GRATITUDE SUMMARY
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
Wichita Falls Area
OUR HISTORY
1999
The Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation was established by Robert Priddy and local civic leaders.
Early 2000s
The first charitable funds are created, and grantmaking begins marking the start of long-term investment in local nonprofits and community needs.
2006 2010s
The Volunteer Fire Department Fund was created in partnership with The Priddy Foundation to support rural fire departments and strengthen emergency response across North Texas and Southern Oklahoma
2016
Texoma Gives was launched to connect the community through a single day of online philanthropy to support hundreds of local nonprofits
2021
Scholarship and grant programs grow significantly, increasing opportunities for students and expanding support for nonprofits throughout the region
The Foundation achieved a significant milestone, surpassing $100 million in distributed grants, showcasing the impact of sustained, community-driven generosity.
2024
The Foundation celebrated 25 years of service, honoring a legacy of generosity and the donors who have shaped the region’s future
2025
Texoma Gives concludes after a decade of impact, the Foundation moves to a new home at 2633 Plaza Parkway, and surpasses $100 million in net assets— positioning WFACF for its next chapter of growth and leadership.
LEADERSHIP
2025 was a banner year for the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation. From strengthening local nonprofits through our competitive grant cycles to opening doors for students through scholarships to celebrating the impact of Texoma Gives over the past 10 years, your support fueled our charitable efforts. Your partnership also opened new opportunities to bring our mission to life across the area.
The past year was also full of transition and growth. We marked the tenth and final Texoma Gives, and while that chapter is closing for our Foundation, the spirit of this giving day will continue. For the first time, WFACF surpassed $100 million in assets under our stewardship in 2025. This significant milestone would not be possible without the generous support of our community. We also redesigned team roles and added two new employees just in time for the move to our new home at 2633 Plaza Parkway. And while all of this was happening, we laid the groundwork for the rollout of a suite of new investment allocation options.
This report will paint a picture of our work in the past year. You’ll find a clear overview of our assets, gifts received, and grants distributed—including a snapshot of how grant dollars were invested to address community needs.
But this is only a summary - a snapshot of our impact in the past year. If you are interested in learning more about our Community Foundation and our goals to serve our community better, please stop by our office. We always welcome the opportunity to share more about the exciting work we have the honor of doing every day.
On behalf of our Board of Directors and staff, thank you for placing your trust in us. The Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation accomplished a lot in 2025, and with your philanthropic support, we will continue to grow and discover new ways to improve the quality of life across our area!
JAKE TRUETTE PRESIDENT AND CEO
MEET OUR TEAM
Jake Truette President & CEO
ceo@wfacf.org
Leslie Petersen Donor Services Manager lpetersen@wfacf.org
Lauren Benton Scholarship Coordinator lbenton@wfacf.org
Becky Schroeder Controller bschroeder@wfacf.org
Savannah Morales Grants Coordinator smorales@wfacf.org
Lori Knight Administrative Coordinator lknight@wfacf.org
Adrian Sinclair Accountant asinclair@wfacf.org
Kaleigh LeCroy Marketing Coordinator klecroy@wfacf.org
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS
In late January, our Parker Square building owners, Prosperity Bank, approached us about buying out our lease, prompting inperson discussions in February. By March, during our first Board meeting of the year, we shared the opportunity and potential need to relocate. With Board approval, negotiations with Prosperity advanced, and we began exploring new location options.
As March concluded, we finalized an agreement with Prosperity and selected our future home at 2633 Plaza Parkway In April, we closed on the space (formerly Design Works) and began planning the renovation. Thanks to the wise stewardship of our Board and the generosity of our fundholders, we purchased and renovated a significantly larger office in a prime location— entirely debt-free!
Renovations kicked off in May, and by the second week of September, we had moved in. We celebrated this milestone with an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony in November, marking a new, exciting chapter for our Community Foundation.
“We are grateful to everyone who stands behind this organization and champions our mission. Your support helps make our community a better place.”
Jake Truette, President & CEO
10 YEARS OF TEXOMA GIVES
After ten remarkable years, WFACF hosted its final Texoma Gives in 2025. What began in 2016 as a bold vision to create a simple, accessible online platform connecting donors with local causes quickly grew into a powerful movement. Designed to elevate nonprofit visibility and make giving more convenient, Texoma Gives opened the door for individuals across North Texas and Southern Oklahoma to discover, support, and champion the work happening in their own communities.
Over the course of a decade, that vision translated into extraordinary impact. Together, donors helped raise more than $14.3 million in support of 435 area nonprofits, strengthening services, expanding outreach, and fueling missions that matter.
The final year was a fitting tribute to the spirit of the initiative In 2025, hundreds of organizations once again came together to share their stories, rally supporters, and celebrate community generosity. From creative campaigns to engaging events, nonprofits embraced the opportunity to connect in meaningful and innovative ways.
As Jake Truette reflected, “Over the past 10 years, we have seen some really creative campaigns and events to fundraise through Texoma Gives.” That creativity and the passion behind it became a hallmark of the giving day experience.
The initiative not only generated critical funding but also built capacity within nonprofits, strengthened donor relationships, and cultivated a culture of generosity that will carry forward for years to come.
Texoma Gives may have been a single day each year, but its legacy is lasting!
$14,347,153
GRANT CYCLES
The Community Foundation has three annual and two semi-annual grant cycles that award grants to nonprofits and volunteer fire departments (VFD).
