Spirit of Eden
Spirit of Eden is a Form 990-PF private foundation based in Eden, Texas. Its website says the fund was established in 2001 to use assets from the sale of a detention facility for the long-term benefit of the community, with the objective of improving quality of life in Eden and the surrounding area.
Spirit of Eden at a glance
In short: Spirit of Eden gave $212K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Texas. 47% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $212,030
- +32.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +38.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,779
- -4.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,097
- Total assets
- $3,107,284
- +6.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (7 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- 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 Spirit of Eden
- How to Apply
-
The fund solicits Letters of Intent from eligible organizations. Its filing directs applicants to the fund’s website for application procedures, materials, and award restrictions or limitations.
- Review Cycle
- The filing directs applicants to the website for the submission deadline; it does not provide a date.
- Deadline
- The filing directs applicants to the website for the submission deadline; it does not provide a date.
- Contact
Application contact: Spirit Of Eden Wade C Ellison
Mailing address: PO Box 125, Eden, TX 76837
Phone: (325) 869-5259
Website: HTTP://WWW.EDENTEXAS.COM
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Spirit of Eden funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was City of Eden ($106K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $194K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($9,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 76 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund’s stated objective covers Eden and the surrounding area. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Spirit of Eden open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 15 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 29% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 113% 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 $148K (2019) to $212K (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $212K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City of Eden Eden, TX | Street Sweeper | $50,000 |
| City of Eden Eden, TX | Asphault Drum Roller | $35,000 |
| Eden Volunteer Fire Department Eden, TX | Protective Boots/Radio Comms | $20,000 |
| City of Eden Eden, TX | Swimming Pool Updated | $13,000 |
| Concho County 4-H Paint Rock, TX | 4-H Club Projects for Children | $10,000 |
| Eden Cisd FCCLA Eden, TX | FCCLA Travel Expenses | $10,000 |
| Eden Cisd Booster Club Eden, TX | New Tunnel for Eden Football Program | $10,000 |
| Eden Economic Development Corp Eden, TX | Local Art Projects/Mural Installation | $10,000 |
| Concho County Saddle Club Eden, TX | Repairs and Improvement | $9,193 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $9,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Spirit of Eden?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The fund’s website says it must make average annual distributions of $155,000 to meet federal requirements.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,107,284 | $421,129 | $247,063 | $212,030 | 18 | $215,242 | $393,264 | $190,452 |
| 2024 | $2,932,522 | $226,644 | $187,476 | $160,464 | 13 | $163,435 | $200,813 | $185,952 |
| 2023 | $2,894,610 | $81,625 | $188,635 | $157,907 | 13 | $158,837 | $77,845 | $173,364 |
| 2022 | $3,001,620 | $288,053 | $195,088 | $164,491 | 13 | $165,309 | $262,358 | $173,475 |
| 2021 | $2,908,655 | $228,015 | $198,985 | $167,824 | 19 | $172,033 | $201,702 | $184,838 |
| 2020 | $2,879,625 | $134,692 | $196,393 | $167,197 | 19 | — | $109,899 | $169,714 |
| 2019 | $2,941,326 | $134,636 | $178,067 | $147,912 | 14 | — | $108,726 | $165,914 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Spirit of Eden reported a distributable amount of $190K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s stated objective is to improve quality of life in Eden and the surrounding area while maintaining and conservatively growing its assets for perpetuity. Its grants support a range of local projects and services. In 2025, examples included municipal equipment and improvements, fire-department safety equipment, youth activities, school programs, and local art projects.
One 2025 grantee, Eden Economic Development Corporation, describes its mission as developing programs that promote the City of Eden.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the fund awarded 18 grants totaling $212,030. Grant sizes ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median grant of $9,096.
Notable 2025 grants included $50,000 and $35,000 to the City of Eden for a street sweeper and an asphalt drum roller; $20,000 to the Eden Volunteer Fire Department for protective boots and radio communications; and $13,000 to the City of Eden for swimming-pool updates. Other grants included $10,000 to Concho County 4-H for children’s club projects, $10,000 to Eden CISD FCCLA for travel expenses, and $10,000 to Eden Economic Development Corporation for local art projects and mural installation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists F David Duwe as president, Eddy D Markham as vice president, Wade C Ellison as secretary/treasurer, and James Rannefeld and Katherine Gonzales as directors. The fund’s website says its five-member board manages the fund without pay.
