Foundations that fund organizations in Houston, Texas
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Houston nonprofits
3,426 private foundations gave $1.1B to Houston organizations in their latest filings; 43 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
14,479 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Houston around $100K. 82 of these funders are based in Texas; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 3,426
- Accept applications
- 43
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Houston
- $1.1B
- latest filings
- Grants
- 14,479
- Typical median grant
- $100K
- Based in TX
- 82%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Houston organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sarofim Foundation | Houston, TX | 76 | $79M | $250K | Yes | General charitable purposes |
| Houston Endowment Inc | Houston, TX | 205 | $60M | $120K | Yes | General Operating Support; Project Support for Capacity Strengthening Activities; Project Support to Increase Civic Engagement among Students… |
| Kinder Foundation | Houston, TX | 71 | $58M | $91K | Preselected only | General fund; Teacher awards; Postsecondary gift |
| The Brown Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | 179 | $57M | $50K | Yes | Operating Support; Capital Projects; Light the Way Capital Campaign |
| Dan L Duncan Foundation | Houston, TX | 48 | $32M | $50K | Preselected only | Social services; Educational services; Medical programs |
| Gates Foundation | Seattle, WA | 19 | $24M | $1.0M | Yes | K-12 education; Enterics, diagnostics, genomics & epidemiology; Postsecondary education; research and learning opportunities |
| John P McGovern Foundation | Houston, TX | 185 | $22M | $20K | Yes | General support; Program support; Annual Luncheon |
| The Bloomberg Family Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 2 | $20M | $9.9M | Preselected only | To support career and technical education; To support public art challenge |
| Swalm Foundation | Wellington, TX | 1 | $18M | $18M | Preselected only | General purpose |
| The Cullen Foundation | Houston, TX | 32 | $17M | $213K | Yes | Annual Giving Grant; Upper Armand Bayou Protection Project; Baylor College of Medicines Health Sciences Tower |
| The Elkins Foundation | Houston, TX | 60 | $14M | $100K | Yes | In support of audience access and artistic ambition; In support of alley theatre's big freight elevator; In support of spanish speaking programs |
| Jerold B Katz Foundation | Houston, TX | 14 | $14M | $250K | Yes | 2025 donation |
| David and Eula Wintermann Foundation | Eagle Lake, TX | 7 | $13M | $2.0M | Preselected only | To support cancer research at either md anderson cancer cen…; To support the purchase of essential equipment for the labo…; Educational fund for 4 year scholarship |
| Hamill Foundation | Houston, TX | 59 | $13M | $200K | Preselected only | Operating Support for core programs & services including He…; Capital Campaign for expansion of Drexel Facility plus a ne…; Operating Support for core programs to offer a sober high s… |
| The Moody Foundation | