Texas Bar Foundation
The Texas Bar Foundation is an Austin-based public charity that funds programs to enhance the rule of law and the system of justice in Texas. Founded in 1965, it says it has awarded more than $30 million in grants to charitable organizations across Texas.
Texas Bar Foundation at a glance
In short: Texas Bar Foundation gave $1.6M across 110 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,631,585
- +1.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 110
- +15.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,833
- -12.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,717
- Total assets
- $46,712,334
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Texas Bar Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Create an online account in the grants portal and submit an application by the relevant cycle deadline. The Foundation provides an application preview and instructions for creating an account.
- Review Cycle
- The stated Spring 2027 application deadline is January 15, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. The Foundation also lists annual submission deadlines of January 15 and July 15, both at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
- Deadline
- The stated Spring 2027 application deadline is January 15, 2027, at 5:00 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: 515 Congress Ave 1755, Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 480-8000
Website: https://txbf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Texas Bar Foundation
Who Texas Bar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Texas Young Lawyers Assc ($45K). Together the top 10 received $299K.
Grant Size Distribution
422 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 420 grants of 422 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated geographic scope is Texas. In filing year 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas; the remaining reported shares were 1% each for Louisiana, Maryland and Virginia, with New York listed at 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 110 itemized grants.
Cities
How Texas Bar Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 $1.1M (2021) to $1.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 110 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Young Lawyers Assc Austin, TX | Public srvc lawyers rsrcs, outreach | $45,000 |
| The Arc of the Capital Area Austin, TX | Texans w/ dev disab tech platform | $35,000 |
| Aspire A Mindful Place Borger, TX | Assist w/ mental health issues | $30,000 |
| Hope Haven of East Texas Tyler, TX | Trans living prgrm for foster kids | $30,000 |
| Texas Ctr for the Judiciary Austin, TX | Further judicial expertise | $30,000 |
| South Tx College of Law Houst Houston, TX | Upgrade tech capacity for legal srv | $27,200 |
| Basin Dream Ctr for Orphans Midland, TX | Provide help to homeless youth | $26,050 |
| Fort Bend Womens Center Richmond, TX | Legal rep for survivors of fam viol | $25,400 |
| ACH Child and Family Svcs Fort Worth, TX | Help relative caregivers w/ legal | $25,000 |
| Austin Bar Fdn Vets Leg Assis Austin, TX | Develop case mgmt database | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Texas Bar Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $46,712,334 | $3,496,909 | $2,988,549 | $1,631,585 | 110 | $1,750,210 |
| 2024 | $44,370,320 | $10,808,885 | $2,847,504 | $1,608,288 | 95 | $4,840,214 |
| 2023 | $35,282,026 | $2,056,778 | $2,682,349 | $1,465,626 | 86 | $311,096 |
| 2022 | $36,380,732 | $5,314,157 | $2,457,795 | $1,140,447 | 67 | $3,252,088 |
| 2021 | $39,087,932 | $1,899,203 | $2,161,849 | $1,061,866 | 64 | $480,312 |
| 2020 | $30,368,766 | $2,636,420 | $2,415,927 | $1,257,158 | 1 | $913,436 |
| 2019 | $29,204,108 | $2,618,565 | $2,437,447 | $1,298,587 | 1 | $1,067,237 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to solicit charitable contributions and provide funding to enhance the rule of law and the system of justice in Texas. Its stated areas of particular interest include legal assistance for the underserved, administration of justice, ethics in the legal profession, legal research, publications and forums, and education of the third branch of government.
The Foundation awards grants to eligible nonprofit organizations, government entities and local bar affiliates; it does not make grants to individuals. Examples of grantees’ work include Texas CASA’s effort to promote and develop local court-appointed special advocate programs throughout Texas, and Lone Star Justice Alliance’s work addressing systemic failures in the justice system through advocacy and evidence-based programs for youth and emerging adults. The Arc of the Capital Area describes its own mission as empowering Central Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 110 grants totaling $1,631,585. Grant amounts ranged from $5,400 to $45,000, with a median of $13,716. Its largest reported grants included $45,000 to Texas Young Lawyers Association for public-service lawyer resources and outreach; $35,000 to The Arc of the Capital Area for a technology platform serving Texans with developmental disabilities; and $30,000 each to Aspire A Mindful Place, Hope Haven of East Texas, and the Texas Center for the Judiciary.
