The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation
THE TJ & LAVERNE PLUNKETT was a private foundation based in Henderson, Texas. Its 2020 IRS filing is marked as a final return: the foundation stated that it ceased to exist on December 31, 2020, and had distributed all remaining assets to the East Texas Communities Foundation on December 17, 2020. It therefore appears to have wound down and is no longer making grants.
The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation at a glance
In short: The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation gave $328K across 17 grants in 2020 (avg $19K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2020)
- $328,291
- Grants made (2020)
- 17
- Average grant
- $19,311
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Primary geography
- Texas (85% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2020 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The final filing states that the foundation did not restrict giving to preselected organizations and describes an application process. Applicants were asked to submit a description of the requesting organization, the proposed amount and use, and a copy of the IRS exempt-status letter. Awards were restricted to tax-exempt organizations in Texas qualifying under Section 501(c)(3). These instructions are from the final filing and are not current application guidance.
- Review Cycle
- The filing stated there were no deadlines and that the foundation held semiannual meetings in June and December. This describes the foundation’s past process; it is not a current application cycle.
- Deadline
- The filing stated there were no deadlines and that the foundation held semiannual meetings in June and December.
- Contact
Application contact: William J Plunkett
Mailing address: 216 Hunters Creek, Longview, TX 75601
Phone: (903) 663-2922
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2020
The largest 2020 recipient was First Baptist Church Henderson ($100K). Together the top 10 received $293K.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 17 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2020, 85% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 15% to recipients in Louisiana. The filing’s stated award restriction was limited to qualifying tax-exempt organizations in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 17 grants totaling $328K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First Baptist Church Henderson Henderson, TX | General Operations-Ministry/Support | $100,000 |
| Blackland Prarie Raptor Center Lucas, TX | Conservation and Education | $50,000 |
| Caddo Lake Institute Shreveport, LA | Environmental Protection Awareness | $50,000 |
| East Texas Communities Foundation Tyler, TX | Simplified Charitable Giving | $32,291 |
| East Texas Food Bank Tyler, TX | Food Provision for the Needy | $15,000 |
| Asbury House Child Enrichment CNTR Longview, TX | Child Care Services | $10,000 |
| Christian Women's Job Corps of Rusk Henderson, TX | Provide Support for Under-Resourced | $10,000 |
| Henderson Food Bank Henderson, TX | Food Provision for the Needy | $10,000 |
| The Salvation Army of Longview Longview, TX | Ministry in Needs Assessment | $10,000 |
| Rusk County Friends Helping Friends Henderson, TX | Medical Assistance | $6,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $125,029 | $346,860 | $328,291 | 17 | $106,460 | $98,409 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation reported a distributable amount of $98K for 2020 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing does not state a mission. Its 2020 grants included support for ministry, conservation and education, environmental protection awareness, charitable giving, food provision, child care, employment support, medical assistance, and humanitarian needs.
Among the organizations it supported, East Texas Communities Foundation says its mission is to support philanthropy and help donors achieve charitable goals. Christian Women’s Job Corps of Rusk says it equips women with life and employment skills in a Christian environment. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2020, the foundation gave $328,291 through 17 grants. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest grants included $100,000 to First Baptist Church Henderson for general operations-ministry/support; $50,000 each to Blackland Prairie Raptor Center for conservation and education and Caddo Lake Institute for environmental protection awareness; and $32,291 to East Texas Communities Foundation for simplified charitable giving. Other listed grants included $15,000 to East Texas Food Bank and $10,000 each to Asbury House Child Enrichment Center, Christian Women’s Job Corps of Rusk, Henderson Food Bank, and The Salvation Army of Longview.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2020 filing listed William J. Plunkett as president, Sarah L. Plunkett as secretary, Tony Wooster as treasurer, and Sue Ann Wooster as vice president.
The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation is led by William J. Plunkett, President on the 2020 filing; none of the 4 officers listed in 2020 report compensation.
Officers on the 2020 filing
William J. Plunkett
President
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Sarah L. Plunkett
Secretary
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Sue Ann Wooster
Vice President
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Tony Wooster
Treasurer
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020. "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 TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation
How much does The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation give each year?
The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation gave $328K across 17 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation's typical grant size?
The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation's median grant in 2020 was $10,000, and its average grant was $19,311, across 17 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation give grants?
The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Louisiana (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Henderson, TX (5 grants), Longview, TX (4 grants) and Tyler, TX (2 grants).
Does The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 12% of The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation's 2020 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation's largest grantees?
The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation's largest 2020 grantees include First Baptist Church Henderson ($100,000), Blackland Prarie Raptor Center ($50,000) and Caddo Lake Institute ($50,000), according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2020 grant dollars.
What does The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation fund?
The filing does not state a mission. Its 2020 grants included support for ministry, conservation and education, environmental protection awareness, charitable giving, food provision, child care, employment support, medical assistance, and humanitarian needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation?
The final filing states that the foundation did not restrict giving to preselected organizations and describes an application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2020, The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation reported a distributable amount of $98K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation's EIN?
The TJ & Laverne Plunkett Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2651793. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020.
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 year 2020
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