Mary E. Bivins Foundation

What Mary E. Bivins Foundation does

The Mary E. Bivins Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation established in 1949 by Mary Elizabeth Bivins and headquartered in Amarillo, Texas. The Foundation operates exclusively in the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle and pursues a mission to enrich quality of life in the region by supporting the elderly, funding the education of Christian ministers, and addressing critical community needs. Its core offerings consist of three grant programs (Community Grant Program with a $5,000 minimum request, Healthy Senior Grant Program with $2,500-$50,000 awards, and Rapid Response Grant Program with decisions within one business week and awards up to $5,000), the Bivins Scholars Program for theological education ($1,500-$10,000 per academic year), the Senior Hunger Solutions regional initiative, and direct service operations at Bivins Village.

Bivins Village is the Foundation's signature housing initiative, comprising 120 apartments across 10 buildings (one three-story building with 60 units, one two-story building with 28 units, and 8 cottage-style fourplexes with 32 units) serving adults aged 62 and older with income-based rent. The Foundation supplements this with Bivins Market, a monthly grocery program launched in October 2022 providing residents up to $120 retail value of groceries at no cost, plus enrichment programs (chair yoga, BINGO, Bible study, art programs via Amarillo Museum of Art and Amarillo Art Institute) and The Villager monthly newsletter. The Foundation has no proprietary technology platform; operations are supported by a standard Wix-hosted website and conventional nonprofit administrative tooling.

The Foundation's business model is structured as an endowed philanthropic entity rather than a revenue-generating enterprise. The Foundation is led by President and CEO Katharyn Wiegand, with a small staff (11-50 employees) including program officers, a controller, an office coordinator, and a property manager. Distributions are funded through an endowment established at founding and supplemented by returns on invested assets. The Foundation does not disclose revenue figures, but documented 2025 grantmaking totals approximately $1.97 million across two Community Grant cycles, with additional disbursements through Healthy Senior, Rapid Response, and Bivins Scholars programs. The Foundation reported approximately $1,083,787 in August 2025 Community Grant awards across 17 recipients and $883,870 in February 2026 awards across 16 recipients.

Name

Mary E. Bivins Foundation

Legal name

Mary E. Bivins Foundation

Website

https://bivinsfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Mary E. Bivins Foundation is a 1949-founded nonprofit foundation serving the Texas Panhandle's top 26 counties, providing community grants, scholarships for theological education, affordable senior housing (Bivins Village, 120 units), and food security initiatives for adults aged 62 and older.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation Philanthropic Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Nonprofit / Faith-Based CCRCs (HLADAEAC)

Keywords

• Community foundation grants
• Nonprofit philanthropy
• Senior affordable housing
• Theological scholarships
• Food insecurity programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Amarillo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Operations, Personnel

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Mary E. Bivins Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation established in 1949 in Amarillo, Texas, that provides philanthropic funding, programs, and direct services across the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle. Its core activities include competitive grantmaking to nonprofit organizations and public entities, affordable housing for low-income seniors aged 62 and older, theological education scholarships, and food security initiatives for older adults.

Product overview

The Mary E. Bivins Foundation operates as a philanthropic organization offering a portfolio of grant programs, scholarship initiatives, and community services focused on improving quality of life for older adults in the Texas Panhandle. The core offerings include three grant programs (Community Grant, Healthy Senior Grant, and Rapid Response Grant) supporting nonprofit organizations, plus the Bivins Scholars scholarship program for theological education. Direct service initiatives include Senior Hunger Solutions (a food security initiative), Bivins Village (120-unit affordable housing community for adults 62+), and Bivins Market (monthly grocery assistance). Resident Life Programs provide enrichment activities for Bivins Village residents through The Villager newsletter and organized events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bivins Village: Affordable, independent living community for older adults age 62+ providing housing and supportive services designed to help older adults thrive.
• Senior Hunger Solutions
• Bivins Scholars Program

