Graves Foundation Inc
Graves Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Colorado City, Texas. It made 11 grants totaling $140,000 in 2024, including support for organizations and scholarships in Texas, Colorado, and Illinois.
Graves Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Graves Foundation Inc gave $140K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $140,000
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $12,727
- -9.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $3,018,134
- +4.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (82% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Graves Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants are asked to provide a description of the organization, including its founding year and mission; a description of the program or reason for the request; the amount requested and specific purpose; an IRS determination letter; and any other appropriate information or documentation. The filing states there are no restrictions or limitations on awards.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states there is no submission deadline.
- Deadline
- The filing states there is no submission deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: The Graves Foundation Co Jody Wood
Mailing address: PO Box 198, Crowell, TX 79227
Phone: (512) 225-8522
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Graves Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mercy Ships ($36K). Together the top 10 received $139K.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 48 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 13% to Colorado, and 5% to Illinois. The listed grants show awards to recipients in those three states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
How Graves Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). 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
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $140K (2021) to $160K (2022). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $140K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mercy Ships Garden Valley, TX | General Donatin to Use Where Needed | $36,000 |
| Christian Outreach Food Ministries Crowell, TX | General Donation to Use Where Needed | $35,000 |
| Be a Vanessa Scholarship - Tyra Ochoa Scholarship Fund Denver, CO | Scholarships | $18,500 |
| Josh Hulme Memorial Scholarship Abilene, TX | Scholarships | $18,000 |
| Crowell Methodist Church Crowell, TX | General Donation to Use Where Needed | $9,000 |
| The Center-Pregnancy Resource Center in Vernon Wichita Falls, TX | General Donation to Use Where Needed | $7,500 |
| Christian Community Compassion Center Inc Austin, TX | General Donation to Use Where Needed | $7,000 |
| First Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg IL Harrisburg, IL | General Donation to Use Where Needed | $4,000 |
| Harrisburg Medical Center Foundation Harrisburg, IL | General Donation to Use Where Needed | $3,000 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Texas Killeen, TX | Scholarships | $1,000 |
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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 | $3,018,134 | $208,805 | $177,975 | $140,000 | 11 | $140,000 | $175,790 | $148,642 |
| 2023 | $2,878,399 | $151,051 | $190,574 | $140,000 | 10 | $140,000 | $112,183 | $138,128 |
| 2022 | $2,720,852 | $211,544 | $191,515 | $160,000 | 12 | $160,000 | $176,207 | $140,205 |
| 2021 | $3,198,722 | $240,572 | $171,371 | $140,000 | 7 | $140,000 | $224,452 | $151,183 |
| 2020 | $2,893,758 | $72,567 | $177,532 | $145,000 | 8 | — | $32,266 | $136,031 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Graves Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $149K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general donations to organizations and scholarship awards. Among the grantees, Harrisburg Medical Center Foundation says its mission is to raise and accept funds to support Harrisburg Medical Center. Created With Purpose of West Texas says its fundraising supports services and materials for clients facing unplanned pregnancies, as well as staff and operating costs. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $140,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $36,000, with a median grant of $7,500. Larger awards included $36,000 to Mercy Ships and $35,000 to Christian Outreach Food Ministries, both for general use; $18,500 to the Be a Vanessa Scholarship - Tyra Ochoa Scholarship Fund and $18,000 to the Josh Hulme Memorial Scholarship, both for scholarships; and $9,000 to Crowell Methodist Church for general use. Other listed recipients included The Center-Pregnancy Resource Center in Vernon ($7,500), Christian Community Compassion Center ($7,000), First Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg IL ($4,000), Harrisburg Medical Center Foundation ($3,000), Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Texas ($1,000), and Created With Purpose of West Texas ($1,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jo Ellen Wood as president; Elizabeth Tarter as vice president; Brenda Hammond as treasurer/bingo chair; and Stephen Graves, Daniel Shelley, Bill Graves, Jim Clayton, Liliana Cordoba Graves, Kristen Daniel, and Linda Church Graves as directors.
Graves Foundation Inc is led by Jo Ellen Wood, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 13 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jo Ellen Wood
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Brenda G. Hammond
Treasurer & Bingo Chair
Bingo Chairperson → Director, 2021
Director → Treasurer & Bingo Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bill Graves
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kristen Daniel
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sara Tyra
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Stephen Graves
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tyler Wood
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Daniel Shelley
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Jim Clayton
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Liliana Cordoba Graves
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Linda Church Graves
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Elizabeth G. Tarter
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rebecca Garza
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Dan Shelly (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Gordon Graves (2020) — Director
- Former: Jimmy F. Clayton (2020) — Director
- Former: Lilliana Cordoba-Graves (2020) — Director
- Former: Linda Kay Graves (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.
Frequently asked questions about Graves Foundation Inc
How much does Graves Foundation Inc give each year?
Graves Foundation Inc gave $140K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $140K across 10 grants.
What is Graves Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Graves Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $12,727, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Graves Foundation Inc give grants?
Graves Foundation Inc gives mostly in Texas: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (13%) and Illinois (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Crowell, TX (2 grants) and Harrisburg, IL (2 grants).
Does Graves Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 73% of Graves Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (3 grants).
Who are Graves Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Graves Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Mercy Ships ($36,000), Christian Outreach Food Ministries ($35,000) and Be a Vanessa Scholarship - Tyra Ochoa Scholarship Fund ($18,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Graves Foundation Inc?
Graves Foundation Inc reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $140K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $149K (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 Graves Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general donations to organizations and scholarship awards. Among the grantees, Harrisburg Medical Center Foundation says its mission is to raise and accept funds to support Harrisburg Medical Center. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Graves Foundation Inc?
The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Graves Foundation Inc's EIN?
Graves Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0461429. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 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). Graves Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/graves-foundation-inc-morg_c0d656dfca2440c4860fc0a10da48919
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_200461429_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Graves Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/graves-foundation-inc-morg_c0d656dfca2440c4860fc0a10da48919},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Graves Foundation Inc'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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