← Back to US Funders Directory

John L Santikos Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.0M
Grant Range
$10K - $2.5M
Decision Time
4mo
Success Rate
6%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,024,376 (2023)
  • Number of Awards: 11 grants (2023)
  • Grant Range: $200,000 - $2,500,000 (capital projects); $10,000 (emergency grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Eight Texas counties (Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina, and Wilson)
  • Total Legacy Value: $605 million bequest (2015)
  • Charity Navigator Rating: 4/4 Stars (94% score)

Contact Details

Administered by: San Antonio Area Foundation
Phone: (210) 225-2243
Email: info@saafdn.org / jpaccione@saafdn.org
Website: saafdn.org/grants
Address: 155 Concord Plaza Dr., Suite 301, San Antonio, TX 78216

Overview

The John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation was established in 2015 following the death of cinema magnate and real estate developer John L. Santikos on December 30, 2014. His $605 million bequest to the San Antonio Area Foundation represented the largest charitable gift in the United States in 2015, tripling the foundation's size. The foundation is a supporting organization of the San Antonio Area Foundation, established to hold the Santikos legacy and manage charitable purposes dictated by the Santikos Living Trust Agreement. Since inception, the foundation has awarded more than $61 million in grants to local charitable organizations. The unique funding model channels profits from every purchase made at Santikos Entertainment locations directly to area nonprofits. The foundation earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a 94% score, demonstrating strong financial health and accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Capital Grants (through San Antonio Area Foundation):

  • Early-stage projects: Up to $250,000
  • Late-stage projects: Up to $350,000
  • Additional reserve available: Up to $250,000
  • Application period: June 2 - September 1 annually
  • Focus on renovation, restoration, construction, acquisition, and expansion projects
  • Must present significant naming rights opportunity

Collaborative Grants (John L. Santikos Collaborative Grants):

  • Maximum: $75,000 for awards up to one year
  • Requires at least three partner organizations
  • Application period: April 2 - June 30 annually
  • Aims to "intentionally create partnerships to advance equity and make a difference throughout the community"

Special and Urgent Needs Grants:

  • Maximum: $10,000
  • Rolling application (reviewed monthly)
  • For community crises, operational emergencies, and unplanned challenges

Priority Areas

Based on Mr. Santikos' philanthropic interests outlined in his will:

  1. People in Need: Seniors, individuals with mental and physical challenges, victims of child abuse, disaster relief recipients
  2. Health and Wellness: Healthcare initiatives, wellness programs, medical research
  3. Youth and Education: K-12 education programs, higher education, college success programs
  4. Arts and Culture: Cultural institutions, public radio/TV, museums
  5. Public Spaces: Libraries, parks, museums

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside the eight-county service area
  • Routine operating costs (varies by program)
  • Start-up expenses
  • Endowments
  • Lobbying expenses

Past Notable Grant Examples

  • Clarity Child Guidance Center: Large capital grant (part of $9.3 million distribution)
  • CentroMed: Healthcare facility capital support
  • Haven for Hope: Homeless services expansion
  • San Antonio Food Bank: Capital improvements
  • San Antonio Botanical Garden: $500,000 for Fountain of the Ferns and Art in the Garden
  • San Antonio Boys & Girls Club: $500,000 to transform baseball field into youth development park
  • Hill Country Daily Bread: $500,000 for training center, commercial kitchen, and amphitheater
  • San Antonio College Scobee Education Center: $500,000 for John L. Santikos Micronauts program
  • City of Hondo Public Library: Capital improvements
  • Alameda Theatre: $100,000 partnership with City of San Antonio for restoration and preservation
  • McNay Art Museum: Collaborative support for exhibits
  • COVID-19 Response Fund: $1 million lead gift (2020)
  • U.S. Census 2020 Engagement: $200,000 for outreach efforts
  • Migrant Resource Services: $305,000 in partnership with City of San Antonio

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed through a dual structure involving both the John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation board and the San Antonio Area Foundation. San Antonio Area Foundation board members double as trustees of the Santikos Foundation, creating an interconnected governance structure.

Historical Leadership

Dennis E. Noll served as trustee and chairman of the board of Santikos Enterprises. He was CEO of San Antonio Area Foundation from 2011 until his retirement at the end of 2017. Noll stated: "The impact that the John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation has on our community is tremendous."

Advisory Board Members (established 2015):

  • Ed Kelly, former CEO and president of USAA Real Estate, CPS Energy board member
  • GP Singh, founder of Karta Technologies, vice chair of Area Foundation
  • David Hennesee, retired CFO of Holt Caterpillar, immediate past president of Area Foundation
  • John Hayes, president and founder of Activia Resources
  • Guyla Sineni, co-founder of United Commercial Realty
  • Palmer Moe, retired managing director of Kronkosky Foundation, former Valero Energy senior executive

Current Administration

Marjie French served as San Antonio Area Foundation CEO from 2019 to May 2023, overseeing grant distributions during the challenging COVID-19 period.

