JFA Foundation
JFA Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its 2025 grants supported organizations and projects including university study, church ministries, medical services and research, disaster response, assistance for people in need, and parks and land conservation.
JFA Foundation at a glance
In short: JFA Foundation gave $109K across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Texas. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $109,070
- +87.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- +14.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,518
- +63.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,204,665
- -4.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (7 of 30, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to JFA Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Jim F Avant, President. No particular form is required. The application should include the applying organization’s name, address, telephone number, and website, if any; the names of officers active on the application; a detailed description of the grant purpose; a description of the organization’s activities and focus; and a general description of its funding sources. The filing states that there are no restrictions on awards at this time.
- Review Cycle
- October 1 of any calendar year in which a grant is requested.
- Deadline
- October 1 of any calendar year in which a grant is requested.
- Contact
Application contact: Jim F Avant President
Mailing address: 1800 Bering Dr Suite 310, Houston, TX 77057
Phone: (713) 520-6745
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who JFA Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Southwestern University ($25K). Together the top 10 received $86K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($1,800), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
141 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 141 grants of 141 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas. The remaining reported shares were 2% to the District of Columbia and 1% each to Arizona and Colorado; Virginia accounted for 0% as reported. Listed Texas recipients include organizations in Houston and other Texas communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
Cities
Is JFA Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 30 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 27% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 148% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $17K (2020) to $109K (2025). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $109K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern University Georgetown, TX | Supporting a Student in University Studies | $25,000 |
| Dilley Methodist Church Dilley, TX | Ministries in Dilley, TX | $15,000 |
| Camp La Junta Fund Hunt, TX | Rebuild Hill Country of Texas Boy's Camp | $10,000 |
| Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation Houston, TX | Supporting Medical Services and Research | $10,000 |
| Memorial Park Conservancy Inc Houston, TX | Supporting the Public Park, Memorial Park | $10,000 |
| Big Bend Conservancy Big Bend National Park, TX | Supporting Projects in Big Bend National Park | $5,000 |
| American Red Cross Houston, TX | Providing resources to people in need after a disaster | $3,000 |
| Texas Land Conservancy Austin, TX | Promotes Preservation of Native Texas Lands | $3,000 |
| St Paul's United Methodist Church San Antonio, TX | Providing Ministrties in the Houston Areq | $2,600 |
| Dilley Memorial Cemetery Association Dilley, TX | Provide Maintenance and Care of the Cemetery | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with JFA 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 | $1,204,665 | $54,618 | $111,531 | $109,070 | 31 | $109,870 | $53,818 | $74,467 |
| 2024 | $1,261,578 | $62,645 | $61,348 | $58,200 | 27 | $58,897 | $61,947 | $74,165 |
| 2023 | $1,255,881 | $61,794 | $90,281 | $88,800 | 30 | $89,350 | $61,244 | $73,945 |
| 2022 | $1,284,368 | $27,934 | $87,157 | $85,875 | 31 | $86,430 | $27,379 | $76,807 |
| 2021 | $1,343,591 | $512,769 | $29,834 | $28,950 | 22 | $29,350 | $12,369 | $52,398 |
| 2020 | $860,656 | $506,436 | $17,963 | $17,100 | 14 | — | $6,036 | $23,619 |
| 2019 | $372,183 | $206,676 | $20,715 | $19,850 | 12 | — | $6,271 | $13,736 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, JFA Foundation reported a distributable amount of $74K 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
The grants show support for education, religious and community services, health care, disaster relief, basic-needs assistance, and conservation and public parks. These are areas reflected in its listed grants, rather than a stated foundation mission.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Southwestern University says it is committed to undergraduate liberal arts education. Memorial Park Conservancy describes its work as preserving, restoring, and enhancing Memorial Park for Houstonians; Texas Land Conservancy focuses on conserving natural areas and protecting wildlife habitat and native plant communities. Emergency Aid Coalition describes itself as an interfaith organization providing temporary food, clothing, and other basic needs, with an emphasis on the working poor. Hermann Park Conservancy describes itself as a citizens organization dedicated to the stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park.
