The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation

DALLAS, TX EIN: 20-8084868

January 5, 2024 Next Deadline - News - Okefenoke REMC

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

-100.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$11.3M

+2425.7% YoY

Grant Count

14

+100.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$808K

+1162.8% YoY

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 April 2026.

Grantmaking

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Grant Range

$1,000 to $350,000

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, with some giving in Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Cities

ArlingtonBooneBruceCalhoun CityColumbia FallsDallasDentonHagerstownHoustonMcallenMemphisPharrPhiladelphiaPortland

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets:

  • 2024: $10.7 million
  • 2023: $10.8 million
  • 2021: $9.7 million
  • 2020: $4.0 million

Annual Giving:

  • 2024: $448,000
  • 2023: $275,000
  • 2021: $9.7 million
  • 2020: $400,000

Giving Rate: Approximately 4.2% of assets (2024)

Annual Expenses: $577,000 (2023)

Total Liabilities: $3,700 (2023)

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$4M$9M$13M$17M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$10,654,909$10,782,931
Revenue$817,994$444,851$900,515
Expenses$11,469,203$576,573$380,781
Qualifying Distributions$11,314,982$448,000$275,000
Net Investment Income$666,706$340,606$799,734
Distributable Amount$1,036,220$991,368$971,049

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$3M$6M$8M$11M13 grants20206 grants20214 grants20227 grants202314 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION O…$10.5MMEDIALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL$250KTHE SALVATION ARMY - DAL…$200KCOMMUNITY PARTNERS OF DA…$105KFIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF …$100KSAMARITAN'S PURSE$100KTUNNEL TO TOWERS$50KDABS - FRIENDS OF THE DA…$25KST JUDE'S$10KDOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS$5K

Grant Size Distribution

44 grants across all recorded years

23<$50K5$50–100K10$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M2$1–5M2$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Communities Foundation of Texas ($10,461,482), Medialliance International ($250,000), The Salvation Army - Dallas ($200,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS DALLAS, TXOPERATIONS 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
COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF DALLAS DALLAS, TXOPERATIONS$105,000
DABS - FRIENDS OF THE DALLAS ARBORETUM DALLAS, TXOPERATIONS$25,000
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS HAGERSTOWN, MDOPERATIONS$5,000
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF DALLAS DALLAS, TXOPERATIONS$100,000
HIGHLAND PARK EDUCATION FOUNDATION DALLAS, TXOPERATIONS$1,000
MEDIALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ARLINGTON, TXOPERATIONS$250,000
NATIONAL PSORIASIS FOUNDATION PORTLAND, OROPERATIONS$5,000
SALESMANSHIP CLUB OF DALLAS INC DALLAS, TXOPERATIONS$1,500
SAMARITAN'S PURSE BOONE, NCOPERATIONS$100,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

William "Sonny" Oates serves as president and treasurer of the foundation.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
B MARILYN OATESPRESIDENT & TREASURER2
JOHN D WOOLFDIRECTOR
SANDRA FLEETWOODDIRECTOR

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a grant from The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. **Recent Grant Amounts (2023-2024):** • Grant range: $1,000 to $350,000 • Median grant size: $20,000 (2024); $50,000 (2023) • 2024: 7 grants totaling $448,000 • 2023: 4 grants totaling $275,000 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • M D Anderson Cancer Center: $350,000 • First Baptist Church of Dallas: $50,000 • DABS - Friends of the Dallas Arboretum: $25,000 • Samaritan's Purse: $20,000 • Friends of Highland Park Library: $1,000 • Highlan…

Where does The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, with some giving in Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

What size grants does The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation award?

In 2024, The Marilyn and Sonny Oates Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $11.3M — an average of about $808K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

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.

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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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