The Lola Wright Foundation

Established by Miss Johnie Elizabeth Wright in 1954, the Lola Wright Foundation supports children and youth, public health and human services, education and community development, and arts and culture.


The Foundation’s grant making activities are limited to organizations operating primarily within a 50-mile radius of Austin, Texas.


Application Deadlines:
February 28th and August 31st

Our Mission

The Foundation’s purpose is to support Children and Youth, Public Health and Human Services, Education and Community Development and Arts and Culture.

Our History

On December 31, 1954, Miss Johnie Elizabeth Wright established the Lola Wright Foundation in memory of her mother Lola Hemphill Wright. Johnie Wright was born in Georgetown, Texas on January 5, 1883 to the Reverend John D. Wright, a Methodist minister, and Lola Hemphill Wright. Rev. Wright died only a few months after Miss Wright’s birth and she was raised by her mother and maternal aunt, Miss Martha Hemphill. The two women made sure that Miss Wright was properly raised and well educated. Upon completing Miss Finch’s Finishing School in New York City, she enrolled in Southwestern University in Georgetown where she studied the violin and obtained a degree in music.


Regrettably, very little else is known about this gracious and generous woman and her family. It is known however that Mrs. Wright and Miss Hemphill owned and operated the Commercial Hotel in Georgetown. The hotel had a reputation for being charming and genteel with an elegant dining room known for its good southern cooking. It is believed that the hotel was established sometime around 1890 and was destroyed by fire in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s. Sometime after the hotel burned, Miss Wright and her mother moved to an apartment in the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas. In 1943, Lola Wright died. The Rev. John D. Wright, Lola Hemphill Wright and Johnie Elizabeth Wright are all buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas.


Not much is known about Miss Wright after she moved to Austin although records show that she had income from farm rental on a section of land in Yoakum County, Texas. Over the years, Miss Wright received advice and assistance from the Brown family (Brown and Root Company) who were longtime family friends. Upon receiving notice in 1947 that she was in jeopardy of losing her land in Yoakum County, Miss Wright was referred to Mr. Coleman Gay, a prominent Austin attorney who aided her in resolving the tax matter concerning her land. In 1948, oil was discovered on the property.


A few years after oil and gas were discovered, the idea of a charitable foundation was put forward and the Lola Wright Foundation came into being. The first president of the Foundation was Miss Wright and other directors were Coleman Gay and Neely H. Landrum of Dallas, Texas. When Miss Wright died in 1963, Raymond R. Todd succeeded her as president. In 1973, Mr. Todd died and was succeeded by Patrick H. O’Donnell, Jr. Currently, the Foundation is governed by a board of seven directors.


The Lola Wright Foundation is a private, non-profit charitable foundation which supports community-based organizations granted tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3). The Foundation’s grant making activities are limited to organizations operating primarily within a 50-mile radius of Austin, Texas. Funding emphases include, but are not limited to, social, health and human services; early childhood, youth and adult development services; arts and culture; and services for minorities, the homeless, and the elderly.

On December 31, 1954, Miss Johnie Elizabeth Wright established the Lola Wright Foundation in memory of her mother Lola Hemphill Wright. Johnie Wright was born in Georgetown, Texas on January 5, 1883 to the Reverend John D. Wright, a Methodist minister, and Lola Hemphill Wright. Rev. Wright died only a few months after Miss Wright’s birth and she was raised by her mother and maternal aunt, Miss Martha Hemphill. The two women made sure that Miss Wright was properly raised and well educated. Upon completing Miss Finch’s Finishing School in New York City, she enrolled in Southwestern University in Georgetown where she studied the violin and obtained a degree in music.


Regrettably, very little else is known about this gracious and generous woman and her family. It is known however that Mrs. Wright and Miss Hemphill owned and operated the Commercial Hotel in Georgetown. The hotel had a reputation for being charming and genteel with an elegant dining room known for its good southern cooking. It is believed that the hotel was established sometime around 1890 and was destroyed by fire in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s. Sometime after the hotel burned, Miss Wright and her mother moved to an apartment in the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas. In 1943, Lola Wright died. The Rev. John D. Wright, Lola Hemphill Wright and Johnie Elizabeth Wright are all buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas.


Not much is known about Miss Wright after she moved to Austin although records show that she had income from farm rental on a section of land in Yoakum County, Texas. Over the years, Miss Wright received advice and assistance from the Brown family (Brown and Root Company) who were longtime family friends. Upon receiving notice in 1947 that she was in jeopardy of losing her land in Yoakum County, Miss Wright was referred to Mr. Coleman Gay, a prominent Austin attorney who aided her in resolving the tax matter concerning her land. In 1948, oil was discovered on the property.


