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Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.4M
Grant Range
$15K - $0.3M
Decision Time
5mo

Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,363,400 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $90.6 million (2024)
  • Decision Time: 4-6 months
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $250,000
  • Average Community Grant: $30,000
  • Average Initiative Grant: $125,000
  • Geographic Focus: North Texas (5 counties), West Texas (38 counties), Arkansas (32 counties)
  • Charity Registration: 75-6052203

Contact Details

Main Office: 6688 N. Central Expressway, Suite 275 Dallas, TX 75206

Phone: 214-750-1884 Email: Info@KingFoundation.com Website: www.kingfoundation.com

Key Staff Contacts:

  • Kim D. Davis, President (joined January 2025)
  • Amanda S. K. Finney, Senior Program Officer - amandafinney@kingfoundation.com
  • Dr. Joyvin Benton, Program Officer
  • Crystal R. Smith, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer

Overview

The Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation was established in 1966 by Carl B. and Florence E. King, one year before Carl's death. The Kings built their fortune in the oil industry, with drilling operations spanning Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond. Originally from the Northeast, they settled in Tulsa in 1909 before relocating to Dallas in 1935 as their oil company expanded into West Texas oilfields. Florence E. King served as the foundation's president from 1967 to 1983, establishing a legacy of quiet generosity rooted in the couple's values of supporting communities that contributed to their prosperity.

With endowment assets of approximately $100 million, the foundation awards more than $3.3 million annually to nonprofit organizations across its geographic footprint. The foundation is notable for its commitment to rural communities in West Texas and Arkansas, maintaining strong ties to the regions that helped build the Kings' wealth. The foundation operates with a philosophy of giving "without fanfare" while evaluating potential grant partners holistically and rigorously. The foundation holds Candid's Gold Seal certification for 2024, demonstrating transparency and adherence to best practices in grantmaking. Annual Form 990-PF filings are published on their website, and the foundation has received unmodified audit opinions every year since 2004.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation offers two distinct grant programs:

Community Grants: $15,000 - $75,000 (average: $30,000)

  • Awarded biannually through competitive grant cycles
  • Primarily support program-related work
  • Nonprofit capacity building available in Arkansas and West Texas only
  • Capital support very rare and only available in North Texas
  • Online portal applications only

Initiative Grants: $50,000 - $250,000 (average: $125,000)

  • Approximately one-third of annual grants budget
  • Support larger, transformative projects
  • May be renewed annually
  • Types include: Program, Capital, Nonprofit Capacity, Program-Related Investments
  • Require pre-proposal consultation with Foundation President
  • Quarterly board consideration (March, June, September, December)

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on five core areas:

  1. Aging Population - Services supporting older adults in maintaining independence and quality of life

  2. Arts, Culture, and History - Programs preserving cultural heritage and expanding access to arts

  3. Children and Youth - Programs serving young people, with special emphasis on youth aging out of foster care and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness

  4. Economic Mobility - Integrated approaches improving financial health, income supports, and employment (single agency or collaborative)

  5. Education - Particularly early childhood education and teacher professional development

Current Board Priorities:

  • Serving rural areas in the foundation's geographic footprint
  • Veterans and military families
  • Youth and adults who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
  • Broadband access, economic development, and healthcare access in rural communities

Initiative Grants Seek Projects That:

  • Complement Community Grants
  • Involve collaboration among service providers
  • Deliver innovative services
  • Bridge service gaps
  • Create broader community impact beyond immediate service delivery ("ripple effect")
  • Help grantees access public funds (e.g., providing private match dollars for government grants)

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
  • General operating support
  • Annual fund drives
  • Funds to offset operating losses
  • Debt retirement
  • Endowments
  • Pass-through grants
  • Religious programs
  • Medical research
  • Professional conferences
  • Private or for-profit schools

