The Priddy Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $13,650,535 (2023)
• Total Assets: $190,573,915
• Average Grant: $96,000
• Number of Grants: 142 grants (2024)
• Decision Time: 4-5 months per cycle
• Grant Range: Varies by programme type; capital grants rarely exceed 20% of project budget
• Geographic Focus: North Central Texas (18 counties) and Southern Oklahoma (6 counties)

Contact Details

Address: 807 Eighth Street, Suite 1010, Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 723-8720
Email: patm@priddyfdn.org
Website: https://priddyfdn.org/

Overview

The Priddy Foundation was established in 1963 in Wichita Falls, Texas, by Walter M. and Swannanoa Priddy. Under the leadership of Robert T. Priddy (who assumed presidency in the late 1970s) and current President/CEO Dr Shelley S. Sweatt, the foundation has evolved from a family foundation into a vital community asset. With total assets of $190,573,915 and annual giving of approximately $13.7 million, the foundation has cumulatively invested over $231 million in community welfare, education, health, and growth. The foundation focuses on programmes in human services, education, the arts, and health that offer significant potential for individual development and community improvement across North Central Texas and Southern Oklahoma. The foundation's motto, "Here for Life," reflects its enduring commitment to strengthening communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Priddy Foundation offers four distinct grant types:

• Programme Grants: Fund creation or expansion of services addressing identified community problems. Programmes should demonstrate sustainability beyond the grant period, align with organisational mission and capacity, and include measurable evaluation standards.

• Capital Grants: Support buildings and major equipment acquisitions. The foundation's contribution rarely exceeds 20% of total project budget and is often significantly less. Organisations must secure remaining funds before grant disbursement.

• Operating Grants: Provide general operational support but require "a practicable plan to achieve self-sufficiency." The foundation is cautious about fostering annual budget dependency and may require nonprofit management consulting.

• Organisational Development Grants: Support leadership development, board and staff capacity building, planning initiatives, technical assistance, and technology enhancements. Requires comprehensive board-supported plans.

Priority Areas

The foundation supports programmes in four key sectors:

Human Services: Programmes elevating individuals and families towards greater independence and self-sufficiency through prevention, intervention, treatment, and crisis/chronic support services.

Education: Early childhood initiatives focused on school readiness, along with public, private, and higher education programmes promoting personal success and lifelong learning.

Arts & Culture: Programmes nurturing education and creative development, inspiring participation, advancing excellence, and strengthening arts opportunities across the region.

Health: Prevention, wellness, medical access, and rural healthcare programmes that enhance affordability and promote healthy lifestyles.

Geographic Focus

Texas Counties: Archer, Baylor, Childress, Clay, Cottle, Foard, Hardeman, Haskell, Jack, King, Knox, Montague, Stonewall, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Wise, and Young

Oklahoma Counties: Comanche, Cotton, Jackson, Jefferson, Stephens, and Tillman

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly declines requests for:

• Research projects
• Charities operated by service clubs
• Conferences and special events
• Debt retirement
• Endowment funds
• Fundraising events
• Grants to individuals
• K-12 schools (with exceptions for specific programmes)
• Marketing materials
• Grantmaking organisations
• Operating deficits
• Previously-funded capital projects (additional funding)
• Sectarian religious programmes
• School trips
• Start-up organisations
• Volunteer fire departments

Governance and Leadership

President/CEO: Dr Shelley S. Sweatt leads the foundation with a philosophy emphasising collaborative partnerships and personalised guidance for applicants. In her president's message, she notes the foundation's substantial impact and states, "You are the individuals who help keep our communities strong and make them great places to call home," acknowledging the vital role of nonprofit workers.

The foundation's board has expanded significantly since its founding, incorporating non-family trustees alongside family members. Under Robert T. Priddy's stewardship (late 1970s-1998), the organisation underwent dramatic expansion in both board size and financial assets.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Priddy Foundation operates two grant cycles annually with a structured multi-step process:

Step 1 - Letter of Intent (LOI): Submit online preliminary application Step 2 - Notification: Organisations notified within days whether eligible to proceed Step 3 - Grant Seekers Workshop: Approved applicants invited to attend workshop Step 4 - Formal Application: Complete full application online Step 5 - Site Visit: Foundation staff conducts site visit Step 6 - Board Review: Trustees review applications and make decisions Step 7 - Award Notice: Organisations notified of funding decisions

