The Long Foundation

## Approach & Strategy

The Long Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Austin, Texas, classified under NTEE code T200 (Private Grantmaking Foundations). Established as tax-exempt in August 2000, the foundation operates as a family-run entity led by the Long family, with Joe R. Long serving as President and Mitchell A. Long as Executive Director.

The foundation does not appear to operate its own charitable programs. Instead, it functions as a traditional private foundation whose sole activity is making grants to pre-selected organizations. Based on 990-PF filings, the foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Revenue is generated primarily through investment returns — dividends from corporate stock holdings and capital gains from asset sales — rather than from contributions or earned income.

Key strategic characteristics: - Family-governed with four Long family members on the board - Investment-driven revenue model (corporate stocks, bonds, government obligations) - No direct charitable programs; purely grantmaking - Consistent annual charitable disbursements in the $445K-$475K range - Zero debt with stable net assets around $7M

## Funding Patterns

The Long Foundation maintains a disciplined grantmaking pattern with steady annual charitable disbursements despite fluctuating investment returns.

Revenue sources (2024): - Dividends: $150,533 (15.4%) - Sales of assets/capital gains: $828,383 (84.5%) - Other income: $994 (0.1%) - Contributions received: $0

Key observations: - Grants paid have increased year over year from $300K (2021) to approximately $473K (2024) - The foundation pays out roughly 4.5-6.5% of assets annually in charitable disbursements, consistent with the IRS minimum distribution requirement for private foundations - Officer compensation is fixed at $90,432 annually (Mitchell A. Long), representing 15-17% of total expenses - The foundation carries zero liabilities and maintains a stable asset base around $7M

## Peer Comparison

Among private grantmaking foundations in the Austin, Texas area with assets in the $5M-$10M range, The Long Foundation sits in the mid-tier for both asset size and annual grantmaking volume.

Comparative positioning: - Asset size ($7.2M): Mid-range for a family foundation. Larger than most small family foundations but well below major Austin philanthropies - Annual grantmaking ($333K-$473K): Consistent with foundations of similar asset size. The 4.5-6.5% payout rate aligns with IRS requirements and peer norms - Overhead ratio: Officer compensation at ~16% of expenses is reasonable for a family foundation with a single paid officer - Investment strategy: The portfolio is heavily weighted toward corporate equities ($5.1M in corporate stock as of 2023), with smaller positions in corporate bonds and government obligations. This is a moderately aggressive allocation for a foundation of this size - Grantmaking style: As a pre-selected-only foundation, it follows the pattern of many family foundations that direct giving to organizations with which the principals have personal relationships

Distinguishing factors: - No website or public-facing grant application process, which is common among smaller family foundations - Zero liabilities — the foundation operates with no debt, a conservative approach - Long-tenured family governance structure with stable leadership since founding

## Recent Activity

Fiscal Year 2024 (most recent filing): The Long Foundation reported its strongest year in recent history with $979,910 in total revenue, driven primarily by $828,383 in asset sales/capital gains. Charitable disbursements reached $473,068 — the highest level in the five years of available data — while total expenses were $584,365. The foundation ended the year with net assets of $7,204,038.

Fiscal Year 2023: A quieter year with $267,585 in revenue and a net loss of $273,040. Grants paid totaled $333,000 and total charitable disbursements were $454,508. Despite the net loss, the foundation maintained healthy assets at $6,828,462.

Leadership changes: - Teresa L. Long (Vice President/Director) is listed as deceased in the 2021 filing. The position has not been replaced, leaving the board at four members - Mitchell A. Long continues as the sole compensated officer at $90,432 annually plus $7,232 in other compensation (2024)

Investment portfolio (2023 data): - Corporate stock: $5,143,435 - Corporate bonds: $26,117 - Government obligations: $12,905 - Total investments: $5,182,457 - Fair market value of total assets: $9,996,714

Trend: The foundation shows a gradual upward trend in grantmaking ($300K → $473K over four years) while maintaining stable asset levels, suggesting a sustainable giving trajectory.

## Application Tips

Important: The Long Foundation appears to be a pre-selected grantmaking foundation. Based on available 990-PF data, the foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Its filings indicate that grants are directed to organizations chosen by the board rather than through an open application process.

If you have a connection to the foundation: 1. Leverage personal relationships: Family foundations like The Long Foundation typically fund through personal networks. If you have a connection to Joe R. Long, Mitchell A. Long, Kally A. Long, or Ruby Lu Ann Long, a personal introduction is the most effective path 2. Align with their giving history: Review the foundation's 990-PF grant schedules (available on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer) to identify the types of organizations they fund and ensure your mission aligns 3. Austin/Texas focus: While geographic restrictions are not explicitly stated, the foundation is based in Austin, TX, and Texas-based organizations may have an advantage 4. Request size: Given annual grants paid of $300K-$473K spread across multiple grantees, individual grants likely range from $5,000-$50,000. Calibrate your ask accordingly 5. Timing: The foundation files on a calendar year basis (December fiscal year end). Grant decisions are likely made throughout the year

Note on website: The website thelongfoundation.org does NOT belong to this foundation — it is a separate community nonprofit in Gainesville, Florida. There is no known public website for the Austin, TX-based Long Foundation. Contact should be directed to the foundation's registered address: 40 N IH 35 Ste 7C2, Austin, TX 78701.