Kickapoo Springs Foundation
Kickapoo Springs Foundation is a private foundation based in Abilene, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports 138 grants totaling $12,699,700, with most grant dollars going to organizations in Texas.
Kickapoo Springs Foundation at a glance
In short: Kickapoo Springs Foundation gave $12.7M across 138 grants in 2024 (avg $92K), mostly in Texas. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,699,700
- -2.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 138
- +29.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $92,027
- -24.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $12,500
- Total assets
- $111,021,857
- +8.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (34 of 114, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Kickapoo Springs Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Elyse Lewis as the contact and says to submit materials in writing. Awards are restricted to 501(c)(3) organizations.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Elyse Lewis
Mailing address: PO Box 176, Abilene, TX 79604
Phone: (325) 673-6429
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Kickapoo Springs Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Foundation of Abilene ($2.5M across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $10.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($25,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
625 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 481 grants of 625 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 filing reports that 93% of grant dollars went to Texas recipients. Missouri, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and North Carolina each accounted for 1%. The listed awards include recipients in Abilene, San Angelo, Houston, and Lubbock, Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 138 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Kickapoo Springs Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 34 of 114 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $70K; repeat grants $129K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+13%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 92% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $8.0M (2020) to $13.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 138 grants totaling $12.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation of Abilene Abilene, TX | To Support Abilene Heritage Square Project | $2,500,000 |
| Angelo State University Foundation San Angelo, TX | Golf Practice Facility | $1,066,667 |
| M D Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX | NK Cell Therapy Melanoma Research | $1,000,000 |
| West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation Abilene, TX | Capital Project | $833,333 |
| West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation Abilene, TX | Capital Project | $833,333 |
| Hendrick Medical Center Foundation Abilene, TX | A Foundation for the Future | $600,000 |
| Angelo State University Foundation San Angelo, TX | Rodeo Program | $500,000 |
| Hardin-Simmons University Abilene, TX | School of Nursing | $500,000 |
| Hardin-Simmons University Abilene, TX | School of Nursing | $500,000 |
| West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation Abilene, TX | Capital Project | $265,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Kickapoo Springs 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $111,021,857 | $24,019,416 | $15,508,674 | $12,699,700 | 138 | $12,959,801 | $21,966,516 | $14,108,509 |
| 2023 | $102,044,410 | $24,258,103 | $15,770,347 | $12,967,273 | 107 | $13,222,643 | $20,607,515 | $12,100,821 |
| 2022 | $93,328,625 | $25,204,199 | $14,388,299 | $10,908,551 | 134 | $11,167,186 | $22,339,316 | $11,913,996 |
| 2021 | $82,092,085 | $23,699,028 | $13,927,253 | $11,250,474 | 109 | $11,462,944 | $22,035,090 | $10,704,752 |
| 2020 | $72,184,356 | $14,228,741 | $10,405,125 | $8,006,149 | 137 | — | $12,596,292 | $8,455,123 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kickapoo Springs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and projects, including a community heritage project, university facilities and programs, cancer research, health-care and rehabilitation capital projects, and a dormitory project.
Among its grantees, the Community Foundation of Abilene describes its mission as connecting donors with causes, making grants aligned with donor intent, and providing philanthropic leadership for Abilene. Angelo State University Foundation says it provides financial assistance to the university and supports educational purposes. West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation says its purpose is to provide financial support to the rehabilitation center, while Hendrick Medical Center Foundation says it raises funds for the hospital’s needs and programs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 138 grants totaling $12,699,700. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $2,500,000, with a median of $12,500.
