The James B. and Lois R. Archer Charitable Foundation distributes grants to 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving youth or the aging population. The Foundation does not lend or grant money to individuals.

Grants are made in five categories:

• Arts and Culture
• Civic and Public Affairs
• Education
• Health
• Human Services

The Foundation provides grants throughout the United States, but tries to allocate at least one-third of its grant resources to organizations helping those in the West Texas area.   Applications for specific programs or projects, capital projects, and general operations are considered.  Endowment grants are rare.

The Foundation looks for one or more of the following conditions in an application:

• Foundation support would be vital or catalytic to a proposed project's success.
• The project is well planned and the agency has the capacity to execute the plan.
• Financial support from other sources exists to ensure that the project will be implemented and continue after the grant period. It will expedite the review process if a material portion of the total funds needed for the project have been secured before applying.

In general, grants are not made for purposes of:

• Church or seminary construction.
• Annual fundraising drives, galas and other similar types of fundraising events.
• Support of single artistic events or performances.
• Support or establish an endowment.

All applicants are notified in writing of the action taken by the Board.  Not all project proposals received by the Foundation can be funded.  Please do not interpret the decision to decline a request as a negative evaluation of a project or organization.

The Foundation requests that it receive no commemorative items; all resources should be used for the organization’s philanthropic purposes.

So that we may maximize the number of organizations that the Foundation can fund, organizations that receive grants from the Foundation in two consecutive years must skip an entire year before reapplying.  For example, your organization was approved for a grant in the Fall of 2021 and Fall of 2022, you may not reapply for a grant from the Foundation until the Fall of 2024 .

In addition, organizations may not submit grant applications in any two consecutive grant cycles.  For example, if your organization applies in the Fall of 2022, it may not reapply for a grant in the Spring/Summer of 2023. Your organization must wait until the Fall of 2023 before it may submit a new grant application to the Foundation.

Please see the FAQs page for further information and restrictions.

An organization wishing to apply for a grant must fully complete and submit an online application to the Foundation no later than the due date of April 30 for the Spring/Summer Cycle or October 31 for the Fall/Winter Cycle. You are encouraged to include a cover letter and any other materials or information that you believe will assist the Foundation in evaluating your request.

A "full application" will be complete when the following items are submitted by the application due dates:

1. Online Application. (Note that the list of required forms are found below and differ depending on the purpose of the request).
2. Latest Audited Financial Statements and Most Recent Unaudited Financial Statements for the Current Year.
3. IRS Determination Letter of Exempt Status

Upon receiving a full application, the Foundation will conduct an application review which may include an applicant interview, a site visit, and/or a request for additional information.

Information submitted to the Foundation must be accurate and complete in all respects.

Applicants will be notified in writing of the results of their application in late June for the Spring/Summer cycle applications and late December for the Fall/Winter application cycle.

Fall 2024 Session is now closed. Our Spring Session will open Mar 1st, 2025.

Grant Project Update:

Within ninety (90) days following the completion of any program funded by a grant from the Foundation, but in no event one (1) year from your organization’s receipt of a grant from the Foundation, the recipient organization must report to the Foundation confirming the use of the grant funds in accordance with the application for which the grant was awarded and advising the status of the outcomes from the use of grant funds.

The organization must report any variances or unanticipated results from the use of the grant funds.

The Foundation may conduct site visits at any time prior, during or after use of the grant funds to observe operational and project activities and to interview staff, volunteers or clients affected by the grant.

As a condition of your organization’s acceptance of a grant from the Foundation, your organization must respond to any requests for information from the Foundation, subject to any client privacy issue that may occur.