A few years after oil and gas were discovered, the idea of a charitable foundation was put forward and the Lola Wright Foundation came into being. The first president of the Foundation was Miss Wright and other directors were Coleman Gay and Neely H. Landrum of Dallas, Texas. When Miss Wright died in 1963, Raymond R. Todd succeeded her as president. In 1973, Mr. Todd died and was succeeded by Patrick H. O’Donnell, Jr. Currently, the Foundation is governed by a board of seven directors.


The Lola Wright Foundation is a private, non-profit charitable foundation which supports community-based organizations granted tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3). The Foundation’s grant making activities are limited to organizations operating primarily within a 50-mile radius of Austin, Texas. Funding emphases include, but are not limited to, social, health and human services; early childhood, youth and adult development services; arts and culture; and services for minorities, the homeless, and the elderly.

Board of Directors

Wilford Flowers

President and Director

Paul Hilgers

Vice President and Director

Ron Oliveira

Secretary and Director

Adrian Rhae Fowler

Director

Brandy Mueller

Director

Shalonda Horton

Director

Ellen Balthazar

Director

Guidelines for Applicants

Fields of Interest:


  • Children and Youth
  • Public Health and Human Services
  • Education and Community Development
  • Arts and Culture


Geographic Restrictions:
The geographic restriction includes the following seven counties: Bastrop, Blanco, Burnett, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson.


Application Deadlines:
February 28th and August 31st


The Lola Wright Foundation Board meets twice a year, usually in May and November, to consider grant requests. Completed grant requests must be received no later than February 28th (for May meeting) or August 31st (for November meeting). An item postmarked February 28th or August 31st, but received by us at a later date, does not constitute delivery to us by the deadline date. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Holiday, then the deadline date shall be the last working day prior to the due date.


Grant requests may be hand-delivered between the business hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.



Address for hand delivery of applications:


The Lola Wright Foundation
c/o Amber Carden
Bank of America, Private Bank
607 W 3rd Suite 2760
Austin, TX 78701-4706


Late applications will not be reviewed or retained.


Notification Dates:
Applicants will be notified in writing of the acceptance or rejection of their request within three to four months of the application deadline.


Restrictions:
Organizations considered for funding must be classified as qualified public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals. In addition, the Foundation generally does not provide funding to organizations for day-to-day operating costs or expenses. An organization receiving a grant from the Foundation may not apply for another grant for at least twelve (12) months.


Grantee Evaluation – Final Report:
After a grant is made, the grantee organization is required to complete and submit a final report of grant expenditures with financial and programmatic information. Future grant requests will not be considered if reports on previous grants are not completed.


Questions:
Questions regarding applications and grants will be answered Monday through Friday. Please contact Michelle Aguilar at (512) 397-2257.

Grant Application Procedures & Forms

The information listed below must be provided in the order presented. Each applicant must submit ten (10) printed copies of the following:


  • Appendix
    Only the items listed below may be attached in the appendix per bid


  • List of Trustees or Directors and Corporate Officers:
  • Please include board of director titles, profession, ethnicity, gender, city, and state.
  • All requests for funding to support project:
  • List all entities asked to give financial support to the proposed project. Please include their responses to date and dollar amounts committed. If applicable, include a copy of the current lease.
  • Bids for the purchase of equipment or vehicles:
  • If applicable; (1) page per bid. A minimum of (3) bids are required or an explanation of why it’s not possible).


  • Additional Materials Required — Submit one copy only


  • Most recent copy of 501(c) (3) Tax-determination letter
  • Current audited financial report If you cannot furnish an audited statement then you must furnish a financial report signed by an officer of your organization certifying and attesting that the statement is a full and complete statement of your financial condition.
  • Most recent IRS Informational Return Form 990, if applicable
  • Accreditation certificate, if applicable


If your organization does not have both of the above stated financial documents, submit the document you have and also submit a Balance Sheet along with an Income Statement for the most recently completed fiscal year.

FOR APPLICATION CONSIDERATION MAKE CERTAIN THAT


  • You have enclosed all information requested;
  • Your operating budget covers a full fiscal year;
  • You have broken down salaries and other benefits paid to your key organization and project staff (If not included, proposal will not be considered);
  • You have NOT enclosed bulky materials, magazines, brochures, binders, folders, letters of recommendation, or any other materials not requested in the Grant Application Guidelines.

Contact Information

By Mail: 

The Lola Wright Foundation
Amber Carden
Bank of America, Private Bank
607 W 3rd, Suite 2760
Austin, TX 78701-4706

By Phone:

By Email: