The Link Foundation
The Link Foundation is a private foundation established in 1985 and located in Austin, Texas. It operates as an independent 501(c)(3) organization with its own corporate Board of Directors and three regional advisory boards with delegated grant-making authority. The foundation was created alongside LINKBANK to generate lasting positive change within its service communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.4M
+7.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$40K
-95.6% YoY
Grant Count
1
-66.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
-86.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Link Foundation reported a distributable amount of $521K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to strengthen the communities it serves and positively impact lives by funding initiatives focused on three core pillars:
- Promoting Financial Literacy — Programs that improve knowledge and behaviors for informed financial decision-making
- Developing Future Leaders — Programs designed to cultivate leadership skills in young individuals, enabling their growth and success
- Fortifying Personal & Professional Development — Programs that help individuals assess their skills, clarify life goals, and develop strategies to maximize their potential, including professional growth initiatives that broaden experiences and enhance skillsets
The foundation also provides funding for human services, health care, and relief organizations.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
approximately $5,000
Average Grant
approximately $5,000
Review Cycle
September 30
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Link Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a national scope with grants distributed across the United States, though Austin, Texas is the preferred service area. The foundation also serves Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, D.C., and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $8,431,811
- Total Revenues: $762,672
- Total Expenses: $76,706
- Investment Income and Dividends: $271,642
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $491,030
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $8,431,811
- Total Revenues: $6,784,112
- Total Grants, Contributions: $6,569,576
The foundation has zero employees and operates as a private foundation.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,431,811 | $7,816,060 | $1,955,746 |
| Revenue | $762,672 | $6,784,112 | $66,747 |
| Expenses | $76,706 | $923,798 | $68,153 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $45,056 | $911,365 | $57,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $733,847 | $203,142 | $61,720 |
| Distributable Amount | $520,526 | $205,155 | $188,082 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
45 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Link Foundation
Link Foundation: Energy Fellowship Grant
THE LINK FOUNDATION
Amount
US $35,000 - US $70,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Modeling, Simulation, and Training Fellowships Grant
THE LINK FOUNDATION
Amount
US $35,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ocean Engineering and Instrumentation Ph.D. Fellowship Grant
THE LINK FOUNDATION
Amount
US $35,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Short Fiction Inc ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN SHORT FICTION INC AUSTIN, TX | SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ian S Bratcher — President
- Brigid Anne Cockrum — Director
- Madison Goforth — Secretary
- Wendy Albrecht — Director
- Joe W. Bratcher III — Donor
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| IAN S BRATCHER | PRES/TREAS | 1 | — |
| MADISON GOFORTH | SEC/V.P. | 1 | — |
| WENDY ALBRECHT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRIGID ANNE COCKRUM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 901 South Mopac Expressway, Austin, TX 78746-5776
- Phone: 512-480-0269 or 512-480-0010
- EIN: 74-2387802
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Link Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to strengthen the communities it serves and positively impact lives by funding initiatives focused on three core pillars: • **Promoting Financial Literacy** — Programs that improve knowledge and behaviors for informed financial decision-making • **Developing Future Leaders** — Programs designed to cultivate leadership skills in young individuals, enabling their growth and success • **Fortifying Personal & Professional Development** — Programs that help individuals as…
How do I apply for a grant from The Link Foundation?
**Recent Grant Activity:** • American Short Fiction: $40,000 (December 2024) for support of the organization's exempt purpose • Center for Survivors of Torture: $20,000 • Austin Yoga: $15,000 • United Nations Children's Fund: $40,000 **Grant Characteristics:** • Average grant size: approximately $5,000 • The foundation made three grants in the most recent reporting year • Approximately 54% of giving historically goes to Social & Human Services, 30% to Arts & Culture, and 8% to Philanthropy-to-P…
Where does The Link Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a national scope with grants distributed across the United States, though Austin, Texas is the preferred service area. The foundation also serves Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, D.C., and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does The Link Foundation award?
In 2024, The Link Foundation awarded 1 grants totaling $40K — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Link Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Link Foundation reported a distributable amount of $521K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Link Foundation's EIN?
The Link Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2387802. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Link Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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