Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust
Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust is a private foundation, based in Dallas, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $23.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $1.7M. Net investment income was $2.4M.
Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust gave $1.7M across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $419K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,677,552
- +71.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $419,388
- +71.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $461,327
- Total assets
- $23,832,373
- +3.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was United Way Fdn of Metropolitan Dallas ($671K). Together the top 4 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 10 grants of 20 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust gives
- Giving grew 34% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 118% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $978K (2024) to $1.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way Fdn of Metropolitan Dallas Dallas, TX | Unrestricted General | $671,021 |
| Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation Dallas, TX | Unrestricted General | $503,265 |
| Park Cities Presbyterian Church Dallas, TX | Unrestricted General | $419,388 |
| Thanks-Giving Square Foundation Dallas, TX | Unrestricted General | $83,878 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $23,832,373 | $2,800,990 | $2,088,246 | $1,677,552 | 4 | $1,769,467 | $2,416,877 | $1,501,367 |
| 2024 | $23,072,410 | $1,168,714 | $1,375,312 | $978,084 | 4 | $1,064,159 | $753,621 | $1,453,061 |
| 2023 | $22,424,782 | $866,108 | $1,700,499 | $1,276,871 | 4 | $1,369,847 | $967,947 | $1,411,521 |
| 2022 | $22,718,373 | $5,480,967 | $1,780,203 | $1,251,349 | 4 | $1,347,196 | $5,141,913 | $1,321,534 |
| 2021 | $22,453,762 | $1,516,429 | $1,385,749 | $1,073,117 | 4 | — | $1,229,188 | $1,343,150 |
| 2020 | $19,495,434 | $3,008,726 | $1,477,692 | $1,071,571 | 4 | — | $2,674,843 | $1,116,426 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust's only listed officer is Bank Of America N A, Trustee on every filing since 2020 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bank Of America N A
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$183K (2020) → $226K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $226K, to Bank of America N a (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust
How much does Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust give each year?
Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust gave $1.7M across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $978K across 4 grants.
What is Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $461,327, and its average grant was $419,388, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust give grants?
Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (4 grants).
Does Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust?
Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust reported $23.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust's EIN?
Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-7247352. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Thomas & Lillian Sowell Charitable Trust funds
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