Louise Bowers Slentz Advise and Consult Fund

The Louise Bowers Slentz Foundation Grants are managed through the Amarillo Area Foundation (AAF) and are designed to benefit the twenty-six northernmost counties in the Texas Panhandle. This fund honors Louise Bowers Slentz, a Pampa, Texas native and philanthropist who supported social services, education, and leadership initiatives in the region. Established in 2011, the Slentz Advise and Consult Fund has distributed over three million dollars to local nonprofit organizations. The grant program is part of AAF’s broader efforts to support health, education, and animal welfare in the Texas Panhandle. These grants are issued from a donor-advised fund with a structured focus on impactful community benefit. Grant funds support programmatic, capital, and emergency projects aligned with the fund’s core priorities: need-based direct healthcare, post-secondary education, and animal welfare. Emphasis is placed on applicants from the counties of Gray, Wheeler, Roberts, Donley, Carson, and Hemphill. Eligible organizations must be nonprofit or charitable institutions operating within the specified twenty-six counties; individuals and non-charitable organizations are ineligible. Applicants must submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through the Spectrum portal, including a one- to two-page summary or cover letter and a comprehensive budget detailing income and expenses. The LOI should also describe the sustainability of the proposed project. Requests typically range up to $50,000, though proposals up to $300,000 may be considered if they demonstrate regional impact. Applications from outside the service area, general operating requests, support groups in health fields, and education levels below post-secondary are not considered. LOIs are reviewed twice annually—in April and September—with final funding decisions made in June and December, respectively. Organizations that have not closed prior Slentz grants may not apply until completion, though declined or partially funded applicants may reapply if their proposals remain within guidelines. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with AAF’s grants staff before submission, especially if they need help registering with the Spectrum portal. Eligibility requirements include 501(c)(3) status or equivalent qualifications for government entities, public educational institutions, or faith-based organizations serving the broader community. All projects must directly benefit residents of the Texas Panhandle’s northern counties. Financial documentation requirements vary by budget size and may include IRS 990 forms or audited financial statements. For questions or assistance, applicants may contact Sarah Griffin, Director of Grants and Community Investment, or Grants Program Officers Beth Cameron Gunn and Raul Rodarte-Suto. They can be reached through the Amarillo Area Foundation's main office at 806.376.4521. The 2023 application period included an LOI deadline of August 4, 2023, at noon.