FirstDay Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $63,140,535 (2023 fiscal year)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only model)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $25,000 - $350,000 (based on recent awards)
• Geographic Focus: Global (local San Antonio focus + international)
• Total Assets: $788,710,292
• Founded: 1999

Contact Details

Website: https://firstday.foundation/

Address: 1506 Bexar Crossing St, San Antonio, TX

Note: The foundation explicitly discourages unsolicited contact requesting grants, tours, or programme visits, as such contact "may disqualify your organisation." Organisations that attempt to circumvent the application process by soliciting FirstDay Foundation-affiliated persons lose eligibility for at least one year.

Overview

FirstDay Foundation was established in 1999 and has grown to become one of the largest private foundations in Texas, with over $788 million in assets. The foundation's name references the first day of Creation, symbolising their goal to "light the way" for partner organisations. The foundation operates with a unique "Secret Santa" philosophy, proactively identifying organisations making meaningful impact and inviting them to apply for funding. FirstDay Foundation is principally interested in supporting organisations responding to unmet human needs through innovative and sustainable services, with particular emphasis on serving underserved populations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

FirstDay Foundation offers eight distinct grant types, with amounts determined individually for invited applicants:

• General Operating Support: Unrestricted funding for organisational operations
• Capacity Building: Leadership development, fundraising capability, management systems
• Project Support: Funding for specific initiatives or programmes
• Seed Grants: Support for launching new programmes
• Challenge/Matching Grants: Range from $25,000-$75,000 (based on recent examples), requiring organisations to raise matching funds
• Programme-Related Investments (PRIs): Mission-aligned investments with financial return expectations
• Capital Grants: Buildings, land, equipment purchases
• Innovation Grants: Experimental solutions to pressing problems

Recent award examples: $350,000 for mental health services expansion, $250,000 for mobile medical units, $250,000 for civic engagement programmes, $100,000 for disaster relief.

Priority Areas

• Families and Communities: Programmes serving local San Antonio-area families and community development
• International Crisis Response: Emergency relief and child protection in crisis zones
• Children and Youth Services: Educational programmes, child welfare, youth development
• Healthcare Access: Mental health services, mobile medical care for underserved populations
• Veteran Services: Support for veterans and Gold Star families
• Social Services: Addiction recovery, homelessness services, counselling
• Municipal and Private Partnerships: Collaboration with government agencies and private sector partners

The foundation particularly values efforts addressing "urgent or compelling needs of those who are underserved."

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Debt retirement or litigation costs
• Unsolicited applications (organisations not formally invited to apply)

Governance and Leadership

Kevin C. Dinnin serves as President and Chief Executive Officer. Dinnin is also co-founder and board chairman of Children's Emergency Relief International (CERI), one of the foundation's grantees. According to Dinnin, the foundation is "forging new partnerships to create a profound and positive impact."

Leadership Team includes:

• Daniel Sierra: Vice President, Critical Information Systems
• Karen Thaxton: Executive Vice President, Human Resources
• Brent Black: Grants and Contracts Manager

The foundation operates at least six other nonprofit organisations as part of its network, including Children's Emergency Relief International.

On Grant Philosophy: "FirstDay Foundation utilises its own specific means to identify entities it wishes to invite to apply for funding consideration. This 'Secret Santa' approach identifies organisations doing good and important work that FirstDay Foundation feels can make an even greater impact."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

FirstDay Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation operates exclusively on an invitation-only basis.

Invitation Process:

• The foundation proactively identifies organisations through its own research and vetting process
• Only organisations that receive a written invitation via email can apply
• Invited organisations receive access to a secure online application portal
• Maximum request amounts are communicated individually to invited applicants

Critical Warning: "Unsolicited contact requesting grants, tours, or programme visits is discouraged and may disqualify your organisation." Organisations that attempt to circumvent the application process by soliciting FirstDay Foundation-affiliated persons lose eligibility for at least one year.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation does not provide specific guidance on how organisations can position themselves for invitation. Their "Secret Santa" approach means they conduct their own proactive research to identify potential grantees. Based on their stated priorities, they seek organisations that:

• Are making "meaningful and measurable difference in the lives of individuals"
• Address urgent or compelling needs of underserved populations
• Demonstrate innovation and sustainability in their service delivery
• Show potential for increased impact with additional resources
• Align with the foundation's focus on families, communities, and international crisis response

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publicly disclose typical timeframes from invitation to decision.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only model, the foundation pre-selects organisations before extending invitations, suggesting a potentially higher success rate than open-application foundations.

