Mays Foundation
Mays Foundation is a private foundation based in Amarillo, Texas. Its 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and limits awards to qualified public charities, religious organizations, and educational organizations.
Mays Foundation at a glance
In short: Mays Foundation gave $300K across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Texas. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $299,500
- -14.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 51
- -12.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,873
- -3.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $5,658,320
- +0.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (11 of 51, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (90% 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 Mays Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing states that requests should be made in writing, addressed to the director identified in item 2(a). Awards are restricted to qualified public charities, religious organizations, and educational organizations.
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: Stacy Sharp
Mailing address: 914 S Tyler, Amarillo, TX 79101
Phone: (806) 376-5417
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mays Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Baylor University ($50K). Together the top 10 received $177K.
Grant Size Distribution
251 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 242 grants of 251 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas. The remaining grant dollars went to recipients in Idaho (3%), Hawaii (2%), Oklahoma (2%), and New Mexico (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Mays Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 51 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 78% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 24% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 80% 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 $300K (2025) to $404K (2023). In 2025 it made 51 grants totaling $300K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor University Waco, TX | Building, Scholarships | $50,250 |
| First Baptist Church Amarillo, TX | Buildings, Programs | $27,000 |
| Opportunity Plan Canyon, TX | Scholarships | $16,000 |
| Amarillo Symphony Amarillo, TX | Programs | $15,000 |
| Wayland Baptist University Plainview, TX | Buildings | $15,000 |
| The Bridge Amarillo, TX | Programs | $13,000 |
| Panhandle Plains Historical Museum Canyon, TX | Programs | $12,500 |
| Dallas Baptist University Dallas, TX | Programs | $10,000 |
| True Hope Colister Boise, ID | Buildings | $10,000 |
| Saint Paul Methodist Church Amarillo, TX | Programs | $8,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Mays 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 | $5,658,320 | $583,935 | $540,132 | $299,500 | 51 | $301,550 | $231,022 | $375,092 |
| 2024 | $5,607,381 | $494,254 | $565,628 | $351,225 | 58 | $353,275 | $200,215 | $378,788 |
| 2023 | $5,695,798 | $575,705 | $652,413 | $404,475 | 61 | $406,350 | $197,161 | $366,145 |
| 2022 | $5,756,293 | $483,023 | $588,834 | $396,292 | 44 | $397,942 | $221,708 | $385,903 |
| 2021 | $5,862,124 | $497,791 | $592,594 | $390,565 | 37 | — | $181,736 | $376,117 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mays Foundation reported a distributable amount of $375K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grant purposes included buildings, programs, and scholarships. The grants went to educational institutions, religious organizations, and other public charities.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Baylor University says it integrates academic excellence and Christian commitment in educating students for leadership and service. The Amarillo Symphony says it inspires, educates, and unites the region through music. The Bridge says it works to empower Texas Panhandle children and support their healing and justice. Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation says it aims to reduce the burden of cancer and serve healthcare needs in Amarillo and surrounding communities.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 51 grants totaling $299,500. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $50,250, with a median of $2,500. The largest awards included $50,250 to Baylor University for building and scholarships, $27,000 to First Baptist Church in Amarillo for buildings and programs, and $16,000 to The Opportunity Plan in Canyon for scholarships. Other grants included $15,000 each to the Amarillo Symphony for programs and Wayland Baptist University for buildings, and $13,000 to The Bridge for programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Karra Hill as vice president, Stacy Sharp as president, and Randy Sharp as secretary/treasurer.
Mays Foundation is led by Stacy Sharp, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stacy Sharp
President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Karra Hill
Vice President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Randy Sharp
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
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 Mays Foundation
How much does Mays Foundation give each year?
Mays Foundation gave $300K across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $351K across 58 grants.
What is Mays Foundation's typical grant size?
Mays Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $5,873, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mays Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Mays Foundation give grants?
Mays Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Amarillo, TX (34 grants), Canyon, TX (4 grants) and Waco, TX (2 grants).
Does Mays Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 51 grants with a stated purpose on Mays Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Programs" (39 grants) and "Buildings" (6 grants).
Who are Mays Foundation's largest grantees?
Mays Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Baylor University ($50,250), First Baptist Church ($27,000) and Opportunity Plan ($16,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mays Foundation?
Mays Foundation reported $5.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $302K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $375K (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 Mays Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grant purposes included buildings, programs, and scholarships. The grants went to educational institutions, religious organizations, and other public charities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mays Foundation?
The 2024 filing states that requests should be made in writing, addressed to the director identified in item 2(a). Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mays Foundation's EIN?
Mays Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-1213346. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mays Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Josephine Anderson Charitable Trust
Amarillo, TX
The Josephine Anderson Charitable Trust makes grants to preselected charitable organizations; its filings do not specify funding priorities. Recent annual grant totals range from $328,600 to $372,000, with reported 2026 funding going to a recipient in Texas. It does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$6.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$372K
Dr Kent Roberts & Ilene Roberts Balliett Foundation
Amarillo, TX
This Amarillo-based foundation funds a range of charitable work, including education, arts, housing, human services, and wildlife rehabilitation, with its 2025 grants going to organizations in Texas. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $5,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1M
Grants
59
Total Given
$397K
Mary E Bivins Foundation
Amarillo, TX
The Mary E. Bivins Foundation supports eldercare, Christian religious education, and qualified nonprofits addressing non-recurring needs, with a preference for work benefiting older people. It focuses on the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle; 2025 grants ranged from $6,836 to $375,000, with a median of $25,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$153.6M
Grants
63
Total Given
$2.7M
CJ and Syble Fowlston Charitable Trust
Amarillo, TX
The CJ and Syble Fowlston Charitable Trust funds operating and capital needs of 501(c)(3) organizations in the top 20 counties of the Texas Panhandle, including work in hunger relief, education, children’s services, disability access, and public information. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $35,000, with a median of $5,000. It accepts written applications describing the organization’s need and planned use of funds; no deadline is stated.
Assets
$5.9M
Grants
37
Total Given
$307K
High Plains Christian Ministries Foundation
Amarillo, TX
High Plains Christian Ministries funds Christian ministries and causes, healthcare and health-promotion services, and community programs, primarily in the Texas Panhandle and more broadly in Texas and the Southwest. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,350 to $10.65 million, with a median of $25,000. No unsolicited application process is stated.
Assets
$575.8M
Grants
56
Total Given
$17.4M
Amarillo Area Foundation Inc
Amarillo, TX
The Amarillo Area Foundation funds nonprofits and community programs focused on education, health, and economic opportunity, including scholarships, benefiting residents of the Texas Panhandle’s 26 northernmost counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $31,326, with amounts ranging from $5,107 to $2,399,200; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$171.6M
Grants
262
Total Given
$23.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mays Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mays-foundation-morg_0d0a5f0b76084571ae284686cd111862
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_751213346_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mays Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mays-foundation-morg_0d0a5f0b76084571ae284686cd111862},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Mays 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.
Mays Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?