Helen Gertrude Sparks Charitable Trust Grant

The Helen Gertrude Sparks Charitable Trust is a philanthropic foundation managed through the Texas office of Bank of America Private Bank. Established in 1971, the Trust was founded in memory of Helen Sparks, a Fort Worth native with a strong appreciation for the arts, literature, and community service. After receiving her education in the eastern United States, Sparks returned to Fort Worth, where she became involved in the local arts scene, particularly the Fort Worth Little Theater. Her interests and values influenced the core mission of the trust, which continues to support charitable initiatives aligned with her legacy. The primary purpose of the Trust is to provide funding for nonprofit organizations serving specific vulnerable populations and promoting cultural and educational enrichment. Key target groups include elderly individuals with disabilities and children who are disabled, orphaned, or disadvantaged. Additionally, the Trust supports a broad spectrum of arts initiatives, encompassing both performing and nonperforming arts, as well as educational programming. The Trust does not fund government agencies directly and expresses a clear preference for grantees that are not primarily supported by government funding sources. The geographic scope of the Trust is focused on Tarrant County, Texas, although there are no explicit restrictions preventing organizations from other parts of Texas from applying. Nonetheless, applicants serving Tarrant County are prioritized during the evaluation process. The Trust awards approximately two to three grants annually, with individual grant amounts typically ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. There are no matching fund requirements, and organizations must skip one grant cycle before reapplying. For example, if an organization receives a grant in one year, it must wait a full year before becoming eligible to apply again. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is August 1. There are no rolling or open submission dates; applications must be completed and submitted by the specified closing date to be considered. Although no specific opening date is listed, the opportunity is classified as active, and applications can currently be submitted. There is no indication of any required pre-application materials such as letters of intent or preliminary proposals. However, prospective applicants are encouraged to review the procedures, which are available in both PDF and Microsoft Word formats through the Bank of America Private Bank’s website. Applicants are advised to contact the Texas Philanthropic office for assistance or further information. Inquiries should be directed to the email address tx.philanthropic@bofa.com, and the name of the specific foundation should be included in the subject line. Additional contact details may be found in the downloadable procedures document, though no phone number or contact person is explicitly listed on the main grant page. This funding opportunity recurs annually, with the next expected cycle anticipated in August 2026. Internal monitoring for the next cycle should begin by August 1, 2026, to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare for submission. The Helen Gertrude Sparks Charitable Trust represents a valuable funding source for nonprofits in the arts, education, and human services sectors, particularly those serving vulnerable populations in and around Tarrant County.