FUND FOR THE WICHITA FALLS AREA GRANT CYCLE to nonprofits in our service area
$309,388 43
WFACF VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT GRANT CYCLE to volunteer fire departments (Spring) $88,416 8 to volunteer fire departments (Fall)
$102,689 11
BURKBURNETT LEGACY FOUNDATION GRANT CYCLE to nonprofits in Burkburnett
$25,500 6
ROYAL C. “BINGO” KINDER GRANT CYCLE to nonprofits in Archer county $33,273 4
KRAMER BARNARD MEMORIAL GRANT CYCLE to nonprofits supporting youth initiatives $35,000 12
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Since 1999, the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation has grown a robust scholarship program, now encompassing more than 60 funds established to support students across our region. With opportunities from one-time awards to renewable support and a strong base of endowed funds, these scholarships help students pursue a wide range of educational paths and reach their goals.
174
147
SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TO LOCAL STUDENTS
STUDENTS RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP
$742,088
WAS AWARDED IN TOTAL
A HEART FOR COMMUNITY
BURKMAN
WAGGONER ENDOWMENT LEGACY FUND
Donald M. Burkman believed deeply in giving back to the Wichita Falls community—a commitment he carried throughout his life and thoughtfully extended beyond it.
In 2009, Don established a fund with the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation, formalizing his dedication to supporting the causes he cared about most With careful intention, he later named the Foundation as the primary beneficiary of his estate, ensuring his generosity would continue to make a difference for generations to come.
Following his passing in 2023, Don’s assets were liquidated and transformed into a permanent endowment, one designed to carry out his charitable vision in perpetuity. Through this lasting investment, his legacy continues to grow and respond to the evolving needs of the community he loved.
In 2025, grants from the Fund for the Wichita Falls Area Grant Cycle that aligned with Don’s wishes supported four local organizations, distributing nearly $40,000 in funding. Each grant reflects not only his values, but the enduring power of planned giving to create meaningful, lasting change.
Don’s story is a powerful reminder: the legacy you leave can continue strengthening your community for years to come.
We are deeply grateful for the individuals and families who have chosen to invest in the future of our community through legacy giving. Their generosity continues to shape Wichita Falls for generations to come.
You can make a lasting impact by including WFACF in your estate plans and creating your own legacy!
Contact Leslie Petersen, Donor Services Manager, to learn more about legacy planning. lpetersen@wfacf.org | 940.766.0829
A HEART FOR EDUCATION
THE DOYLE AND NELDA BIVINS SCHOLARSHIP
In 1999, Doyle and Nelda Bivins partnered with the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation to turn a shared vision into action, investing in students and expanding access to higher education. Their first scholarship, awarded at $5,000 and renewable for four years, set the foundation for what would become a lasting legacy.
As the fund evolved, it expanded to serve students across Wichita County, supporting those pursuing college or vocational training with a preference for STEM and business fields. Annual awards grew to $6,000, with some students receiving continued support into graduate school. Beginning in 2009, the fund also extended its impact by providing multi-year support to recipients of the Best of Burkburnett Scholarship.
Over 26 years, the Doyle and Nelda Bivins Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $700,000 to 26 students, each one a story of opportunity made possible.
“It’s amazing the impact a single person can have on your life,” shared recipient Tonya Egloff. “Their gift was more than money—it was an elevator when most people were taking the stairs. It truly changed my life.”
For many, the impact extended far beyond financial support. “Receiving the Bivins Scholarship was incredibly meaningful to me,” said Lauren Mullins, one of the fund’s final recipients. “It eased the financial burden of my education and allowed me to focus on my goals. The personal encouragement from Nelda Bivins left a lasting impression and showed the heart behind the generosity.”
The final scholarship recipient was selected in 2022, with the last disbursements made in July 2025. While the fund has closed, its legacy lives on through the students it supported and the futures it helped shape.
Doyle and Nelda Bivins shared a belief in investing in people, and today, Nelda continues that legacy through her ongoing donor-advised giving
“Beyond financial support, Nelda and Doyle invested in me personally. Their mentorship and encouragement had a lasting impact on my education and career. ”
— Cliff Humphreys
HOW YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT
At the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation, every dollar entrusted to us is carefully managed to serve our community today and for generations to come. Your partnership makes this possible.
STEWARDSHIP THAT BUILDS COMMUNITY
The Foundation stewards a diverse portfolio of charitable funds to ensure long-term sustainability and growth. With thoughtful investment and responsible management, these assets provide a steady source of support for our community, creating opportunities, strengthening nonprofits, and addressing changing needs.
GIVE WITH PURPOSE
Every gift to the Foundation represents a commitment to our community. Whether you choose to support immediate needs or build lasting resources for tomorrow, your generosity helps power meaningful change.
You can make an impact by:
Contributing to the Fund for the Wichita Falls Area to address the region’s most pressing needs
Supporting an existing nonprofit fund or endowment
Establishing a fund of your own to reflect your passions and priorities
Including WFACF in your estate plans to create a legacy of giving
No matter how you choose to give, your support strengthens the organizations and initiatives that make a difference close to home.
GENEROSITY IN ACTION
Each year, the Foundation distributes grants and scholarships that directly benefit local nonprofits, students, and community initiatives. These investments fuel programs, expand opportunities, and create measurable change across the Wichita Falls area, as you will see throughout this report.
GRANTS TO 501(3)C ORGANIZATIONS
