JA Sprague Family Foundation
JA Sprague Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its 2025 filing reports 22 grants totaling $167,000 to organizations in five states.
JA Sprague Family Foundation at a glance
In short: JA Sprague Family Foundation gave $167K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), top state Texas. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $167,000
- +6.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,591
- +6.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $4,059,693
- +14.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (2 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (47% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to JA Sprague Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3250 Huntingdon Place, Houston, TX 77019
Phone: (713) 253-8927
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who JA Sprague Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Boston Rowing Federation ($20K). Together the top 10 received $131K.
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 118 grants of 118 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Texas (47%), Maine (24%), Massachusetts (14%), Tennessee (9%), and Colorado (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is JA Sprague Family Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 22 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% 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 (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $149K (2021) to $198K (2023). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $167K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Rowing Federation Wrentham, MA | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Portland Community Squash Portland, ME | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Pro-Vision Inc Houston, TX | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Kinkaid School Houston, TX | Alumni Fund and Tom Moore Fund | $13,000 |
| Connect Aspen, CO | Connect! Programs | $10,000 |
| Hurricane Island Foundation Rockland, ME | Peter Willaur Fund | $10,000 |
| Mission Squash Houston, TX | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| St John the Divine Episcopal Church Houston, TX | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Three Trees Foundation Houston, TX | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Just City Memphis, TN | General Purpose | $7,500 |
Ready to take the next step with JA Sprague Family 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,059,693 | $192,544 | $171,248 | $167,000 | 22 | $168,923 | $190,513 | $188,210 |
| 2024 | $3,555,959 | $-36,887 | $160,462 | $156,500 | 22 | $158,712 | $25,791 | $166,580 |
| 2023 | $3,276,609 | $129,512 | $217,766 | $197,500 | 26 | $199,137 | $127,869 | $160,020 |
| 2022 | $3,240,129 | $566,581 | $194,290 | $186,500 | 24 | $188,060 | $560,870 | $197,094 |
| 2021 | $4,368,667 | $326,085 | $158,373 | $149,000 | 24 | — | $323,880 | $188,546 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, JA Sprague Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $188K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants included support for organizations whose stated missions span youth enrichment, community programs, education, criminal justice reform, and services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. For example, PRO-VISION Inc says it aims to inspire hope and purpose in young people through academic, economic, and social enrichment opportunities. Portland Community Squash says it aims to build an accessible community center that supports and unites its members. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 22 grants totaling $167,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $5,000. Among the largest awards were $20,000 each to Boston Rowing Federation, Portland Community Squash, and PRO-VISION Inc; $13,000 to Kinkaid School; and $10,000 each to Connect, Hurricane Island Foundation, Mission Squash, St John the Divine Episcopal Church, and Three Trees Foundation.
Other reported 2025 grants included $7,500 to Just City, and $5,000 each to Ecclesia Houston and Houston Area Women’s Center. Just City says it pursues a smaller, fairer, and more humane criminal justice system for families and communities. Houston Area Women’s Center says it works to end domestic and sexual violence and supports people through advocacy, counseling, education, shelter, and support services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists J Abbott Sprague as President; Andrew A Sprague as Treasurer/Director; Emeline H Sprague, Allison A Sprague, and Phineas C Sprague as Directors; and Phoebe Coco S Gille as Secretary/Director.
JA Sprague Family Foundation is led by J Abbott Sprague, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
J Abbott Sprague
President
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allison A Sprague
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew A Sprague
Treasurer & Director
Assistant Treasurer & Director → Treasurer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emeline H Sprague
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phineas C Sprague
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phoebe Coco S Gille
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2024
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Leslie M Sprague (2021–2024) — Treasurer & Secretary
- Former: Phoebe Corinne Sprague (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Seth Sprague (2021–2024) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 JA Sprague Family Foundation
How much does JA Sprague Family Foundation give each year?
JA Sprague Family Foundation gave $167K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $157K across 22 grants.
What is JA Sprague Family Foundation's typical grant size?
JA Sprague Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,591, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from JA Sprague Family Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does JA Sprague Family Foundation give grants?
JA Sprague Family Foundation's top state is Texas, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Maine (24%) and Massachusetts (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (9 grants), Memphis, TN (3 grants) and Scarborough, ME (3 grants).
Does JA Sprague Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 73% of JA Sprague Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are JA Sprague Family Foundation's largest grantees?
JA Sprague Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Boston Rowing Federation ($20,000), Portland Community Squash ($20,000) and Pro-Vision Inc ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is JA Sprague Family Foundation?
JA Sprague Family Foundation reported $4.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $169K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $188K (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 JA Sprague Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose stated missions span youth enrichment, community programs, education, criminal justice reform, and services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from JA Sprague Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is JA Sprague Family Foundation's EIN?
JA Sprague Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0569950. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does JA Sprague Family 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). JA Sprague Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ja-sprague-family-foundation-morg_600090ea01df4b2d816a75d989b74a29
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760569950_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{JA Sprague Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ja-sprague-family-foundation-morg_600090ea01df4b2d816a75d989b74a29},
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 JA Sprague Family 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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