The Link Foundation
The Link Foundation is a private foundation based in Austin, Texas. Its filing describes charitable interests in human services and medical organizations, especially those serving children, and says Austin is preferred while there is no geographical limitation.
The Link Foundation at a glance
In short: The Link Foundation gave $375K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $375K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $375,000
- +837.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $375,000
- +837.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $375,000
- Total assets
- $8,390,229
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Link Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing asks applicants to provide information showing evidence of public charity or private operating foundation status and lists Ian S. Bratcher III c/o H. David Hughe as the contact. The filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- September 30 of each calendar year, according to the filing. The 2026 deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- September 30 of each calendar year, according to the filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Ian S Bratcher Iii Co H David Hughe
Mailing address: 2901 Bee Caves Road Bldg O, Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (512) 480-0010
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
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
Deadline not published
Modeling, Simulation, and Training Fellowships Grant
The Link Foundation
Amount
US $35,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ocean Engineering and Instrumentation Ph.D. Fellowship Grant
The Link Foundation
Amount
US $35,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Link Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Host Publications ($375K).
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 26 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing states that there is no geographical limitation, although Austin, Texas, is preferred. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to a recipient in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How The Link Foundation gives
- Giving grew 582% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 71% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2024) to $911K (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $375K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Host Publications Austin, TX | Support of the Organization's Exempt Purpose | $375,000 |
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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 | $8,390,229 | $381,459 | $423,041 | $375,000 | 1 | $379,645 | $353,172 | $536,770 |
| 2024 | $8,431,811 | $762,672 | $76,706 | $40,000 | 1 | $45,056 | $733,847 | $520,526 |
| 2023 | $7,816,060 | $6,784,112 | $923,798 | $911,365 | 3 | $911,365 | $203,142 | $205,155 |
| 2022 | $1,955,746 | $66,747 | $68,153 | $55,000 | 3 | $57,500 | $61,720 | $188,082 |
| 2021 | $1,957,152 | $415,512 | $588,617 | $564,861 | 18 | $567,361 | $404,732 | $214,927 |
| 2020 | $2,013,617 | $819,198 | $924,190 | $909,952 | 20 | — | $753,639 | $199,350 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Link Foundation reported a distributable amount of $537K 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 identifies human services and medical organizations, especially those serving children, as charitable fields. Its fellowship programs support doctoral students pursuing research in energy; modeling, simulation and training; and ocean engineering and instrumentation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported one grant totaling $375,000. The recipient was Host Publications in Austin, Texas; the filing listed the purpose as support of the organization’s exempt purpose. The foundation’s filing states that its average grant is $5,000.
The foundation’s fellowship programs offer awards to eligible Ph.D. students at U.S. or Canadian institutions. The Energy Fellowship provides $35,000 per year for two years, with second-year funding contingent on satisfactory progress and an advisor’s endorsement. The Modeling, Simulation, and Training Fellowship provides $35,000 for one year; a second year may be possible and is evaluated competitively. The Ocean Engineering and Instrumentation Fellowship offers six one-year awards of $35,000 each. These awards support fellows’ academic-year and summer stipends, and program descriptions specify that certain costs, such as tuition or institutional overhead, are not eligible.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ian S. Bratcher as president and treasurer; Madison Goforth as secretary and vice president; and Wendy Albrecht and Brigid Anne Cockrum as directors.
The Link Foundation is led by Ian S. Bratcher, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2022; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ian S. Bratcher
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brigid Anne Cockrum
Director
Secretary & V.p. → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Albrecht
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Madison Goforth
Secretary & V.p.
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Joe W. Bratcher III (2020–2021) — President & Treasurer
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 Link Foundation
How much does The Link Foundation give each year?
The Link Foundation gave $375K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $40K across 1 grant.
How large is The Link Foundation?
The Link Foundation reported $8.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $380K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $537K (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 Link Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing identifies human services and medical organizations, especially those serving children, as charitable fields. Its fellowship programs support doctoral students pursuing research in energy; modeling, simulation and training; and ocean engineering and instrumentation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Link Foundation?
The filing asks applicants to provide information showing evidence of public charity or private operating foundation status and lists Ian S. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Link Foundation make grants?
The filing states that there is no geographical limitation, although Austin, Texas, is preferred. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to a recipient in Texas.
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 2020–2025.
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 August 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from The Link 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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