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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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