The foundation continues to be administered by the San Antonio Area Foundation's Community Engagement and Impact team.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation's grant-making is administered through the San Antonio Area Foundation. Application processes vary by grant program:

For Capital and Collaborative Grants:

  1. Visit saafdn.org/grants to review current opportunities and eligibility
  2. Applications are submitted through the San Antonio Area Foundation's online system
  3. Contact the Community Engagement and Impact team for guidance: jpaccione@saafdn.org or (210) 225-2243

For Special and Urgent Needs Grants:

  • Rolling application process with monthly reviews
  • Submissions accepted year-round for emergency situations

Important Historical Context: The foundation previously operated competitive grant cycles for Capital and Naming Rights grants on a bi-annual basis. However, due to pandemic-related impacts on Santikos Entertainment's cinema revenues, the foundation suspended competitive grant processes in 2021, instead extending multi-year funding to existing 2020 grantees at reduced amounts. As of 2025, grant programs have resumed through the San Antonio Area Foundation's standard application processes.

Decision Timeline

Capital Grants:

  • Application period: June 2 - September 1
  • Awards announced: Typically in late fall/early winter (historically November-December based on past announcements)

Collaborative Grants:

  • Application period: April 2 - June 30
  • Awards announced: Typically within 3-4 months of deadline

Special and Urgent Needs:

  • Monthly review cycle for rolling applications

Success Rates

In 2016, the foundation received 92 grant proposals totaling over $70 million in funding requests. In 2017, the foundation awarded more than $10 million to 171 charitable organizations through a competitive grant process, suggesting a highly selective process given the demand.

The foundation made 11 awards in 2023, 20 awards in 2022, and 19 awards in 2021, indicating variation in annual grant cycles.

Reapplication Policy

While specific reapplication waiting periods were not documented in available sources, the foundation has demonstrated willingness to support organizations across multiple years, including multi-year funding extensions during the pandemic period.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and funding patterns:

Alignment with Santikos' Vision

Organizations should demonstrate clear alignment with the specific charitable interests Mr. Santikos outlined in his will. The foundation is administering a legacy, not creating new funding priorities, so proposals should directly connect to the five core areas: people in need, health and wellness, youth and education, arts and culture, and public spaces.

Capital Projects with Naming Opportunities

For capital grant applicants, proposals must present a significant naming rights opportunity. Successful recipients like the San Antonio Botanical Garden (Fountain of the Ferns and Santikos Art in the Garden) and San Antonio College (John L. Santikos Micronauts program) incorporated meaningful recognition of the Santikos legacy.

Geographic Focus

All funded projects must directly benefit residents of the eight-county service area: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina, and Wilson counties. Demonstrating deep community impact within this specific geography strengthens proposals.

Collaborative Approaches

The foundation values partnerships, as evidenced by the JLS Collaborative Grants program requiring at least three partner organizations. Successful collaborations have included:

  • Census 2020 engagement efforts
  • Alameda Theatre restoration (partnering with City of San Antonio)
  • Migrant Resource Services (multi-organization partnership)

Community Impact and Equity

The foundation seeks to "advance equity and make a difference throughout the community." Proposals should clearly articulate how they address disparities and serve vulnerable populations, particularly those identified in Santikos' priorities: seniors, individuals with special needs, victims of child abuse, and those facing disasters or emergencies.

Organizational Capacity

As a 501(c)(3) organization with strong ratings, applicants should demonstrate sound financial management, organizational stability, and capacity to successfully complete proposed projects. The foundation's own Four-Star Charity Navigator rating suggests it values fiscal responsibility in grantees.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Legacy-driven funding: Proposals must align with John L. Santikos' specific charitable interests as outlined in his will—this is not flexible or negotiable
  • Geographic restriction is absolute: Only organizations serving the eight specified Texas counties (Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina, and Wilson) are eligible
  • Unique funding model: The foundation's resources come from Santikos Entertainment profits, meaning funding levels can fluctuate based on business performance (as demonstrated during COVID-19 cinema closures)
  • Naming rights matter for capital grants: Significant capital grant recipients must offer meaningful naming opportunities that honor the Santikos legacy
  • Collaboration is valued: Consider partnership approaches, particularly for the Collaborative Grants program which specifically requires multi-organization cooperation
  • Application through SAAF: All applications are submitted through the San Antonio Area Foundation system—build relationships with SAAF staff to understand current priorities and processes
  • Timing matters: With annual application windows (June-September for capital; April-June for collaborative), plan ahead and don't miss deadlines as opportunities are limited to once per year

References

← Back to US Funders Directory