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The Dixie Starnes Wenger Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Dixie Starnes Wenger Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$260k
Granted FY2024still arriving
67
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$40k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Human Services$470kReligion$358kHealth$318kEducation$205kAnimals$119kFood & Nutrition$103kYouth Development$100kHousing & Shelter$71kOther$0
02FY2024 · 67 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k63 grants · $184k
  • $10k–50k4 grants · $76k
$2,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$4.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
INTERFAITH MINISTRIES FOR GREATER HOUSTON$40,000
MEALS ON WHEELS$12,000
EAST CENTRAL ISD SOCIAL SERVICES$12,000
SOUTH TEXAS PREGNANCY CARE CENTER$12,000
SHINER CATHOLIC SCHOOL$8,000
GUIDE DOGS OF TEXAS$7,000
GONZALES MAIN STREET INC$7,000
SAN ANTONIO CHRISTIAN DENTAL CLINIC$7,000
GONZALES COUNTY RESTORATION ASSOC$7,000
RWANDA SHINES$7,000
UNIVERSITY METHODIST CHURCH FOUNDATION$6,000
BLUEPRINT MINISTRIES$6,000
WILSON AREA CHILDREN FOUNDATION$6,000
EAST CENTRAL SCHOOL FOUNDATION - TEACHER MINIGRANTS$5,000
Individual grant recipient$5,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–24, $307k) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 98% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%HUNT WITH HEART: $5k → 10%GONZALES CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY: $6k → 15%GONZALES CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY: $6k → 15%GONZALES CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY: $6k → 15%GONZALES CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY: $6k → 15%GONZALES CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY: $6k → 15%GONZALES CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY: $6k → 15%THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER: $3k → 16%THE CHILDREN'S SHELTER: $3k → 16%SAN ANTONIO THREADS: $3k → 16%HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICE: $3k → 16%HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICE: $3k → 16%HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICE: $3k → 16%HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICE: $3k → 16%HOUSE OF NEIGHBORLY SERVICE: $3k → 16%ADOPT A NEEDY FAMILY: $7k → 16%ADOPT A NEEDY FAMILY: $7k → 16%ADOPT A NEEDY FAMILY: $7k → 16%ADOPT A NEEDY FAMILY: $7k → 16%ADOPT A NEEDY FAMILY: $7k → 16%ADOPT A NEEDY FAMILY: $7k → 16%ADOPT A NEEDY FAMILY: $6k → 16%ABODE CONTEMPLATIVE CARE FOR THE DYING: $5k → 16%ADOPT A NEEDY FAMILY: $4k → 16%ABODE CONTEMPLATIVE CARE FOR THE DYING: $3k → 16%ABODE CONTEMPLATIVE CARE FOR THE DYING: $3k → 16%ABODE CONTEMPLATIVE CARE FOR THE DYING: $3k → 16%ABODE CONTEMPLATIVE CARE FOR THE DYING: $3k → 16%ABODE CONTEMPLATIVE CARE FOR THE DYING: $3k → 16%GUIDE DOGS OF TEXAS: $7k → 16%GUIDE DOGS OF TEXAS: $7k → 16%GUIDE DOGS OF TEXAS: $7k → 16%GUIDE DOGS OF TEXAS: $7k → 16%GUIDE DOGS OF TEXAS: $6k → 16%GUIDE DOGS OF TEXAS: $5k → 16%CHILD SAFE: $5k → 16%MAGDALENA HOUSE: $7k → 16%MEALS ON WHEELS: $13k → 16%MEALS ON WHEELS: $12k → 16%MEALS ON WHEELS: $10k → 16%MEALS ON WHEELS: $10k → 16%MEALS ON WHEELS: $7k → 16%MEALS ON WHEELS: $5k → 16%ANY WOMAN CAN: $5k → 16%PROJECT INFINITY: $3k → 16%REACHING MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE: $5k → 16%REACHING MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE: $4k → 16%MISSION ROAD DEVELOPMENTAL CTR: $4k → 16%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

92%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.9M · 102 repeat orgs$164k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +37% since the first grant, against +31% for those funded once.

