Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation (VBLF) is a private foundation based in Harlingen, Texas, established in 1976. The Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a primary focus on improving health and well-being in the Rio Grande Valley region. The Foundation serves as a catalyst for ideas, partnerships, medical education, research, and programs that advance community health.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$453.3M
+5.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$23.7M
+31.9% YoY
Grant Count
57
-10.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$416K
+48.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Foundation's mission is to improve the health and well-being of all communities in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas by investing and serving as a catalyst for ideas, partnerships, medical education, research and programs. The Foundation defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being.
Vision Statement: The Foundation envisions a Rio Grande Valley where every individual has access to the resources and opportunities needed to achieve holistic well-being – across physical, mental, spiritual, and social dimensions of health.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Obesity and diabetes prevention
- Healthy lifestyles, including health fairs and screenings
- Immunizations
- Community gardens
- Fitness, exercise, and movement programs
Grantmaking
Typical awards range from $750 to $10,750,000, with a grant median of approximately $50,000.
Grant Range
& Range:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily funds organizations in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, specifically serving Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties. The Foundation also has grantmaking activity in Wisconsin and Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $453,330,670
- Total Revenues: $35,892,803
- Total Expenses: $40,452,682
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $429,000,000
- Total Distributions: $19,000,000
- Total Contributions: $381,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $453,330,670 | $429,107,497 | $397,099,740 |
| Revenue | $35,892,803 | $29,760,174 | $20,708,094 |
| Expenses | $40,452,682 | $26,165,574 | $11,363,602 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $24,957,128 | $19,273,871 | $16,450,472 |
| Net Investment Income | $31,830,879 | $27,956,700 | $18,952,848 |
| Distributable Amount | $21,671,085 | $19,908,236 | $20,234,509 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation
Beverly Joyce White Memorial Scholarship for Hospice Nursing Staff Grant
Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation Grant (over $50,000)
Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation
Amount
More than US $50,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation Grant (under $50,000)
Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation
Amount
Up to US $50,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Driscoll Children's Hospital Development Foundation ($6,250,000), Moody Clinic (Brownsville Society for Crippled Children Incorporated) ($1,252,469), Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute ($700,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Cancer Society Inc Atlanta, GA | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| ARISE Alamo, TX | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| Austin Community Foundation Austin, TX | CHARITABLE | $2,500 |
| Big Heroes BROWNSVILLE, TX | CHARITABLE | $60,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Los Fresnos Los Fresnos, TX | CHARITABLE | $35,000 |
| Brownsville Wellness Coalition BROWNSVILLE, TX | CHARITABLE | $133,400 |
| Buckner Children & Family Services Dallas, TX | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| CAMP University Mcallen, TX | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| Cameron County Public Health San Benito, TX | CHARITABLE | $125,000 |
| Capable Kids Foundation McAllen, TX | CHARITABLE | $46,785 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board members include:
- Julio Cavazos (Chairperson)
- Rebekah Batot (Vice Chairperson)
- Stephanie Jackson, DDS (Secretary)
- Denise Almon (Director)
- James Castillo, MD (Director)
- Bob Duncan (Director)
- Elsa Cardenas Hagan, Ed.D. (Director)
- Alicia Noyola, Ed.D. (Director)
- Carlos Muniz, CPA (Director)
- Beth Pace (Director)
- Adela Valdez, MD (Director)
- Carlos Varela (Director)
The Foundation maintains a staff of 6 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation awarded a transformational $30 million grant to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) to establish a Diabetes Center of Excellence. The Foundation also established an endowed scholarship to benefit UTRGV School of Medicine students.
UTRGV receives transformational $30 million grant to establish ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Foundation's mission is to improve the health and well-being of all communities in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas by investing and serving as a catalyst for ideas, partnerships, medical education, research and programs. The Foundation defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being. **Vision Statement:** The Foundation envisions a Rio Grande Valley where every individual has access to the resources and opportunities needed to ac…
How do I apply for a grant from Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation?
**Grant Size & Range:** Typical awards range from $750 to $10,750,000, with a grant median of approximately $50,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** The Foundation made 41 grants totaling $10,678,627 in 2024, including: • Driscoll Children's Hospital Development Foundation: $6,250,000 • Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute for Texas: $700,000 • The Children's Bereavement Center of the Rio Grande Valley: $399,311 **Active Grant Opportunities:** • Beverly Joyce White Memorial Scholarship for Hospice…
Where does Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation make grants?
The Foundation primarily funds organizations in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, specifically serving Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties. The Foundation also has grantmaking activity in Wisconsin and Tennessee.
What size grants does Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation award?
In 2024, Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation awarded 57 grants totaling $23.7M — an average of about $416K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation's EIN?
Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-1936869. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Valley Baptist Legacy 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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