← Back to US Funders Directory

Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.9M
Grant Range
$15K - $0.2M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,909,400 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $41.4 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $155,000
  • Median Grant: $50,000
  • Number of Grants: 33 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Texas, with emphasis on East Texas and Angelina County

Contact Details

Foundation Management: Bank of America Private Bank, Philanthropic Solutions
Texas Office, Dallas, TX

Email: tx.philanthropic@bofa.com

Website: www.bankofamerica.com/grantmaking (search for foundation by name)

Note: The foundation is not listed on the Bank of America website at either the family's or the foundation's request, but applications are accepted through the Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions system.

Overview

The Ernest L. Kurth Jr. Charitable Foundation is a private Texas foundation established by the Kurth family, known for their historic role in the East Texas lumber industry. The foundation holds approximately $41.4 million in assets and distributed $1.92 million in charitable grants in 2024. Co-trustee managed by Bank of America and Wyatt Leinart, the foundation maintains the Kurth family's century-long tradition of philanthropy in East Texas, particularly supporting communities connected to the family's lumber business roots in Angelina County. The foundation focuses on education, human services, and philanthropic capacity building, primarily serving nonprofit organizations across Texas with particular emphasis on cities such as Dallas, Diboll, Houston, Huntington, Longview, Lufkin, and Pollock.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate named grant programs, but awards grants through a general grantmaking process managed by Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions. Grants typically range from $15,000 to $155,000, with a median award of $50,000. Applications are submitted through Bank of America's online grant portal.

Priority Areas

  • Education: Support for K-12 and higher education programs, educational institutions, and research endeavors
  • Human Services: Community support organizations, social services, and organizations addressing individual and community needs
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking: Supporting nonprofit infrastructure and capacity building

Geographic Priorities

  • Primary focus on Texas nonprofits
  • Special interest in Angelina County and East Texas communities including Lufkin, Diboll, Huntington, and Pollock
  • Also supports organizations in Dallas, Houston, and Longview

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but as a Bank of America-managed foundation, standard restrictions typically apply:

  • Organizations must be IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) public charities
  • Political organizations and lobbying activities are generally excluded

Governance and Leadership

Co-Trustees:

  • Bank of America Private Bank (compensation: $217,050 in 2024)
  • Wyatt Leinart

The foundation is managed by Bank of America's Texas Philanthropic Solutions office in Dallas, where the trustees have granted discretion to Bank of America Private Bank to design and execute the charitable grantmaking program.

Foundation History: The foundation honors Ernest L. Kurth Jr., whose father Ernest Lynn Kurth (1885-1960) was a prominent East Texas lumberman who built Angelina County Lumber Company into a major regional enterprise. The Kurth family has a long history of philanthropy in Texas, with Ernest Lynn Kurth serving on Southwestern University's Board of Trustees for over 30 years and establishing scholarship funds and making significant contributions to educational institutions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through Bank of America's online grant application system. The foundation accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organizations.

Application Steps:

  1. Visit www.bankofamerica.com/grantmaking and search for "Ernest L. Kurth Jr. Charitable Foundation"
  2. Review the foundation's detailed profile, mission, guidelines, and application procedures
  3. Ensure your organization's work aligns with the foundation's funding parameters
  4. Submit a complete online application by the foundation's stated deadline (applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date)
  5. If the deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, applications must be submitted on the prior business day by 11:59 p.m.

Eligibility:

  • Organizations must be IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) public charities
  • Geographic focus on Texas, particularly East Texas communities

Contact for Questions: Email tx.philanthropic@bofa.com with grant application inquiries (your question will be referred to the appropriate person)

Decision Timeline

After receiving proposals, Bank of America's Philanthropic Administrator conducts a preliminary review to ensure completeness and alignment with funding parameters. Staff then review proposals, may conduct site visits, and request additional information. Once due diligence is complete, the Philanthropic Client Manager and staff make preliminary recommendations, which are submitted to the foundation's Board of Trustees for final funding decisions. Specific decision dates vary by grant cycle.

Grant Reporting: A grant report is required within 1 year of the grant award date, regardless of whether all funds have been spent. Organizations are ineligible for future funding if this report is not received.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that receive a grant award from the foundation must skip 1 grant cycle (1 year) before submitting a subsequent application. Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly specified.

Application Success Factors

While specific success rates are not publicly disclosed, the foundation made 33 grants in 2023, demonstrating a consistent pattern of grantmaking. Applications are competitive given Bank of America's rigorous review process.

Key Success Factors:

  • Geographic alignment: Organizations serving East Texas communities, particularly Angelina County and cities with historical Kurth family connections (Lufkin, Diboll, Huntington, Pollock) appear to be prioritized
  • Mission alignment: Clear connection to education, human services, or nonprofit capacity building
  • Complete applications: Bank of America emphasizes that incomplete or incorrect applications cannot be considered
  • Demonstrated impact: Organizations should be prepared to document outcomes and demonstrate community benefit
  • Compliance: Follow all procedural requirements carefully and submit applications by stated deadlines
  • Reporting: Track record of submitting required grant reports on time (organizations that fail to submit reports are ineligible for future funding)

Recent Grant Example: The foundation recently funded the Family Crisis Center of East Texas's new activity center in Lufkin, demonstrating support for human services organizations addressing critical community needs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • East Texas connection matters: The foundation maintains the Kurth family's commitment to East Texas communities, particularly Angelina County; organizations serving these areas should emphasize local impact
  • Standard grant size: Most grants fall in the $15,000-$155,000 range with $50,000 median; budget requests accordingly
  • Bank of America procedures apply: Follow all Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions application procedures precisely; incomplete applications are not considered
  • One-year waiting period: Successful grantees must wait one full grant cycle before reapplying, so plan multi-year funding strategies accordingly
  • Reporting is mandatory: Grant reports are due within one year and failure to submit makes organizations ineligible for future funding
  • Site visits possible: Be prepared for potential site visits as part of the due diligence process
  • Limited public information: The foundation keeps a low profile at the family's request, so direct engagement through the Bank of America portal is essential

References

← Back to US Funders Directory