What Abell-Hanger Foundation does

The Abell-Hanger Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) philanthropic foundation established in 1954 by oil and gas pioneer George Thomas Abell and his wife Gladys Hanger-Abell, headquartered at 112 Corporate Drive in Midland, Texas. The foundation operates as Midland's largest independent private foundation, serving the 27 counties of West Texas across four focus areas: education, health, human services, and arts and cultural activities. It is governed by trustees who make annual grant decisions and operated by a small professional staff of fewer than ten employees including a CEO, CFO, Grants Officer, Program Director, and Office Manager.

The foundation's service portfolio spans five core program lines: (1) a Grants Program using a Pre-Proposal Questionnaire (PPQ) and Letter of Intent (LOI) workflow through the Grant Interface portal, with applications reviewed every 4-6 weeks; (2) the Legacy Scholarship program, established in 1986 and co-sponsored with three other family foundations, providing two years of free tuition at Midland College plus Abell-Hanger Fellows transfer pathways to five Texas four-year universities; (3) Midland Shared Spaces, a nonprofit coworking facility with 95%+ occupancy since 2014 offering IT services at 40% below market rates; (4) Students in Philanthropy, a youth philanthropy curriculum operating in nine Permian Basin programs since 1997; and (5) the Leadership Acceleration Program, a two-year cohort-based executive development program for nonprofit leaders. The annual Abell Innovation Award (since 2021) funds community-problem-solving innovation.

The foundation's business model is endowment-funded grantmaking, not commercial revenue generation. Income derives from an investment portfolio built on the founders' oil and gas estate, and is redistributed as grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to students. Geographic focus is strictly limited to the 27 counties of West Texas, with no individual grants or loans. The foundation supplements its direct grantmaking with ecosystem-level coordination, including co-founding the Permian Area Funders Network in 2023 to convene regional funders. There is no product revenue, subscription model, or fee-based service; financial scale is constrained by the IRS 5% minimum distribution requirement and undisclosed endowment performance.

Name

Abell-Hanger Foundation

Legal name

Abell-Hanger Foundation

Website

https://abell-hanger.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Abell-Hanger Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation in Midland, Texas, providing grants, scholarships, and shared workspace to nonprofits, students, and community organizations across 27 counties of West Texas, funded by an oil-and-gas-origin endowment since 1954.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Foundation Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Community foundation services
• Nonprofit grant programs
• Educational scholarships
• Nonprofit capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Midland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Grantmaking: The foundation operates as a private foundation established by George and Gladys Abell in 1954. The foundation receives income from its endowment and investment portfolio and distributes grants to nonprofit organizations serving the West Texas community. The foundation does not generate revenue from products or services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Abell-Hanger Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that provides grant funding to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving the 27 counties of West Texas, scholarships to Midland County high school graduates for college tuition, and operates programs including Midland Shared Spaces (nonprofit workspace facility), Students in Philanthropy (youth philanthropy education), Leadership Acceleration Program (nonprofit executive development), and the Abell Innovation Award (community innovation grants).

Product overview

The Abell-Hanger Foundation is a philanthropic organization offering a portfolio of grant programs and educational initiatives. The core offerings include: Grants Program (PPQ/LOI-based grantmaking for nonprofits), Legacy Scholarships (tuition support at Midland College with Abell-Hanger Fellows transfer option), and Midland Shared Spaces (nonprofit workspace facility). The Foundation also operates youth philanthropy programs including Students In Philanthropy (SIP) and Leadership Acceleration Program (LAP), plus the annual Abell Innovation Award. Additional named scholarships include the James I. Trott Opportunity Scholarship and Herbert L. Cartwright Education Continuance Scholarship. These offerings work together to serve the Foundation's mission of transforming lives through purposeful philanthropy in West Texas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Legacy Scholarship Program: An educational scholarship program established in 1986 providing two years of free tuition at Midland College for Midland County high school graduates, now co-sponsored by four family foundations.
• Leadership Acceleration Program
• Students In Philanthropy
• Midland Shared Spaces
• Abell Innovation Award

Products and services

• Grants Program The Foundation's core grantmaking program providing funding to nonprofit organizations in West Texas. Includes a Pre-Proposal Questionnaire (PPQ) process for new applicants and Letter of Intent (LOI) process for returning applicants, with geographic focus on 27 counties of West Texas.
• Legacy Scholarships Scholarship program established in 1986 providing two years of free tuition at Midland College for high school graduates in Midland County. Co-sponsored by four family foundations (Abell-Hanger, Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust, Chaparral Foundation, Scharbauer Foundation) and includes Abell-Hanger Fellows for transfer to four-year universities.
• Midland Shared Spaces A nonprofit center providing quality, affordable resources and workspace for nonprofit organizations in Midland County. Offers IT services at 40% below market rates, shared office facilities, collaboration opportunities, and houses the WTX Nonprofits online directory. Maintains over 95% occupancy since opening.
• Students In Philanthropy (SIP) Program established in 1997 engaging young adults in philanthropy and volunteerism. Operates nine programs (three college, six high school) with a six-module curriculum covering Community Need, Role of Nonprofits, Grant Selection, Fundraising, Volunteering, and Board Governance.
• Abell Innovation Award Annual grant supporting innovative ideas and people working to solve community challenges. Can be used to develop new ideas, test existing ideas, or spread proven ideas. Applications accepted year-round with selection occurring annually in June. Applications due by March 31st.
• Leadership Acceleration Program (LAP) Two-year program advancing nonprofit leaders with up to five fellows annually completing a rigorous common curriculum plus individual professional development projects. Fellows commit to monthly cohort meetings, twice-monthly coaching, and annual three-day retreats.
• James I. Trott Opportunity Scholarship Highly selective scholarship for outstanding high school seniors graduating from Crane, Fort Stockton, and Buena Vista Independent School Districts pursuing a bachelor's degree at a public college or university in Texas.
• Herbert L. Cartwright Education Continuance Scholarship Competitive scholarship awarded to outstanding Legacy Fellows graduating from Midland College and planning to pursue a bachelor's degree at a public university in Texas, with preference for students transferring to West Texas universities in education, engineering, nursing, or medical fields.

