Vargas Foundation
The Vargas Foundation is a private foundation based in Fort Worth, Texas. Its stated mission is to support life, education, and the pursuit of happiness around the world; its 2025 grants went to charitable organizations working in areas including community assistance, education, and animal welfare.
Vargas Foundation at a glance
In short: Vargas Foundation gave $19K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Texas. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $19,107
- +18.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,592
- -11.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $22,114
- -49.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Vargas Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 209 West 2Nd Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: (817) 691-5267
Website: https://thevargasfoundation.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Vargas Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Catholic Charities ($5K). Together the top 10 received $19K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 24 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grants went to recipients in Texas, Puerto Rico, Virginia, Arizona, and Florida. Texas accounted for 78% of grant dollars, Puerto Rico 10%, Virginia 6%, Arizona 3%, and Florida 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Vargas Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $833 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2021) to $19K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $19K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities Fort Worth, TX | Ending Poverty Through Holistic Solutions | $5,000 |
| St Thomas the Apostle Church Bedford, TX | Serving the Community Through Charity Justice and Ministry | $5,000 |
| Puerto Rico Community Foundation San Juan, PR | Sholarship Support for Students | $2,000 |
| Potter School Donation - Clinton Springfield, VA | Support Students and School | $1,165 |
| Community Link Mission Saginaw, TX | Fighting Hunger and Poverty in North Texas | $1,040 |
| Operation Kindness Carrollton, TX | Animal Shelter Support for Adoptions | $1,000 |
| Humane Society of North Texas Fort Worth, TX | Animal Welfare | $1,000 |
| Operation Kindness Carrollton, TX | Animal Welfare | $1,000 |
| Petsmart Charities Phoenix, AZ | Animal Welfare | $500 |
| Spay and Neuter Network Fort Worth, TX | Animal Welfare | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $22,114 | $40,000 | $30,346 | $19,107 | 12 | $30,346 | $1,002 |
| 2024 | $43,607 | $40,000 | $26,587 | $16,188 | 9 | $16,188 | — |
| 2023 | $30,194 | $19,601 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | $29,210 | $19,420 | $12,730 | $7,000 | 3 | $7,000 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vargas Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2025 — 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 foundation’s mission is “to support life, education, and the pursuit of happiness around the world.” Its website also describes its vision as advancing religion and education and addressing community needs.
Its 2025 grants included support for charities, schools, and animal-welfare organizations. Among the grantees’ own stated missions, Community Link Mission says it provides food and other essentials to disadvantaged families; the Humane Society of North Texas says it saves, shelters, protects, and advocates for animals in need in North Texas; and Operation Kindness says it provides lifesaving care, programs, and community resources for pets and the people who love them. The Puerto Rico Community Foundation describes its work as developing community capacity for social and economic transformation in Puerto Rico.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $19,107 through 12 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $402 to $5,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest listed grants were $5,000 to Catholic Charities in Fort Worth and $5,000 to St Thomas the Apostle Church in Bedford. Other listed awards included $2,000 to the Puerto Rico Community Foundation, $1,040 to Community Link Mission, and $1,000 each to Operation Kindness and the Humane Society of North Texas.
The foundation’s website lists charitable recipients that include Catholic Charities, Community Link Mission, Humane Society of North Texas, Operation Kindness, and Tarrant Area Food Bank. It reports total donations of $63,500 for 2019–2024.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Wily Vargas is listed as a director on the 2025 filing.
Vargas Foundation is led by Wily Vargas, Director on every filing since 2021 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wily Vargas
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Amanda Vargas (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Renata Schlotzhauer (2021–2024) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Vargas Foundation
How much does Vargas Foundation give each year?
Vargas Foundation gave $19K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $16K across 9 grants.
What is Vargas Foundation's typical grant size?
Vargas Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,592, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Vargas Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Vargas Foundation give grants?
Vargas Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Puerto Rico (10%) and Virginia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Worth, TX (4 grants) and Carrollton, TX (2 grants).
Does Vargas Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Vargas Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Animal Welfare" (5 grants).
Who are Vargas Foundation's largest grantees?
Vargas Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Catholic Charities ($5,000), St Thomas the Apostle Church ($5,000) and Puerto Rico Community Foundation ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Vargas Foundation?
Vargas Foundation reported $22K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $30K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Vargas Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is “to support life, education, and the pursuit of happiness around the world.” Its website also describes its vision as advancing religion and education and addressing community needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Vargas Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Vargas Foundation's EIN?
Vargas Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1404259. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Vargas Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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