Hope Center Foundation

The Hope Center Foundation is categorically different from a conventional grantmaking foundation, and organizations that approach it expecting a cash grant cycle will be disappointed. Its core value proposition is heavily subsidized office space and shared services for Christian nonprofits, not monetary distributions. The 185,000-square-foot campus at 2001 W Plano Parkway in Plano, Texas houses 81+ tenant ministries, collectively saving those organizations more than $2 million in annual rent — an average in-kind benefit of roughly $24,700 per tenant.

The organizations Hope Center serves are theologically evangelical Christian nonprofits with a Great Commission orientation. Tenant ministries span the full range of faith-based programming: international missions (Mercy Ships, OMF International), student outreach (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), children's evangelism (Child Evangelism Fellowship), disability ministry (Joni and Friends), and Dallas-area relief and workforce programs. Scale matters less than doctrinal alignment; both large recognized brands and small local ministries hold tenancy.

Cash grants are a minor, sporadic feature of the foundation's activity. IRS Form 990-PF filings document only $23,000 in cash grants in FY2022 — the 'Hope for Eastern Europe' series distributed at $2,000–$4,000 per recipient across nine established evangelical organizations. FY2014 shows a single $5,000 grant. All other documented fiscal years report zero in grants paid. Applicants seeking unrestricted cash support should recalibrate: the real asset here is operational subsidy through below-market rent and shared infrastructure.

The 'relationship progression' here is not an LOI-to-proposal pipeline but a community-entry journey: attend events at the campus, connect with existing tenant ministries through the 15+ topic-based synergy groups, demonstrate mission alignment, then initiate a direct tenancy inquiry. Board Chair June Hunt (of Hope for the Heart radio ministry fame) and CEO Mike Wiltz lead an organization that prizes theological coherence and financial stewardship over organizational size. First-time applicants should lead with their Statement of Faith alignment, their 501(c)(3) status, their geographic connection to North Texas or global outreach, and a clear case for how tenancy at the Hope Center would amplify their specific ministry outcomes.

The Hope Center Foundation's financial structure is that of an operating nonprofit rather than a grant-distributing private foundation — a distinction with major practical implications for prospective applicants. Total assets were $42.4 million in FY2024, down from a peak of $53.4 million in FY2019. The $11 million asset decline over five years suggests the organization is drawing on endowment to sustain below-market rent subsidies as facility and personnel costs have grown.

Annual revenue has ranged from $2.95 million (FY2022) to $4.44 million (FY2024), sourced primarily from contributions and facility-related income. The National Christian Foundation directed $48,125 to Hope Center Foundation in FY2024, illustrating the faith-based donor network that sustains operations. Total contributions received have ranged from $597,696 (FY2021) to $1,214,973 (FY2019).

Actual cash grants paid are extremely rare and small relative to the foundation's total financial activity: - FY2022: $23,000 total (9 grants under 'Hope for Eastern Europe,' averaging $2,556, maximum $4,000 each) - FY2014: $5,000 (1 grant) - All other documented years (FY2012, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024): $0 in grants paid

The nine 'Hope for Eastern Europe' grantees in FY2022 were all established, nationally recognized evangelical ministries: Association of Christian Schools International, Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru), Child Evangelism Fellowship, E3 Partners, Joni and Friends, Orphan Outreach, Serving Him, Strategic Angel Care, and Unto. Every documented cash grant recipient has been a previously affiliated or well-known Great Commission organization — no grants to unknown or unaffiliated groups are on record.

The figures labeled 'total_giving' in public databases ($3.7–$4.5 million annually) represent the foundation's total program service expenses — the cost of operating the subsidized facility — not disbursements to grantees. Officer compensation consumes a significant portion: $198,033 for CEO Mike Wiltz in FY2024, plus $108,762 (COO) and $94,952 (Director of Kingdom Impact), totaling over $400,000 in FY2024 executive pay against a near-zero cash grant budget.

The peer foundations matched by asset size (~$42 million) share the Hope Center Foundation's NTEE category (T23, Philanthropy & Grantmaking) but operate fundamentally different models. The comparison below highlights the structural divergence between Hope Center's facility-services model and conventional private grantmakers in the same asset tier.