The largest reported awards included $2,500,000 to Community Foundation of Abilene for the Abilene Heritage Square Project; $1,066,667 to Angelo State University Foundation for a golf practice facility; and $1,000,000 to M D Anderson Cancer Center for NK cell therapy melanoma research. West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation received two grants of $833,333 each for capital projects. Other large awards included $600,000 to Hendrick Medical Center Foundation for “A Foundation for the Future,” $500,000 each to Angelo State University Foundation for its rodeo program and to Hardin-Simmons University for its School of Nursing, and $250,000 to Abilene Restoration Ministries for a dormitory project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John A. Matthews Jr. as director, chairman, and CEO; Kade L. Matthews as director and president; and Joseph E. Canon as director, executive vice president, and executive director. Other listed officers and staff are Jeff Blanks, senior president/operations officer; Watt Matthews, senior vice president–investments; Aaron Miller, vice president/treasurer; Margaret Matthews Frederick, grants officer; Elyse Lewis, assistant vice president/secretary/grants officer; and Brenda Casselberry, assistant vice president/property administrator.
Kickapoo Springs Foundation is led by John A. Matthews Jr., Director, Chairman & CEO on every filing since 2020; all 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John A. Matthews Jr.
Director, Chairman & CEO
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$45K (2020) → $49K (2024)
Jeff Blanks
Senior President & Operations Officer
Vice President, Treasurer & CFO → Senior President & Operations Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
13.3 hrs/week
$77K (2020) → $80K (2024)
Joseph E. Canon
Director, Executive Vice President & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
11.7 hrs/week
$90K (2020) → $78K (2024)
Kade L. Matthews
Director & President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$86K (2020) → $85K (2024)
Watt Matthews
Senior Vice President - Investments
On filings since 2021
8 hrs/week
$73K (2021) → $79K (2024)
Aaron Miller
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
13.3 hrs/week
$31K (2023) → $48K (2024)
Brenda Casselberry
Assistant Vice President & Property Administrator
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$31K (2024)
Elyse Lewis
Assistant Vice President, Secretary & Grants Officer
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$39K (2024)
Margaret Matthews Frederick
Grants Officer
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$26K (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Dixie Morris (2020–2022) — Vice President & Grants Administrator
- Former: Linda S. Buckner (2020–2022) — Vice President, Secretary & Property Administrator
- Former: Lawrence E. Gill (2020) — Vice President & Grants Administrator
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $85K, to Kade L Matthews (Director/President). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Kickapoo Springs Foundation
How much does Kickapoo Springs Foundation give each year?
Kickapoo Springs Foundation gave $12.7M across 138 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $13.0M across 107 grants.
What is Kickapoo Springs Foundation's typical grant size?
Kickapoo Springs Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $12,500, and its average grant was $92,027, across 138 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Kickapoo Springs Foundation that year got $70K on average.
Where does Kickapoo Springs Foundation give grants?
Kickapoo Springs Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Abilene, TX (43 grants), San Angelo, TX (9 grants), Washington, DC (9 grants) and Lubbock, TX (8 grants).
Does Kickapoo Springs Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 4% of Kickapoo Springs Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 138) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (27 grants), "VFD Operations" (5 grants) and "Capital Project" (3 grants).
Who are Kickapoo Springs Foundation's largest grantees?
Kickapoo Springs Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Community Foundation of Abilene ($2,546,000 across 6 grants), West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation ($1,948,666 across 4 grants) and Angelo State University Foundation ($1,691,667 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($25,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Kickapoo Springs Foundation?
Kickapoo Springs Foundation reported $111.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $13.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $14.1M (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 Kickapoo Springs Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and projects, including a community heritage project, university facilities and programs, cancer research, health-care and rehabilitation capital projects, and a dormitory project. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kickapoo Springs Foundation?
The filing lists Elyse Lewis as the contact and says to submit materials in writing. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Kickapoo Springs Foundation's EIN?
Kickapoo Springs Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2684716. 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Kickapoo Springs Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Kickapoo Springs Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/kickapoo-springs-foundation-morg_e1be22c07b0f480db03efc41c774c221
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752684716_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Kickapoo Springs Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/kickapoo-springs-foundation-morg_e1be22c07b0f480db03efc41c774c221},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Kickapoo Springs 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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