Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife
Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife is a private foundation based in Sinton, Texas. It supports wildlife conservation research and education, including graduate research fellowships, public and school education programs, and land stewardship.
Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife at a glance
In short: Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife gave $218K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $217,734
- +17.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,773
- +17.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $23,258
- Total assets
- $25,000,607
- +6.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife
- How to Apply
The filing describes an application packet submitted electronically in PDF format, including a research proposal of no more than six pages, a budget using the foundation’s template, a career-objectives statement of…
The filing describes an application packet submitted electronically in PDF format, including a research proposal of no more than six pages, a budget using the foundation’s template, a career-objectives statement of less than one page, a CV, academic transcripts, an advisor endorsement letter, and an additional recommendation letter. Fellowships are for graduate students, require a GPA of 3.0/4.0, must be administered by an accredited U.S.-based institution, and must involve research relevant to conservation in the United States. The filing states monthly stipends of $1,800 for full-time M.S. candidates and $2,000 for full-time Ph.D. candidates. The foundation says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The fellowship webpage lists September 1 for the 2026 program, a past deadline as of October 2, 2026. The 2024 filing states an October 1 deadline for projects beginning the following year; that date has also passed.
- Deadline
- The fellowship webpage lists September 1 for the 2026 program, a past deadline as of October 2, 2026.
- Contact
Application contact: Rob Bessie Welder Wildlife
Mailing address: PO Box 1400, Sinton, TX 78387
Phone: (361) 364-2643
Email: djames@welderwildlife.org
Website: https://www.welderwildlife.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 42 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing’s 2024 grants were reported as 89% to recipients in Texas and 11% to recipients in North Carolina. The fellowship requirements specify that proposed research must be relevant to conservation in the United States. The foundation’s website describes its own 7,800 acres of native habitats as a research setting.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
How Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife gives
- Giving grew 78% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $123K (2021) to $218K (2024). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $218K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 10 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $217,734 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $25,000,607 | $2,681,636 | $1,390,140 | $217,734 | 10 | $1,533,005 | $2,275,511 |
| 2023 | $23,438,953 | $1,213,076 | $1,294,652 | $184,610 | 10 | $1,108,893 | $872,241 |
| 2022 | $22,023,862 | $1,104,303 | $1,348,867 | $181,005 | 9 | $1,593,247 | $673,163 |
| 2021 | $25,359,014 | $1,816,939 | $1,223,925 | $122,623 | 6 | $1,010,354 | $1,574,331 |
| 2020 | $23,591,479 | $2,584,589 | $1,233,338 | $150,969 | 7 | — | $2,285,616 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to foster appreciation for natural resources by advancing wildlife conservation through research, education, and land stewardship. Its website describes research and education as core activities, including research on wildlife populations and habitats, educational outreach, and developing future conservation leaders.
The graduate fellowship program supports students pursuing research related to wildlife conservation and management. Listed proposal areas include animal behavior, biology, botany, conservation education and social sciences, ecology, ecosystem services, genetics, mammalogy, ornithology, parasitology, range science, veterinary pathology, and wildlife sciences. The foundation’s website says research projects are assessed for their potential contributions to basic biology, wildlife and habitat conservation, and management decisions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $217,734. Grants ranged from $10,800 to $28,500, with a median of $23,258. The listed grants were payments for fellowships to individual recipients. The largest was $28,500; six other grants ranged from $22,000 to $25,747.
The foundation’s filing says its 2024 fellowships supported 10 students. Its website describes a graduate research fellowship program intended for exceptionally qualified students and says it has supported more than 350 graduate fellows from over 65 academic institutions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joel H. Thomas, John J. Welder V, and H.C. Weil as trustees; Harvey C. Weil Jr., John J. Welder VI, D. Lynn Drawe, and Fidel Hernandez as advisory trustees; and Joseph D. James as CEO.
The foundation’s 2022 annual report lists J. Dale James, Ph.D., as chief executive officer, along with staff Angie Arredondo, Angela Rangel, Nick Cano, Irma Tamez, and Monica Cortez.
Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife is led by Joseph D. James, CEO on every filing since 2022; all 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joseph D. James
CEO
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$57K (2022) → $136K (2024)
D. Lynn Drawe
Adv Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$700 (2020) → $2K (2024)
Harvey C. Weil Jr.
Adv Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$400 (2021) → $800 (2024)
Hc Weil
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2024)
Joel H. Thomas
Trustee
Adv Trustee → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$800 (2020) → $6K (2024)
John J. Welder V
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2024)
John J. Welder Vi
Adv Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $2K (2024)
Fidel Hernandez
Adv Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
0.3 hrs/week
$800 (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Hughes C. Thomas (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Selma N. Glasscock (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Terry L. Blankenship (2020–2022) — 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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $136K, to Joseph D James (CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife
How much does Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife give each year?
Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife gave $218K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $185K across 10 grants.
What is Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife's typical grant size?
Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife's median grant in 2024 was $23,258, and its average grant was $21,773, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife give grants?
Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife gives mostly in Texas: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (11%).
Does Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Payment for Fellowship" (10 grants).
How large is Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife?
Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife reported $25.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $2.7M.
What does Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to foster appreciation for natural resources by advancing wildlife conservation through research, education, and land stewardship. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife?
The filing describes an application packet submitted electronically in PDF format, including a research proposal of no more than six pages, a budget using the foundation’s template, a career-objectives statement of… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife's EIN?
Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-1381321. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 2020–2024
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