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Teresa D. Wilkinson, Chairman
  • Robert I. Fernandez, Treasurer
  • Hunter Phillips, Secretary
  • Randy Henderson, Director
  • Libby Campbell, Director
  • Mary Anne Pia Frodsham, Director
  • Michael E. Phillips, Director
  • Regan Gruber Moffitt, Director
  • Easley B. Waggoner, Director (9-member board led by Chairman Waggoner)

Directors Emeritus:

  • Ann Fielder
  • Kimberly H. Evans
  • Patricia A. Porter

Staff Leadership

Kim D. Davis, President (joined January 2025) Kim Davis brings extensive philanthropic leadership experience, having previously served as Senior Advisor and Delta Region Lead at the Walton Family Foundation since 2015, where he oversaw philanthropic efforts in Arkansas and Mississippi. A dedicated advocate for underserved communities, Kim has worked to enhance education, afterschool programs, homeownership, and workforce development through collaborative partnerships. He is a 2019 Presidential Leadership Scholar (Johnson, Bush, W. Bush, Clinton) and received recognition as a 2023 Rural Champion awardee from Rural LISC. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Education from the University of Saint Thomas.

Michelle D. Monse (President 2006-2024) Michelle Monse served as the foundation's first non-family president from 2006 to early 2025, leading the foundation through a period of rebuilding after governance challenges. Her tenure focused on strengthening rural nonprofit access to foundation funding and establishing robust governance practices.

Guiding Principles for Grantmaking

  1. Compassion - "Caring for the vulnerable among us as directly as possible"
  2. Opportunity - "Offering communities and individuals opportunities to thrive"
  3. Rigor - Evaluating potential grant partners holistically
  4. Humility - "Working without fanfare and learning from our mistakes"
  5. Integrity - Following highest ethical standards
  6. Stewardship - "Managing the resources entrusted to us responsibly"
  7. Openness - "Communicating clearly and candidly"

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: Contact staff BEFORE submitting any application. The foundation strongly encourages grant seekers to call or meet with staff in person before submitting anything. For Community Grants, contact Amanda Finney. For Initiative Grants, contact Kim Davis, Foundation President.

Community Grants Application Process:

  1. Pre-Application Contact - Call foundation at 214-750-1884 or email amandafinney@kingfoundation.com
  2. Optional Webinar - Attend live proposal process webinar (typically held in April)
  3. Letter of Inquiry (LOI) - Submit through online portal when cycle opens
  4. Invitation to Full Proposal - Notified approximately 8 weeks after LOI deadline
  5. Full Proposal Submission - Due approximately 3 weeks after invitation
  6. Site Visits - Conducted for advancing proposals (September-October for fall cycle)
  7. Award Announcement - Grants announced at board meetings

Initiative Grants Application Process:

  1. Pre-Proposal Consultation - Contact Kim Davis to discuss project alignment with priorities
  2. Online Portal Submission - Submit through cloud-based grants management system
  3. Quarterly Review - Board meetings in March, June, September, December

Application Requirements:

  • All applications must be submitted through the online portal
  • Hard-copy or email submissions are NOT accepted
  • Organizations in fiscal sponsorship may be considered
  • Must serve residents in eligible counties (see geographic focus)

Decision Timeline

Community Grants - Biannual Cycles:

Spring Cycle (Example 2026):

  • January 7: Portal Opens
  • February 1: Application Deadline
  • Mid-June: Grant Awards Announced

Fall Cycle (Example 2025):

  • May 1: Portal Opens
  • June 16: Letters of Inquiry Due
  • August 8: Applicants Notified of Full Proposal Invitation
  • August 29: Full Proposals Due
  • September-October: Site Visits Conducted
  • December 12: Awards Announced
  • Following Calendar Year: Grant Implementation

Initiative Grants:

  • Rolling submissions reviewed quarterly
  • Board meetings: March, June, September, December

Typical Timeline: 4-6 months from initial LOI to final decision for Community Grants

Notification Method: Email through online portal system

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation conducts a two-stage competitive process for Community Grants (LOI followed by invitation-only full proposals), indicating selective grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

  • Previous Grantees: 18-month waiting period before reapplication
  • Declined Applicants: NO waiting period - unsuccessful applicants may reapply immediately in the next grant cycle

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and practices, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Pre-Application Engagement The foundation explicitly requests that applicants contact them before submitting. This is not optional guidance—it's a clear expectation. Successful applicants build relationships with program officers before applying, using pre-application calls to ensure alignment and receive tailored guidance.