The Foundation also reported that $1,926,497 was awarded to 163 organizations across the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 cycles, plus $25,740 in emergency grants to two organizations during the 2025–2026 fiscal year. It describes its general grants as semi-annual, with Spring and Fall cycles. Applications are submitted online, and applicants must first create an account in the grants portal. Eligible applicants are IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government entities and local bar affiliates; individuals are not eligible. The Board of Trustees makes grant decisions and may defer an application to a later cycle.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Baillie Milliken as Executive Director; Carlos Eduardo Cardenas as Chair; Kenda Culpepper as Chair Elect; Sylvia Cardona as Secretary/Treasurer; and Geffrey Anderson as Past Chair. Trustees listed include Teddy Adams, Judy Barton, Chad Baruch, Talmage Boston and David Calvillo.
Texas Bar Foundation is led by Baillie Hearne Milliken, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2022); 1 of 30 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Baillie Hearne Milliken
Executive Director
Development Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$85K (2022) → $132K (2025)
Carlos Eduardo Cardenas
Chair
Trustee → Chair Elect, 2024
Chair Elect → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Penny Roberts
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diana Geis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Keel
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carmen Huerta-Perez
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Race
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gail Plummer
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Wester
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Les Hatch
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sara Dysart
Trustee
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Talmage Boston
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andy Tindel
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cori Harbour
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Calvillo
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Cordova
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elisabeth Earle
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judy Barton
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristal Thomson
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Hagans
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chad Baruch
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jaime Saenz
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Gibson
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Micallef
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Natalie Koehler-Denbow
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roy Ferguson
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Teddy Adams
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Geffrey Anderson
Past Chair
Secretary & Treasurer → Chair, 2024
Chair → Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenda Culpepper
Chair Elect
Trustee → Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
Secretary & Treasurer → Chair Elect, 2025
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sylvia Cardona
Secretary & Treasurer
Trustee → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (44)
- Former: Alistair Dawson (2019–2024) — Past Chair
- Former: Audrey Vicknair (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Christy Amuny (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: David Lauritzen (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Gregory Sampson (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jose Escobedo Jr. (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: June Deadrick (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Scott Sherwood (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Natalie Koehler Denbow (2024) — Trustee
- Former: W Stephen Benesh (2019–2023) — Chair Elect
- Former: Wendy Burgower (2019–2023) — Past Chair
- Former: Andrew Kerr (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Gary Nickelson (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jarrod Foerster (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jennifer Chiang (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jennifer Evans Morris (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Warren Harris (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Angela Castilleja (2022–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Natalie Cobb Koehler (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Andrea Stone (2019–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Mark Shank (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Shannon Dacus (2019–2022) — Past Chair
- Former: Alexandra Farias-Sorrels (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: C Barrett Thomas (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Estrella Escobar (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Melanie Bragg (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Roger Key (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Amanda Abraham (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Coolidge Rhodes Jr. (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Florentino Ramirez (2019–2021) — Past Chair
- Former: Frank Stevenson II (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: John Swallow (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: MariBen Ramsey (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Rose Guerra Reyna (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Thomas Riney (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Stephen Benesh (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: B Blue Hyatt (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: David Copeland (2019–2020) — Past Chair
- Former: Richard Robertson (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Robbie Ausley (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Travis Torrence (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Cindy Tisdale (2019) — Past Chair
- Former: Sylvia Borunda Firth (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Tim Kelly (2019) — Trustee
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 $132K, to Baillie Milliken (Exec Director).
Frequently asked questions about Texas Bar Foundation
How much does Texas Bar Foundation give each year?
Texas Bar Foundation gave $1.6M across 110 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 95 grants.
What is Texas Bar Foundation's typical grant size?
Texas Bar Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $13,717, and its average grant was $14,833, across 110 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Texas Bar Foundation give grants?
Texas Bar Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (15 grants), Dallas, TX (14 grants), San Antonio, TX (12 grants) and Houston, TX (9 grants).
Does Texas Bar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 110 grants with a stated purpose on Texas Bar Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Texas Bar Foundation's largest grantees?
Texas Bar Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Texas Young Lawyers Assc ($45,000), The Arc of the Capital Area ($35,000) and Aspire A Mindful Place ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 7% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Texas Bar Foundation?
Texas Bar Foundation reported $46.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.5M.
What does Texas Bar Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to solicit charitable contributions and provide funding to enhance the rule of law and the system of justice in Texas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Texas Bar Foundation?
Create an online account in the grants portal and submit an application by the relevant cycle deadline. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Texas Bar Foundation's EIN?
Texas Bar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6074796. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 3, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 28, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 29, 2021)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Texas Bar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Texas Bar Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/texas-bar-foundation-morg_4bbe789cf80e43db91daf66ce59fea09
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_746074796_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Texas Bar Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/texas-bar-foundation-morg_4bbe789cf80e43db91daf66ce59fea09},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Texas Bar 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.
Texas Bar Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?