Reapplication Policy

All grants are considered "one-time grants" with no guarantee of future funding. Organisations that violate the foundation's contact policies become ineligible for at least one year. There is no published information about whether previously funded organisations are reinvited or whether declined applicants can be considered again in future cycles.

Application Success Factors

Since FirstDay Foundation operates on an invitation-only model, the following insights are drawn from their stated preferences and recent funding patterns:

Foundation's Stated Priorities:

• Leverage and Amplification: "FirstDay Foundation grants are intended to leverage resources and to amplify the capability and capacity of the recipient organisation." They seek organisations where their funding can catalyse additional support or significantly expand impact.

• Operational Excellence: The foundation may require grantees to adopt improved efficiency measures and governance practices, potentially mandating use of shared administrative services or approved management tools. This suggests they value organisations willing to enhance their operational infrastructure.

• Meaningful Measurement: They value organisations making a "meaningful and measurable difference," indicating the importance of demonstrating concrete outcomes and impact metrics.

Recent Funding Patterns Show:

• Support for matching/challenge grants that engage community fundraising
• Investment in capacity building and infrastructure, not just programmes
• Funding for both local San Antonio organisations and international crisis response
• Support across the spectrum from established organisations to experimental innovations
• Willingness to fund both operating support and specific projects

Types of Organisations Recently Funded:

• Christian Assistance Ministry (mental health services for homeless populations)
• Corazon San Antonio (mobile medical services)
• New Hope Counselling (matching challenge grant recipient)
• Grace House (transition home for women at-risk)
• CASA, Hearts Need Art, Warfighter Scuba, Dee Howard Foundation
• Children's Emergency Relief International (international crisis response)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Do Not Apply Unsolicited: This cannot be overstated—unsolicited contact may disqualify your organisation for at least one year. There is no public application process.

• Focus on Measurable Impact: If invited, emphasise concrete, measurable outcomes and how grant funding will amplify your organisation's capability and capacity.

• Demonstrate Leverage Potential: Show how FirstDay Foundation's investment could catalyse additional resources or partnerships—they specifically value grants that leverage other funding.

• Be Open to Operational Support: The foundation may require use of their shared administrative services or governance tools. Organisations should be prepared to adopt improved efficiency measures as a condition of funding.

• Align with Strategic Focus: Organisations serving underserved populations with urgent needs, particularly in family services, child protection, international crisis response, and community development, appear most aligned with the foundation's priorities.

• Think Beyond Programmes: The foundation funds general operating support, capacity building, and innovation—not just programme-specific projects. If invited, consider requesting support that strengthens organisational infrastructure.

• Grant Size Varies Widely: Recent grants range from $25,000 to $350,000, suggesting the foundation tailors funding to organisational need and opportunity rather than adhering to fixed grant sizes.

References

1. FirstDay Foundation Official Website: https://firstday.foundation/ (Accessed December 2025)
2. FirstDay Foundation Grant Guidelines: https://firstday.foundation/grant-guidelines/ (Accessed December 2025)
3. FirstDay Foundation About Us: https://firstday.foundation/about-us/ (Accessed December 2025)
4. Cause IQ - FirstDay Foundation Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/baptist-child-family-services,742874382/ (Accessed December 2025)
5. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Firstday Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/742874382 (Accessed December 2025)
6. InfluenceWatch - FirstDay Foundation: https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/firstday-foundation/ (Accessed December 2025)
7. Intellispect - Firstday Foundation: https://www.intellispect.co/organizations/742874382-firstday-foundation (Accessed December 2025)
8. The Org - FirstDay Foundation Leadership: https://theorg.com/org/firstday-foundation (Accessed December 2025)