Shelton Family Foundation
Abilene, TX · EIN 75-2655885. Reported 210 grants totalling $3,795,771 to 81 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Shelton Family Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $1,500 and $25,000; the smallest was $300 and the largest $255,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salvation Army & Its Components | Abilene, TX | $457,500 | 8 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Abilene Education Fund | Abilene, TX | $390,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Kenley School | Abilene, TX | $286,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Food Bank of Abilene Inc | Abilene, TX | $270,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Mcmurry University | Abilene, TX | $202,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature | Abilene, TX | $176,700 | 8 | 4 | 2024 |
| Rescue the Animals | Abilene, TX | $144,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Abilene Christian University | Abilene, TX | $130,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Abilene Hope Haven Inc | Abilene, TX | $112,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Young Men's Christian Association | Abilene, TX | $102,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bcfs Health and Human Services | Abilene, TX | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Houses for Healing Inc | Abilene, TX | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Restored Hope Ministries Inc | Dallas, TX | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Betty Hardwick Center | Abiilene, TX | $85,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Abilene Inc | Abilene, TX | $82,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Abilene Philharmonic Association Inc | Abiilene, TX | $80,200 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| United Way of Abilene | Abilene, TX | $66,200 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| West Texas Rehabilitation Center | Abilene, TX | $62,346 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Love and Care Ministries | Abiilene, TX | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Sight Savers America | Birmingham, AL | $58,700 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Grace Museum | Abiilene, TX | $45,000 | 5 | 3 | 2024 |
| Abilene Arts Alliance | Abiilene, TX | $44,500 | 13 | 4 | 2024 |
| American National Red Cross | Abilene, TX | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Christian Service Center of Abilene Inc | Abilene, TX | $32,500 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Faithworks of Abilene | Abilene, TX | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New Horizons Ranch & Center Inc | Abilene, TX | $30,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Sea Turtle Inc | South Padre Island, TX | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Abilene Chamber of Commerce Foundation | Abilene, TX | $28,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| All Kind Animal Initative | Abiilene, TX | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Habitat for Humanity Abilene Tx Inc | Abilene, TX | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| New Beginnings - Big Country | Abilene, TX | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Noah Project | Abilene, TX | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Special Olympics Texas Inc | Abilene, TX | $25,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Callahan County Aging Services | Baird, TX | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Communities in Schools | Abiilene, TX | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Texas Ramp Project | Richardson, TX | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Serenity Foundation | Abilene, TX | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Big Country CASA | Abilene, TX | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Friends for Life | Abiilene, TX | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Phoenix Iccd Clubhouse Inc | Abiilene, TX | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Camp Able | Buffalo Gap, TX | $14,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Alliance for Women & Children | Abiilene, TX | $13,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Center for Contemporary Arts | Abilene, TX | $11,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Advocates for Camp Able | Buffalo Gap, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| All for One Missions Internationals | Abilene, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Boys and Girls Club | Abilene, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Disability Resources Incorporated | Abilene, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Meals on Wheels Plus Incorporated | Abilene, TX | $9,000 | 5 | 2 | 2022 |
| First Central Presbyterian Church | Abilene, TX | $8,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of the Abilene Public Library | Abilene, TX | $8,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Community Foundation of Abilene | Abilene, TX | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Texas Family Institute | Abilene, TX | $7,200 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Boy Scouts of America | Abilene, TX | $6,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Treehouse Safe Exchange & Training Center | Abilene, TX | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Abilene Philharmonic Guild Inc | Abilene, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| American Cancer Society | Abilene, TX | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Frontier Texas Inc | Abilene, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services | Austin, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Texas Mission of Mercy | Austin, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Abilene Performing Arts Company Inc | Abilene, TX | $3,125 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders | Fort Worth, TX | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Anson Jones Memorial Medical Foundation | Abilene, TX | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Day Nursery of Abilene | Abilene, TX | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Expo Center of Taylor County | Abilene, TX | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Abilene Zoological Society | Abilene, TX | $2,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| American Association of University Women | Abilene, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fellowship of Christian Athletes | Abilene, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail Inc | Abilene, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Presbyterian Medical Care Misson | Abilene, TX | $2,500 | 2 | 1 | 2022 |
| Texas Tech Foundation Inc | Abilene, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Abilene Christian Schools Inc | Abilene, TX | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Abilene Opera Association | Abilene, TX | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame | Abilene, TX | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | Lubbock, TX | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Historic Paramount Theatre Inc | Abilene, TX | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Taylor County Veterans Service Office | Abilene, TX | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Texans for the Arts Foundation | Austin, TX | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Abilene Tennis Association | Abilene, TX | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Interested Citizens of Abilene North | Abilene, TX | $1,300 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Abilene Preservation League | Abilene, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Christian Homes & Family Services | Abilene, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
54 of 81 (67%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 73%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Salvation Army & Its Components
PURCHASE OF 1717 BUTTERNUT - Mcmurry University
GARRISON STUDENT CENTER RENOVATION - Betty Hardwick Center
HUD RAPID REHOUSING AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE - Abilene Hope Haven Inc
BRIDGE 2 HOME OPERATIONAL SUPPORT - West Texas Rehabilitation Center
SHADE STRUCTURE FOR PEDIATRIC PLAYGROUND - Bcfs Health and Human Services
YOUNG MEN'S OUR HOUSE OPERATIONS
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 135 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 63 | $821,396 | $3,000 |
| 2022 | 77 | $1,120,850 | $2,500 |
| 2023 | 35 | $977,625 | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 35 | $875,900 | $10,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Shelton Family Foundation has 28 of them, worth $2,691,300. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Mcmurry University | Abilene, TX | $500,000 |
| Mcmurry University | Abiilene, TX | $400,000 |
| Mcmurry University | Abiilene, TX | $300,000 |
| Hardin-Simmons University | Abilene, TX | $250,000 |
| Hardin-Simmons University | Abilene, TX | $250,000 |
| Food Bank of Abilene Inc | Abilene, TX | $166,000 |
| The Abilene Education Fund | Abilene, TX | $135,000 |
| Salvation Army & Its Components | Abilene, TX | $100,000 |
| Youth Voice | Abiilene, TX | $100,000 |
| Youth Voice | Abilene, TX | $100,000 |
| Salvation Army & Its Components | Abilene, TX | $75,000 |
| Salvation Army & Its Components | Abilene, TX | $55,000 |
| Bcfs Health and Human Services | Abilene, TX | $50,000 |
| Salvation Army & Its Components | Abilene, TX | $50,000 |
| Abilene Christian University | Abilene, TX | $25,000 |
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 98% of this one's giving went to organizations in Texas. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $5,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Texas.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Shelton Family Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 2791, Abilene, TX, 79604. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 75-2655885 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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