Products and services

• Community Grant Program Competitive grants awarded to nonprofit organizations and public entities serving the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle for community-based projects and programs.
• Healthy Senior Grant Program Grants dedicated to supporting programs that improve the health, wellness, and quality of life of seniors in the Texas Panhandle region.
• Rapid Response Grant Program Expedited grant funding for urgent or emerging community needs within the Texas Panhandle service area.
• Bivins Village Affordable housing community for low-income individuals aged 62 and older, located in Amarillo, Texas, offering subsidized rental units.
• Bivins Scholars Program Scholarship program supporting students pursuing theological education, providing financial assistance for seminary or theological studies.
• Senior Hunger Solutions / Bivins Market Food security program for older adults in the Texas Panhandle, including the Bivins Market grocery program designed to address senior hunger.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.97M+ in community grants awarded in 2025 (August $1,083,787 + February $883,870)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Texas Water FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025CEO Sarah Rountree Schlessinger led panel discussion on water issues at Foundation Board Forum, representing regional water advocacy organization.
• Snack Pak 4 KidscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025Regional nonprofit food provider whose founder Dyron Howell presented on the organization's buying cooperative benefiting local nonprofit food providers in the Texas Panhandle at Foundation Board Forum.
• Canadian Red River Municipal Water AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025Panel participant at Foundation Board Forum discussing water sustainability issues and projections for the Texas Panhandle region.
• North Plains Groundwater Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025Panel participant at Foundation Board Forum addressing water sustainability challenges in the Texas Panhandle.
• Panhandle Groundwater Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025Panel participant at Foundation Board Forum addressing regional water sustainability and conservation issues.
• High Plains Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey community partner represented at senior hunger community meetings, serving as a major food distribution organization in the Texas Panhandle addressing food insecurity among older adults.
• Panhandle Community ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial service agency partner participating in community meetings on senior hunger, providing services to vulnerable populations including seniors across the Texas Panhandle.
• Baylor University Collaborative on Hunger and PovertycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating with the Foundation on addressing senior food insecurity, bringing research expertise and programmatic insights to regional solutions.
• Panhandle PBScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced 'Broken Bread: Examining Senior Food Insecurity in the Texas Panhandle' documentary series funded by the Foundation, providing media platform to elevate awareness of senior hunger issues.
• Amarillo CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for community meeting on senior hunger held at Amarillo College Innovation Outpost on October 2, 2025.
• Frank Phillips CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for community meeting on senior hunger held in Borger at Frank Phillips College on September 24, 2025.
• Clarendon CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for community meeting on senior hunger held at Clarendon College Childress Center on October 1, 2025.
• Amarillo Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly craft program at Bivins Village where museum staff lead interactive craft experiences for residents to encourage creativity and engagement.
• Amarillo Art InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides guided art experiences at Bivins Village through AAI Craft program, with sessions held monthly in Building J and Building A.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Meadows Foundation: A larger Texas-based private foundation supporting education, human services, and community development across the state. Comparable in funding model and broad program scope, though with significantly larger assets and a statewide footprint.
• Kresge Foundation: National private foundation with grantmaking focus on health, human services, and community development including senior poverty. Comparable in programmatic grant approach, but operating at a national scale with substantially larger assets.
• National Council on Aging: A national nonprofit advocating for and serving older adults through programs, partnerships, and grantmaking. Comparable in mission focus on aging with dignity, though at a national scale rather than regional.
• Communities Foundation of Texas: One of the largest community foundations in Texas, operating a grantmaking, scholarship, and donor-advised fund platform. Comparable in operating multiple grant programs and scholarships, but at substantially greater scale.
• LeadingAge: National association of nonprofit aging-services providers, including affordable senior housing operators. Comparable in operating and advocating for nonprofit senior housing, though Bivins Village is a single operator rather than a network.

Direct peers

• Episcopal Health Foundation: A faith-affiliated Texas foundation focused on health, food security, and community well-being. Comparable in faith-rooted grantmaking on senior and community health, with a similar mission-driven, regional focus.
• Meals on Wheels America: National nonprofit addressing senior food insecurity, the exact problem Senior Hunger Solutions targets. Directly comparable in mission, beneficiary population, and Bivins Market-style food distribution model.
• High Plains Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the same 26-county Texas Panhandle, addressing hunger including among older adults. A current strategic partner and the most direct operational peer to the Senior Hunger Solutions initiative.
• Amarillo Area Foundation: A community foundation serving the same Texas Panhandle region with comparable grantmaking, scholarships, and community-convening roles. Most directly comparable in geography, scale, and program mix.

Regional players

• Permian Basin Area Foundation: Regional community foundation serving the Permian Basin in West Texas. Comparable in operating a community foundation model in a different but adjacent rural Texas region, with scholarships and grants.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mary-e.-bivins-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mary E. Bivins Foundation