The Sparrow Charitable Foundation
The Sparrow Charitable Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2003 and based in Dallas, Texas. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation with tax-exempt status since October 2004.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$100K
+20.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+122.5% YoY
Grant Count
29
-14.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$53K
+160.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sparrow Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports five primary funding categories:
- I - Great Commission: Religious support and evangelism initiatives
- II - Pro Family: Family support and child welfare programs
- III - Educational Purposes: General educational programs
- IV - World Relief: International aid and disaster relief
- V - Other Purposes: General charitable purposes
Grantmaking
The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.
Grant Range
$500 to $550,500
Average Grant
s)**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, with a concentration in the Dallas area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Summary
- Total Revenue: $1,550,405
- Total Expenses: $1,533,716
- Total Assets: $100,084
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $405
Revenue Growth Total grants and contributions increased 93.8% from 2023 ($800,000) to 2024 ($1,550,000).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $100,084 | $83,395 | $10,217 |
| Revenue | $1,550,405 | $800,405 | $850,517 |
| Expenses | $1,533,716 | $727,227 | $999,800 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,532,062 | $725,604 | $998,225 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $3,957 | $4,524 | $4,744 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
177 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Northway Church ($550,500), Illuminations ($250,000), Elevate Usa ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASHA-GF DALALS, TX | I - GREAT COMMISSION | $5,000 |
| CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST ORLANDO, FL | I - GREAT COMMISSION | $5,000 |
| CHRISTAR RICHARDSON, TX | I - GREAT COMMISSION | $5,000 |
| COME AND SEE FOUNDATION COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | II - PRO FAMILY | $100,000 |
| DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY DALLAS, TX | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES | $35,250 |
| DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY DALLAS, TX | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| EAST WEST INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES PLANO, TX | I - GREAT COMMISSION | $12,000 |
| ELEVATE DALLAS DALLAS, TX | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| ELEVATE USA ARVADA, CO | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES | $150,000 |
| HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY BROWNWOOD, TX | III - EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES | $1,250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Raymond H Harris, Director
- Marydel R Harris, Director
- Stephen R Harris, Director
- Elizabeth A Black, Director
- Carolyn E Arnold, Director
- Timothy C Harris, Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAYMOND H HARRIS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MARYDEL R HARRIS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| STEPHEN R HARRIS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ELIZABETH A BLACK | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CAROLYN E ARNOLD | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| TIMOTHY C HARRIS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 6506 Orchid Lane, Dallas, TX 75230-4123
Phone: 214-794-1619
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sparrow Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation supports five primary funding categories: • **I - Great Commission**: Religious support and evangelism initiatives • **II - Pro Family**: Family support and child welfare programs • **III - Educational Purposes**: General educational programs • **IV - World Relief**: International aid and disaster relief • **V - Other Purposes**: General charitable purposes
How do I apply for a grant from The Sparrow Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024)** • Total grants awarded: 65 grants • Total giving: $1,532,062 • Grant range: $500 to $550,500 • Median grant amount: $32,587 **By Program Area (Average Grant Sizes)** • Great Commission: $32,587 average across 22 recipients • Educational Purposes: $35,369 average across 15 recipients • Pro Family: $73,236 average across 12 recipients • World Relief: $31,389 average across 9 recipients • Other Purposes: $6,521 average across 7 recipients **Recent Major Grants (2024)** • …
Where does The Sparrow Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, with a concentration in the Dallas area.
What size grants does The Sparrow Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, The Sparrow Charitable Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $53K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sparrow Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sparrow Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sparrow Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Sparrow Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0488561. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sparrow Charitable 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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