The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation
The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. Its 2024 filing is marked as a final return: the foundation stated that it filed a certificate of termination on December 31, 2024, and transferred all remaining assets to Communities Foundation of Texas. It therefore appears to have wound down and is not an active source of grants.
The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation at a glance
In short: The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation gave $11.3M across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $808K), mostly in Texas. 57% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $11,314,982
- +2425.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +100.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $808,213
- +1162.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $37,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 57% first-time grantees (8 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (98% 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 Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and stated that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. The 2024 filing reports that the foundation terminated and transferred its remaining assets to Communities Foundation of Texas.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4900 Lakeside Drive, Dallas, TX 75205
Phone: (214) 442-6668
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Communities Foundation of Texas ($10.5M). Together the top 10 received $11.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 44 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were reported as 98% to recipients in Texas, 1% to recipients in North Carolina, and 0% each to recipients in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Maryland. These reported shares are rounded. The listed grants also include recipients in Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation open to new grantees?
57%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 14 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $1.3M; repeat grants $97K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 29% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 2694% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $275K (2022) to $11.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $11.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Communities Foundation of Texas Dallas, TX | Operations and transfer of assets to donor advised fund at public charitycontributions of cash $171,827securities - basis $10,289,655total contribution on 990-pf $10,461,482securities - fair market value $23,801,243total value of contributions $23,973,070 | $10,461,482 |
| Medialliance International Arlington, TX | Operations | $250,000 |
| The Salvation Army - Dallas Dallas, TX | Operations | $200,000 |
| Community Partners of Dallas Dallas, TX | Operations | $105,000 |
| First Baptist Church of Dallas Dallas, TX | Operations | $100,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | Operations | $100,000 |
| Tunnel to Towers Philadelphia, PA | Operations | $50,000 |
| Dabs - Friends of the Dallas Arboretum Dallas, TX | Operations | $25,000 |
| St Jude's Memphis, TN | Operations | $10,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MD | Operations | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Marilyn and Sonny Oates 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 | — | $817,994 | $11,469,203 | $11,314,982 | 14 | $11,314,982 | $666,706 | $1,036,220 |
| 2023 | $10,654,909 | $444,851 | $576,573 | $448,000 | 7 | $448,000 | $340,606 | $991,368 |
| 2022 | $10,782,931 | $900,515 | $380,781 | $275,000 | 4 | $275,000 | $799,734 | $971,049 |
| 2021 | $10,263,197 | $1,064,662 | $517,528 | $405,000 | 6 | $405,000 | $958,684 | $1,034,046 |
| 2020 | $9,716,063 | $15,482,909 | $9,757,280 | $9,670,000 | 13 | — | $391,448 | $916,709 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for Dallas-area organizations and other charities. Among the grantees described in their own materials, Medialliance International says it trains and supports Christian broadcasters and communicators; Samaritan’s Purse describes itself as an evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid; and Salesmanship Club of Dallas says it supports educational and mental health services for children and families through the Momentous Institute.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 14 grants totaling $11,314,982. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $10,461,482, with a median of $37,500. The largest grant, $10,461,482, went to Communities Foundation of Texas for operations and the transfer of assets to a donor-advised fund at a public charity. Other notable grants included $250,000 to Medialliance International, $200,000 to The Salvation Army – Dallas, $105,000 to Community Partners of Dallas, $100,000 to First Baptist Church of Dallas, and $100,000 to Samaritan’s Purse.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists B Marilyn Oates as president and treasurer, and John D Woolf and Sandra Fleetwood as directors.
The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation is led by B. Marilyn Oates, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
B. Marilyn Oates
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John D. Woolf
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Sandra Fleetwood
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Santo Bisignano Jr. (2023) — Director
- Former: W. Hunter Oates (2020–2022) — Vice President & Secretary
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation
How much does The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation give each year?
The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation gave $11.3M across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $448K across 7 grants.
What is The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation's typical grant size?
The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $37,500, and its average grant was $808,213, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation that year got $1.3M on average.
Where does The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation give grants?
The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (7 grants).
Does The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (13 grants).
Who are The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation's largest grantees?
The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Communities Foundation of Texas ($10,461,482), Medialliance International ($250,000) and The Salvation Army - Dallas ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for Dallas-area organizations and other charities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and stated that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation's EIN?
The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8084868. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Marilyn and Sonny Oates 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-marilyn-and-sonny-oates-foundation-morg_a66c0abfb9c8403e8912773a8836f91f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208084868_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-marilyn-and-sonny-oates-foundation-morg_a66c0abfb9c8403e8912773a8836f91f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Marilyn and Sonny Oates 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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