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Eula Mae And John Baugh Foundation

Annual Giving
$12.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
5mo

Eula Mae And John Baugh Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $12 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 5-6 months from letter of intent to decision
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $100,000 (new grantees typically $5,000-$20,000; established grantees occasionally receive larger awards)
  • Geographic Focus: National and international (primarily U.S.)
  • Total Assets: $255.7 million
  • Annual Grant Count: Approximately 80 grants per year

Contact Details

Foundation Address: Boerne, TX

Website: https://www.baughfoundation.org

Email: info@baughfoundation.org

Application Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=maebaugh

Overview

The Eula Mae And John Baugh Foundation was established in 1994 and became tax-exempt in 1995. Founded by Eula Mae and John Baugh—who married in 1936 and passed away in 2007 within six months of each other—the foundation reflects their deep commitment to Baptist values and progressive Christian faith. John Baugh rose from humble beginnings to found SYSCO Corporation, growing it from $115 million to over $15 billion in annual sales. The foundation is now led by their daughters Jackie Baugh Moore (current president) and Julia Baugh Cloud, continuing the family's philanthropic legacy. Since its inception, the foundation has distributed over $95 million in grants to progressive Baptist organizations, faith-based nonprofits, and organizations protecting church-state separation. The foundation prioritizes projects focused on separation of church and state, far-reaching interfaith initiatives, and other topics critical to faith in democracy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation awards approximately 80 grants annually totaling $12 million, supporting:

  • General Operating Support: Flexible funding for organizational operations
  • Project Grants: Specific initiative funding ($5,000-$100,000)
  • Capital Campaigns: Support for infrastructure and building projects
  • Endowments: Long-term sustainability funding
  • Organizational Development: Capacity building initiatives

Most grants are one-year awards with renewal opportunities. New grantees typically receive $5,000-$20,000, with larger amounts reserved for established grantees and multi-year commitments.

Application Method: Two-stage process with rolling deadlines; applications submitted through online portal

Priority Areas

The foundation prioritizes three organizational categories:

  1. Progressive Baptist organizations and institutions
  2. Faith-based nonprofits sharing the foundation's ethical values
  3. Nonprofits protecting church-state separation

Within these categories, they fund:

  • Social justice and advocacy: Progressive causes advancing equity and inclusion
  • Faith-based journalism: Media organizations covering religious issues
  • Basic human needs assistance: Programs serving vulnerable populations
  • Faith-based post-secondary education: Theological schools and seminaries
  • Inclusivity initiatives: Programs promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion and non-discrimination
  • Arts and enrichment: Cultural programs aligned with foundation values
  • Far-reaching interfaith projects: Cross-denominational collaboration
  • Church-state separation advocacy: Religious liberty and constitutional protections

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual grants or personal needs
  • Business assistance or for-profit entities
  • Internal church projects (without pre-existing relationships)
  • Undergraduate scholarships
  • Most K-12 or preschool programs
  • Political campaign activities or lobbying
  • Standalone evaluation grants for new grantees

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Jackie Baugh Moore - Foundation President (as of 2020) Julia Baugh Cloud - Leadership role (specific title not publicly disclosed)

The foundation was previously led by Barbara "Babs" Baugh (1942-2020), who served as president from 2007 until her death in 2020. Under her leadership, the foundation distributed over $95 million in grants and was recognized as a major supporter of progressive Baptist causes. She was honored as "Baptist of the Year" and received the J.M. Dawson Religious Liberty Award from the Baptist Joint Committee in 2007.

Founders

John F. Baugh was characterized by his "impeccable Christian character and kindness" and "personal kindness, special consideration for others" and "unstinting devotion to the principles of loyalty, integrity and harmony with his God." He served as a 50-year member of Second Baptist Church, Houston, and demonstrated consistent generosity toward religious, educational, and humanitarian organizations.

