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Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.8M
Grant Range
Up to $1.5M

Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,781,633 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $105.5 million (2024)
  • Number of Awards: 32 grants (2023)
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly; large grants up to $1.5 million documented
  • Average Grant Size: Approximately $149,000 (based on 2023 data)
  • Geographic Focus: San Antonio, Texas region
  • Application Process: Preselected organizations only; no unsolicited applications accepted

Contact Details

Address: 1900 Broadway St Ste 1405, San Antonio, TX

Note: Contact information (phone, email, website) is not publicly available. The foundation operates through internal selection processes.

Overview

The Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation was established in 1962 (received tax-exempt status March 1962) and is named after Elma Dill Russell Spencer (1895-1969), a San Antonio resident with an intense interest in the history and culture of the Southwest and descendant of the Russell brothers. As a private foundation, it has grown to manage assets exceeding $105 million as of 2024, with charitable disbursements of $4.96 million representing 83.2% of annual expenses. The foundation focuses on funding education initiatives for underserved students and supporting local nonprofit organizations in the San Antonio area. The foundation operates primarily through investment income (77% from asset sales, 17.3% from dividends) and maintains a consistent grantmaking pattern of approximately 26-32 awards annually. The foundation's approach emphasizes educational leadership development and community impact in Pre-K-12 education.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate named grant programs or publicized funding streams. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's leadership to preselected charitable organizations.

Known Grant Examples:

  • Trinity University Center for Educational Leadership: $1.5 million (major multi-year grant) - Supporting comprehensive leadership development framework for Pre-K-12 educational leaders, Tomorrow's Leaders program, and Trinity School Design Network

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants and foundation description:

  • Education for Underserved Students: Primary focus on educational initiatives serving disadvantaged populations
  • Educational Leadership Development: Support for programs that develop current and future school leaders
  • Pre-K-12 Education: Emphasis on early childhood through secondary education
  • San Antonio Community Organizations: Local nonprofit organizations serving the San Antonio region
  • Research-Practice Partnerships: Supporting collaboration between educational institutions and practicing educators

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, which effectively means they do not fund organizations outside their pre-identified network. No specific exclusions are publicly documented, but the invitation-only model limits access.

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team (as of 2024 Form 990):

  • Steve C. Lewis, President
  • AJ Lewis III, Vice President
  • Louis H. Stumberg Jr., Treasurer
  • Kathy Sutton, Secretary/Administrative Director

The foundation also employs ranch managers (Raul C. Arredondo, German Valdiziezo, Jose Rodriguez), suggesting the foundation's assets include operational ranch property that generates income.

No public statements or quotes from foundation leadership regarding funding priorities or philosophy are available in public sources.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has explicitly indicated that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to organizations already identified by the foundation's leadership. There is no application portal, no deadlines, and no public submission process.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made internally regarding preselected organizations. Timeline from identification to award is not publicly documented.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as none are accepted. Among preselected organizations, the foundation made 32 awards in 2023, 26 awards in 2022, and 29 awards in 2021, indicating a relatively stable grantmaking portfolio.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented. Given the preselected model, ongoing relationships likely determine continued funding rather than formal reapplication processes.

Application Success Factors

For organizations seeking to understand this funder:

While public applications are not accepted, understanding what the foundation values can be gleaned from their documented grants:

  • Educational Leadership Focus: The Trinity University grant specifically emphasized "comprehensive leadership development framework for current and future leaders of Pre-K-12 education" and support for programs that prepare "transformational and innovative school leaders"

  • Community Impact in San Antonio: Trinity President Danny Anderson noted the grant ensures "our Department of Education will continue to meet the needs of our local Pre-K-12 students by providing resources to local educators and entrepreneurs," indicating the foundation values direct community benefit

  • Professional Development Trajectory: Director Enrique Alemán Jr. described the vision as encompassing "every aspect of the professional development trajectory for current and future leaders," suggesting the foundation appreciates comprehensive, sustained approaches

  • Regional Partnerships: The Trinity grant supported "research-practice partnerships with educational leaders" and collaboration "across public, charter, and private school organizations and districts, and with community, corporate, nonprofit, and civic entities," indicating value placed on collaborative models

  • Underserved Populations: The foundation's stated focus on "education initiatives for under-served students" suggests alignment with equity and access priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - The foundation operates exclusively through preselected organizations; cold outreach is unlikely to be successful
  • Focus on educational leadership and Pre-K-12 education in the San Antonio region appears to be the primary funding interest
  • Substantial grants are possible - The $1.5 million Trinity grant represents approximately 31% of the foundation's 2023 grantmaking, indicating capacity for transformational gifts
  • Long-term community relationships likely matter - With 26-32 annual grants and a preselection model, the foundation appears to maintain ongoing relationships with a portfolio of organizations
  • Comprehensive program design valued - The Trinity grant supported integrated programming across multiple initiatives, suggesting the foundation appreciates well-developed, multifaceted approaches
  • San Antonio geographic focus is clear and consistent
  • Assets significantly exceed annual giving ($105.5M in assets vs. $4.96M in charitable disbursements), suggesting conservative spending rate and long-term sustainability

References

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