Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation
The Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation is a private foundation based in McKinney, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations including education, youth-development, women’s-support, health, and children’s services organizations.
Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation at a glance
In short: Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation gave $41K across 32 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), top state Texas. 63% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $41,295
- -16.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 32
- -3.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,290
- -14.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $875
- Total assets
- $752,782
- +0.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 63% first-time grantees (19 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (37% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its filing lists Karen Fetner as the contact, says no forms are required, and restricts awards to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations or churches.
- Contact
Application contact: Karen Fetner
Mailing address: 1224 River Hollow Road, Fayetteville, AR 72703
Phone: (615) 947-5797
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was ISF ($7K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $30K.
Grant Size Distribution
128 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 128 grants of 128 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest state shares were Texas (37%), Georgia (19%), Arkansas (16%), Tennessee (11%), and California (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation open to new grantees?
63%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 30 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $923; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $525 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 33% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 119% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2020) to $53K (2022). In 2024 it made 32 grants totaling $41K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aid For Educators Arlington, TX | To Encourage Excellence in Education | $5,000 |
| ISF Acworth, GA | To Support Ongoing Operations of ISF | $5,000 |
| NW Ar FCA Lowell, AR | To Fund Excellence in Sports and Youth Development | $3,000 |
| Joshua Foundation Spring Hill, TN | To Fund Ongoing Operations | $3,000 |
| Next Step Womens Center Burleson, TX | To Fund Support for Women | $2,500 |
| W I Cooks Foundation Fort Worth, TX | To Support Ongoing Operations | $2,500 |
| Baylor Scott White Dallas, TX | To Fund Ongoing Operations | $2,000 |
| Cross Church Preschool Springdale, AR | To Support to the Proper Education of Children | $2,000 |
| FosterLovecom Brea, CA | To Help Children in Crisis | $1,865 |
| ISF Acworth, GA | To Fund Ongoing Operations | $1,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $752,782 | $48,475 | $44,892 | $41,295 | 32 | $41,296 | $18,366 | $34,809 |
| 2023 | $749,199 | $32,765 | $52,555 | $49,550 | 33 | $42,550 | $15,294 | $39,141 |
| 2022 | $768,989 | $39,389 | $62,343 | $52,900 | 27 | $52,900 | $12,190 | $36,850 |
| 2021 | $791,943 | $38,758 | $58,597 | $46,150 | 24 | $46,150 | $25,009 | $41,800 |
| 2020 | $811,782 | $2,488 | $51,397 | $40,100 | 12 | — | $5,317 | $43,116 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation reported a distributable amount of $35K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, American Chestnut Land Trust says its mission is to conserve natural and cultural resources in southern Maryland and provide public access for educational, scientific, recreational, and cultural purposes. Global Year describes itself as a ministry that helps students take a gap year to learn another language, experience another culture, and grow in their Christian faith.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $41,295. Grants ranged from $100 to $5,000, with a median of $875. Larger awards included $5,000 to Aid For Educators and $5,000 to ISF; $3,000 each to NW AR FCA and the Joshua Foundation; and $2,500 each to Next Step Womens Center and W I Cooks Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sondra Nelson Pace, Karen Fetner, and Kelli Cullen as co-chairmen.
Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation is led by Karen Fetner, Co-Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Karen Fetner
Co-Chairman
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelli Cullen
Co-Chairman
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sondra Nelson Pace
Co-Chairman
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation
How much does Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation give each year?
Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation gave $41K across 32 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $50K across 33 grants.
What is Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation's typical grant size?
Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $875, and its average grant was $1,290, across 32 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation that year got $923 on average.
Where does Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation give grants?
Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation's top state is Texas, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Georgia (19%) and Arkansas (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Allen, TX (3 grants), Acworth, GA (2 grants), Spring Hill, TN (2 grants) and Burleson, TX (2 grants).
Does Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 32 grants with a stated purpose on Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Fund Ongoing Operations" (7 grants) and "To Support Ongoing Operations" (6 grants).
Who are Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation's largest grantees?
Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include ISF ($6,500 across 2 grants), Aid For Educators ($5,000) and NW Ar FCA ($3,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation?
Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation reported $753K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $41K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $35K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation's EIN?
Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2789090. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Sondra Nelson Pace Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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