Hope Center Foundation diverges from every peer in one decisive way: it does not deploy cash grants as a primary activity. The Chrysanta Foundation, Finnegan Family Foundation, and others in this asset tier exist primarily to distribute investment returns as grants to charitable organizations. Hope Center Foundation uses its assets to maintain and subsidize a 185,000-square-foot physical campus. Christian nonprofits seeking cash distributions should evaluate the peer foundations above (particularly Chrysanta and Finnegan, which maintain public web presences suggesting openness to inquiry) rather than Hope Center Foundation. Conversely, no peer in this tier offers the in-kind subsidy model — $2+ million annually in aggregate rent savings — that makes Hope Center uniquely valuable for faith-based organizations with a physical presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro.

The most consequential recent development is a full executive leadership transition. Allen B. West — the former U.S. Congressman (TX-22) and Army lieutenant colonel who served as President and CEO — no longer appears in current filings. Mike Wiltz took the role of President and CEO as of FY2024, drawing $198,033 in compensation. Abigail Weedor (COO, $108,762) and Stacey Ford (Director of Kingdom Impact, $94,952) round out the new executive team. June Hunt, the nationally recognized biblical counselor and founder of Hope for the Heart, remains Board Chair, providing continuity with the organization's founding theological vision. Greg Burns continues as Vice Chair.

The most recent IRS Form 990-PF was received October 15, 2025, covering FY2024. This filing shows total assets at $42.4 million and total revenue of $4.44 million — a 20.9% revenue increase over FY2023's $3.68 million — though expenses of $5.2 million (a 15.5% increase) exceeded revenue, continuing the pattern of asset draw-down.

The National Christian Foundation's $48,125 grant to Hope Center Foundation in FY2024 is notable: it is unusual for an operating foundation to receive grants from a DAF clearinghouse, suggesting the organization may be actively fundraising to offset the operating deficit.

On the facility side, the tenant count has grown to 81 ministries as reported on the 2026 website, up from 65+ in earlier periods. No public announcements of new grant programs, capital campaigns, or major program launches were found in the 2025–2026 search window. MinistryWatch rates the organization with a Donor Confidence Score of 53/100, citing incomplete financial data, though ECFA accreditation since 2010 provides independent accountability validation.

Because the Hope Center Foundation's primary value offering is subsidized workspace and ministry community infrastructure — not grants — the effective 'application' strategy is about qualifying for tenancy and embedding in the campus ecosystem.

Theological alignment is the gating requirement. The Hope Center operates under an explicit Statement of Faith consistent with evangelical Protestant Christianity. All tenant ministries must be 501(c)(3) organizations whose missions are rooted in the Great Commission. Prepare a concise statement of your doctrinal position and demonstrate familiarity with the Hope Center's faith framework before any inquiry. Ministries whose work touches evangelism, discipleship, orphan care, international missions, or Christian education in a post-secondary or K–12 context will find the most natural peer community.

Start with community before asking for space. The Hope Center regularly hosts conferences, ministry training events, and 15+ topic-based synergy groups (e.g., groups organized around international missions, women's ministry, marketplace ministry) open to non-tenant participants. Attending two or three of these events before submitting a tenancy inquiry builds the relational credibility that this community values. It also lets you identify which existing tenants have overlapping missions — those peer endorsements are the single most effective accelerant to a successful application.

Emphasize operational stewardship. The foundation's own ECFA membership signals that donor accountability and financial transparency are core values. Come prepared to discuss your organization's budget management, audit status, and how tenancy at the Hope Center would improve your ministry's operational efficiency. Referencing the 'Efficiency' pillar specifically — and how the Hope Center's shared services (IT, internet, event space, recording studios) would free your staff to focus on mission rather than overhead — resonates with how the organization describes its value proposition.

Timing and space availability. No published application cycle exists. The campus appears near capacity (81 tenants in 185,000 square feet), so inquire early about availability and whether a waitlist exists. The hopehub coworking option may offer a lower-barrier entry point for smaller ministries (1–3 staff) not yet ready for a dedicated suite.

Cash grant requests require separate framing. If monetary support is needed beyond rent subsidy, do not position the Hope Center as a cash funder. Instead, leverage the Hope Center relationship to access its broader donor network — including the National Christian Foundation — by asking staff for warm introductions to faith-based funders in the DFW area.