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Perry And Ruby Stevens Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.4M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.5M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,385,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $63,163,857 (2024)
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months per cycle
  • Grant Activity: 45 awards in 2023
  • Geographic Focus: 8-county Texas Hill Country region
  • Application Cycles: 4 per year

Contact Details

Website: https://stevensfdn.org

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 291929, Kerrville, Texas 78029

Executive Director: Mark Milton (for questions regarding Letter of Inquiry, Grant Application, or Grant Reports)

Application System: E-Grant System (online portal available through website)

Overview

The Perry & Ruby Stevens Charitable Foundation was established in January 2006 by Ruby Stevens in accordance with her late husband Perry Stevens' wishes. Both philanthropists lived long, generous lives—Perry to age 100 and Ruby to age 96. The foundation has grown to hold assets exceeding $63 million and distributes approximately $2.4-3.1 million in grants annually to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving the Texas Hill Country. With a focused mission across six specific charitable purposes, the foundation has been steadily increasing its grant-making activity, growing from 34 awards in 2021 to 45 awards in 2023. The foundation maintains a particular responsiveness to grant requests originating in the Hill Country region, where the Stevens family lived and built their legacy of community support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through a single grant program with four quarterly application cycles per year. Organizations may receive funding a maximum of once per year.

General Grant Program: Grant amounts vary by project. Recent examples include:

  • $100,000 to Uvalde Memorial Hospital for capital campaign equipment
  • $1.5 million (over three years) to Texas Biomedical Research Institute for Parkinson's disease research

Application method: Online through E-Grant System, rolling basis with four quarterly deadlines

Priority Areas

The foundation funds projects in six specific charitable purposes:

  1. Disabled Persons: Assistance to, care, and treatment of mentally or physically disabled persons
  2. Abused or Neglected Individuals: Care and treatment of abused or neglected women and individuals
  3. Volunteer Firefighting: Promotion, development, and support of volunteer firefighting programs and organizations
  4. Disaster Relief: Assistance to needy persons who are victims of public natural disasters or similar events
  5. Animal Welfare: Protection and prevention of cruelty to animals and welfare of animals in general
  6. Parkinson's Disease: Prevention, research, and treatment of Parkinson's disease

Additional consideration given to projects addressing needs of financially disadvantaged children and young adults.

What They Don't Fund

  • General operating expenses of grantee organizations
  • Organizations located outside or not directly serving residents of Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Mason, and Real counties
  • Non-501(c)(3) organizations or private foundations classified under section 509(a)
  • Projects outside the six specific charitable purposes listed above
  • Organizations applying more than once within a 12-month period

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Mark Milton brings 25 years of nonprofit experience in Education, Public Administration, Social Services, Strategic Planning, and Workforce and Economic Development in Texas.

Compensation: Executive Director/Trustee Mark Milton received $149,500 compensation (2024 filing).

Trustees: The foundation was established with the help of future trustees Phillip Milton and Allan Paterson in January 2006.

The foundation operates as a private grantmaking 501(c)(3) foundation, maintaining substantial assets and consistent charitable disbursements annually.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation uses a two-stage application process through their online E-Grant System:

Stage 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

  • A Letter of Inquiry must precede any formal grant proposal
  • Purpose: To determine if the organization's proposal fits within the foundation's eligibility guidelines
  • Foundation responds by email to all Letters of Inquiry within two weeks of receipt
  • Only approved LOIs may proceed to full proposal stage

Stage 2: Full Grant Application

  • Available only to organizations whose Letter of Inquiry has been approved
  • Submitted through E-Grant System at stevensfdn.org
  • Must address specific goals and objectives within the foundation's stated charitable purposes

Decision Timeline

  • Application cycles: Four opportunities to apply annually (quarterly)
  • Response to LOI: Within two weeks of receipt
  • Full grant cycle: Typically 2-3 months from submission to decision
  • Notification method: Email
  • Grant announcements: Following every board meeting
  • Funding frequency: Organizations may receive awards maximum of once per year

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not publicly disclosed, the foundation's activity shows:

  • 45 awards in 2023
  • 38 awards in 2022
  • 34 awards in 2021

This demonstrates a growing grant program with increasing capacity to support Hill Country nonprofits.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation will not consider full proposals from any organization more frequently than once every twelve months. Organizations whose proposals are declined may reapply in subsequent years, provided their project aligns with the foundation's charitable purposes and geographic restrictions.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and guidelines:

Focus on Specific Goals and Objectives: The foundation explicitly states that grants "shall be to accomplish specific goals and objectives" within their stated purposes. Applications should clearly articulate measurable outcomes rather than requesting support for general operations.

Geographic Connection: Strong emphasis on serving the eight-county Hill Country region. Applications should clearly demonstrate how the project will benefit residents of Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Mason, and Real counties.

Alignment with Charitable Purposes: Successful applications clearly fit within one or more of the six specific charitable purposes. Projects that don't align with these purposes—even if worthwhile—will not be funded.

Project-Based Funding: The foundation funds specific initiatives, capital projects, and programs with defined scopes. Recent successful grants include targeted equipment purchases and multi-year research initiatives rather than operational support.

Two-Week LOI Process: The Letter of Inquiry stage serves as a screening mechanism. Organizations should use this opportunity to succinctly make their case for how their project fits the foundation's guidelines before investing time in a full application.

Annual Funding Limit: With organizations limited to one grant per year, applications should be strategic and comprehensive rather than incremental requests.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Start with the LOI: The Letter of Inquiry is mandatory and determines eligibility—invest time in clearly articulating your project's fit with the foundation's six charitable purposes
  • Geographic eligibility is strict: Projects must directly serve one of the eight Hill Country counties; this is a hard requirement
  • Project-specific, not operational: Frame your request around specific goals, objectives, and outcomes rather than general operating support
  • Plan for the timeline: With quarterly cycles and 2-3 month processing times, applications should be submitted well in advance of when funding is needed
  • One shot per year: Organizations have only one opportunity annually to receive funding, so ensure your proposal is comprehensive and well-timed
  • Growing grant program: With increasing awards year-over-year (34 to 45 grants), the foundation is expanding its community impact
  • Check your eligibility early: With a responsive two-week LOI turnaround, organizations can quickly determine if their project fits before investing in a full application

References

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