Spirit of Eden is led by F. David Duwe, President since 2025 (on filings since 2019); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
F. David Duwe
President
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Gonzales
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Rannefeld
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eddy D. Markham
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wade C. Ellison
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Thomas F. Kelso (2019–2024) — President
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.
Frequently asked questions about Spirit of Eden
How much does Spirit of Eden give each year?
Spirit of Eden gave $212K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $160K across 13 grants.
What is Spirit of Eden's typical grant size?
Spirit of Eden's median grant in 2025 was $9,097, and its average grant was $11,779, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Spirit of Eden that year got $7K on average.
Where does Spirit of Eden give grants?
Spirit of Eden 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 Eden, TX (14 grants) and Paint Rock, TX (3 grants).
Does Spirit of Eden give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Spirit of Eden's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Spirit of Eden's largest grantees?
Spirit of Eden's largest 2025 grantees include City of Eden ($105,800 across 4 grants), Eden Volunteer Fire Department ($20,000) and Concho County 4-H ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($9,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Spirit of Eden?
Spirit of Eden reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $215K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $190K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Spirit of Eden fund?
The fund’s stated objective is to improve quality of life in Eden and the surrounding area while maintaining and conservatively growing its assets for perpetuity. Its grants support a range of local projects and services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Spirit of Eden?
The fund solicits Letters of Intent from eligible organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Spirit of Eden's EIN?
Spirit of Eden's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2911162. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 10, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Spirit of Eden's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Texas
San Angelo Area Foundation
San Angelo, TX
The San Angelo Area Foundation supports a broad range of charitable needs, including health, education, arts, social services, and youth development, benefiting communities in 17 counties around San Angelo, Texas. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $24,000; it does not accept requests by email or traditional mail, but organizations may apply online.
Assets
$273.2M
Grants
158
Total Given
$10.0M
San Angelo Health Foundation
San Angelo, TX
The San Angelo Health Foundation funds community projects, prioritizing health-related needs and programs in San Angelo and the Concho Valley. Its 2024 grants had a median of $33,350, with awards ranging from $7,130 to $403,549; it accepts proposals on a continuing basis.
Assets
$59.8M
Grants
36
Total Given
$2.5M
Communities Foundation of Texas Inc
Dallas, TX
Communities Foundation of Texas funds a broad range of community needs, including health, education, housing, and community development, primarily in North Texas and across Texas. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $18,800, though amounts varied widely; nearly all opportunities are by invitation, with some specific programs open for applications.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
2,209
Total Given
$209.2M
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston, TX
The Foundation makes grants through donor-advised and other donor-established funds for public benefit, human services, education, and health, including initiatives addressing economic mobility and poverty in Harris County. In 2024, its median grant was $25,000; it serves Greater Houston, while grants also go to recipients elsewhere in Texas and beyond. It does not accept proposals for the upcoming High-Impact Grantmaking cycle and plans to invite selected organizations or collaboratives to apply.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,724
Total Given
$232.3M
Baker Hughes Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
990
Total Given
$3.2M
BNSF Railway Foundation
Fort Worth, TX
The BNSF Railway Foundation funds civic, cultural, education, health and human services, environmental, and youth programs, including operating costs and specific projects. Its 2025 median grant was $2,500, though awards ranged from $100 to $500,000; it supports eligible organizations serving communities near BNSF rail lines across its 28 operating states. The foundation provides an online application process, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$23.0M
Grants
993
Total Given
$7.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Spirit of Eden funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/spirit-of-eden-morg_be3e3189bfe44a2298d0894b7c905a70
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752911162_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Spirit of Eden funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/spirit-of-eden-morg_be3e3189bfe44a2298d0894b7c905a70},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Spirit of Eden'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.
Spirit of Eden down — hundreds of funders to go?