Parks Bell Foundation
Parks Bell Foundation is a private foundation based in Midland, Texas. It supports charitable organizations through grants; its 2024 filing identifies interests in education, humanitarian and health services—particularly for children and families in need—and equine programs.
Key facts about Parks Bell Foundation
In short: Parks Bell Foundation gave $832K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $69K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 82-1197054
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $831,975
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- Average grant
- $69,331
- Median grant
- $17,500
- Total assets
- $5,693,818
- Primary geography
- Texas (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None stated.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.7M
+41.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$832K
-36.8% YoY
Grant Count
12
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$69K
-36.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Parks Bell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $208K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Parks Bell Foundation gives
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 25% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 401% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists education, humanitarian and health services, particularly for children and families in need, and equine programs as areas of interest. It also states that grants should be spent toward humanitarian, educational and health services, particularly for children and families in need.
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own missions describe work in these areas and beyond. Amy Bell Charities Inc., the largest recipient, says it provides supplemental funding to established education and health-care groups and agencies serving children in need in Africa and other developing regions. Permian Basin Area Foundation says it partners with donors to create permanent charitable funds that enrich quality of life in West Texas communities. VRDUR Foundation Inc. describes work through Christian outreach, education, medical care, feeding programs and short-term mission trips. Amy Bell Sports Foundation Inc. says it supports the construction, development and operation of a sports complex in Odessa, Texas.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $831,975. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $585,000, with a median grant of $17,500. The largest awards were $585,000 to Amy Bell Charities Inc.; $50,000 each to AQH Foundation, Texas Tech Foundation Inc. for a West Texas veterinary scholarship grant, and Permian Basin Area Foundation; and $25,000 each to Boss Mares Inc. and Trinity School Endowment. Other recipients included NCHA Foundation ($10,000), VRDUR Foundation ($10,000), Christchurch School ($10,000), Amy Bell Sports Foundation Inc. ($6,975), ChildFund International ($5,000) and National Cowgirl Museum ($5,000).
Review Cycle
None stated.
Invitation Only
is by invitation only: the foundation initiates applications by sending them to organizations of interest. The filing identifies Nicholas Scarafile as the contact for the process. Grants should be spent toward humanitarian, educational and health services, particularly for children and families in need.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 2% to recipients in Virginia. The 2025 grants included Texas recipients in Midland, Amarillo, Lubbock, Fort Worth and Odessa, as well as recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $29K (2019) to $1.3M (2024). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $832K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Amy Bell Charities Inc ($585K). Together the top 10 received $822K.
Grant Size Distribution
52 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 52 (75%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Amy Bell Charities Inc Midland, TX | General Support | $585,000 |
| AQH Foundation Amarillo, TX | General Support | $50,000 |
| Texas Tech Foundation Inc Lubbock, TX | West Texas Veterinary Scholarship Grant | $50,000 |
| Permian Basin Area Foundation Midland, TX | General Support | $50,000 |
| Boss Mares Inc Fort Worth, TX | General Support | $25,000 |
| Trinity School Endowment Midland, TX | General Support | $25,000 |
| NCHA Foundation Fort Worth, TX | General Support | $10,000 |
| VRDUR Foundation Odessa, TX | General Support | $10,000 |
| Christchurch School Christchurch, VA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Amy Bell Sports Foundation Inc Odessa, TX | General Support | $6,975 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,693,818 | $2,718,714 | $864,915 | $831,975 |
| 2024 | $4,038,361 | $2,937,131 | $1,345,748 | $1,317,243 |
| 2023 | $2,548,707 | $2,402,003 | $841,866 | $818,000 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,693,818 | $4,038,361 | $2,548,707 |
| Revenue | $2,718,714 | $2,937,131 | $2,402,003 |
| Expenses | $864,915 | $1,345,748 | $841,866 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $834,750 | $1,320,580 | $823,775 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,131,019 | $701,909 | $590,362 |
| Distributable Amount | $208,063 | $154,933 | $83,582 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Larry Bell as president, Ellen Parks Bell as vice president, Nicholas Scarafile as treasurer, and Kara Bell as secretary and director.
Parks Bell Foundation is led by Larry Bell, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Larry Bell
President
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kara Bell
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Parks Bell
Vice President
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Scarafile
Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2020
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Nicholas Scarafile
Mailing address: PO Box 10649, Midland, TX 79702
Phone: (432) 699-4097
Frequently asked questions about Parks Bell Foundation
How much does Parks Bell Foundation give each year?
Parks Bell Foundation gave $832K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 12 grants.
What is Parks Bell Foundation's typical grant size?
Parks Bell Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $17,500, and its average grant was $69,331, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Parks Bell Foundation give grants?
Parks Bell Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Midland, TX (3 grants), Fort Worth, TX (3 grants) and Odessa, TX (2 grants).
Does Parks Bell Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 92% of Parks Bell Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Parks Bell Foundation's largest grantees?
Parks Bell Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Amy Bell Charities Inc ($585,000), AQH Foundation ($50,000) and Texas Tech Foundation Inc ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Parks Bell Foundation?
Parks Bell Foundation reported $5.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $835K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $208K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Parks Bell Foundation fund?
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists education, humanitarian and health services, particularly for children and families in need, and equine programs as areas of interest. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Parks Bell Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Parks Bell Foundation's EIN?
Parks Bell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-1197054. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Parks Bell 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.
Here's the math on researching Parks Bell Foundation by hand.
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