The Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation is a private foundation established in 1997 and based in Alice, Texas. Operating with a single staff member, the foundation focuses on community-based philanthropic work with particular emphasis on youth development, animal welfare, environmental conservation, and support for first responders and arts initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.8M
+5.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$355K
+6.4% YoY
Grant Count
25
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+6.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $379K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving focuses on:
- Youth and Student Support — Educational programs and student services
- Animal Welfare — Support for animal shelters and related organizations
- Community and Civic Organizations — General community development initiatives
- First Responders — Support for community emergency services
- Arts and Culture — Art-related activities and cultural programming
Grantmaking
The foundation made 25 grants in 2023. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates primarily in Texas, with a particular focus on the Alice area and surrounding communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,343,170 | 2023 |
| Total Revenues | $1,004,513 | 2023 |
| Total Expenses | $454,837 | 2023 |
| Staff | 1 employee | 2023 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,752,305 | $7,343,170 | $6,793,494 |
| Revenue | $664,205 | $1,004,513 | $439,593 |
| Expenses | $971,282 | $454,837 | $1,715,179 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $380,298 | $358,050 | $397,337 |
| Net Investment Income | $76,221 | $881,941 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $379,166 | $337,728 | $365,305 |
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
128 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Gonzales ISD ($45,500), Samburu Young Runners ($39,860), MD Anderson Cancer Center ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Wells County First Responders Alice, TX | Assist first responders | $14,685 |
| Friends of Padre Corpus Christi, TX | Padre Island beach cleanup and conservation | $15,000 |
| Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TX | Assit students | $7,500 |
| Gonzales ISD Gonzales, TX | Assist youth | $45,500 |
| Nixon-Smiley ISD Nixon, TX | Assit youth | $14,500 |
| Texas AM Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX | Assist youth | $7,500 |
| Art Center of Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX | Support arts and humanities | $10,000 |
| Samburu Young Runners Alice, TX | Assist with youth HIV and community welfare | $39,860 |
| Waelder ISD Waelder, TX | Assist youth | $14,500 |
| Bethune Day Nursery Corpus Christi, TX | Support youth | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
David L McNinch — Chairman (as of July 2023, serving without compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| David McNinch | Chairman | 25 | $58,600 |
| Olga Galindo | Board Member | 2 | $1,000 |
| Susan Swinney | Board Member | 2 | $1,000 |
| Hilda Resendez | Secretary | — | $1,000 |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 728 Alice, TX 78333-0728
Telephone: 361-668-3636
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary giving focuses on: • **Youth and Student Support** — Educational programs and student services • **Animal Welfare** — Support for animal shelters and related organizations • **Community and Civic Organizations** — General community development initiatives • **First Responders** — Support for community emergency services • **Arts and Culture** — Art-related activities and cultural programming
How do I apply for a grant from Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 25 grants in 2023. Recent grants include: • Passion for Paws Memorial Animal Shelter: $15,023 (Animal Support) • Friends of Padre: $15,000 (Padre Beach Cleanup and Conservation) • FlatsWorthy: $15,000 (Environmental Support) • Gonzales ISD: Grant recipient (specific amount not disclosed) **Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $7,343,170 (as of 2023) • Total expenses: $454,837 (2023) • Total revenues: $1,004,513 (2023)
Where does Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates primarily in Texas, with a particular focus on the Alice area and surrounding communities.
What size grants does Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation award?
In 2024, Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $355K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $379K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ruth Parr Sparks 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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