FirstDay Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $32,254,137 (most recent 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: Over $900 million
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 program visits, as such contact "may disqualify your organization." Organizations 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 $900 million in assets and a $700 million investment fund that generates grant earnings. The foundation's name references the first day of Creation, symbolizing their goal to "light the way" for partner organizations. Since 2015, they have awarded 49 grants totaling over $78 million to nonprofits serving children, families, and communities both locally and globally. The foundation operates with a unique "Secret Santa" philosophy, proactively identifying organizations making meaningful impact and inviting them to apply for funding. FirstDay Foundation is principally interested in supporting organizations responding to unmet human needs through innovative and sustainable services, with particular emphasis on serving underserved populations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

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

General Operating Support: Unrestricted funding for organizational operations
Capacity Building: Leadership development, fundraising capability, management systems
Project Support: Funding for specific initiatives or programs
Seed Grants: Support for launching new programs
Challenge/Matching Grants: Range from $25,000-$75,000 (based on recent examples), requiring organizations to raise matching funds
Program-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 programs, $100,000 for disaster relief.

Priority Areas

Families and Communities: Programs 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 programs, 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, counseling
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 (organizations 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 organizations as part of its network, including Children's Emergency Relief International.

On Grant Philosophy: "FirstDay Foundation utilizes its own specific means to identify entities it wishes to invite to apply for funding consideration. This 'Secret Santa' approach identifies organizations 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 organizations through its own research and vetting process
Only organizations that receive a written invitation via email can apply
Invited organizations 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 program visits is discouraged and may disqualify your organization." Organizations 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 organizations 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 organizations 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 organizations before extending invitations, suggesting a potentially higher success rate than open-application foundations. In the most recent fiscal year, 9 organizations received grants totaling $32.2 million.

Reapplication Policy

All grants are considered "one-time grants" with no guarantee of future funding. Organizations that violate the foundation's contact policies become ineligible for at least one year. There is no published information about whether previously funded organizations 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 organization." They seek organizations where their funding can catalyze 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 organizations willing to enhance their operational infrastructure.
Meaningful Measurement: They value organizations 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 programs
Funding for both local San Antonio organizations and international crisis response
Support across the spectrum from established organizations to experimental innovations
Willingness to fund both operating support and specific projects

Types of Organizations Recently Funded:

Christian Assistance Ministry (mental health services for homeless populations)
Corazon San Antonio (mobile medical services)
New Hope Counseling (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 organization for at least one year. There is no public application process.
Focus on Measurable Impact: If invited, emphasize concrete, measurable outcomes and how grant funding will amplify your organization's capability and capacity.
Demonstrate Leverage Potential: Show how FirstDay Foundation's investment could catalyze 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. Organizations should be prepared to adopt improved efficiency measures as a condition of funding.
Align with Strategic Focus: Organizations 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 Programs: The foundation funds general operating support, capacity building, and innovation—not just program-specific projects. If invited, consider requesting support that strengthens organizational infrastructure.
Grant Size Varies Widely: Recent grants range from $25,000 to $350,000, suggesting the foundation tailors funding to organizational need and opportunity rather than adhering to fixed grant sizes.

References

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