Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation logo

Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Orange, TX EIN: 74-6047440 Website

The Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation is a private foundation based in Orange, Texas, established in 1961 to encourage and assist education and improve quality of life in Southeast Texas. It supports cultural, educational, charitable, and community activities through its own programs and contributions to charitable organizations.

Key facts about Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation

In short: Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation gave $234K across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
74-6047440
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$233,842
Grants made (2024)
26
Average grant
$8,994
Median grant
$3,022
Total assets
$419,163,552
Primary geography
Texas (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$419.2M

-1.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$234K

-11.1% YoY

Grant Count

26

-3.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$9K

-7.7% YoY

How Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation gives

  • Giving fell 58% from 2021 to 2024. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s stated mission is to encourage and assist education and improve and enrich quality of life in Southeast Texas by providing and promoting opportunities to study and enjoy the arts, history, and nature. Its programming also aims to build appreciation for the fine arts, Stark family history, performing arts, environmental stewardship, and public speaking.

The foundation reports direct charitable activity at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. Its 2024 contributions also included a scholarship administered by Lamar State College–Orange. The college describes its mission as providing scholarship opportunities for its students and supporting upkeep of the Brown Center. The Southeast Texas Food Bank, which received a contribution for its Food Backpack Program, describes its mission as distributing food to people in need across an eight-county Southeast Texas service area. Orange Community Action Association, which received support for Meals on Wheels, describes its mission as providing coordinated services and opportunities so older people can live dignified, independent, and productive lives.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $233,842. Grants ranged from $429 to $100,000, with a median of $3,022. The largest grant was $100,000 to Lamar State College–Orange for a scholarship administered by the college. Other notable grants included $35,000 to Southeast Texas Food Bank for its Food Backpack Program, $15,000 to Orange Community Action Association for Meals on Wheels, and $10,000 to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for its Blue Santa Program serving children in need during Christmas. Other listed recipients included local school districts receiving support to purchase clothing for children in need.

How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation states that its mission is focused on Southeast Texas. In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 1% went to recipients in Utah.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.

Cities

OrangeBeaumontBridge CityDeweyvilleOrangefieldVidorAustinFredericksburgAbileneAtlantaBeltonBrenhamCollege StationDentonHoustonHuntsvilleLangstonNacogdochesPovoProvo

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M36 grants2020 28 grants2021 26 grants2022 27 grants2023 26 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $234K (2024) to $851K (2020). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $234K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Lamar State College - Orange: $100KLamar State College - Orange$100KSoutheast Texas Food Bank Inc: $35KSoutheast Texas Food Bank Inc$35KOrange Community Action Association: $15KOrange Community ActionAssociation$15KOrange County Sheriff's Office: $10KOrange County Sheriff's Office$10KOrange Lions Club Charity Carnival: $9KOrange Lions Club CharityCarnival$9KDeweyville ISD: $6KDeweyville ISD$6KOrange Co Comm Partners for Children: $6KOrange Co Comm Partners forChildren$6KOrangefield ISD: $6KOrangefield ISD$6KWest Orange - Cove CISD: $6KWest Orange - Cove CISD$6KVidor ISD: $6KVidor ISD$6K

The largest 2024 recipient was Lamar State College - Orange ($100K). Together the top 10 received $199K.

Organizations only. It also paid 14 individual scholarships ($28,619), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

143 grants across all recorded years

132<$50K2$50–100K7$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 132 grants of 143 (92%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Lamar State College - Orange Orange, TXScholarship administered by LSCO$100,000
Southeast Texas Food Bank Inc Beaumont, TXFood Backpack Program to provide weekend food for indigent children$35,000
Orange Community Action Association Orange, TXFund Meals on Wheels for Indegent$15,000
Orange County Sheriff's Office Orange, TXFunds for the Blue Sana Program serving children in need during Christmas$10,000
Orange Lions Club Charity Carnival Orange, TXFor maintenance of equipment used in charity carnival$9,256
Deweyville ISD Deweyville, TXTo purchase clothing for indigent school children$6,000
Orange Co Comm Partners for Children Orange, TXFunds to stock Rainbow Room$6,000
Orangefield ISD Orangefield, TXTo purchase clothing for indigent school children$6,000
West Orange - Cove CISD Orange, TXTo purchase clothing for indigent school children$6,000
Vidor ISD Vidor, TXTo purchase clothing for indigent school children$5,967