Application Timeline

Spring Cycle:

• LOI Deadline: 1 February (5:00 PM)
• Formal Application Due: 1 March
• Board Review: May
• Notification: Mid-June
• Funding Available: Mid-July

Fall Cycle:

• LOI Deadline: 1 August (5:00 PM)
• Formal Application Due: 1 September
• Board Review: November
• Notification: Mid-December
• Funding Available: Mid-January

Note: If deadlines fall on weekends/holidays, applications are due by 5:00 PM the previous business day. Organisations with fiscal years ending within one month of deadlines should apply in the next cycle to provide adequate financial documentation.

Decision Timeline

From LOI submission to final notification: approximately 4-5 months per cycle. The foundation provides notification within a few days after LOI deadline regarding eligibility to proceed to formal application stage.

Success Rates

With 142 grants awarded in 2024 from their two annual cycles, the foundation maintains an active grantmaking programme, though specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation accepts reapplications, though organisations should note that previously-funded capital projects are not eligible for additional funding for the same capital initiative. The foundation is also cautious about fostering annual budget dependency with operating grants.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's published guidelines and philosophy, successful applications demonstrate:

Mission Alignment: Programme requests must "deal effectively with identified problems and opportunities" and "realistically match the requesting organisation's mission and capacity." Don't overreach beyond your organisational capabilities.

Sustainability Planning: Most programmes should demonstrate sustainability beyond the grant period. For operating grants specifically, the foundation requires "a practicable plan to achieve self-sufficiency" and is wary of creating annual dependencies.

Measurable Outcomes: Organisations must "be able to evaluate results against defined standards of measurement." Include clear metrics and evaluation frameworks in applications.

Broad Community Support: For capital projects, "approval is more likely if the project has existing, broad support from organisations and individuals." Demonstrate community buy-in and collaboration.

Realistic Funding Requests: For capital projects, understand that the foundation's contribution rarely exceeds 20% of total project budget. Have other funding sources secured or clearly identified.

Geographic Eligibility: Ensure your organisation has a physical location within the foundation's 24-county service area spanning North Central Texas and Southern Oklahoma.

Organisational Capacity: The foundation values organisations that demonstrate strong governance, board engagement, and operational effectiveness. Organisational development grants require "comprehensive board-supported plans."

Personalised Guidance: The foundation encourages prospective applicants to reach out with questions tailored to specific organisational needs, demonstrating willingness to provide individualised support throughout the process.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Attend the Grant Seekers Workshop: This required step for approved LOI applicants provides critical insights into the foundation's expectations and evaluation criteria
• Don't exceed 20% for capital requests: The foundation rarely funds more than one-fifth of capital project budgets and often contributes significantly less
• Demonstrate self-sufficiency plans: Particularly for operating grants, the foundation wants to see how you'll sustain programmes without ongoing dependency
• Focus on measurable impact: Include specific evaluation metrics that demonstrate individual development and community improvement outcomes
• Secure broad support first: Especially for capital campaigns, show diverse funding sources and community backing before applying
• Time your application strategically: Organisations with fiscal year-ends within one month of deadlines should wait for the next cycle to ensure adequate financial documentation
• Leverage personal guidance: The foundation encourages questions and provides personalised support - take advantage of their accessibility at (940) 723-8720 or patm@priddyfdn.org

References

• The Priddy Foundation official website: https://priddyfdn.org/ (Accessed December 2024)
• Funding Guidelines page: https://priddyfdn.org/funding-guidelines/ (Accessed December 2024)
• Foundation History: https://priddyfdn.org/history/ (Accessed December 2024)
• President's Message: https://priddyfdn.org/presidents-message/ (Accessed December 2024)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/priddy-foundation (Accessed December 2024)
• Cause IQ Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/priddy-foundation,756029882/ (Accessed December 2024)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/756029882 (Accessed December 2024)
• Grantable Foundation Profile: https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/the-priddy-foundation-us-foundation-756029882 (Accessed December 2024)
• Texas State Historical Association Handbook: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/vrpvl (Accessed December 2024)
• Texoma's Homepage news article: https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/local-news/wichita-falls-public-library-getting-big-technology-facelift-with-new-priddy-foundation-grant/ (Accessed December 2024)