102 repeat relationships: 51 still active in FY2024, 51 since wound down; 15 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

102
50

Total granted

$1.9M
$133k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+37%
+31%

Still filing today

50%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 88% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $32k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Human ServicesHealthAnimalsEducationYouth DevelopmentPhilanthropyOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • IM
    Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston
    8× · 2017–2024 · $281k · revenue +169%
  • MO
    MEALS ON WHEELS
    7× · 2018–2024 · $59k · revenue +23%
  • RS
    RWANDA SHINES
    8× · 2017–2024 · $54k · revenue +66%

Funded once

  • TC
    Texas Children's Hospitalgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $11k · revenue +105%
  • SS
    SECOND SERVICE OF HOUSTON
    one grant, 2018 · $10k
  • SA
    Spay-Neuter Assistance Program Inc
    one grant, 2022 · $9k · revenue +16%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
San Antonio Foster Care and Adoption and Services

San antonio foster care and adoption services inc. is a licensed child placement agency in the state of texas. the organization cares for children placed in foster care by the state of texas.

Human Services
2
San Antonio Automobile Dealers Association Foundation Inc
—
3
Sunny Glen Children's Home Inc

Sunny Glen Childrens Home, Inc. cares for children in need. Our care will be competent, compassionate and professional. We will help every child achieve their greatest potential-physically, emotionally, spiritually and academically.

Human Services
4
Advocates Social Services of San Antonio Texas

To educate qualified individuals of public benefits that they may be entitled to. we accomplish this by working with local city, state, and federal agencies for the purpose of outreach and verification work. recently we have focused mainly…

—
5
Casa of South Texas Inc

Child Advocacy

Human Services
6
Ronald Mcdonald House Charities of San Antonio Inc

To provide a safe, caring, and temporary home away from home for the families of children receiving essential medical services in san antonio, texas.

Health
7
San Antonio Pets Alive Inc

The mission of San Antonio Pets Alive! is to save every adoptable dog and cat in danger of being killed at the City of San Antonio Shelter.

Animals
8
Texas Foster Care & Adoption Serv

A state of texas licensed foster care and adoption agency that identifies and provides approved healing foster homes for children.

Human Services
9
Meals On Wheels San Antonio

To provide services which focus on nourishing lives, enabling independence and caring for the most frail and isolated residents in the greater san antonio region.

—
10
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Hidalgo Count

To provide services for the protection of abused and neglected children that are in the custody of the State of Texas.

Civil Rights
11
Tennis Officials of San Antonio Association
Recreation & Sports
12
Humane Society of San Antonio (Audit)

To protect and improve the lives of dogs and cats by providing shelter, care, adoption, rescue, spay & neuter programs and community education.

Animals
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Unicorn Centers Inc; the most unlike its peers is Sabinal Alumni. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

89 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 89 of the 167 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

