Slayton Foundation

The Slayton Foundation operates as an intimate, family-directed private grantmaker anchored in Roswell, New Mexico, with a singular, explicitly stated mission: advancing organizations that "support Christian values." This is not a broad-brush designation — every documented grant across the foundation's entire multi-year grantee history carries this stated purpose without exception. Founded and led by Paul Slayton (President), with family members A.D. Allison, Katharine Allison, and Autumn Ann Winkles serving as uncompensated directors, the foundation functions as a closely held family philanthropy rather than a staffed institutional grantmaker.

The foundation strongly favors Baptist and evangelical Christian organizations, particularly those with geographic roots in southeastern New Mexico (Chaves County, Roswell) and Texas. Repeat grantees dominate the portfolio: the top five recipients — Roswell Baptist Church ($338,000), Wayne Avenue Baptist Church ($330,500), Northside Baptist Church ($177,900), Hillcrest Baptist Church ($156,000), and Grace Baptist Temple ($135,500) — collectively account for approximately 40% of all tracked giving across documented grant cycles. This concentration signals that the Slayton Foundation builds long-term, trust-based relationships with known partners rather than cycling through new applicants on a competitive basis.

First-time applicants should understand several key operational realities. The foundation's official website (slaytonfoundation.com) was in a "Launching Soon" state as of mid-2026, meaning there is no online portal, published guidelines, or digital application system. The Groundworks NM grantmakers directory — the most reliable public source for application guidance — confirms that letters of inquiry and proposals are accepted by mail, addressed to Paul Slayton at 704 East College, Roswell, NM 88201. A phone call to (575) 623-7184 prior to submitting is strongly advisable both to confirm current priorities and to initiate a personal relationship with the small leadership team.

The foundation's "preselected_only" classification in some grant databases reflects a preference for personally known or referred organizations. Community-level introductions — particularly through Roswell Baptist congregations or BBFI-affiliated ministries — carry significant weight. Organizations operating in Chaves County or with established ties to the regional Baptist community hold a distinct relational and geographic advantage over outside applicants.

The Slayton Foundation has grown from a modest regional grantmaker to a significant faith-based funder over the past decade. Annual giving increased from approximately $213,000 in FY 2015 to $1.465 million in FY 2023 — a nearly sevenfold increase driven by substantial family contributions: $2.7M received in FY 2020, $4M in FY 2022, and $3M in FY 2023. These infusions expanded the asset base from $12.2M (2015) to $28.1M (2023). ProPublica's FY 2024 data confirms charitable disbursements reached $1,496,133, with net assets of $28.4 million — suggesting giving has stabilized at the $1.4–1.5 million annual level.

Grant size varies widely. The database-reported typical grant shows a median of $3,000, an average of $10,685, and a range from $100 to $127,000. Anchor institutional relationships command significantly larger amounts, with flagship church partners receiving six-figure cumulative support across multiple grant cycles. Mid-tier grants of $15,000–$50,000 flow to established national Christian service organizations: Samaritan's Purse ($41,750 over three cycles), World Vision ($39,750), Compassion International ($35,900), and Casas Por Cristo ($34,000). Smaller grants of $1,000–$15,000 support local pregnancy resource centers, food pantries, Christian children's homes, and indigenous ministry programs.

By geography, New Mexico dominates: 99 of 254 documented grants (39%) went to NM organizations, concentrated in Chaves County (Roswell) and Bernalillo County (Albuquerque). Texas is the second-largest state with 55 grants (21.7%), followed by Colorado (18 grants), California (11), North Carolina (8), Oklahoma (7), Arizona (6), Indiana (6), and Georgia (6). International organizations operating in Mexico (Casas Por Cristo), global evangelical missions (BBFI Mission Office, Wycliffe Associates, Elam Ministries, Acts Global Partnership, Launch Global), and anti-trafficking work (A21 Campaign, Exodus Cry) also receive regular support.

By program type, Baptist church support makes up the single largest category, accounting for the top 10+ grants. Christian social services (children's homes, food pantries, homeless services, pregnancy centers) form the second tier. International missions and para-church ministries (Gideons International, KLOVE Radio, Community Bible Study) round out the portfolio. No grants to secular nonprofits appear in the documented history.

The five peer foundations identified in the database share a similar asset tier (~$30M) but differ substantially from the Slayton Foundation in focus and accessibility.

Peer estimated annual giving is calculated at approximately 5% of assets, the IRS minimum distribution requirement for private foundations — consistent with Slayton's actual FY 2023 giving of $1.47 million (5.2% of assets).

What distinguishes the Slayton Foundation within this asset-comparable peer group is its sharply defined theological mandate. While peers operate as general philanthropy and grantmaking vehicles across diverse issue areas, every Slayton grant explicitly serves a faith-based purpose. Of the five peers, only Weaver Foundation (NC) maintains an active public-facing website with transparent application procedures, making it the most accessible comparator for grant seekers accustomed to formal application cycles. Slayton's family-led, relationship-driven model — with no paid staff and no application portal — requires a fundamentally different approach than institutionalized peer foundations, where the relationship and theological alignment matter more than proposal craft.

No news coverage, press releases, or public announcements were found for the Slayton Foundation (EIN 85-0484361, Roswell, NM) for 2025 or 2026. The foundation's official website (slaytonfoundation.com) displays a "Launching Soon" page as of mid-2026, with only a basic contact form — indicating no imminent programmatic announcements through a web channel.

The most significant recent development visible in financial filings is the sharp growth in annual giving. FY 2023 grants paid of $1,443,112 represented a 75% increase over FY 2022's $822,993, driven by a $3 million family contribution received that year. ProPublica's most recent FY 2024 data shows charitable disbursements of $1,496,133, confirming giving has stabilized near the $1.5 million annual level — more than double the FY 2021 total of $577,001. The asset base reached $28.1 million in FY 2023 and $28.4 million by FY 2024, suggesting the foundation is approaching a mature growth phase where future expansion will depend primarily on investment returns rather than fresh family contributions.

Leadership has remained unchanged across all documented filings: Paul Slayton (President), A.D. Allison, Katharine Allison, and Autumn Ann Winkles serve as directors — all without compensation. The Groundworks NM grantmakers directory, the primary third-party public reference for this foundation, was last updated May 2016, consistent with a privately managed grantmaker that has not actively sought to expand its public-facing profile.

Lead with theological alignment, not program impact. Every documented Slayton Foundation grant states "Support Christian Values" as its sole purpose. Before writing a word about your program outcomes, establish clearly that your organization is Christian in identity and mission. Organizations that happen to do good work but frame it in secular terms will not be competitive here.

Match your request to your relationship tier. First-time applicants without existing relationships should target requests in the $2,000–$8,000 range, consistent with the median grant of $3,000 and average of $10,685. Anchor relationships that generate $100,000+ grants are built over multiple grant cycles, not initiated at scale. Underselling your initial ask is a feature, not a weakness — it signals you understand this is a relationship-first funder.

Geographic proximity is a meaningful advantage. Chaves County and Roswell-based organizations receive the largest and most consistent grants. Albuquerque-based organizations are well-represented in Bernalillo County. Texas organizations (especially those with BBFI connections) form the second-strongest cohort. National organizations are funded but at lower amounts ($10,000–$42,000 range) unless they have direct relationships with foundation leadership.

Baptist connections open doors. The top seven grantees are Baptist churches or Baptist-affiliated institutions. An introduction through a Roswell Baptist pastor, a BBFI-affiliated ministry, or a known grantee organization carries more weight than a cold application. Attend regional Baptist events in Roswell or Albuquerque where Paul Slayton or foundation directors may be present.

Make the phone call first. Call (575) 623-7184 before mailing. The foundation has no staff, no formal review calendar, and no published deadlines. A phone conversation confirms whether new applications are being reviewed, establishes a human connection, and may reveal current priority areas not visible in public records.

Structure your LOI to mirror their language. Use phrases like "support Christian values," "advance the Gospel," "serve in Christ's name," and "faith-based mission" throughout — not as buzzwords but as genuine indicators of theological alignment. Reference specific populations served (youth, homeless, unborn, persecuted Christians) that map to the foundation's documented grantee categories.

Expect a slow process. With no paid staff and no formal cycles, follow up by phone 6–8 weeks after mailing. Do not interpret silence as rejection.