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $419,163,552 $14,557,501 $22,152,918 $233,842
2023 $426,644,114 $8,961,791 $20,839,209 $262,995
2022 $438,431,454 $23,940,643 $19,745,125 $311,916
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$20M$40M$60M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$419,163,552$426,644,114$438,431,454
Revenue$14,557,501$8,961,791$23,940,643
Expenses$22,152,918$20,839,209$19,745,125
Qualifying Distributions$18,368,629$20,255,342$17,328,630
Net Investment Income$11,885,547$8,744,293$22,790,409

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing listed Deborah Hughes as Chair; W G Riedel III as Vice Chair; Rob Clark, Dr Suzonne Crockett, Al Granger, and Craig Lemons as Directors; Clyde V McKee III as President & CEO; Jennifer L Staton as VP/CFO/Treasurer; and Sarah Wester as Secretary.

Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation is led by Clyde V McKee III, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 8 of 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Clyde V McKee III

    President & CEO

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $312K (2020) → $352K (2024)

  • Deborah Hughes

    Chair

    Director → Chair, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $15K (2020) → $15K (2024)

  • Al Granger

    Director

    Vice Chair → Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $15K (2020) → $15K (2024)

  • Rob Clark

    Director

    Chair → Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    $15K (2020) → $15K (2024)

  • Suzonne Crockett

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    $11K (2021) → $15K (2024)

  • Craig Lemons

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer L Staton

    Vice President, CFO & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $266K (2020) → $317K (2024)

  • W G Riedel III

    Vice Chair

    Director → Vice Chair, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $15K (2020) → $15K (2024)

  • Sarah Wester

    Secretary

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $58K (2022) → $78K (2024)

Former officers (3)
  • Former: Phyllis Woodford (2020–2022) — Secretary
  • Former: David Jones (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Laurence R David (2020) — Director

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

Clyde V McKee III — President & CEO: $352KClyde V McKee IIIPresident & CEO$352KJennifer L Staton — VP/CFO/Tres: $317KJennifer L StatonVP/CFO/Tres$317KSarah Wester — Secretary: $78KSarah WesterSecretary$78KDeborah Hughes — Chair: $15KDeborah HughesChair$15KW G Riedel III — Vice Chair: $15KW G Riedel IIIVice Chair$15KRob Clark — Director: $15KRob ClarkDirector$15KDr Suzonne Crockett — Director: $15KDr Suzonne CrockettDirector$15KAl Granger — Director: $15KAl GrangerDirector$15K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $352K, to Clyde V McKee III (President & CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 601 Green Ave, Orange, TX 77630-5718
Phone: (409) 883-3513
Website: https://starkfoundation.org

Frequently asked questions about Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation

How much does Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation give each year?

Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation gave $234K across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $263K across 27 grants.

What is Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation's typical grant size?

Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,022, and its average grant was $8,994, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation give grants?

Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark 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 Orange, TX (7 grants).

Does Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (14 grants) and "To purchase clothing for indigent school children" (6 grants).

Who are Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation's largest grantees?

Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Lamar State College - Orange ($100,000), Southeast Texas Food Bank Inc ($35,000) and Orange Community Action Association ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 14 individual scholarships ($28,619), which are not listed by name. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation?

Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation reported $419.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $14.6M.

What does Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation fund?

The foundation’s stated mission is to encourage and assist education and improve and enrich quality of life in Southeast Texas by providing and promoting opportunities to study and enjoy the arts, history, and nature. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation?

The foundation 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 Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation's EIN?

Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6047440. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Nelda C and H J Lutcher Stark Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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