Helen Jones Foundation Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker LUBBOCK, TX EIN: 75-1977748

Helen Jones Foundation Inc is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in November 1984 and based in Lubbock, Texas. The foundation's sole stated activity is making grants to exempt organizations. It represents a significant philanthropic entity in the West Texas region, with substantial assets and annual charitable disbursements.

Key facts about Helen Jones Foundation Inc

EIN: 75-1977748
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $12,155,691
Grants made (2024): 34
Average grant: $357,520
Median grant: $87,500
Total assets: $255,881,590
Primary geography: Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply: No public application process has been documented.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Helen Jones Foundation Inc funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Helen Jones Foundation Inc's 34 itemized 2024 grants were Texas (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lubbock, TX (32 grants) and Plainview, TX (2 grants). None of its 34 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant" (34 grants).

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$255.9M

+2.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$12.2M

+8.0% YoY

Grant Count

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$358K

+8.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen Jones Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $12.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation makes grants to organizations and schools in the fields of art and performing arts. While specific program areas and detailed funding priorities are not extensively documented, the foundation has demonstrated support across education, arts, and community organizations.

Grantmaking

No public application process has been documented. The foundation does not appear to have a publicly available application portal or formal submission guidelines.

Grant Range

$20,000 - $7,500,000

Average Grant

amount: $318,863

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily focuses on the Lubbock, Texas area and surrounding West Texas region. Grant activity has also been documented in California, Florida, Illinois, and Maryland.

Grant Distribution by State

Texas $12.2M (100%)

Share of all 34 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Texas

Cities

LubbockLevellandPlainviewDallasNazarethSilverton

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (2024):

Total assets: $255,881,590
Total revenue: $20,979,548
Total expenses: $15,831,836

Assets & Revenue (2023):

Total assets: $250,151,401
Total revenue: $18,097,002
Total expenses: $14,757,915

Revenue Sources: The foundation generates revenue primarily through investment income, including dividends ($4.9 million) and sales of assets ($11 million).

Liabilities: Total liabilities: $0

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$255,881,590	$250,151,401	$246,111,531
Revenue	$20,979,548	$18,097,002	$25,674,091
Expenses	$15,831,836	$14,757,915	$15,329,101
Qualifying Distributions	$12,546,638	$11,476,658	$11,570,195
Net Investment Income	$17,877,729	$15,087,521	$22,580,736
Distributable Amount	$12,728,597	$11,604,102	$11,401,317

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

212 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Lubbock Entertainment & Performing Arts Association ($5,356,250), Wayland Baptist University ($1,150,000), Lubbock Christian University ($1,000,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
LUBBOCK ENTERTAINMENT & PERFORMING ARTS ASSOCIATION LUBBOCK, TX	GRANT	$5,356,250
WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PLAINVIEW, TX	GRANT	$1,150,000
LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY LUBBOCK, TX	GRANT	$1,000,000
UNITED WAY - LUBBOCK AREA UNITED WAY LUBBOCK, TX	GRANT	$1,000,000
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY - OFFICE OF THE PROVOST LUBBOCK, TX	GRANT	$585,000
RANCHING HERITAGE ASSOCIATION LUBBOCK, TX	GRANT	$550,000
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY - GRADUATE SCHOOL LUBBOCK, TX	GRANT	$250,000
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY LUBBOCK, TX	GRANT	$250,000
SCIENCE SPECTRUM LUBBOCK, TX	GRANT	$235,000
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION PLAINVIEW, TX	GRANT	$200,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

James C. Arnold - President/Director, Chief Executive Officer (Compensation: $190,321-$218,870)
Marianna Markham - Vice President/Director
Samuel Hawthorne - Treasurer/Director
Chris Crews - Director (Compensation: $140,000)
Barbara Bush - Director
John W. Shanklin II - Director

The foundation operates with 2 employees.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
JAMES C ARNOLD	PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR	40	$218,870
SAMUEL HAWTHORNE	TREASURER/DIRECTOR	1	—
MARIANNA MARKHAM	V PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR	1	—
CHRIS CREWS	DIRECTOR	40	$140,000
BARBARA BUSH	DIRECTOR	1	—
JOHN W SHANKLIN II	DIRECTOR	1	—

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Helen Jones Foundation Inc fund?

How do I apply for a grant from Helen Jones Foundation Inc?

**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2023): $11,476,658 • Total giving (2024): $12,546,638 • Giving rate: 4.6% • Grants awarded: 47 (as of 2023) • Grant range: $20,000 - $7,500,000 • Median grant amount: $152,133 • Average grant amount: $318,863 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Lubbock Entertainment and Performing Arts Association (LEPAA): $5,356,250 • Wayland Baptist University: $1,150,000 • Lubbock Area United Way: $1,000,000 **Application Process:** No public application process has been documente…

Where does Helen Jones Foundation Inc make grants?

The foundation primarily focuses on the Lubbock, Texas area and surrounding West Texas region. Grant activity has also been documented in California, Florida, Illinois, and Maryland.

What size grants does Helen Jones Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, Helen Jones Foundation Inc awarded 34 grants totaling $12.2M — an average of about $358K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Helen Jones Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Helen Jones Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $12.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.