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Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation

Annual Giving
$18.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $15.0M
Decision Time
4mo

Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $17,993,429 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $429 million (2024)
  • Number of Grants: 64 grants awarded (2023)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $15,000,000+
  • Average Grant: $50,000
  • Geographic Focus: Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas
  • Application Method: Rolling for grants under $50,000; Annual cycle for grants over $50,000

Contact Details

Address: 1267 N Stuart Place Rd., Harlingen, TX 78552

Phone: (956) 335-3040 (general inquiries) | (956) 335-3036 (grant inquiries)

Website: www.vblf.org

Email: Contact specific staff members for different needs:

  • Grants questions: mresendez@vblf.org (Marisol Resendez, Sr. Grants Specialist)
  • General inquiries: Available through website contact form

Grant Application Portal: www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=vblf

Overview

Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation was established in 2011 and began its first funding year in 2014. The foundation manages over $429 million in assets and has invested more than $200 million in healthcare grants since its inception. As a 501(c)(3) organization, VBLF grants investment earnings to nonprofit organizations for healthcare-related purposes throughout South Texas, specifically serving the four-county Rio Grande Valley region. The foundation's mission centers on enhancing health and well-being through partnerships, medical education, research, and community programs. Governed by a 13-member board representing diverse professional backgrounds in medicine, education, finance, law, and public health, VBLF has become one of the most significant healthcare funders in South Texas. The foundation's strategic approach prioritizes collaboration, community impact, and sustainable solutions to the region's most pressing health challenges.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Responsive Grants: Up to $50,000

  • Single-year requests for specific activities with defined goals
  • No Letter of Intent required
  • Two annual cycles (January-April and August-October)
  • Applications due April 1 and October 1 at 5:00 PM

Collaborative Grants: $50,000 - $500,000

  • Multi-organization partnerships addressing larger health challenges
  • Requires Letter of Intent (LOI) due December 1 at 5:00 PM
  • Letters of Support from all collaborating partners required
  • Full applications due March 1
  • Awards announced in August

Matching Grants: Variable amounts

  • For organizations that have secured partial funding
  • Contact foundation to discuss matching opportunities
  • Demonstrates financial sustainability and community support

Foundation Initiatives: $500,000+

  • Strategic projects aligned with foundation goals
  • Includes capital grants for significant infrastructure projects
  • May be foundation-initiated or applicant-proposed
  • Requires LOI and extensive application process

Priority Areas

#1 Strategic Priority: Obesity and Diabetes Prevention

  • The foundation's top funding priority is programs that educate the community about weight management and the causes of diabetes

Additional Funded Areas:

  • Healthy Lifestyles: Programs promoting physical activity, nutrition, and wellness
  • Access to Care: Initiatives increasing health insurance coverage and removing barriers to healthcare
  • Mental/Behavioral Health: Services administered through licensed behavioral health providers
  • Dental Health: Programs increasing access to dental care in the region
  • Aging in Place: Support for seniors to remain healthy and independent
  • Medical Education: Training healthcare professionals to serve the Rio Grande Valley
  • Breast Cancer: Prevention, screening, and treatment programs

Priority Consideration Given To:

  • Proposals that impact many people
  • Projects fostering collaboration between organizations
  • Programs using resources effectively
  • Replicable programs that can be sustained or expanded
  • Initiatives demonstrating strong community support

What They Don't Fund

  • Insurance premiums
  • Endowments
  • Individual grants or scholarships (separate scholarship programs exist)
  • Event sponsorships
  • Debt retirement
  • Operational deficits
  • Grant writer fees
  • Costs not directly related to proposed projects

What They Will Fund

  • New projects and initiatives
  • Operating expenses directly related to project
  • Multi-year requests (for Collaborative and Foundation Initiative grants)
  • Capital purchases and infrastructure
  • Indirect costs up to 10% of direct costs
  • Staff positions (with clear sustainability plan)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Judy Quisenberry, MBA - Executive Director (since 2018)

  • With the foundation since its inception in 2011
  • Sets organizational vision and oversees all operations
  • Has emphasized the importance of internet access and medical education in the region

Kimberly Anderson, CPA - Finance Director (since 2011)

  • Manages all financial and accounting functions

Board of Directors

The Foundation's 13-member board brings diverse expertise:

Leadership:

  • Rebekah Batot, J.D. – Chairperson
  • Elsa Cardenas-Hagan, Ed.D. – Vice-Chairperson
  • Stephanie Jackson, D.D.S. – Secretary

Members:

  • Denise Almon, C.P.A.
  • Cynthia Brown, Ph.D.
  • Jason Carter, AAMS
  • James Castillo, M.D.
  • Carlos Muniz, C.P.A.
  • Alicia Noyola, Ed.D.
  • Mariana Tumlinson, MBA, MHA
  • Adela Valdez, M.D.
  • Carlos Varela
  • Matt Gorges (Member Emeritus)

The board maintains a strict Conflict of Interest Policy prohibiting staff and board members from accepting compensation, gifts, or favors from organizations with pending or funded grant proposals, ensuring independence and integrity in grant recommendations.

