinity University to support the Center for Educational Leadership; and $333,334 to Texas Facilities Fund to support charter schools with access to low-cost, long-term financing. Other grants included $300,000 to the School of Science and Technology for future campus acquisition costs and $250,000 to Harmony Public Schools for general support.
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.
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 $63K 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 and universities, conservation and education, and organizations serving children. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elma Dill Russell Spencer 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 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.
Does Elma Dill Russell Spencer 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/elma-dill-russell-spencer-foundation-morg_b5964230f145466994ea9a83911d0fa3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_746060515_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/elma-dill-russell-spencer-foundation-morg_b5964230f145466994ea9a83911d0fa3},
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 Elma Dill Russell Spencer 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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