Quantifiable outcome

• Legacy Scholarship program has provided two years of free tuition at Midland College to hundreds of high school graduates since 1986
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Helen Greathouse Charitable TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with the Abell-Hanger Foundation in 2003 to co-sponsor the Legacy Scholarship program at Midland College, providing two years of free tuition to Midland County high school graduates. The partnership expanded the scholarship from its 1986 founding to include additional family foundation support.
• Chaparral Foundation (Harvey and Harriet Herd)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined the Legacy Scholarship partnership in 2006 as the third partner foundation, expanding the tradition of supporting MC students in their pursuit of higher education.
• Scharbauer Foundation (Dorothy and Clarence Scharbauer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited with the other three foundations to support the Legacy Scholarship educational legacy, further expanding scholarship resources for Midland College students.
• Midland CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary educational institution partner for the Legacy Scholarship program, administering scholarships and providing academic success coaching, program direction, and pathways to transfer to four-year universities including WTAMU, Texas Tech, UTPB, Angelo State, and Sul Ross University.
• WTX NonprofitsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMidland Shared Spaces became home to WTX Nonprofits in 2021, a robust online directory of nonprofits operating or serving in West Texas designed to connect individuals with area nonprofits for information on missions, services, volunteer opportunities, and events.
• Midland Arts AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in The Gallery at MSS collaboration with Midland Arts Association and The Palette Club, providing a free platform for local artists to display their work, with art rotated quarterly.
• The Palette ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in The Gallery at MSS arts initiative providing exhibition space for nonprofit arts association members at Midland Shared Spaces.
• Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Library and Hall of FameminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorge Abell originated the idea for the museum and spent years collecting antique oil field equipment. The Abell-Hanger Foundation commissioned historical oil paintings displayed in the museum. Abell served as the first president of the museum's board of trustees.
• Midland Memorial HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorge Abell chaired the first capital campaign for Midland Memorial Hospital in 1945-46 and served as president of the hospital board in 1951-52. Gladys was active in the hospital's volunteer auxiliary. In 2009, the foundation awarded $7 million to build the Towers at Midland Memorial Hospital.
• Students in Philanthropy Campus PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNine SIP programs operate in the Permian Basin through partnerships with three college programs and six high school programs, each with campus coordinators facilitating the philanthropy curriculum.
• Midland Independent School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorge Abell served as Board President of the Midland Independent School District during construction of the present Midland High School auditorium. The foundation continues to support MISD through grants for staff recruitment, retention, student programs, and CTE facilities.
• Boy Scouts of America - Buffalo Trail CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorge Abell was highly active in the Boy Scouts, serving in various capacities and leading the capital fund campaign which secured the 6,000 acre camp in the Davis mountains.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• San Angelo Area Foundation: A West Texas regional community foundation administering scholarships and grants across the Concho Valley — closely comparable regional philanthropic mandate, scholarship administration model, and target beneficiary profile.
• Amarillo Area Foundation: A regional community foundation serving the Texas Panhandle with grantmaking and scholarship programs targeting similar education and human services outcomes — comparable in regional scope but operating in a distinct West Texas sub-market.

Direct peers

• Chaparral Foundation (Harvey and Harriet Herd): Midland-area family foundation that joined the four-foundation Legacy Scholarship partnership, operating with the same Permian Basin education access mandate as Abell-Hanger.
• Scharbauer Foundation: Midland-based family foundation of Dorothy and Clarence Scharbauer that also co-funds the Legacy Scholarship partnership — directly comparable in mission, geography, and beneficiary focus to Abell-Hanger.
• Permian Basin Area Foundation: A regional community foundation serving the Permian Basin with grantmaking and scholarship programs — directly comparable scope and beneficiary geography to Abell-Hanger's 27-county focus.
• Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust: A West Texas family foundation that co-sponsors the Legacy Scholarship program with Abell-Hanger at Midland College, serving an overlapping Permian Basin beneficiary pool with a comparable education-focused grantmaking mandate.

Broad incumbents

• T.L.L. Temple Foundation: A large East Texas family foundation with a similarly broad education, health, and community development mandate originating from oil & gas wealth — analogous governance model (family foundation) and programmatic categories at materially larger scale.
• Communities Foundation of Texas: A large Texas-wide community foundation operating across education, health, and community benefit — a broader incumbent with overlapping programmatic categories but a much wider geographic and asset footprint than Abell-Hanger.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abell-hanger-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Abell-Hanger Foundation