Morning Star Family Foundation
Morning Star Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports 36 grants totaling $2,017,450, primarily to organizations in Texas.
Morning Star Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Morning Star Family Foundation gave $2.0M across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $56K), mostly in Texas. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,017,450
- +60.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- +9.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $56,040
- +46.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $1,993,184
- -23.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (2 of 36, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (99% 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 Morning Star Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3628 Beverly Drive, Dallas, TX 75205-2868
Phone: (214) 599-0725
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Morning Star Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Dallas Leadership Foundation ($540K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
168 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 150 grants of 168 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, with 0% attributed to Arkansas and less than 1% to Florida. Listed recipients include organizations in Dallas and Paris, Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Morning Star Family Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 36 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $59K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 86% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 257% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $539K (2020) to $2.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Leadership Foundation Dallas, TX | General Operating | $540,000 |
| Highland Park Presbyterian Church Dallas, TX | General Operating | $520,250 |
| Our Calling Inc Dallas, TX | General Operating | $360,000 |
| St Philip's School Dallas, TX | General Operating | $65,250 |
| The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary Fashion Show & Luncheon Dallas, TX | General Operating | $55,000 |
| Act - Advocate for Community Transformation Dallas, TX | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Mercy Street Ministries West Dallas Dallas, TX | General Operating | $35,000 |
| The Well Dallas, TX | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Voice of Hope Dallas, TX | General Operating | $25,000 |
| West Dallas Community School Dallas, TX | General Operating | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Morning Star 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,993,184 | $1,428,008 | $2,033,215 | $2,017,450 | 36 | $2,029,115 | $191,208 | $186,942 |
| 2023 | $2,601,218 | $679,849 | $1,287,215 | $1,258,832 | 33 | $1,258,832 | $114,622 | $220,527 |
| 2022 | $3,161,108 | $728,066 | $1,518,435 | $1,486,700 | 34 | $1,486,700 | $153,305 | $263,030 |
| 2021 | $4,425,230 | $673,110 | $592,517 | $565,000 | 34 | $565,000 | $427,128 | $287,864 |
| 2020 | $4,223,458 | $947,183 | $567,263 | $539,000 | 31 | — | $463,595 | $276,702 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Morning Star Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $187K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants include general operating support for organizations whose own missions describe work in leadership development, Christian education, family self-sufficiency, homelessness services, and support for women, men, and youth. For example, Dallas Leadership Foundation describes its mission as identifying, affirming, and developing leaders to transform communities. West Dallas Community School says it provides classical Christian education, while Austin Street Center says it provides emergency shelter and related services to people experiencing homelessness.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 36 grants totaling $2,017,450. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $540,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest grants were $540,000 to Dallas Leadership Foundation, $520,250 to Highland Park Presbyterian Church, and $360,000 to Our Calling Inc.; each was for general operating support. Other listed awards included $65,250 to St Philip’s School, $50,000 to ACT – Advocate for Community Transformation, and $35,000 to Mercy Street Ministries West Dallas, all for general operating support.
Additional 2024 grants included $25,000 each to The Well, Voice of Hope, West Dallas Community School, and Wilkinson Center; $20,250 to Camp John Marc for youth programs; $20,000 each to Brother Bill’s Helping Hand and Austin Street Center; and $11,500 to Council for Life.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ellen McStay as trustee/president, and Judge McStay and Dee Howell as trustees.
Morning Star Family Foundation is led by Ellen McStay, Trustee & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ellen McStay
Trustee & President
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dee Howell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judge McStay
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: John McStay (2020–2021) — Trustee & Secretary
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.
Frequently asked questions about Morning Star Family Foundation
How much does Morning Star Family Foundation give each year?
Morning Star Family Foundation gave $2.0M across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 33 grants.
What is Morning Star Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Morning Star Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $56,040, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Morning Star Family Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Morning Star Family Foundation give grants?
Morning Star Family Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (31 grants).
Does Morning Star Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 97% of Morning Star Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (35 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Morning Star Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Morning Star Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Dallas Leadership Foundation ($540,000), Highland Park Presbyterian Church ($520,250) and Our Calling Inc ($360,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Morning Star Family Foundation?
Morning Star Family Foundation reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $187K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Morning Star Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include general operating support for organizations whose own missions describe work in leadership development, Christian education, family self-sufficiency, homelessness services, and support for women, men, and youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Morning Star Family Foundation?
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Morning Star Family Foundation's EIN?
Morning Star Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2682211. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Morning Star 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 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Morning Star Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Morning Star Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/morning-star-family-foundation-morg_c27118344c004897b84b06c70f5d5fef
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752682211_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Morning Star Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/morning-star-family-foundation-morg_c27118344c004897b84b06c70f5d5fef},
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 Morning Star 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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