Mabee Foundation
The Foundation helps fund new construction, building renovations, and the purchase of major medical equipment for non-profit organizations.
Average award: $100,000–$500,000
Total awarded: $52,139,000
Note: Up to 20% of the total costs of the project are awarded; 40% of project costs must be raised by the time of application.
Deadline: Rolling; quarterly review
Award Project Period: Not specified; construction must begin within two years of award
Midland, TX 79705
The Mabee Foundation specifically makes grants for construction projects, renovation projects, and for the purchase of major medical equipment. It will provide support to educational institutions that exclusively serve a special or vulnerable population.
The Foundation awards challenge grants, meaning that the organization must raise the remaining funds required to finish the project within one year of the awarding of the grant or risk cancellation of the grant. Construction must begin within two years after satisfying the grant challenge. Payment is not made on the grant until the challenge has been satisfied and construction has started. It also requires that 40% of the total project be raised by other public donors before it will consider a grant request. Borrowed funds, government grants or other governmental funds, internal or reserve funds, or funds not specifically designated for the project cannot be counted as part of the 40% raised.
Tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations. The project must be located in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Missouri, or Kansas. Note that the Foundation does not fund educational institutions below the college level unless the institution exclusively serves a special or vulnerable population.
Note: Very limited giving to educational institutions below the college level, and “special or vulnerable populations” has historically been defined as individuals with disabilities (per past award history). However, the Foundation very recently updated its website and has refined and further specified its giving focus. It may be worth it for Native American schools to reach out to the Foundation to discuss their potential to apply. Native schools serving at-risk (e.g., socially and emotionally impacted, trauma-impacted, special needs) youth will be a solid fit for this funder.
- $2,000,000 to Bynum School (Midland, TX) for new building construction for this private school that serves children and young adults with special needs.
- $1,000,000 to Boy Scouts of America Indian Nations Council (Tulsa, OK) for a new building.
- $500,000 to Cookson Hills Christian School (Kansas, OK) for new building construction for this school that works to educate students academically, spiritually, and socially in a trauma-informed environment.
Complete the online application, which requires organization contact and basic information; number of persons served; personnel contact information; project budget (amounts only); specify project type; detail government grants, reserve funds, or borrowing amounts, if any; funds raised to date; list other funding sources; estimate construction timeline; indicate if the organization will own the property after project completion, if no state lease agreement terms; brief project summary; need for project; success measures; sustainability plans; geographic area served; age served; any additional population descriptions; upload attachments (501(c)(3) letter; IRS 990; Board list; audited financials for organizations with assets greater than $500,000; donor list; detailed project budget; any additional information). Note: summary answers are brief (typically 200 words or fewer limit).