2. Geographic Alignment Organizations must serve residents in the foundation's specific county footprint: 5 counties in North Texas (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Rockwall, Tarrant), 38 counties in West Texas (including the Permian Basin, Concho Valley, and Big Bend regions), or 32 counties in eastern and southern Arkansas. Different funding priorities apply to different regions—North Texas priorities differ from West Texas and Arkansas priorities.

3. Direct Service Focus The foundation's principle of "caring for the vulnerable among us as directly as possible" suggests preference for programs with clear, direct impact on beneficiaries rather than indirect or administrative approaches. They emphasize direct service delivery over general operating support or pass-through funding arrangements.

4. Program-Specific Requests Community Grants primarily support program-related work, not general operations. Successful applications focus on specific programs with measurable outcomes rather than organizational sustainability needs.

5. Innovation and Collaboration (Initiative Grants) For larger Initiative Grants, the most compelling proposals demonstrate:

  • Collaborative approaches involving multiple service providers
  • Innovative solutions to community challenges
  • Potential for "ripple effect" benefitting communities beyond immediate service
  • Capacity to leverage private dollars to access public funds

6. Rural Focus The foundation has deep roots in rural Texas and Arkansas communities. Applications serving rural areas in their footprint receive special consideration, particularly those addressing broadband access, economic development, and healthcare access.

7. Current Priority Alignment Applications addressing veterans and military families, homelessness prevention, or youth aging out of foster care align with current board priorities. The Harris Center project (a collaboration among After8, City Square, Dallas ISD, Promise House, and Social Venture Partners of Dallas) exemplifies the type of collaborative youth homelessness work the foundation values.

8. Preparation for Site Visits Site visits are a regular part of the review process for proposals advancing to final consideration. The foundation provides a resource guide on preparing for site visits, indicating this is a critical evaluation component. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate programs authentically, discuss budgets and outcomes thoroughly, and address challenges transparently.

9. Use of Foundation Resources The foundation offers an interactive grant search tool showing past grants since 2008, searchable by location, subject area, and keywords. Successful applicants research past funding patterns to understand what the foundation has supported in their region and program area.

10. Economic Mobility Specificity For economic mobility programs, the foundation looks for "integrated approaches" improving financial health, income supports, and employment—either by a single agency or collaborating agencies. Isolated interventions in just one area may be less competitive than comprehensive approaches.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Call first, apply second - Pre-application contact is expected, not optional. Use these conversations to test alignment and refine your approach before investing time in a full application.

  • Know your counties - Geographic eligibility is strictly defined by county. If you serve multiple counties, ensure your proposed program specifically serves residents of eligible counties.

  • Think program, not operations - Community Grants support specific programs. Frame requests around discrete program needs with measurable outcomes, not general organizational sustainability.

  • Rural communities get priority - If you serve rural areas in West Texas or Arkansas, emphasize this. The foundation has deep ties to these communities and actively seeks to support them.

  • Collaboration strengthens Initiative Grant applications - Multi-organization partnerships addressing complex problems demonstrate the innovation and broader impact the foundation seeks in larger grants.

  • 18-month clock starts at funding, not application - If you receive a grant, plan for the 18-month waiting period before reapplying. If declined, you can reapply in the very next cycle with a strengthened proposal.

  • Use the grant search tool strategically - Review past grants in your county and program area to identify funding patterns, typical grant sizes, and language the foundation uses to describe successful projects.

References

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