Helen Gertrude Sparks Charitable Trust
/OVERVIEW: The Helen Gertrude Sparks Charitable Trust supports arts, culture, humanities, education, health, and human services organizations in Texas.
FUNDING AREAS: Arts, culture, humanities, education, health, human services
IP TAKE: The arts are very important to this funder. Pitch an idea that is related to local theater in Texas.
PROFILE: Since 1971, the Helen Gertrude Sparks Charitable Trust has provided grants to charitable organizations in Texas. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Sparks returned to her hometown after college and worked with the Fort Worth Little Theater. During her lifetime, Sparks supported local artists and commissioned their works. She was also interested in needlepoint and literature. Managed by Bank of America’s Texas office, her foundation funds local arts, culture, humanities, education, health, and human services efforts.
Grants for Public Health and Access
The Helen Gertrude Sparks Charitable Trust regularly awards grants to nonprofits that assist the elderly and disabled. It supports groups that help disabled, orphaned, and otherwise disadvantaged children as well. Previous grantees include Helping Restore Ability, Wings of Hope Equitherapy, Alliance for Children, and Kids Who Care, for substance abuse treatment.
Grants for K-12 Education
According to the foundation’s website, support for education is a cornerstone of its giving. Past grantees in this area include Project Hand Up, Happy Hill Farm Children's Home, Hill School of Fort Worth, and Child Study Center. It has also supported Reading Partners, for its adult literacy program.
Grants for Arts Education, and Arts and Culture
The foundation lists arts and culture as one of its core funding areas. This is born out by its past grantmaking. Previous grantees in this space include Imagination Celebration of Fort Worth, Kids Who Care, Performing Arts Fort Worth, and Circle Theatre.
This trust also provides funding for education and the arts, including both performing and non-performing arts.
Important Grant Details
Grants range between about $5,000 and $15,000; however, the most common amount is $10,000. Overall, the trust looks to support organizations that do not receive the bulk of their funding from government sources. The trust typically makes two to three grant awards each year.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. The annual application deadline is August 1, and applicants can expect to hear back with a funding decision within about three to four months after this date. Grant seekers must use the Bank of America online system to apply for a grant. Direct general questions to the staff at tx.philanthropic@ustrust.com or 800-357-7094.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINK:
