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The Foundation’s rural nonprofit conference, SPUR, was held August 7-8, 2025, in Sweetwater, Texas. The Foundation's rural grantmaking initiative inspired the event. The purpose of SPUR is to connect rural nonprofits and funders passionate about strengthening West-Central Texas communities.
Mike Fernandez, Texas National Bank President & CEO, provided opening remarks at the conference, including a charge for the participants.
"Our hope is that you soak up as much as you can over the next few days," said Fernandez. "That you make some new friends and acquaintances, and that you leave the conference energized and full of ideas to take back to your homes and organizations."
Fernandez also shared a scripture he had been reflecting on as the days for SPUR drew close.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hosted on the campus of Texas State Technical College (TSTC), nearly 100 nonprofit staff, board members, volunteers, and funders from 70 organizations attended the conference.
About 70 percent of the organizations represented were from rural communities, while 30 percent were from Abilene and Taylor County.
"This has been a great conference. It's given me a lot of insights into what's necessary to run and administrate a nonprofit," said Jim Cargile with LifeHouse. "My board president and I are going to have to sit down and do some good stuff."
Educational sessions were held on the first day of the conference.
From board governance to capacity building, marketing and communications to donor stewardship and development, subject-matter experts presented knowledge specific to the nonprofit landscape.
See the speaker list and explore the conference agenda.
In addition, the conference featured a Help Desk where nonprofits could visit and practice their "pitches" before the funder roundtables. The Foundation team and supporters (like Dini Spheris, MindPop, and Texas Rural Funders) staffed the Help Desk.
The concluding SPUR event was the funder roundtables held the following day. The goal of the roundtables is for the nonprofit to connect with local, regional, and statewide funders to gain awareness of their organization. The roundtable discussions were one of the most dynamic parts of the conference.
It is a time when nonprofit organizations seeking funding could meet with potential funders in a speed-dating style. This opportunity lets organizations present their "pitch" within a set time limit. This interaction may lead to further discussions between the organization and the funder.
Beyond constructing the pitch, nonprofits needed to learn about the funders, such as eligibility, geographic focus, and application process.
Participating funders included: Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation, Community Foundation of Abilene, Humanities Texas, Texas Methodist Foundation, The Carl C. Anderson Sr. & Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation, and The Meadows Foundation.
Grant funding plays a crucial role in enhancing the health and well-being of these communities. To secure grant funds, nonprofits must establish strong relationships with funders and thoroughly understand the grants process.
From the time invested in researching and engaging in conversation with funders, nonprofits were building capacity for their organizations and programs.
And if the roundtables could get any better...
The Texas Methodist Foundation selected nine nonprofit organizations to recommend in the funder's upcoming grant recommendations. Those nine organizations include:
"We were one of the organizations that was pushed forward in an invitation for some grant funding," said Jesenia Rodriguez with Concho Valley Community Action Agency. "This has been an amazing conference. I'm grateful I had this opportunity."
The impact of these recommendations is a $2,500 grant as well as the opportunity to engage in a learning cohort with Wendolyn Abel, Vice President of Grants Ministry for Texas Methodist Foundation, and other TMF nonprofit grantees.
We hope that we are planting seeds in this area with your communities in the impactful work that you do. So if nobody else tells you today, I see you, and I appreciate the hard work you do in the community.
This conference event provided rural nonprofits with invaluable access to funding sources, opportunities for collaboration, and capacity-building services.
It was an opportunity to connect with peers and leaders who understand the challenges facing rural communities. These resources enable organizations to address the needs of their communities more effectively.
A special thanks to the nonprofit and funder participants, as well as our sponsors, for making SPUR possible.
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