The Sumners Foundation
At a glance
Overview
The Sumners Foundation is a US private foundation based in Irving, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Sumners Foundation promotes the teaching, study and practice of American self-governance, and encourages lifelong civic engagement. Working through qualified, tax-exempt organisations, it seeks to reach and educate the general public and current and future leaders. Its stated areas include participation in government, democracy reform, civic education and engagement, mock legislative sessions, conferences and seminars on public policy, teacher training on founding documents and democratic principles, and programmes and academic contests in American democratic self-government for young people, educators, young professionals and other societal leaders. Trustees may also support other programmes consistent with the Foundation’s purpose. Grants are focused on programming in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma, with occasional grants outside that area; grants other than scholarships or fellowships are restricted to qualified 501(c)(3) charities.
Themes
- Civic education and engagement
- Teacher training
- Democracy reform
- American democratic self-government
Geographic Focus
Priority: Texas; New Mexico; Colorado; Oklahoma.
What They Don't Fund
- Indirect costs
- Political or propaganda purposes
- Religious purposes
- Loans, grants-in-aid, or fellowships directly to individuals
How to apply
Organisations submit grant applications through the online portal during the January 1–August 1 window; trustees make final decisions in October or November. Applications received after 5 p.m. Central on August 1 are not considered.
Deadlines: The annual application deadline is August 1 at 5 p.m. CST.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 90% 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 104 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Trustees review in-scope requests against programme content, funding requirements, available funds, existing or future commitments and geographic considerations.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 27% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to organisations The Sumners Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 29 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $35,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Law Focused Educstate Bar Of Texas · Training the next generation$666,1902024 tax year
- YMCA of Austin · Texas youth and government$175,0002024 tax year
- United States Assn Of Former Member · Sumners scholars$132,0002024 tax year
- Ymca Oklahoma City · Youth and government$125,0002024 tax year
- Ymca Albuquerque Central NM · Youth and government$125,0002024 tax year
- Texas Tribune · Texas tribune festival$100,0002024 tax year
- American Legion Texas Boys State · General support$75,0002024 tax year
- Fund for American Studies · Scholarships to attend 2024 tfas dc summer program$65,4002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- T Charles Pierson — Executive Director
- Shannon Hutcheson — Director
- William W Meadows — Director
- Scott M Higginbotham — Director
- Lon R Williams — Vice Chairman
- Jerry D Reis — Chairman
- Brant Martin — Director
- David G Drumm — Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $4,925,513 | $2,689,297 | $69,238,256 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,420,435 | $2,022,171 | $72,152,068 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,556,098 | $2,843,410 | $74,050,556 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Sumners Foundation?
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Applying to The Sumners Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required