Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation
The Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas, established in 1983. The foundation maintains a century-long tradition of philanthropy rooted in the Kurth family's historic role in the East Texas lumber industry. It operates as a family foundation with significant assets dedicated to charitable giving across Texas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$41.4M
+3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
-9.7% YoY
Grant Count
31
-6.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
-3.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports institutions and organizations that demonstrate promise of producing significant advances in the following areas:
- Education (K-12 and higher education, research endeavors)
- Health
- Community and social services
- Cultural arts and humanities
- Human services
- Philanthropic capacity building
Grantmaking
Applications are accepted through the Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions system. The foundation does not operate named grant programs but awards grants through a general grantmaking process. The foundation is not listed on the Bank of America website at either the family's or the foundation's request.
Grant Range
$15,000 to $155,000
Average Grant
amount: $58,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains particular emphasis on East Texas and Angelina County, reflecting the family's lumber business roots. Primary service areas include:
- Dallas, TX
- Diboll, TX
- Houston, TX
- Huntington, TX
- Longview, TX
- Lufkin, TX (27 grants awarded)
- Pollock, TX
The foundation's geographic focus is primarily Texas, with special emphasis on communities connected to the family's historical business interests.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Giving:
- Total assets: $41.4 million (2024)
- Total assets: $46.8 million (most recent filing)
- Total giving: $1.72 million to $1.91 million annually
- Tax-exempt status: Recognized since May 1983
Organization Details:
- EIN: 75-1862248
- Address: PO Box 653067, Dallas, TX 75265-3067
- IRS 501(c)(3) classification
- Fiscal year end: December
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $41,387,011 | $39,944,431 | $35,792,453 |
| Revenue | $3,851,645 | $6,829,243 | $2,095,462 |
| Expenses | $2,274,528 | $2,295,121 | $1,976,002 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,922,404 | $2,097,143 | $1,748,360 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,584,603 | $6,582,953 | $2,511,981 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,271,626 | $2,163,575 | $2,157,079 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Angelina College ($147,000), Texas Forestry Museum ($100,000), Women's Shelter of East Texas Inc ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SALVATION ARMY HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $35,383 |
| SEASONS OF HOPE CENTER LUFKIN, TX | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $27,300 |
| COALITION INC LUFKIN, TX | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $13,000 |
| TEXAS FORESTRY MUSEUM LUFKIN, TX | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $100,000 |
| MUSEUM OF EAST TEXAS LUFKIN, TX | 2023-2024 EDUCATION PROGRAM | $60,000 |
| EAST TEXAS PAWS INC LUFKIN, TX | SPAY/NEUTER & EMERGENCY | $58,000 |
| LEGACY INSTITUTE FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION LUFKIN, TX | NECT CHAPTER WORKFORCE | $75,000 |
| THE MEN'S FIELDHOUSE LUFKIN, TX | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $30,000 |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEXAS PFLUGERVILLE, TX | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $25,000 |
| HERMANN EYE FUND HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $27,689 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is co-trustee managed by Bank of America and Wyatt Leinart.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BANK OF AMERICA | TRUSTEE | 1 | $217,050 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation supports institutions and organizations that demonstrate promise of producing significant advances in the following areas: • Education (K-12 and higher education, research endeavors) • Health • Community and social services • Cultural arts and humanities • Human services • Philanthropic capacity building
How do I apply for a grant from Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Statistics:** • Total annual giving: $1.9 million (2023) • Total grants awarded: 33 grants (2023); 62 grants (most recent filing) • Average grant amount: $58,000 • Median grant amount: $50,000 • Grant range: $15,000 to $155,000 **Application Process:** Applications are accepted through the Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions system. The foundation does not operate named grant programs but awards grants through a general grantmaking process. The foundation is not listed on the Bank o…
Where does Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation maintains particular emphasis on East Texas and Angelina County, reflecting the family's lumber business roots. Primary service areas include: • Dallas, TX • Diboll, TX • Houston, TX • Huntington, TX • Longview, TX • Lufkin, TX (27 grants awarded) • Pollock, TX The foundation's geographic focus is primarily Texas, with special emphasis on communities connected to the family's historical business interests.
What size grants does Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $56K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Ernest L Kurth Jr Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-1862248. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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