The Legett Foundation
The Legett Foundation is a private foundation based in Abilene, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports 136 grants totaling $12,562,078, all of which went to recipients in Texas; recipients must be tax-exempt entities.
The Legett Foundation at a glance
In short: The Legett Foundation gave $12.6M across 136 grants in 2024 (avg $92K), mostly in Texas. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,562,078
- -3.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 136
- +16.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $92,368
- -16.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $111,603,346
- +8.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (33 of 128, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% 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 The Legett Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation says all applications should be written. It names Elyse Lewis as the application contact and states that recipients must be tax-exempt entities.
- Contact
Application contact: Elyse Lewis
Mailing address: PO Box 176, Abilene, TX 79604
Phone: (325) 673-6429
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Legett Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Foundation of Abilene ($2.6M across 7 grants). Together the top 10 received $10.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
701 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 579 grants of 701 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 136 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Legett Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 33 of 128 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $114K; repeat grants $93K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 54% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+17%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $7.5M (2020) to $13.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 136 grants totaling $12.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation of Abilene Abilene, TX | To Support Abilene Heritage Square Project | $2,500,000 |
| Amarillo Area Foundation Abilene, TX | Panhandle Gives Amplification Fund | $2,100,000 |
| West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation Abilene, TX | Capital Project | $1,683,667 |
| Hardin-Simmons University Abilene, TX | School of Nursing | $1,000,000 |
| M D Anderson Cancer Center Abilene, TX | NK Cell Therapy Melanoma Research | $1,000,000 |
| Hendrick Medical Center Foundation Abilene, TX | A Foundation for the Future | $600,000 |
| Texas Christian University Abilene, TX | Medical School Endowment | $449,444 |
| Texas Tech Foundation Abilene, TX | Distinguished Alumni Event | $310,000 |
| Abilene Restoration Ministries Abilene, TX | Dormitory Project | $250,000 |
| Abilene Improvement Corporation Abilene, TX | Downtown Abilene Hotel Project | $237,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Legett 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $111,603,346 | $24,016,688 | $15,737,188 | $12,562,078 | 136 | $12,939,728 | $21,720,206 | $13,993,428 |
| 2023 | $102,786,846 | $24,301,725 | $15,761,052 | $12,959,085 | 117 | $13,222,710 | $20,642,109 | $11,922,712 |
| 2022 | $94,012,608 | $25,181,966 | $14,442,563 | $11,001,707 | 146 | $11,250,071 | $22,348,788 | $11,907,617 |
| 2021 | $82,883,497 | $23,683,505 | $13,452,654 | $10,750,050 | 141 | $11,006,570 | $22,037,777 | $10,613,318 |
| 2020 | $72,565,852 | $14,183,026 | $9,585,339 | $7,478,470 | 161 | — | $12,777,760 | $8,344,335 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Legett Foundation reported a distributable amount of $14.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and projects. For example, the Community Foundation of Abilene, which received $2.5 million, describes its mission as connecting donors with causes, making grants, responding to community needs, and providing philanthropic leadership. West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation, which received $1,683,667, says its purpose is to provide financial support to the rehabilitation center.
Other grantees describe work in education, health care, and human services. Hardin-Simmons University, which received $1 million, says its mission is to provide education enlightened by Christian faith and values. Hendrick Medical Center Foundation, which received $600,000, says it raises funds for the medical center’s needs and programs. Abilene Restoration Ministries, which received $250,000, describes operating a residential mental health and substance abuse facility for men.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 136 grants totaling $12,562,078. Grant amounts ranged from $300 to $2.5 million, with a median grant of $10,000. Notable grants included $2.5 million to the Community Foundation of Abilene for the Abilene Heritage Square Project, $2.1 million to Amarillo Area Foundation for the Panhandle Gives Amplification Fund, and $1,683,667 to West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation for a capital project. Other large awards included $1 million each to Hardin-Simmons University for its School of Nursing and to MD Anderson Cancer Center for NK cell therapy melanoma research.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Kade L. Matthews as director, CEO, and president; Joseph Edwin Canon as executive vice president and director; Watt R. Matthews as senior vice president of investments; Jeff Blanks as senior vice president and operations officer; Margaret M. Frederick as director and grants officer; John A. Matthews Jr. as director; Aaron Miller as vice president, treasurer, and CFO; Elyse Lewis as assistant vice president, secretary, and grants officer; and Brenda Casselberry as assistant vice president and property administrator.
The Legett Foundation is led by Kade L. Matthews, Director, CEO & President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); all 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kade L. Matthews
Director, CEO & President
Director, Chairman, CEO & President → Director, CEO & President, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$208K (2020) → $85K (2024)
John A. Matthews Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$108K (2020) → $49K (2024)
Joseph Edwin Canon
Executive Vice President & Director
Director, Executive Vice President & Executive Director → Director, Executive Vice President, Executive Director & Secretary, 2022
Director, Executive Vice President, Executive Director & Secretary → Executive Vice President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
11.7 hrs/week
$218K (2020) → $78K (2024)
Margaret M. Frederick
Director & Grants Officer
Director → Director & Grants Officer, 2022
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$18K (2021) → $26K (2024)
Jeff Blanks
Senior Vice President & Operations Officer
Vice President, Treasurer & CFO → Senior Vice President & Operations Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
13.3 hrs/week
$186K (2020) → $80K (2024)
Watt R. Matthews
Senior Vice President - Investments
Senior Vice President-Investments → Senior Vice President - Investments, 2024
On filings since 2021
8 hrs/week
$73K (2021) → $79K (2024)
Aaron Miller
Vice President, Treasurer & CFO
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
$31K (2023) → $48K (2024)
Brenda Casselberry
Assistant Vice President & Property Administrator
New on the 2024 filing
7 hrs/week
$31K (2024)
Elyse Lewis
Assistant Vice President, Secretary & Grants Ofc
New on the 2024 filing
7 hrs/week
$39K (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Dixie Morris (2020–2022) — Vice President & Grants Officer
- Former: Linda S. Buckner (2020–2022) — Vice President & Property Administrator
- Former: Lawrence E. Gill (2020) — Vice President & Senior Grants Administrator
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 $85K, to Kade L Matthews (DIR/CEO/President). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Legett Foundation
How much does The Legett Foundation give each year?
The Legett Foundation gave $12.6M across 136 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $13.0M across 117 grants.
What is The Legett Foundation's typical grant size?
The Legett Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $92,368, across 136 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Legett Foundation that year got $114K on average.
Where does The Legett Foundation give grants?
The Legett Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Abilene, TX (136 grants).
Does The Legett Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of The Legett Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 136) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (49 grants) and "VFD Operations" (4 grants).
Who are The Legett Foundation's largest grantees?
The Legett Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Community Foundation of Abilene ($2,573,000 across 7 grants), Amarillo Area Foundation ($2,100,000) and West Texas Rehabilitation Center Foundation ($1,683,667), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Legett Foundation?
The Legett Foundation reported $111.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $12.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $14.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Legett Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and projects. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Legett Foundation?
The foundation says all applications should be written. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Legett Foundation's EIN?
The Legett Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2696419. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Legett Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Legett Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-legett-foundation-morg_44c1576246634e41ad98a0e331ff4d05
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752696419_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Legett Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-legett-foundation-morg_44c1576246634e41ad98a0e331ff4d05},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Legett 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.
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