Grantmaking
In 2025, JFA Foundation made 31 grants totaling $109,070. Grants ranged from $70 to $25,000, with a median of $2,000. Earlier filings report 27 grants totaling $58,200 in 2024 and 30 grants totaling $88,800 in 2023.
The largest 2025 grants included $25,000 to Southwestern University for student university studies; $15,000 to Dilley Methodist Church for ministries in Dilley; $10,000 each to Camp La Junta Fund for rebuilding a Hill Country boys’ camp, Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation for medical services and research, and Memorial Park Conservancy for Memorial Park; and $5,000 to Big Bend Conservancy for projects in Big Bend National Park. Other listed awards included $3,000 to American Red Cross for disaster-related resources and $3,000 to Texas Land Conservancy for preserving native Texas lands.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary Beth Devlin as Secretary and Director, Jeff W Avant as Vice President and Director, and Jim F Avant as President, Treasurer, and Director.
JFA Foundation is led by Jim F. Avant, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jim F. Avant
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff W. Avant
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Beth Devlin
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 JFA Foundation
How much does JFA Foundation give each year?
JFA Foundation gave $109K across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $58K across 27 grants.
What is JFA Foundation's typical grant size?
JFA Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,518, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from JFA Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does JFA Foundation give grants?
JFA Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (14 grants), Dilley, TX (2 grants), Hempstead, TX (2 grants) and San Antonio, TX (2 grants).
Does JFA Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on JFA Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are JFA Foundation's largest grantees?
JFA Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Southwestern University ($25,000), Dilley Methodist Church ($15,000) and Camp La Junta Fund ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($1,800), which are not listed by name. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is JFA Foundation?
JFA Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $110K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $74K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does JFA Foundation fund?
The grants show support for education, religious and community services, health care, disaster relief, basic-needs assistance, and conservation and public parks. These are areas reflected in its listed grants, rather than a stated foundation mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from JFA Foundation?
Contact Jim F Avant, President. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is JFA Foundation's EIN?
JFA Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4344587. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 30, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 24, 2025)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in JFA Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston, TX
The Foundation makes grants through donor-advised and other donor-established funds for public benefit, human services, education, and health, including initiatives addressing economic mobility and poverty in Harris County. In 2024, its median grant was $25,000; it serves Greater Houston, while grants also go to recipients elsewhere in Texas and beyond. It does not accept proposals for the upcoming High-Impact Grantmaking cycle and plans to invite selected organizations or collaboratives to apply.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,724
Total Given
$232.3M
The Brown Foundation Inc
Houston, TX
The Brown Foundation funds education, arts and culture, healthcare, human services, and civic assets, with education and the arts as top priorities and public education giving focused almost exclusively on greater Houston. Its 2025 grants ranged from $20,000 to $11 million, with a median of $50,000; it primarily supports Houston organizations and selectively funds distinctive opportunities elsewhere in Texas and beyond.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
222
Total Given
$84.3M
The Powell Foundation
Houston, TX
The Powell Foundation funds public education, arts, conservation, and human services that support children and youth in Harris, Travis, and Walker Counties, Texas. Its 2025 grants had a median of $15,000, though awards ranged from $50 to $1.5 million. New organizations may submit an online pre-application at any time; current grantees must wait until invited to apply.
Assets
$491.9M
Grants
271
Total Given
$20.4M
Baker Hughes Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
990
Total Given
$3.2M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Communities Foundation of Texas Inc
Dallas, TX
Communities Foundation of Texas funds a broad range of community needs, including health, education, housing, and community development, primarily in North Texas and across Texas. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $18,800, though amounts varied widely; nearly all opportunities are by invitation, with some specific programs open for applications.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
2,209
Total Given
$209.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). JFA Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/jfa-foundation-morg_5cd54496101c4deead9f92ab0995a6ff
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_274344587_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{JFA Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/jfa-foundation-morg_5cd54496101c4deead9f92ab0995a6ff},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 JFA 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.
JFA Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?