The Sumners Foundation is a private foundation based in Irving, Texas, established as a trust in 1949 and incorporated as a Texas nonprofit corporation in 1998. The foundation bears the name of Hatton W. Sumners, an attorney and United States congressman from Texas who served in the House of Representatives from 1913 to 1947. The foundation was created to promote the study and teaching of the science of self-government and to encourage responsible civic engagement among the American people.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$74.1M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
+40.6% YoY
Grant Count
30
+7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$95K
+31.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sumners Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To encourage the study, teaching, and research into the science and art of self-government, so that the American people may understand the fundamental principles of democracy and be guided thereby in shaping governmental policies.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Programs and activities that provide personal involvement in the political process and functions of government, including democracy reform, civic education and engagement programs, and mock legislative sessions
- Conferences and seminars on relevant public policy issues
- Teacher training on the founding documents and/or democratic principles
- Programs and academic contests on American democratic self-government targeting youth, educators, young professionals, and other societal leaders
- Youth organizations and higher education institutions
- Other programs that meet the foundation's statement of purpose
Grantmaking
The foundation reviews grant requests based on program content, funding requirements, availability of funds, existing or future grant commitments, and geographic considerations. Applicants are encouraged to review the foundation's statement of purpose and vision statement to confirm applicability of their grant request.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Foundation grants are generally restricted to programming in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, although programs in Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Missouri occasionally receive support. The foundation primarily supports organizations in Texas, District of Columbia, and Oklahoma, which account for 67% of all grants. Funding is distributed across nine states and reaches organizations in major cities including Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $72.2 million
- Total Revenue: $2.51 million
- Total Expenses: $3.42 million
- Total Liabilities: $337,000
Historical Asset Growth:
- Assets have grown from $47.4 million in 2011 to $74.1 million in 2024
Annual Distribution:
- The foundation has distributed between $2 million and $5.4 million annually from 2020 to 2023
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $74,050,556 | $72,152,068 | $69,238,256 |
| Revenue | $3,122,327 | $2,514,541 | $4,914,650 |
| Expenses | $4,556,098 | $3,420,435 | $4,925,513 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,037,904 | $3,035,226 | $3,562,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,248,326 | $2,047,892 | $3,044,202 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,560,782 | $3,668,300 | $3,266,524 |
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
207 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Sumners Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Scholarships Given ($856,100), Law Focused Educstate Bar of Texas ($666,190), Ymca of Austin ($175,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BAYLOR UNIVERSITY WACO, TX | iENGAGE SUMMER CIVICS | $40,000 |
| FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES WASHINGTON, DC | SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND 2024 TFAS DC SUMMER PROGRAM | $65,400 |
| PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE WASHINGTON, DC | ADVANCE CIVIC EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| SCHREINER UNIVERSITY KERRVILLE, TX | SUMNERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | $7,500 |
| TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FORT WORTH, TX | INEGAGE & TCU WASHINGTON INTERNSHIP PROGRAM | $38,825 |
| TEXAS TRIBUNE AUSTIN, TX | TEXAS TRIBUNE FESTIVAL | $100,000 |
| TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY FORT WORTH, TX | SUMNERS SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT | $5,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS IRVING, TX | SUMNERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS | $45,000 |
| YMCA ALBUQUERQUE CENTRAL NM ALBUQUERQUE, NM | YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT | $125,000 |
| YMCA OKLAHOMA CITY OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- T. Charles Pierson – Executive Director (compensation: $240,000–$266,539)
- Hugh C. Akin – Principal Officer
- Eileen Resnik – Vice President of Programs (compensation: $108,200)
- Janemarie Clark – Office and Administrative Manager (compensation: $73,000)
The foundation is governed by 8 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID G DRUMM | Treasurer | 2 | $19,700 |
| BRANT MARTIN | Director | 2 | $11,800 |
| JERRY D REIS | Chairman | 2 | $10,000 |
| LON R WILLIAMS | VICE CHAIRMAN | 2 | $26,000 |
| SCOTT M HIGGINBOTHAM | Director | 2 | $18,075 |
| WILLIAM W MEADOWS | Director | 2 | $10,000 |
| SHANNON HUTCHESON | Director | 2 | $12,000 |
| T Charles Pierson | Executive Dir. | 40 | $286,000 |
Contact Information
- Website: www.sumnersfoundation.org
- Phone: 214-220-2128
- Address: 2201 W Royal Ln Ste 100, Irving, TX 75063-3257
- EIN: 75-2734032
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sumners Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To encourage the study, teaching, and research into the science and art of self-government, so that the American people may understand the fundamental principles of democracy and be guided thereby in shaping governmental policies. **Primary Funding Areas:** • Programs and activities that provide personal involvement in the political process and functions of government, including democracy reform, civic education and engagement programs, and mock legislative sessions • Conferences a…
How do I apply for a grant from The Sumners Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • According to available records, the foundation has made 235 grants totaling $12.1 million • Grantmaking activity was highest in 2022 with $5.4 million distributed across 98 grants • Individual grants have ranged from $2,000 to $727,000, with an average award of $52,000 and a median grant of $25,000 • The foundation has supported 93 unique organizations **Recent Grants (2023):** • Greater Austin YMCA (Texas Youth and Government): $200,000 • YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City (Yo…
Where does The Sumners Foundation make grants?
Foundation grants are generally restricted to programming in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, although programs in Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Missouri occasionally receive support. The foundation primarily supports organizations in Texas, District of Columbia, and Oklahoma, which account for 67% of all grants. Funding is distributed across nine states and reaches organizations in major cities including Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Dallas, Austin, and San Ant…
What size grants does The Sumners Foundation award?
In 2024, The Sumners Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $95K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sumners Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sumners Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sumners Foundation's EIN?
The Sumners Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2734032. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sumners 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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