First Community Cares Foundation
First Community Cares Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. It grew out of First Community Credit Union’s history of supporting community needs and makes grants to organizations and supports scholarships.
First Community Cares Foundation at a glance
In short: First Community Cares Foundation gave $240K across 37 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $240,250
- +21.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 37
- +12.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,493
- +7.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $148,534
- +166.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to First Community Cares Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Organizations can submit donation requests for financial or in-kind support, providing information about the organization and event, when and where it will take place, who will benefit, and whether the foundation has assisted before. A flyer or brochure may be included. The foundation reviews requests individually, considering its budget and how both the organization and foundation will benefit; its donation committee says it responds within 7–10 business days. It partners with local organizations whose missions align with its stated priorities.
- Review Cycle
- Submit event donation requests at least 30 days before the event.
- Deadline
- Submit event donation requests at least 30 days before the event.
- Contact
Application contact: Jennifer Kilgore
Mailing address: 15260 Fm 529, Houston, TX 77095
Phone: (281) 856-5588
Email: foundation@fccu.org
Website: https://www.firstcomcares.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who First Community Cares Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Spring Branch Education Foundation ($85K). Together the top 10 received $197K.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 70 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it works in the communities it serves and welcomes requests from local organizations. In 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 10% to recipients in Wisconsin. Listed Texas recipients are based in communities including Houston, Cypress, Alief, Katy, Tomball, and The Woodlands.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
Cities
How First Community Cares Foundation gives
- 52% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $199K (2023) to $240K (2024). In 2024 it made 37 grants totaling $240K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Branch Education Foundation Houston, TX | Educational Purposes | $84,500 |
| Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Inc Brookfield, WI | Educational Purposes | $25,000 |
| Cy-Hope Inc Cypress, TX | Educational Purposes | $20,000 |
| Child Advocates Inc Houston, TX | General Operating Support | $16,000 |
| Alief ISD Education Foundation Alief, TX | Educational Purposes | $11,100 |
| Cy-Fair Education Foundation Cypress, TX | Educational Purposes | $10,500 |
| Lone Star College Foundation The Woodlands, TX | Educational Purposes | $10,500 |
| Mesa Outreach Inc Houston, TX | General Operating Support | $7,500 |
| YMCA of Greater Houston - Langham Creek Family Houston, TX | General Operating Support | $7,200 |
| Cu Alliance LLC Houston, TX | Educational Purposes | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with First Community Cares 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 | $148,534 | $353,904 | $268,329 | $240,250 | 37 | $235,250 | — | $3,017 |
| 2023 | $55,686 | $141,491 | $211,022 | $198,550 | 33 | $254,236 | $3 | $3,532 |
| 2022 | $125,217 | $129,000 | $4,288 | — | — | — | — | $4,884 |
| 2021 | $105 | $105 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, First Community Cares Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is “to empower our community so that families and our community are able to achieve great heights.” It identifies education, children, and families as areas of interest, and says it partners with schools, youth organizations, food pantries, educational foundations, and other organizations.
Its 2024 grants included educational-purpose grants and general operating support. Examples of grantees’ work include Spring Branch Education Foundation, which says it raises and disburses funds for the benefit of Spring Branch ISD; Child Advocates, which says it mobilizes court-appointed volunteers to advocate for abused children; and Cy-Hope, which says it works to improve life for children and create opportunities for vulnerable children. The foundation also lists veterans and health awareness among its areas of focus.
The foundation offers scholarships through a separate program. Its website describes college scholarships of up to $8,000 and trade-school scholarships of up to $4,000 or up to 100% of program cost. Eligibility requirements differ by program; for example, applicants must be First Community Credit Union members for at least 90 days, and graduating seniors must attend school in one of the 41 Texas counties the credit union serves.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 37 grants totaling $240,250 in 2024, compared with 33 grants totaling $198,550 in 2023. In 2024, grant amounts ranged from $100 to $84,500, with a median grant of $2,000.
The largest 2024 grant was $84,500 to Spring Branch Education Foundation for educational purposes. Other large grants included $25,000 to Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation for educational purposes, $20,000 to Cy-Hope for educational purposes, and $16,000 to Child Advocates for general operating support. Additional recipients included Alief ISD Education Foundation ($11,100), Cy-Fair Education Foundation ($10,500), and Lone Star College Foundation ($10,500), each for educational purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists TJ Tijerina as chairman; Jennifer Kilgore as secretary; Edgar Barraza as treasurer; and Timika Simmons, Delores Jones, Dr. Steven Walker, and Julie Eisenhauer as members.
First Community Cares Foundation is led by Tj Tijerina, Chairman since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Tj Tijerina
Chairman
Chair → President, 2023
President → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Delores Dee Jones
Member
Board Member → Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Eisenhauer
Member
Board Member → Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Walker
Member
Board Member → Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timika Simmons
Member
Board Member → Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Kilgore
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edgar Barraza
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Keith R. Domingue (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Nancy Trennel (2021–2022) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 First Community Cares Foundation
How much does First Community Cares Foundation give each year?
First Community Cares Foundation gave $240K across 37 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $199K across 33 grants.
What is First Community Cares Foundation's typical grant size?
First Community Cares Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $6,493, across 37 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does First Community Cares Foundation give grants?
First Community Cares Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Wisconsin (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (27 grants), Tomball, TX (4 grants) and Cypress, TX (2 grants).
Does First Community Cares Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 22% of First Community Cares Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 37) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Educational Purposes" (15 grants) and "Scholarship" (14 grants).
Who are First Community Cares Foundation's largest grantees?
First Community Cares Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Spring Branch Education Foundation ($84,500), Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Inc ($25,000) and Cy-Hope Inc ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is First Community Cares Foundation?
First Community Cares Foundation reported $149K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $235K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does First Community Cares Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is “to empower our community so that families and our community are able to achieve great heights.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from First Community Cares Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is First Community Cares Foundation's EIN?
First Community Cares Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2144290. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does First Community Cares Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work First Community Cares Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in First Community Cares Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). First Community Cares Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/first-community-cares-foundation-morg_285026c7a46d463c9fbfeddb169d31bf
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_872144290_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{First Community Cares Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/first-community-cares-foundation-morg_285026c7a46d463c9fbfeddb169d31bf},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 First Community Cares 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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