Kickapoo Springs Foundation is a private foundation based in Abilene, Texas, established in 1998. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation with a focus on supporting charitable, educational, and philanthropic initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$111.0M
+8.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$12.7M
-2.1% YoY
Grant Count
138
+29.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$92K
-24.1% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not provide a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on grantmaking activity, primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Capital projects and infrastructure development
Grantmaking
Notable recent grants include:
Grant Range
$500 to $1,500,000
Average Grant
amount: $84,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Texas (primary focus)
- District of Columbia
- Michigan
- Virginia
These three states account for approximately 81% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 18 states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $111,021,857
- Total revenue: $24,019,416
- Total expenses: $15,508,674
- Annual income: $42.4 million
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $102,044,410
- Total revenue: $24,258,103
- Total expenses: $15,770,347
- Total giving: $13,222,643
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $30.7 million in 2011 to $111 million in 2024.
Giving Rate: Approximately 13.5% of assets distributed annually.
Staffing: The foundation operates with 4 employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $111,021,857 | $102,044,410 | $93,328,625 |
| Revenue | $24,019,416 | $24,258,103 | $25,204,199 |
| Expenses | $15,508,674 | $15,770,347 | $14,388,299 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $12,959,801 | $13,222,643 | $11,167,186 |
| Net Investment Income | $21,966,516 | $20,607,515 | $22,339,316 |
| Distributable Amount | $14,108,509 | $12,100,821 | $11,913,996 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Foundation of Abilene ($2,500,000), Angelo State University Foundation ($1,066,667), Angelo State University Foundation ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABILENE ARTS ALLIANCE ABILENE, TX | HEARTS FOR THE ARTS | $25,000 |
| ABILENE ARTS ALLIANCE ABILENE, TX | STORYBOOK GARDEN EXPANSION | $150,000 |
| ABILENE COOPER ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB INC ABILENE, TX | COOPER BASKETBALL SCORE TABLE | $5,000 |
| ABILENE EDUCATION FOUNDATION ABILENE, TX | MARTHA KIEL MEMORIAL | $2,500 |
| ABILENE IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION ABILENE, TX | DOWNTOWN ABILENE HOTEL PROJECT | $237,500 |
| ABILENE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ABILENE, TX | NAVAJO NATION SERVICE LEARNING TRIP | $5,000 |
| ABILENE PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION ABILENE, TX | TO HELP MEET MATCH FROM ANONYMOUS DONOR | $2,500 |
| ABILENE PRESERVATION LEAGUE ABILENE, TX | 2024 RAILROAD FESTIVAL | $7,500 |
| ABILENE RESTORATION MINISTRIES ABILENE, TX | DORMITORY PROJECT | $250,000 |
| ABILENE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY ABILENE, TX | ZOOBILATION GALA | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- John A. Matthews Jr. – Director, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer
- Kade L. Matthews – Director and President
- Joseph E. Canon – Director and Executive Vice President
- Jeff Blanks – Senior President/Operations Officer
- Watt Matthews – Senior Vice President - Investments
- Aaron Miller – Vice President and Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer
The foundation is governed by 6 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN A MATTHEWS JR | DIRECTOR/CHAIRMAN/CEO | 3 | $48,750 |
| KADE L MATTHEWS | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT | 4 | $85,313 |
| JOSEPH E CANON | DIRECTOR/EXEC VP/EXEC DIRE | 11.67 | $78,057 |
| JEFF BLANKS | SENIOR PRESIDENT/OPERATIONS OFFICER | 13.33 | $80,313 |
| WATT MATTHEWS | SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT - INVESTMENTS | 8 | $79,300 |
| AARON MILLER | VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 13.33 | $47,613 |
| MARGARET MATTHEWS FREDERICK | GRANTS OFFICER | 3 | $26,000 |
| ELYSE LEWIS | ASST. VP/SECRETARY/GRANTS OFFICER | 3 | $39,217 |
| BRENDA CASSELBERRY | ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT/PROPERTY ADMI | 3 | $31,258 |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 176, Abilene, TX 79604
- Phone: (325) 673-6429
- EIN: 75-2684716
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kickapoo Springs Foundation fund?
The foundation does not provide a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on grantmaking activity, primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Capital projects and infrastructure development
How do I apply for a grant from Kickapoo Springs Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $500 to $1,500,000 • Average grant amount: $84,000 • Median grant amount: $15,000–$25,000 • Total giving (2023): $13,222,643 • Total giving (2024): $12,699,700 **Recent Grant Activity:** Notable recent grants include: • Community Foundation of Abilene: $2,500,000 (Abilene Heritage Square Project) • Angelo State University Foundation: $1,066,667 (Golf Practice Facility) • West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation: $833,333 (Capital Project) **Grant Pro…
Where does Kickapoo Springs Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Texas (primary focus) • District of Columbia • Michigan • Virginia These three states account for approximately 81% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 18 states.
What size grants does Kickapoo Springs Foundation award?
In 2024, Kickapoo Springs Foundation awarded 138 grants totaling $12.7M — an average of about $92K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Kickapoo Springs Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Kickapoo Springs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Kickapoo Springs 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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