Still Water Foundation
Still Water Foundation is an Austin, Texas–based private foundation that supports nonprofit organizations and works with other funders through grantmaking and strategic partnerships. It describes its work as strengthening communities, nurturing creativity, fostering better learning, preserving natural resources, and deepening spirituality.
Still Water Foundation at a glance
In short: Still Water Foundation gave $19.8M across 91 grants in 2024 (avg $217K), mostly in Texas. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $19,756,834
- +69.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 91
- +15.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $217,108
- +47.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $60,000
- Total assets
- $147,119,911
- -2.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (20 of 81, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (80% 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 Still Water Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It says staff identify and cultivate relationships with nonprofits and other foundations to explore funding opportunities and partnerships. Nonprofits and prospective partners may submit a brief description of work aligned with the foundation’s focus areas through its contact form; not all inquiries will receive a reply due to limited capacity.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1606 San Antonio Street, Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 861-8031
Website: https://stillwaterfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Still Water Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was St Stephen's Episcopal School ($3.6M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $13.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($40,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
405 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 169 grants of 405 (42%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its investments as making an impact in Central and rural West Texas. Its 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Texas (80%) and California (18%), with 1% each reported for New Mexico, the District of Columbia, and Arizona. These percentages total 101%, reflecting the reported rounded shares.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 91 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Still Water Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 20 of 81 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $196K; repeat grants $260K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $60K repeat.
- 54% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 182% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 288% 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 $7.0M (2021) to $19.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 91 grants totaling $19.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Stephen's Episcopal School Austin, TX | Educational - for the Capital Campaign. | $3,000,000 |
| San Francisco Zen Center San Francisco, CA | Charitable - for General Operating Support. | $2,833,334 |
| Blanton Museum of Art Austin, TX | Cultural - for the Grounds Redevelopment Capital Campaign. | $1,000,000 |
| Hardin-Simmons University Abilene, TX | Educational - to Support New Nursing Facilities. | $1,000,000 |
| Landmarks - the University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | Charitable - for General Operating Support. | $1,000,000 |
| West Texas Rehab Center Abilene, TX | Charitable - to Support Capital Campaign. | $1,000,000 |
| Waterloo Greenway Conservancy Austin, TX | Charitable - for General Operating Support. | $750,000 |
| Permian Basin Area Foundation Midland, TX | Charitable - Still Water Foundation II Donor-Advised Fund. | $625,000 |
| Abilene Heritage Square Abilene, TX | Cultural - to Support the Revitalization Project. | $500,000 |
| Abilene Zoological Society Abilene, TX | Charitable - to support a bold adventure capital campaign | $500,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Still Water Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $147,119,911 | $14,645,033 | $13,440,429 | $19,756,834 | 91 | $20,485,144 | $12,236,756 | $7,123,862 |
| 2023 | $151,266,834 | $16,796,808 | $18,927,675 | $11,663,045 | 79 | $12,356,194 | $14,920,435 | $7,130,361 |
| 2022 | $147,245,808 | $20,740,664 | $24,421,861 | $12,910,425 | 76 | $13,521,349 | $17,540,813 | $6,861,365 |
| 2021 | $144,411,905 | $16,909,301 | $7,495,847 | $7,013,797 | 78 | $7,532,767 | $14,728,417 | $6,593,089 |
| 2020 | $126,757,046 | $7,749,765 | $7,547,230 | $13,385,002 | 81 | — | $6,332,876 | $5,941,121 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Still Water Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.1M 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
Still Water Foundation describes its approach as high-impact philanthropy rooted in partnership, including sustained giving, strategic consultation for grantees, and coalitions with other funders. Its stated areas of commitment include strengthening communities, nurturing creativity, fostering better learning, preserving natural resources, and deepening spirituality.
Its 2024 grants included support for educational, cultural, and charitable purposes. The recipients’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported: St. Stephen’s Episcopal School says it nurtures children’s academic, creative, and spiritual potential; Hardin-Simmons University describes its mission as providing education enlightened by Christian faith and values; and Waterloo Greenway Conservancy works to create and maintain urban parks around a restored Waller Creek. Other recipients included organizations working in animal education and conservation, community development, and the creation of charitable funds for West Texas communities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Still Water Foundation made 91 grants totaling $19,756,834. Grants ranged from $7,500 to $3,000,000, with a median grant of $60,000. Notable awards included $3,000,000 to St. Stephen’s Episcopal School for a capital campaign; $2,833,334 to San Francisco Zen Center for general operating support; and $1,000,000 each to the Blanton Museum of Art for a grounds redevelopment capital campaign, Hardin-Simmons University for new nursing facilities, Landmarks at the University of Texas at Austin for general operating support, and West Texas Rehab Center for a capital campaign.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Julia M. Wilkinson as chairman/president, James A. Flieller as treasurer, Duncan E. Osborne as vice president/secretary, and Ellen O. Ray as CEO. The foundation’s website identifies Ellen Ray as executive director and says she has played a central role in its leadership for over two decades.
Still Water Foundation is led by Ellen O. Ray, CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ellen O. Ray
CEO
Executive Director → CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
55 hrs/week
$302K (2020) → $432K (2024)
Julia M. Wilkinson
Chairman & President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James A. Flieller
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$450K (2022) → $156K (2024)
Duncan E. Osborne
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Patti O'Meara (2020–2022) — Managing 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 $432K, to Ellen O Ray (CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Still Water Foundation
How much does Still Water Foundation give each year?
Still Water Foundation gave $19.8M across 91 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $11.7M across 79 grants.
What is Still Water Foundation's typical grant size?
Still Water Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $60,000, and its average grant was $217,108, across 91 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Still Water Foundation that year got $196K on average.
Where does Still Water Foundation give grants?
Still Water Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (47 grants), Abilene, TX (6 grants), San Francisco, CA (3 grants) and Georgetown, TX (2 grants).
Does Still Water Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 44% of Still Water Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (40 of 91) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Charitable - for New Furnishings" (4 grants).
Who are Still Water Foundation's largest grantees?
Still Water Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include St Stephen's Episcopal School ($3,620,000 across 3 grants), San Francisco Zen Center ($3,391,334 across 3 grants) and Blanton Museum of Art ($1,225,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($40,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Still Water Foundation?
Still Water Foundation reported $147.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $20.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Still Water Foundation fund?
Still Water Foundation describes its approach as high-impact philanthropy rooted in partnership, including sustained giving, strategic consultation for grantees, and coalitions with other funders. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Still Water Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Still Water Foundation's EIN?
Still Water Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3532637. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Still Water 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Still Water Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Still Water Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/still-water-foundation-morg_758c62f55e6c4797a7dbce25677db114
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_473532637_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Still Water Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/still-water-foundation-morg_758c62f55e6c4797a7dbce25677db114},
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 Still Water 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.
Still Water Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?