Helen Jones Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Helen Jones Foundation, based in Lubbock, TX, supports religious, charitable, scientific, public-safety testing, literary and educational purposes, and its funds are normally restricted to the Lubbock area, so check that your work fits that geographic focus before approaching it.
- A realistic request is modest: half of its 105 grants were $46,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $15,000 and $1,000,000, with the median grant at $46,000, though the largest grant was $7,500,000.
- Applying is simple in form—send a letter stating the amount requested and the purpose—and there are no deadlines given in the filing, so timing is flexible.
- However, 93% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the previous two filings, suggesting the foundation leans heavily towards organisations it already knows, so new applicants should be aware it may be relationship-led and competitive to break into.
- No specific exclusions or eligibility limits are stated beyond its Lubbock area focus, so any charitable organisation working within that area and purposes could consider a letter of enquiry.
Overview
Helen Jones Foundation is a US private foundation based in Lubbock, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (txarchives.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation makes grants for religious, charitable, scientific, public-safety testing, literary and educational purposes, either directly or through organisations qualifying as exempt under US tax law. Its recorded recipients include universities and other educational bodies, arts and cultural organisations, and community and health charities. The Foundation says its funds are normally restricted to the Lubbock area. Grant-making is its sole activity; it does not report direct charitable programmes. The available information describes broad charitable purposes rather than a narrower programme portfolio.
Themes
- Religious purposes
- Scientific purposes
- Testing for public safety
- Literary purposes
- Educational purposes
Geographic Focus
Lubbock area.
How to apply
Applicants should send a letter stating the amount requested and the purpose.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 93% 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 105 grants to organisations were $46,000 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 40% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to organisations Helen Jones Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 7% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 34 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $87,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Lubbock Entertainment and Performing Arts Association · Grant$5,356,2502024 tax year
- Wayland Baptist University · Grant$1,150,0002024 tax year
- United Way - Lubbock Area United Way · Grant$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Lubbock Christian University · Grant$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Texas Tech University - Office of the Provost · Grant$585,0002024 tax year
- Ranching Heritage Association · Grant$550,0002024 tax year
- Texas Tech University · Grant$250,0002024 tax year
- Texas Tech University - Graduate School · Grant$250,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- John W Shanklin II — Director
- Barbara Bush — Director
- Chris Crews — Director
- Marianna Markham — V President / Director
- Samuel Hawthorne — Treasurer / Director
- James C Arnold — President / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $15,329,101 | $11,359,210 | $234,275,076 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $14,757,915 | $11,236,265 | $255,424,963 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $15,831,836 | $12,151,231 | $273,815,676 | 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 Helen Jones Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (806) 741-2004
- Lubbock, TX
Applying to Helen Jones Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (806) 741-2004
- Lubbock, TX