Guinn Foundation Inc.

## Approach Strategy

The Guinn Foundation Inc. is a Wichita Falls, Texas private foundation established by the Guinn family, led by Alfred B. Guinn (President/Treasurer), A. Patrick Guinn (Vice President/Secretary), and Melissa G. Rothwell (Vice President). This is a genuinely open grantmaker serving Wichita Falls and the surrounding North Texas region, with a secondary giving stream supporting national Christian evangelism and missions organizations.

The Guinn portfolio reflects classic conservative Texas community philanthropy: Boys & Girls Club, food banks, Meals on Wheels, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, hospice care, and faith-based community services — all receiving regular support. National evangelical organizations (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, International Evangelism Association) also receive recurring grants, indicating the Guinn family's strong Christian faith commitment.

This foundation accepts written requests. No deadlines, no formal restrictions. Contact: Alfred B. Guinn, 2520 E. Elliott, Wichita Falls, TX 76308; Phone: (940) 322-3103.

The foundation's assets are approximately $7.16M (per most recent Grantmakers.io data), making it a substantive community funder in the Wichita Falls area despite the discrepancy with database records.

## Funding Patterns

The Guinn Foundation has grown substantially in recent years, with annual giving increasing from $216K (2021) to $348K (2024).

Historical giving: - 2024: $348,400 (42 grants) - 2023: $315,650 (49 grants) - 2022: $280,590 (36 grants) - 2021: $216,300 - 2020: $302,000

Asset growth: $4.45M (2020) → $5.62M (2021) → $7.34M (2022) → $7.07M (2023) → $7.16M (2024). Significant growth driven by investment returns, likely in oil and gas or equity markets (Wichita Falls has historically benefited from energy wealth).

Grant distribution (FY2024): 42 grants. Maximum $50,000. Median $5,000. Most grants ($24 of 42) in the $5,000-$24,999 range. Many local Wichita Falls organizations receive $1,000-$10,000 annually. Boys & Girls Club received 3 separate grants (multiple locations: Wichita Falls and Burkburnett).

The foundation gives to both local Wichita Falls community organizations (33 of 42 in Texas) and national Christian organizations (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, International Evangelism Association, Presbyterian Children's Homes, Mercy Ships, etc.).

## Peer Comparison

The Guinn Foundation is one of the more accessible private foundations in Wichita Falls. For organizations in the community, submitting a written request is straightforward and the open door policy means no hurdles beyond the request itself.

For North Texas nonprofits seeking larger grants, the Sid W. Richardson Foundation (Fort Worth) and the Communities Foundation of Texas (Dallas) have broader program coverage.

## Recent Activity

FY2024 grantees include: Boys & Girls Club (3 grants — Wichita Falls and Burkburnett), Meals on Wheels of Wichita County, Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, River Bend Nature Center, First United Methodist Church (Wichita Falls), Project Back to School, Child Care Partners, International Evangelism Association, Salvation Army, Clay County Senior Citizens, Community Healthcare Center, First Step, Habitat for Humanity, Hospice of Wichita Falls, Camp Chaparral, KMOC (radio station?), Patsy's House, Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services, Texas Ramp Project, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and ~20 additional organizations.

The grantee list spans: youth development, hunger relief, senior services, faith community, medical care access, hospice, disability services, Christian broadcast/evangelism, and summer camps.

Note: Guinn Foundation assets on Grantmakers.io ($7.16M) differ from the grantedai.com database figure ($3.46M) — the Grantmakers.io figure is likely more current. The database asset figure may be from an older IRS filing.

## Application Tips

This is one of the most accessible foundations in North Texas. Submit a written request — that's the entire application process.

How to apply: 1. Write a letter to Alfred B. Guinn, President/Treasurer 2. Address: 2520 E. Elliott, Wichita Falls, TX 76308 3. Phone: (940) 322-3103 (can call first to confirm process) 4. Include: organization name, amount requested, program description, how funds will be used 5. No deadline, no formal application form, no restrictions stated

Best-fit organizations:

1. Wichita Falls community nonprofits: Any established 501(c)(3) serving the Wichita Falls / Wichita County area has a reasonable chance of support. The foundation funds a broad cross-section of community needs — food, shelter, youth, seniors, health, recreation.

2. Christian/evangelical organizations in Wichita Falls: Faith-based social service organizations aligned with evangelical Protestant values are especially welcome. Boys & Girls Club, FUMC programs, Salvation Army, and Presbyterian Children's Homes are all grantees.

3. National evangelical missions and broadcast: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, International Evangelism Association, and similar national organizations receive grants suggesting the Guinn family will fund well-known national evangelical institutions even without a local presence.

4. Health and hospice: Hospice of Wichita Falls, Community Healthcare Center, and United Regional Foundation suggest openness to healthcare and end-of-life care.

5. Youth camping and outdoor programs: Camp Chaparral appears multiple times in the grant history — outdoor/camping programs for youth may resonate.

Grant size: For first-time applicants, request $2,500-$10,000. The foundation has funded 42 organizations per year, so per-organization budgets are relatively small even as total giving grows.