Eula Mae Baugh was the daughter of a Baptist minister and became an accomplished Bible student and Sunday School teacher, bringing deep theological knowledge and religious commitment to the foundation's mission.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation uses a two-stage application process:

Stage 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

Stage 2: Full Application (by invitation only)

  • Only organizations invited after LOI review may submit full applications
  • Invitation notifications: Mid-July
  • Full application deadline: September 1

Required Materials:

  • Approved letter of intent or renewal request
  • Completed grant application
  • Recent audit (if available) and most recent Form 990
  • Organizational budget
  • Current board roster

Important Guidance from Foundation: "Prior to emailing or requesting a call, we ask that you read our entire website."

Application Timeline (2025-2026 Cycle)

DeadlineEvent
April 1, 2025Application portal opens
June 1, 2025Letters of intent due
July 15, 2025Notification of full application invitations
September 1, 2025Full applications due
October 31, 2025Funding decisions announced
Early 2026Grant payments distributed

Decision Timeline

From letter of intent submission to funding decision: 5 months From full application to decision: 2 months

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose its application success rate. They award approximately 80 grants annually and receive significantly more applications, but specific numbers are not available.

Reapplication Policy

  • No pre-existing relationship required to apply
  • Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent cycles
  • No waiting period restrictions mentioned
  • Renewal grants available: Organizations with active grants can submit renewal requests for the same project
  • Foundation values ongoing relationships and many grants are renewable

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Direct Guidance

From the Foundation's FAQ: "Writing a clear and compelling grant request, including an explanation for how this grant will make positive change in the world will give you the best chance at success."

For new grantees specifically: "For the best chance of success, new grantees should aim for smaller awards, proportional to the size and scope of their overall organizational budget."

On organizational stability: The foundation looks for "multiple income streams for organizational stability" and values diverse funding portfolios.

On reporting and communication: The foundation emphasizes "honest communication about the challenges partners are facing, and do not expect partners to report success after success." They want to hear about "lessons learned, events that have been significant to your work, changes that you believe may result" and challenges encountered.

Alignment Factors

Progressive and inclusive values are essential:

  • Organizations must demonstrate "progressive orientation and open, affirming policies"
  • Non-discriminatory practices required
  • LGBTQ+ inclusion strongly valued
  • Must align with protecting church-state separation or advancing progressive Baptist values

Multi-community impact: The foundation prioritizes organizations that serve multiple communities and have broader reach beyond a single congregation or locality.

Recent Grant Examples

SMU Perkins School of Theology - Baptist House of Studies (2025): Awarded $1.8 million over three years for full-tuition scholarships to increase Baptist student enrollment and ensure permanent continuation of the Baptist House at Perkins School of Theology. This represents the foundation's fourth grant to this program.

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (date not specified): Received $1 million to support global mission field personnel, Student.Go and Student.Church programs, financial literacy initiatives, field personnel in 30 countries, and the rural poverty initiative Together for Hope.

Historical grantees include:

  • Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
  • Central Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Associated Baptist Press

Budget and Indirect Cost Considerations

Indirect Cost Policy:

  • Nonprofits/NGOs may claim up to 15% indirect costs
  • Universities may claim up to 10% indirect costs
  • Organizations may alternatively itemize expenses

Financial Flexibility: The foundation allows grantees to reallocate funds between spending categories without prior approval if expenditures further charitable purposes. Approval is required "only if the scope of your project has changed significantly."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Start small: New applicants should request $5,000-$20,000 rather than larger amounts; build a relationship before seeking major funding
  • Progressive values are non-negotiable: Organizations must demonstrate commitment to inclusion, non-discrimination, and progressive Baptist values or church-state separation
  • Clarity over complexity: Write clear, compelling requests explaining positive change; keep narratives to 1-3 pages when possible
  • Read the website thoroughly: The foundation explicitly asks applicants to review their entire website before making contact—this demonstrates respect for their process
  • Emphasize multi-community impact: Show how your work reaches beyond a single congregation or locality to benefit multiple communities
  • Be honest about challenges: The foundation values transparency and doesn't expect "success after success"—share lessons learned and obstacles faced
  • Demonstrate financial stability: Show multiple income streams and sustainable funding beyond this one grant
  • Consider renewal opportunities: Many grants are renewable, so think about this as a potential long-term partnership rather than one-time funding

References

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