Grants Team

  • Marisol Resendez, MBA - Sr. Grants Specialist (provides grants management and portfolio oversight)
  • Alondra Vazquez, MBA - Grants and Evaluation Associate (monitors grant progress and develops evaluation protocols)
  • Rebecca James - Grants Associate (administers community programs including scholarships)
  • Sarah Reynolds - Grants Associate (provides grants management and scholarship support)

Application Process & Timeline

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
  • Must serve residents in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, or Willacy counties
  • Must demonstrate positive health effects within the funding area
  • Cannot have received funding in Responsive or Collaborative categories within the previous 12 months

How to Apply

For Grants Under $50,000 (Responsive Grants):

  1. Access online application at www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=vblf
  2. Submit complete application by deadline (April 1 or October 1 at 5:00 PM)
  3. No Letter of Intent required
  4. Application reviewed by grants committee
  5. Committee recommendations reviewed by Board of Directors

For Grants Over $50,000 (Collaborative, Matching, Foundation Initiatives):

  1. Submit Letter of Intent (LOI) by December 1 at 5:00 PM
  2. LOI reviewed by program staff
  3. Receive declination or invitation for full proposal
  4. If invited, receive access code for online application
  5. Submit full application by March 1
  6. Application reviewed by grants committee and Board of Directors

Application Components:

  • Project narrative with specific, measurable goals
  • Detailed budget with expenses and revenues directly related to funding request
  • For operational funding: complete operating budget with itemized expenses
  • Letters of Support from organization's highest-ranking official on letterhead
  • For Collaborative Grants: separate letters from each partner organization confirming understanding of timeline, goals, and specific roles
  • Three bids for equipment/services (or acceptable alternatives: quotes, scope-of-work documents, or estimates)

Decision Timeline

Responsive Grants (Under $50,000):

  • Cycle 1: Applications due April 1 → Awards announced August
  • Cycle 2: Applications due October 1 → Awards announced February
  • Timeline: Approximately 4 months from application to decision

Collaborative Grants (Over $50,000):

  • LOI due December 1 → Invitations sent January/February
  • Applications due March 1 → Awards announced August
  • Timeline: Approximately 5 months from full application to decision; 8 months from LOI

All applicants are informed of decisions. Approved applicants receive a grant agreement for implementation.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation's eligibility requirements state that organizations cannot have received funding in Responsive or Collaborative categories within the previous 12 months. This 12-month waiting period applies to funded organizations.

For unsuccessful applicants, the search results do not specify an explicit waiting period, suggesting they may reapply in subsequent grant cycles. Organizations are encouraged to contact the foundation at (956) 335-3036 for specific guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented guidance and priorities, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Strong Alignment with Obesity/Diabetes Prevention Priority

  • The foundation has explicitly stated this is their "#1 strategic priority"
  • Programs addressing weight management and diabetes causes receive top consideration
  • Connect your project to these issues even if serving other health areas

2. Collaborative Approach

  • The foundation values partnerships and created a specific grant category for collaboration
  • Letters of Support should be detailed, explaining specific roles and commitments
  • Partner letters must confirm understanding of "project timeline, goals, and their specific role"

3. Broad Community Impact

  • The foundation prioritizes "proposals that impact many people"
  • Quantify reach and demonstrate scale
  • Show how the project serves the four-county region

4. Detailed, Realistic Budgets

  • Include only "expenses and revenues directly related to the funding request"
  • Exclude unrelated costs like grant writer fees
  • Provide three bids for equipment/services or acceptable alternatives
  • Limit indirect costs to 10% of direct costs

5. Replicability and Sustainability

  • Foundation seeks "replicable programs that can be sustained or expanded"
  • For staff positions, include clear sustainability plan
  • Demonstrate how success can be measured and replicated

6. Evidence of Community Support

  • Letters of Support must come from highest-ranking officials on letterhead
  • Letters should articulate "specific reasons for supporting your project"
  • Explain alignment with supporting organization's goals

7. Clear, Measurable Goals

  • Foundation funds "specific activities with defined goals over a set period"
  • Include evaluation protocols
  • Be specific about expected health outcomes

8. Resource Effectiveness

  • Foundation values programs "using resources effectively"
  • Show cost-effectiveness and efficient use of funds
  • Demonstrate return on investment in community health

9. Timely, Complete Submissions

  • All applications and LOIs due by 5:00 PM on deadline dates
  • Contact grant lead early if timeline or budget needs significant changes
  • Submit complete documentation including all required letters and bids

Recent Funded Projects Examples:

  • $26,000 to Mission CISD/Pearson Elementary for Project Fit America fitness program
  • $350,000 to Cameron County for Green Bay South health initiative
  • $50,000 to Dentists Who Care for dental health services
  • $17 million to Driscoll Children's Hospital for children's health
  • $38 million to UTRGV for medical education (multi-year)
  • $30 million to UTRGV for Diabetes Center of Excellence
  • Grants to Brownsville Wellness Coalition, Boys and Girls Clubs of Harlingen, Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas Emergency Care Foundation, and Nuestra Clinica Del Valle

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Prioritize the priority: If your project addresses obesity and diabetes prevention, make this connection explicit and central to your proposal—it's the foundation's stated #1 strategic priority
  • Think collaboration: For projects over $50,000, identify strong partners and secure detailed letters of support confirming specific roles and commitments before applying
  • Quantify community impact: The foundation funds 64 grants annually from $18 million in giving—show how your project will reach and benefit large numbers of Rio Grande Valley residents
  • Budget precision matters: Include only directly related costs, obtain three bids for purchases, and keep indirect costs at or below 10%—the foundation provides specific guidance on what to exclude
  • Plan for the long game: Start with LOI by December 1 for larger grants; the full process takes 8 months from LOI to award announcement in August
  • Demonstrate sustainability: Especially for staff positions and multi-year projects, show clear plans for continuing impact beyond the grant period
  • Geographic specificity: Projects must serve residents of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and/or Willacy counties—clearly identify which counties and how many residents will benefit
  • Contact early if needed: The foundation explicitly encourages applicants to "contact your grant lead early if your project timeline or budget needs significant changes"

References

Accessed: December 22, 2024

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