St. David's Foundation Community Fund

Quick Stats

• EIN: 74-2898888
• Location: Austin, TX
• Annual Grants: $2.1 million (2023)
• Grant Range: Up to $5,000 (AgingWell program)
• Geographic Focus: Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties (Central Texas)
• Charity Navigator Rating: 3 Stars (78%)
• Foundation Type: Public Charity / Operating Foundation with grantmaking component

Contact Details

St. David's Foundation Community Fund

• Website: https://stdavidsfoundation.org/ and https://agingwellctx.org/
• Phone: (512) 879-6600
• Email: info@stdavidsfoundation.org
• AgingWell Contact: Taylor Gutierrez at (512) 879-6215 or tgutierrez@stdavidsfoundation.org

Overview

St. David's Foundation Community Fund is a 501(c)(3) public charity established in Austin, Texas, with the mission to improve the health of Central Texans. The organization is part of the broader St. David's Foundation ecosystem but operates with a distinct focus. Unlike its parent organization St. David's Foundation (EIN 74-1356589), which awards over $100 million annually in grants, the Community Fund is primarily an operating foundation that runs direct programs while maintaining a modest grantmaking portfolio of approximately $2.1 million annually.

The Community Fund controls healthcare facilities in Central Texas, operates the state's largest healthcare scholarship program, and created the AgingWell initiative to support older adults and their caregivers. While the organization does make grants to nonprofit organizations—particularly through AgingWell—it should be understood primarily as a program operator rather than a traditional grantmaking foundation. The organization has earned a 3-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 78%.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

AgingWell Gifts Program

• Amount: Up to $5,000 per organization per calendar year
• Total Awarded: Over $500,000 since inception
• Focus: Supporting nonprofits that serve older adults in Central Texas
• Application Method: Rolling basis through AgingWell
• Eligibility: Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

The Community Fund also provides strategic grantmaking beyond AgingWell to increase support for older adults to live safely and independently in their own communities. The total grantmaking portfolio was approximately $2.1 million in 2023.

Priority Areas

The Community Fund's mission focuses on improving the health of Central Texans through:

• Aging Services: Programs that support older adults and their caregivers with challenges of aging issues
• Healthcare Career Education: Scholarships for financially disadvantaged students pursuing healthcare careers
• Community Health: Operating healthcare facilities in accordance with community benefit standards
• Health Equity: Removing barriers to healthcare access for vulnerable populations

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not readily available in public sources. Given the organization's focus on health and aging, funding outside these areas would likely not align with their mission.

Governance and Leadership

Specific information about trustees and senior staff for the Community Fund is not separately listed in public sources, as it operates within the broader St. David's Foundation structure. St. David's Foundation is led by senior staff who oversee the Foundation's five community impact teams: Grantmaking, Mobile Dental Program, Scholarship Program, Learning & Evaluation, and Communications.

The organization operates in partnership with St. David's HealthCare, strategically reinvesting proceeds from the hospital system back into the Central Texas community.

Direct Programs Operated

In addition to its grantmaking activities, the Community Fund directly operates several major programs:

Neal Kocurek Scholarship Program

• Designation: Largest healthcare scholarship program in the State of Texas
• Award Amount: Up to $60,000 in financial aid per student over the course of their higher education
• Eligibility: High school seniors from Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties pursuing healthcare careers at Texas colleges/universities
• Track Record: 704 scholarships awarded since program inception in 2005, with 41 awarded in 2022
• Website: Information available through St. David's Foundation

Healthcare Facilities

The Community Fund controls medical facilities in Central Texas, including surgery centers, that provide healthcare to the community in accordance with the community benefit standard.

AgingWell Program

Beyond grantmaking, AgingWell is an active community group that embraces volunteerism, education, and philanthropy. The program brings together individuals and community partners to raise awareness about issues facing older adults and their caregivers.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For AgingWell Gifts (Up to $5,000):

• Organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits
• Each organization may receive up to one gift of up to $5,000 per calendar year
• Contact: Taylor Gutierrez at (512) 879-6215 or tgutierrez@stdavidsfoundation.org
• Visit: agingwellctx.org/grants/

For Other Grantmaking: The Community Fund's broader grantmaking activities beyond AgingWell are not open to general application. The organization appears to identify strategic opportunities aligned with its mission.

Note: If you are seeking larger grants for health equity work in Central Texas, you should instead consider applying to St. David's Foundation (EIN 74-1356589), which has formal grant programs including Community Driven Change and We All Benefit funding opportunities with grants ranging into the millions of dollars.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines for AgingWell gifts are not publicly documented. Contact the AgingWell program directly for current processing times.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available for the Community Fund's grantmaking programs.

Reapplication Policy

For AgingWell gifts, organizations may receive up to one gift per calendar year, suggesting that organizations can apply annually. Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not documented.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information about the Community Fund's grantmaking process, the following factors appear important based on the organization's mission and structure:

• Geographic Alignment: Organizations must serve populations in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties
• Mission Alignment: Strong alignment with improving health outcomes, particularly for older adults and vulnerable populations
• Nonprofit Status: Must be a 501(c)(3) organization
• Clear Community Impact: Demonstrable ability to improve the lives of older adults and their caregivers
• Strategic Fit: For larger grants beyond AgingWell, alignment with the Community Fund's strategic grantmaking goals around enabling older adults to live safely and independently

For organizations seeking substantial funding for health equity work in Central Texas, approaching the main St. David's Foundation rather than the Community Fund may be more appropriate.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Limited Scope: The Community Fund has a much smaller grantmaking portfolio ($2.1M) compared to St. David's Foundation ($100M+). If you need significant funding, apply to the main Foundation instead.

• AgingWell Focus: The most accessible funding opportunity is through AgingWell gifts (up to $5,000 annually) for nonprofits serving older adults in Central Texas.

• Operating Foundation: Understand that this entity primarily operates direct programs (scholarships, healthcare facilities) rather than functioning as a traditional grantmaker.

• Geographic Specificity: All funding is restricted to the five-county Central Texas region: Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties.

• Contact First: Given the limited public information about application processes beyond AgingWell, direct contact with Taylor Gutierrez is advisable to determine eligibility and fit.

• Part of Ecosystem: The Community Fund is one component of a larger St. David's organizational structure; understanding this ecosystem can help you identify the right entry point for your organization.

• Mission Alignment Critical: With limited grantmaking capacity, strong alignment with health improvement and aging services is essential.

References

1. Cause IQ - St. David's Foundation Community Fund Profile. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/st-davids-foundation-community-fund,742898888/

2. St. David's Foundation Official Website. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://stdavidsfoundation.org/

3. Charity Navigator - St. Davids Foundation Community Fund Rating. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/742898888

4. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - St Davids Foundation Community Fund (EIN 74-2898888). Accessed February 24, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/742898888

5. Instrumentl 990 Report - St David's Foundation Community Fund. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/st-davids-foundation-community-fund

6. AgingWell Central Texas Official Website - Gifts Program. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://agingwellctx.org/grants/

7. St. David's Foundation - Aging Well Program Information. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://stdavidsfoundation.org/get-involved/aging-well/

8. GuideStar Profile - St Davids Foundation Community Fund. Accessed February 24, 2026. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/74-2898888

9. St. David's Foundation - 2020 Form 990 Community Fund (PDF). Accessed February 24, 2026. https://stdavidsfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2020-990-Community-Fund.pdf