The Impetus Foundation is a private independent foundation established in March 2010 and based in San Antonio, Texas. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking. The foundation was established by the Alvarez family and has grown substantially since its inception, reflecting the family's commitment to education, cultural heritage, historic preservation, and community development.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$274.9M
+8.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.8M
-36.0% YoY
Grant Count
45
+32.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$174K
-51.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Impetus Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's philanthropic interests encompass:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Cultural heritage and historic preservation
- Community development
- Public media
Grantmaking
The foundation does not appear to have a public website or email for unsolicited grant inquiries.
Grant Range
$10,000 to $20,000,000
Average Grant
amount: Varies significantly based on available data
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on the San Antonio, Texas region, though grants have been distributed to organizations in Texas, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $274,929,383
- Total revenues: $32,128,450
- Total expenses: $9,583,343
- Total liabilities: $0
Revenue Breakdown (2024):
- Total grants and contributions: $16,000,000
- Investment income and dividends: $7,585,439
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $8,543,011
Charitable Spending: The foundation consistently directs 82-94% of expenses toward charitable purposes.
Growth: The foundation has grown from $43.8 million in assets in 2011 to $274.9 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $274,929,383 | $252,384,275 | $258,301,124 |
| Revenue | $32,128,450 | $7,635,616 | $23,038,604 |
| Expenses | $9,583,343 | $13,552,468 | $13,232,663 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,834,934 | $12,244,092 | $11,192,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $14,380,041 | $6,550,796 | $2,998,441 |
| Distributable Amount | $13,960,413 | $12,848,915 | $12,149,198 |
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
141 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Texas San Antonio ($5,011,000), Bexar Co Performing Arts Ctr ($525,000), Haven For Hope Bexar County ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| TEXAS EXES SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION AUSTIN, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $60,000 |
| Haven For Hope Bexar County San Antonio, TX | general charitable purpose | $500,000 |
| Boy Scouts of America Irving, TX | General Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SAN ANTONIO SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $5,011,000 |
| ALAMO COLLEGES FOUNDATION SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $225,000 |
| SA Report San Antonio, TX | GENARAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| Catholic Charities of San Antonio San Antonio, TX | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| Catholic Television of SA San Antonio, TX | General Charitable Purpose | $20,000 |
| World Affairs Council Washington, DC | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPSOE | $119,750 |
| San Antonio Children's Museum San Antonio, TX | GENERAL CHARTIBALE PURPOSE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Carlos Alvarez (founder; passed away in April 2024)
- Maria Alvarez
Contact:
- Robert Johnson (listed as contact person)
- Phone: 210-404-2211
- Address: 4114 Pond Hill Rd Ste 201, San Antonio, TX 78231-1273
Background on Founder: Carlos Alvarez founded The Gambrinus Co. and owned Spoetzl Brewery (Shiner beer). He was a prominent San Antonio philanthropist who served on the boards of National Public Radio and World Affairs Council of America, and was a trustee of Davidson College.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maria Alvarez | Trustee | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Impetus Foundation fund?
The foundation's philanthropic interests encompass: • Education • Healthcare • Cultural heritage and historic preservation • Community development • Public media
How do I apply for a grant from Impetus Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Total annual giving: $7,834,934 • Number of grants awarded: 45 awards • Grant range: $10,000 to $20,000,000 • Average grant amount: Varies significantly based on available data • Median grant amount: Data not specified **Recent Grant Recipients Include:** • Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi / University of Texas at San Antonio: $5,011,000 • Haven for Hope of Bexar County: $500,000 • Alamo Colleges Foundation: $225,000 • Davidson College • UT Health San Antonio (support…
Where does Impetus Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on the San Antonio, Texas region, though grants have been distributed to organizations in Texas, New York, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Impetus Foundation award?
In 2024, Impetus Foundation awarded 45 grants totaling $7.8M — an average of about $174K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Impetus Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Impetus Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Impetus Foundation's EIN?
Impetus Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1602489. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Impetus Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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