The Farris Foundation
The Farris Foundation is a private foundation based in Harlingen, Texas. In 2025, it made 45 grants totaling $505,130, primarily to organizations in Texas.
The Farris Foundation at a glance
In short: The Farris Foundation gave $505K across 45 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Texas. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $505,130
- -4.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 45
- -16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,225
- +14.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,200
- Total assets
- $6,400,156
- -3.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (15 of 42, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (95% 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 The Farris Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1870, Harlingen, TX 78551-1870
Phone: (956) 423-4710
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Farris Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was First United Methodist Church ($145K). Together the top 10 received $453K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($1,600), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
276 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 262 grants of 276 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 5% to recipients in Oregon, and less than 1% to recipients in Tennessee. The listed 2025 grantees include organizations in Harlingen, Brownsville, Houston, and other Texas communities, as well as the U.S. Department of Education in Portland, Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Farris Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 42 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 160% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $334K (2020) to $532K (2022). In 2025 it made 45 grants totaling $505K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First United Methodist Church Harlingen, TX | Donation to charitable organization to defray general operating expenses. | $145,100 |
| Kinkaid School Houston, TX | Donation to charitable organization to defray general operating expenses. | $100,000 |
| Jorge Zepeda San Juan, TX | Medical Expense Memorials | $55,000 |
| Ron Witlock Ministries Lyford, TX | Donation to charitable organization to defray general operating expenses. | $42,000 |
| Sea Turtles Rescue South Padre Island, TX | Donation to charitable organization to defray general operating expenses. | $27,000 |
| Marine Military Academy Harlingen, TX | Donation to charitable organization to defray general operating expenses. | $25,100 |
| US Department of Educatiion Portland, OR | Donation to charitable organization to defray general operating expenses. | $24,610 |
| Kenneth Benton Austin, TX | Medical Expense Memorials | $16,500 |
| Gladys Porter Zoo Brownsville, TX | Donation to charitable organization to defray general operating expenses. | $11,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club Harlingen, TX | Donation to charitable organization to defray general operating expenses. | $6,400 |
Ready to take the next step with The Farris Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,400,156 | $308,784 | $526,315 | $505,130 | 45 | $505,130 | $308,784 | $315,743 |
| 2024 | $6,654,687 | $297,584 | $536,725 | $529,420 | 54 | $529,420 | $313,424 | $320,794 |
| 2023 | $6,857,552 | $351,019 | $380,529 | $373,145 | 56 | $373,145 | $348,479 | $304,444 |
| 2022 | $6,894,857 | $279,060 | $538,998 | $531,915 | 59 | $531,915 | $294,914 | $330,180 |
| 2021 | $7,151,296 | $291,662 | $369,476 | $362,442 | 62 | $362,442 | $292,703 | $380,850 |
| 2020 | $7,230,690 | $307,197 | $340,686 | $333,504 | 63 | — | $304,247 | $324,411 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Farris Foundation reported a distributable amount of $316K 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 foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2025 grants included general operating support for charitable organizations and grants described as medical expense memorials.
Grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the kinds of organizations it supported. Marine Military Academy describes itself as a boarding school providing college-preparatory education for young men in grades 7–12. Las Huellas says its mission is to repopulate turkeys in South Texas. Sunny Glen Children’s Home says it cares for children in need and supports their physical, emotional, spiritual, and academic development.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 45 grants totaling $505,130. Grants ranged from $100 to $145,100, with a median grant of $1,200.
Among its largest 2025 grants to organizations were $145,100 to First United Methodist Church in Harlingen, $100,000 to Kinkaid School in Houston, $42,000 to Ron Witlock Ministries in Lyford, $27,000 to Sea Turtles Rescue on South Padre Island, and $25,100 to Marine Military Academy in Harlingen. These grants were described as donations to charitable organizations to defray general operating expenses. The filing also lists grants described as medical expense memorials to individual recipients.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert R Farris as president and director; Robin Farris as secretary/treasurer and director; and R Houston Farris and Hollyanne Farris Jenkins as directors.
The Farris Foundation is led by Robert R. Farris, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert R. Farris
President & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hollyanne Farris Jenkins
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
R. Houston Farris
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robin Farris
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 The Farris Foundation
How much does The Farris Foundation give each year?
The Farris Foundation gave $505K across 45 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $529K across 54 grants.
What is The Farris Foundation's typical grant size?
The Farris Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,200, and its average grant was $11,225, across 45 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Farris Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Farris Foundation give grants?
The Farris Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Harlingen, TX (16 grants), Houston, TX (4 grants), Brownsville, TX (4 grants) and San Benito, TX (3 grants).
Does The Farris Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 87% of The Farris Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (39 of 45) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "College Academic Scholarships" (3 grants) and "Medical Expense Memorials" (3 grants).
Who are The Farris Foundation's largest grantees?
The Farris Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include First United Methodist Church ($145,100), Kinkaid School ($100,000) and Jorge Zepeda ($55,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($1,600), which are not listed by name. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Farris Foundation?
The Farris Foundation reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $505K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $316K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Farris Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2025 grants included general operating support for charitable organizations and grants described as medical expense memorials. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Farris Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Farris Foundation's EIN?
The Farris Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2855935. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Farris 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Farris Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Texas
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
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
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
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
Baker Hughes Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
990
Total Given
$3.2M
Community Foundation of North Texas (Tax
Fort Worth, TX
The foundation supports nonprofits and community projects in areas including animal welfare, nonprofit capacity building, first responders, land conservation, neighborhood development, opportunity and access, and scholarships. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,100 to $1.5 million, with a median of $14,250; its service area covers 11 North Texas counties. It accepts applications for some competitive grant programs through its online portal, but donor-advised grants are not open to nonprofit applications.
Assets
$544.9M
Grants
872
Total Given
$41.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Farris Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-farris-foundation-morg_1b514b981cac4a88abeca65ff038e3ae
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_742855935_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Farris Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-farris-foundation-morg_1b514b981cac4a88abeca65ff038e3ae},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 The Farris 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.
The Farris Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?