4
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
21
Early backer (in before they grew)
83/89
Grantees still filing
59/89
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston: $281,000 · OtherInterfaith Ministries for Greater HoustonEAST CENTRAL ISD SOCIAL SERVICES: $84,500 · OtherEAST CENTRAL ISD SOCIAL SERVICESSAN ANTONIO CHRISTIAN DENTAL CLINIC: $54,000 · OtherNORMA'S HOUSE: $48,500 · Other+110 more: $882,650 · Other+110 moreMEALS ON WHEELS: $59,000 · Human ServicesMEALS ON WHEELSADOPT A NEEDY FAMILY INC: $52,000 · Human ServicesADOPT A NEEDY FAM…GONZALES CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY: $40,000 · Human ServicesGONZALES CHRISTIA…Guide Dogs of Texas Inc: $39,000 · Human ServicesGuide Dogs of Tex…ABODE CONTEMPLATIVE CARE: $24,000 · Human ServicesABODE CONTEMPLATI…House of Neighborly Service of San Antonio Texas: $15,000 · Human ServicesREACHING MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE: $14,000 · Human ServicesTHE CHILDREN'S SHELTER: $10,500 · Human Services+10 more: $57,000 · Human Services+10 moreSOUTH TEXAS PREGNANCY CARE CENTER: $32,000 · HealthTEXAS DIAPER BANK: $13,500 · HealthGUADALUPE REGIONAL MEDICAL FOUNDATION: $11,150 · HealthTexas Children's Hospital: $11,000 · HealthProject MEND: $8,800 · HealthCHILDREN'S ASSOC FOR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL (: $8,500 · Health+5 more: $8,000 · HealthFRIENDS OF GONZALES ANIMAL SHELTER: $28,500 · AnimalsANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE OF TEXAS: $14,300 · AnimalsETOSHA RESCUE & ADOPTION CENTER: $13,500 · AnimalsSpay-Neuter Assistance Program Inc: $9,000 · AnimalsWILDLIFE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION INC: $4,750 · AnimalsAUSTIN DOG ALLIANCE: $3,000 · Animals+3 more: $5,700 · AnimalsGONZALES ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $30,000 · EducationTEAMABILITY INC: $17,000 · EducationVIRGINIA THOMPSON PEARSALL EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $16,000 · EducationTHE GENEVA SCHOOL OF BOERNE: $7,500 · Education+4 more: $6,150 · EducationGONZALES YOUTH CENTER: $37,000 · Youth DevelopmentBLUEPRINT MINISTRIES INC: $20,000 · Youth DevelopmentBOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SAN ANTONIO: $5,000 · Youth Development+2 more: $2,000 · Youth DevelopmentRWANDA SHINES: $54,000 · InternationalLIFESONG FOR ORPHANS INC: $2,500 · International
Other$1,350,650Human Services$310,500Health$92,950Animals$78,750Education$76,650Youth Development$64,000International$56,500

