Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation
The Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation is a private foundation based in Alice, Texas. Its 2025 grants supported Texas organizations working in areas including youth, health care, community welfare, environmental conservation, first responders, animal welfare, and the arts.
Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation at a glance
In short: Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation gave $380K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Texas. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $379,580
- +7.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,183
- +7.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $14,500
- Total assets
- $8,279,509
- +6.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 728, Alice, TX 78333-0728
Phone: (361) 668-3636
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Gonzales ISD ($46K). Together the top 10 received $249K.
Grant Size Distribution
126 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 125 grants of 126 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars in filing year 2025 went to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 25 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $334K (2023) to $382K (2022). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $380K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gonzales ISD Gonzales, TX | Assist youth | $45,500 |
| Samburu Young Runners Alice, TX | Assist with youth HIV and community welfare | $38,000 |
| Driscoll Childrens Hospital Corpus Christi, TX | Support childrens hospital | $28,000 |
| MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX | Cancer treatment and research | $28,000 |
| Corpus Christi Ministries Inc Corpus Christi, TX | Assist needdy in community | $22,000 |
| Friends of Padre Corpus Christi, TX | Padre Island beach cleanup and conservation | $19,000 |
| Flatsworthy Fulton, TX | Environmental support | $19,000 |
| Jim Wells County First Responders Alice, TX | Assist first responders | $17,820 |
| Passion for Paws Nixon, TX | Animal support | $17,000 |
| Rockport Center for the Arts Rockport, TX | Support art related actrivities | $15,000 |
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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 | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,279,509 | $625,531 | $505,303 | $379,580 | 25 | $404,080 | $524,009 | $388,561 |
| 2024 | $7,752,305 | $664,205 | $971,282 | $354,828 | 25 | $380,298 | $76,221 | $379,166 |
| 2023 | $7,343,170 | $1,004,513 | $454,837 | $333,528 | 25 | $358,050 | $881,941 | $337,728 |
| 2022 | $6,793,494 | $439,593 | $1,715,179 | $382,470 | 25 | $397,337 | — | $365,305 |
| 2021 | $8,069,080 | $1,519,387 | $513,561 | $381,800 | 26 | $408,684 | $1,145,134 | $374,707 |
| 2020 | $7,063,254 | $289,421 | $594,590 | $335,950 | 27 | — | $41,586 | $373,909 |
| 2019 | $7,368,423 | $1,336,883 | $496,249 | $352,645 | 26 | — | $1,268,763 | $348,017 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $389K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants show support for school districts and other youth programs, health-care organizations, community services, environmental efforts, first responders, animal organizations, and arts activities.
Driscoll Children’s Hospital, a 2025 grantee, describes its mission as “Devoted to expert care, education, outreach and advocacy.” Another grantee, Shelter A Mutt Inc, says it provides a safety net for animals facing euthanasia and for street animals suffering abuse, abandonment, or neglect through rescue, placement with rescue partners, and adoptions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 25 grants totaling $379,580. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $45,500, with a median grant of $14,500.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $45,500 to Gonzales ISD to assist youth; $38,000 to Samburu Young Runners for youth HIV and community welfare; $28,000 each to Driscoll Children’s Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center; $22,000 to Corpus Christi Ministries Inc. for community assistance; and $19,000 each to Friends of Padre for beach cleanup and conservation and Flatsworthy for environmental support. The foundation also awarded $17,820 to Jim Wells County First Responders, $17,000 to Passion for Paws, and $15,000 to Rockport Center for the Arts.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David McNinch as Chairman, Olga Galindo and Susan Swinney as Board Members, and Hilda Resendez as Secretary.
Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation is led by David Leon McNinch, Chairman on every filing since 2019; all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Leon McNinch
Chairman
On filings since 2019
25 hrs/week
$58K (2019) → $58K (2025)
Hilda Resendez
Secretary
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$500 (2019) → $500 (2025)
Olga Galindo
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$500 (2019) → $500 (2025)
Susan Swinney
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$500 (2019) → $500 (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $58K, to David McNinch (Chairman). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation
How much does Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation give each year?
Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation gave $380K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $355K across 25 grants.
What is Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation's typical grant size?
Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $14,500, and its average grant was $15,183, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation give grants?
Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Corpus Christi, TX (11 grants), Gonzales, TX (3 grants), Alice, TX (2 grants) and Nixon, TX (2 grants).
Does Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support youth" (4 grants) and "Assist youth" (3 grants).
Who are Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation's largest grantees?
Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Gonzales ISD ($45,500), Samburu Young Runners ($38,000) and Driscoll Childrens Hospital ($28,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation?
Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation reported $8.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $404K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $389K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for school districts and other youth programs, health-care organizations, community services, environmental efforts, first responders, animal organizations, and arts activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation?
The foundation states 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 Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation's EIN?
Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2844494. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Ruth Parr Sparks 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 27, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 16, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 2, 2024)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ruth-parr-sparks-foundation-morg_87a8c119a56f4316b6ed6be100da86c8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_742844494_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ruth-parr-sparks-foundation-morg_87a8c119a56f4316b6ed6be100da86c8},
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 Ruth Parr Sparks 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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