Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- This foundation's recorded giving covers a broad mix of causes, with a strong emphasis on schools, universities and education programmes, and on conservation and environmental education, alongside support for children's services, poverty relief, disability services, homelessness programmes, churches, museums, a botanical garden and biomedical research.
- About eight in ten of its 96 grants fall between $5,000 and $375,000, with a median grant of $50,000, so a modest request in that range is realistic, though its largest grant was about $1,650,000.
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold application is unlikely to succeed.
- Eighty-five per cent of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in its two previous filings, which suggests it is relationship-led and tends to renew support to established grantees rather than take on many new ones.
- No geographic focus is stated, although its filings show grants mainly in Texas and New York.
Overview
Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Antonio, TX.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Its recorded giving supports a broad mix of organisations, with prominent grants for schools, universities and educational programmes, including school development, educational leadership, early-college opportunities and education for children. It has also supported conservation and environmental education, including youth water-conservation and nature-literacy work. Other recorded grants have supported children's services, poverty relief, disability services, early-childhood education, homelessness programmes, churches, museums, a botanical garden and biomedical research. The grants include institutional and campus support as well as contributions for general operations, equipment and events.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Education
- Conservation
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Texas and New York.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 85% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 96 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 28% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 85% of grant dollars went to organisations Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 38 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $57,225 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of the Incarnate Word · Maher mission and ministry fund for the cardinal cupboard and scholarships$1,125,0002024 tax year
- Texas Wildlife Association Foundation · Conservation and education$500,0002024 tax year
- Trinity University · Support the center for educational leadership$375,0002024 tax year
- Texas Facilities Fund · Support charter schools with access to low-cost, long-term financing$333,3342024 tax year
- School of Science and Technology · Acquisition costs associated with future campus$300,0002024 tax year
- Harmony Public Schools · General support$250,0002024 tax year
- Texas Agricultural Land Trust · Conservation/education$230,0002024 tax year
- Saint Andrew's United Methodist Church · School operations, pastoral care fund$180,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Louis H Stumberg JR — Vice President
- Kathy Sutton — Secretary / Administrative Director
- Aj Lewis III — VP / Treasurer
- Steve C Lewis — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $5,956,246 | $5,221,006 | $96,790,692 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,613,606 | $4,781,633 | $105,242,057 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $5,959,591 | $4,960,849 | $105,548,041 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Antonio, TX
Applying to Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Antonio, TX