Micky Elliott Family Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $993,858 (2024 fiscal year)
Total Assets: $70.8 million (2024)
Grant Range: Varies significantly; major gifts of $8 million to single institutions documented
Geographic Focus: Nacogdoches, Texas and East Texas region, with some support in Dallas
Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Address: Nacogdoches, TX
EIN: 82-3075726
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) designated private foundation

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or published contact information for grant applications.

Overview

The Micky Elliott Family Foundation was established in 2017 with a gift from Elliott Electric Supply Inc., founded and owned by Bill Elliott. The foundation was named in memory of Bill's wife of 41 years, Micky, who passed away in 2001. The foundation's mission is to provide opportunities to make Nacogdoches, Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA), and the East Texas area better through financial support.

Since its inception in 2018, the foundation has experienced remarkable growth, with assets increasing from $14.2 million in 2018 to $70.8 million in 2024. The foundation is led by William M. Elliott Sr. as President and Robert Flores as Secretary/Treasurer, both serving without compensation. Bill Elliott started Elliott Electric Supply in Nacogdoches in 1972 with $20,000 of his own money and an $80,000 loan; today the company has more than 165 store locations across nine states.

Recent grantmaking has focused heavily on Stephen F. Austin State University and Nacogdoches community initiatives, including significant support for arts education, K-12 education, and historic preservation. Charitable disbursements peaked at $4.3 million in 2023 before settling to approximately $994,000 in 2024.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a traditional private family foundation without formal grant programs or application cycles. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees, with giving concentrated in these areas:

Higher Education Support: Major institutional gifts to Stephen F. Austin State University, including building projects, endowed scholarships, and faculty professorships. Notable commitments include an $8 million pledge to support scholarships for fine arts students.

K-12 Education: Matching grants and direct support to the Nacogdoches Independent School District Education Foundation, including a $500,000 matching pledge to incentivize community giving.

Arts and Culture: Funding for music programs, fine arts facilities, and cultural preservation in the Nacogdoches area.

Community Development: Support for local Nacogdoches charitable organizations and community improvement initiatives.

Grant amounts vary significantly based on the project, ranging from smaller community grants to multi-million dollar institutional commitments.

Priority Areas

Arts education and music programs: The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in supporting fine arts, with SFA's College of Fine Arts renamed the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts in recognition of the family's support
Higher education scholarships and endowments: Multiple endowed scholarships including the Micky Elliott Symphony Orchestra Scholarship, Micky Elliott Computer Science Scholarship, and others
Faculty support: Endowed professorships including the Micky Elliott Engineering Professorship and the Gene Moore Professorship
K-12 education innovation: Support for teacher grants and innovative curriculum development
Nacogdoches community improvement: Local charitable causes that enhance the community
Historic preservation: Support for organizations like Millard's Crossing Historic Village

Geographic Focus

The foundation primarily funds initiatives in:

Nacogdoches, Texas (primary focus)
East Texas region (secondary focus)
Dallas, Texas (limited support)

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

William M. Elliott Sr., President: Founder and owner of Elliott Electric Supply Inc., Bill Elliott holds a degree in music and has deep personal ties to Nacogdoches. He serves without compensation. Elliott has expressed particular passion for supporting the arts, stating: "There are many great opportunities to help SFA build on its record of excellence. But having a degree in music, I was blown away with the quality of the students, programs and instructors in the College of Fine Arts."

Robert Flores, Secretary/Treasurer: Serves without compensation.

Foundation Background

The foundation draws its resources from Elliott Electric Supply Inc., which Bill Elliott started in Nacogdoches in 1972. The company has grown to annual sales exceeding $2 billion. The foundation was established as a way to give back to the community where Elliott began his business and to honor his late wife Micky's love of the arts and the Nacogdoches community.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are made at the discretion of the foundation's trustees, primarily President William M. Elliott Sr. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and does not maintain a website or published grant guidelines.

Grants are typically awarded to organizations with which the foundation and its leadership have existing relationships or strong community connections, particularly in Nacogdoches and at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable. The foundation makes grants on a discretionary basis throughout the year as determined by the trustees.

Success Rates

Based on Form 990 filings:

2022: 5 grants awarded totaling $2,207,191
2023: 7 grants awarded totaling $4,172,753
2024: Charitable disbursements of $993,858

The number of applications received is not published as the foundation does not maintain a formal application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates without a public application process, the following factors characterize their grantmaking approach:

Geographic connection to Nacogdoches: The foundation's stated mission explicitly focuses on making "Nacogdoches, SFA and the East Texas area better." Organizations with deep roots in Nacogdoches or serving the local community appear to be prioritized.

Connection to Stephen F. Austin State University: A significant portion of the foundation's major gifts have supported SFA, including the renaming of the College of Fine Arts, endowed scholarships, professorships, and the Elliott String Quartet Fellowship launched in 2025. Organizations with SFA connections or that complement the university's mission may be well-positioned.

Arts and music focus: Given Micky Elliott's love of the arts and Bill Elliott's degree in music, projects supporting arts education, music programs, and cultural enrichment align closely with the foundation's values. Bill Elliott specifically noted being "blown away with the quality of the students, programs and instructors in the College of Fine Arts."

Education innovation: The foundation's support for the Nacogdoches ISD Education Foundation, which provides innovative teaching grants, demonstrates interest in creative approaches to K-12 education.

Matching gift opportunities: The foundation has shown willingness to provide matching grants, such as the $500,000 matching pledge to the Nacogdoches ISD Education Foundation, to incentivize broader community support.

Community building and preservation: Support for organizations like Millard's Crossing Historic Village and other community-focused initiatives suggests interest in projects that preserve Nacogdoches's heritage and enhance community life.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - grants are made at trustee discretion to organizations with existing relationships
Nacogdoches connection is essential - the foundation's mission explicitly focuses on making Nacogdoches and East Texas better
Arts and music programs are highly favored - given both Micky Elliott's love of the arts and Bill Elliott's music degree
Major institutional commitments are possible - the foundation has made multi-million dollar gifts, including an $8 million pledge to SFA
Education at all levels is supported - from K-12 teacher grants to university endowments and scholarships
Matching grants can leverage community support - the foundation has shown interest in matching structures that encourage broader participation
Personal connection to the Elliott family - understanding the family's history with Nacogdoches and Elliott Electric Supply provides context for their philanthropic priorities

References

All sources accessed December 23, 2025.