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetInterfaith Ministries for Greater Houston: $281,000 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetMEALS ON WHEELS: $59,000 over 7y, 8.2% of budgetRWANDA SHINES: $54,000 over 8y, 8.4% of budgetSAN ANTONIO CHRISTIAN DENTAL CLINIC: $54,000 over 8y, 0.6% of budgetADOPT A NEEDY FAMILY INC: $52,000 over 8y, 26% of budgetGONZALES CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY: $40,000 over 8y, 8.9% of budgetGuide Dogs of Texas Inc: $39,000 over 6y, 0.9% of budgetGONZALES YOUTH CENTER: $37,000 over 5y, 12% of budgetGONZALES MAIN STREET INC: $36,500 over 8y, 34% of budgetSOUTH TEXAS PREGNANCY CARE CENTER: $32,000 over 3y, 2.1% of budgetGONZALES ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $30,000 over 8y, 5.4% of budgetFRIENDS OF GONZALES ANIMAL SHELTER: $28,500 over 6y, 6.1% of budgetWILSON AREA CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION: $26,500 over 6y, 31% of budgetCATHOLIC CHARITIES INC: $26,000 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetABODE CONTEMPLATIVE CARE: $24,000 over 8y, 0.9% of budgetCHILD ADVOCATES SAN ANTONIO: $21,500 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetBLUEPRINT MINISTRIES INC: $20,000 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetEAST CENTRAL SCHOOL FOUNDATION INC: $18,000 over 3y, 6.0% of budgetTEAMABILITY INC: $17,000 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetVIRGINIA THOMPSON PEARSALL EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $16,000 over 4y, 41% of budgetHouse of Neighborly Service of San Antonio Texas: $15,000 over 5y, 0.6% of budgetANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE OF TEXAS: $14,300 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetREACHING MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE: $14,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetTEXAS DIAPER BANK: $13,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetETOSHA RESCUE & ADOPTION CENTER: $13,500 over 5y, 3.2% of budgetGUADALUPE REGIONAL MEDICAL FOUNDATION: $11,150 over 8y, 0.9% of budgetTexas Children's Hospital: $11,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S SHELTER: $10,500 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetCHILDSAFE: $10,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetAchievers Center for Education: $9,500 over 5y, 1.3% of budgetSpay-Neuter Assistance Program Inc: $9,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetUNICORN CENTERS INC: $9,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetProject MEND: $8,800 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetCHILDREN'S ASSOC FOR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL (: $8,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetPROJECT INFINITY: $8,000 over 3y, 2.4% of budgetTHE GENEVA SCHOOL OF BOERNE: $7,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetMAGDALENA MINISTRIES INC: $7,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetANY WOMAN CAN NP: $7,000 over 2y, 1.8% of budgetHaven for Hope of Bexar County: $6,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetGonzales County Senior Citizens Association Inc: $6,000 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetMISSION ROAD DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBOYSVILLE INC: $5,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetBOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SAN ANTONIO: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSAN ANTONIO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: $5,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetThe Randall Parr Organization: $5,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetKinetic Kids Inc: $5,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetWILDLIFE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION INC: $4,750 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetSAN ANTONIO COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG AWARENESS: $4,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston ↗
  • Who funds MEALS ON WHEELS ↗
  • Who funds RWANDA SHINES ↗
  • Who funds SAN ANTONIO CHRISTIAN DENTAL CLINIC ↗
  • Who funds ADOPT A NEEDY FAMILY INC ↗
  • Who funds GONZALES CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY ↗
  • Who funds Guide Dogs of Texas Inc ↗
  • Who funds GONZALES YOUTH CENTER ↗
  • Who funds GONZALES MAIN STREET INC ↗
  • Who funds SOUTH TEXAS PREGNANCY CARE CENTER ↗
  • Who funds GONZALES ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds FRIENDS OF GONZALES ANIMAL SHELTER ↗
  • Who funds WILSON AREA CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds CATHOLIC CHARITIES INC ↗
  • Who funds ABODE CONTEMPLATIVE CARE ↗
  • Who funds CHILD ADVOCATES SAN ANTONIO ↗
  • Who funds BLUEPRINT MINISTRIES INC ↗
  • Who funds HOUSTON CIVIC ARTS ASSOCIATION INC ↗
  • Who funds EAST CENTRAL SCHOOL FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds TEAMABILITY INC ↗
  • Who funds VIRGINIA THOMPSON PEARSALL EDUCATION FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds House of Neighborly Service of San Antonio Texas ↗
  • Who funds ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE OF TEXAS ↗
  • Who funds REACHING MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

San Antonio Area Foun…Harvey E Najim Charit…Faye L & William L Co…John L Santikos Chari…Nancy Smith Hurd Foun…St Luke's Lutheran He…The Texas Cavaliers C…The Charity Ball Asso…Marcia & Otto Koehler…Pryor Myra Stafford C…Elizabeth Huth Coates…Keith M Orme and Pat …
San Antonio Area FoundationTX97× affinity50 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: San Antonio Area Foundation · Harvey E Najim Charitable Foundation · Faye L & William L Cowden Charitable Foundation · John L Santikos Charitable Foundation · Nancy Smith Hurd Foundation · St Luke's Lutheran Health Ministries Inc · The Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation · The Charity Ball Association of San Antonio Inc · Marcia & Otto Koehler Foundation · Pryor Myra Stafford Char Tr F0030100 · Elizabeth Huth Coates Charitable Foundation of 1992 · Keith M Orme and Pat Vigeon Orme Charitable Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The Dixie Starnes Wenger Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Dixie Starnes Wenger Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%3%13%28%50%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    24report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 167 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Dixie Starnes Wenger’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home