E3 Foundation

Quick Stats

• EIN: 74-3198643
• Total Assets: $8,862,682 (2023)
• Annual Expenses: $20,137 (2023)
• Foundation Type: Private family foundation (non-operating)
• Geographic Focus: Not specified, likely national
• Faith Focus: Christian/evangelical
• Founded: 2008

Contact Details

Address: 6101 West Courtyard Drive, Building 5, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78730

Email: info@e3-foundation.com

Website: www.e3-foundation.com

Pre-Application Contact: Organizations interested in funding should first submit a pre-grant inquiry form available through the foundation's website.

Overview

The E3 Foundation is a private Christian family foundation established in 2008 and based in Austin, Texas. With assets of approximately $8.9 million as of 2023, the foundation is dedicated to investing in initiatives that leverage technology and media to advance God's kingdom.

The foundation operates as a private non-operating grantmaking organization, focusing specifically on supporting Christian ministries and religious nonprofit organizations that use innovative approaches to create and share spiritually educational materials. The foundation has no full-time employees and operates with minimal overhead expenses, allowing resources to be directed toward grantmaking activities.

The foundation has been involved in supporting campaigns such as the Explore God initiative, which uses modern media and technology platforms to engage people in conversations about faith. As a family foundation, E3 maintains a focused mission centered on the intersection of faith, technology, and education.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The E3 Foundation offers grants to Christian ministries and organizations through a structured two-step application process. While specific grant amounts and program names are not publicly disclosed, the foundation's Form 990-PF filings contain detailed lists of grant recipients and amounts awarded.

Application Method: Two-step process (pre-grant application followed by formal grant application for invited applicants)

Priority Areas

The foundation prioritizes projects that:

• Leverage technology and media for spiritual and educational purposes
• Create spiritually educational materials that can be shared widely
• Assist other religious and nonprofit organizations in their missions
• Advance God's kingdom through innovative approaches
• Use modern platforms to reach audiences with Christian content

The foundation is particularly interested in initiatives that combine faith-based content with technological innovation, including digital media, online platforms, educational technology, and multimedia resources for ministry purposes.

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation does not publish explicit exclusion criteria, based on their stated mission, they likely do not fund:

• Secular organizations or programs
• Projects unrelated to Christian ministry or spiritual education
• Organizations that do not incorporate technology or media components
• General operating support for established institutions
• Individual scholarships or direct assistance to individuals

Governance and Leadership

The E3 Foundation operates as a private family foundation with minimal public disclosure about its board of trustees and leadership. As of available records, the foundation has no recorded board members listed in standard nonprofit databases, which is not uncommon for small family foundations that maintain privacy regarding their governance structure.

Information about the foundation's trustees and officers is available in their annual Form 990-PF filings, which can be accessed through ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer or requested directly from the IRS.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The E3 Foundation uses a two-step application process:

Step 1 - Pre-Grant Application: Potential new grantees must first complete a pre-grant inquiry form available on the foundation's website (www.e3-foundation.com/grants.html). This initial application allows the foundation to assess alignment between the proposed project and the foundation's values and goals.

Step 2 - Formal Grant Application: Organizations whose projects align with the foundation's priorities will be contacted by foundation staff and invited to submit a full formal grant proposal. Only organizations invited after the pre-grant review will be asked to complete this step.

The foundation's website states: "Organizations whose projects align with the Foundation's goals will be contacted and invited to submit a full proposal to the Foundation."

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Applicants should anticipate:

• Initial review of pre-grant applications: timeframe not specified
• Notification of invitation to submit full proposal: timeframe not specified
• Final grant decisions: timeframe not specified

Due to the lack of published timeline information, organizations should plan for a potentially extended review process and should submit inquiries well in advance of when funding is needed.

Success Rates

Success rates and competitiveness data are not publicly available. As a private family foundation with a two-step screening process, the foundation likely receives fewer applications than community foundations but maintains selectivity in choosing organizations that closely align with their specific mission of using technology and media for Christian ministry.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations not selected should consider contacting the foundation directly to inquire about whether and when reapplication would be appropriate.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's mission and publicly available information, organizations can strengthen their applications by:

Demonstrating Strong Alignment with Mission: The foundation explicitly states it funds "Christian ministries and organizations whose projects align with the Foundation's values and goals." Applications should clearly articulate how the proposed project advances Christian faith and education.

Emphasizing Technology and Media Components: The foundation's core focus is "leveraging technology and media to create and share spiritually educational materials." Successful applicants will likely demonstrate innovative use of technology platforms, digital media, online resources, or multimedia tools in their ministry work.

Showing Potential for Broad Impact: Given the foundation's interest in materials that can be "shared" to "assist other religious and nonprofit organizations," projects with replicability, scalability, or potential to benefit multiple organizations may be more competitive.

Being Specific About Outcomes: While the foundation does not publish specific evaluation criteria, clearly defined goals, measurable outcomes, and plans for assessing impact would strengthen any grant application.

Completing the Pre-Grant Inquiry Thoroughly: Since the pre-grant application serves as the initial screening mechanism, organizations should provide sufficient detail at this stage to allow the foundation to understand the project's alignment with their mission.

Exploring Connection to Foundation Initiatives: The foundation has supported campaigns like Explore God. Demonstrating awareness of or connection to the foundation's past grantmaking interests could be beneficial.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Two-step process required: All applicants must first complete a pre-grant inquiry form; only those invited will submit full proposals
• Christian mission essential: This is explicitly a Christian foundation funding faith-based work—secular organizations should not apply
• Technology/media focus is central: Simply being a Christian organization is not sufficient; projects must incorporate meaningful technology or media components
• Small foundation, focused mission: With approximately $8.9 million in assets and minimal operating expenses, this is a smaller foundation with a specific niche
• Limited public information: The foundation maintains relative privacy about grant amounts, recipients, and decision processes—consider requesting a conversation if invited to submit a full proposal
• Plan ahead for timing: Without published deadlines or decision timelines, organizations should initiate contact well before funding is needed
• Investment focus, not charity: The foundation describes grants as "investments in God's kingdom," suggesting they seek projects with lasting impact and potential for growth

References

1. E3 Foundation Profile, Cause IQ, accessed March 11, 2026, https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/e3-foundation,743198643/

2. E3 Foundation Nonprofit Explorer, ProPublica, accessed March 11, 2026, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/743198643

3. Grants Page, E3 Foundation official website, accessed March 11, 2026, http://www.e3-foundation.com/grants.html

4. E3 Foundation Profile, GuideStar/Candid, accessed March 11, 2026, https://www.guidestar.org/profile/74-3198643

5. Contact Information, E3 Foundation official website, accessed March 11, 2026, http://www.e3-foundation.com/contact-info.html

6. E3 Foundation Profile, Charity Navigator, accessed March 11, 2026, https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/743198643