Palmer Foundation
The Palmer Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1997 and based in New Braunfels, Texas. Since 1990, the Foundation has improved lives and empowered human potential by funding more than 400 targeted initiatives throughout the United States and around the world.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.0M
-3.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$312K
-2.5% YoY
Grant Count
20
+5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
-7.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Palmer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $347K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission is to inspire meaningful change with the greatest impact on public health and livelihoods to forge stronger, happier, and more successful communities.
The Foundation's current funding priorities include:
Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): The Foundation is committed to ensuring that increasing numbers of people have access to clean, sustainable water supplies that create resilient, healthy communities.
Workforce Development: The Foundation supports programs that provide specialized training and skills geared toward veterans, youth, nurses, and tradespeople to bolster the careers and ultimately the lives of these invaluable members of the workforce.
Special Family Interests: Beyond the core pillars of WASH and workforce development, the Foundation supports nonprofits dedicated to family members' personal passions and interests.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
**: Typical awards range from $1,000 to $50,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily funds initiatives in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Colorado, though it also supports projects throughout the United States and internationally.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $4,983,537
- Total Annual Giving: $312,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,983,537 | $5,156,673 | $5,303,918 |
| Revenue | $144,550 | $170,255 | $89,448 |
| Expenses | $312,000 | $320,000 | $301,000 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $312,000 | $320,000 | $301,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $144,550 | $170,255 | $89,448 |
| Distributable Amount | $346,997 | $298,695 | $307,483 |
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
104 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include New Braunfels Food Bank ($50,000), Casa de Esperanza de Los Ninos ($34,500), DePelchin Childrens Center ($34,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trinidad State Educational Fndt Trinidad, CO | organizational support | $5,000 |
| New Braunfels Parks Foundation New Braunfels, TX | operational support for public parks foundation | $4,000 |
| Magellan International School Austin, TX | operational support to school | $10,000 |
| Falfurrias Volunteer Fire Dept Falfurrias, TX | support for volunteer fire department | $2,500 |
| Alomo Area Boy Scouts of America San Antonio, TX | support for boy scouts | $14,000 |
| Casa de Esperanza de Los Ninos Houston, TX | organizational support | $34,500 |
| DePelchin Childrens Center Houston, TX | organizational support | $34,500 |
| DNA Doe Project Sebastopol, CA | organizational support | $2,500 |
| Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas San Antonio, TX | organizational support | $14,000 |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science Houston, TX | organizational support | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- William Palmer Hayes: President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Palmer Hayes | President | 0.25 | — |
| John Raymond Palmer | Vice President | 0.13 | — |
| Shelley Palmer Hayes | Sect Treas | 0.75 | — |
| Patrick John Hayes | Director | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Palmer Foundation partnered with Wake Forest University to promote leadership and character through golf.
Wake Forest, Palmer Foundation announce partnership to promote ...The Palmer Foundation partnered with the Human Development Fund to launch the "Roots of Recovery" Hurricane Relief Program in Jamaica.
Wake Forest, Palmer Foundation announce partnership to promote ...The Palmer Foundation funded a MedStar study examining the effects of massage therapy on pain management for palliative care patients.
Wake Forest, Palmer Foundation announce partnership to promote ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does Palmer Foundation fund?
The Foundation's mission is to inspire meaningful change with the greatest impact on public health and livelihoods to forge stronger, happier, and more successful communities. The Foundation's current funding priorities include: • **Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)**: The Foundation is committed to ensuring that increasing numbers of people have access to clean, sustainable water supplies that create resilient, healthy communities. • **Workforce Development**: The Foundation support…
How do I apply for a grant from Palmer Foundation?
**Grant Size**: Typical awards range from $1,000 to $50,000. **Annual Giving**: The Foundation distributed $312,000 in grants based on the most recent filing. **Grant Focus Areas**: Education, human services, philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking.
Where does Palmer Foundation make grants?
The Foundation primarily funds initiatives in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Colorado, though it also supports projects throughout the United States and internationally.
What size grants does Palmer Foundation award?
In 2024, Palmer Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $312K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Palmer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Palmer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $347K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Palmer Foundation's EIN?
Palmer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0565827. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Palmer 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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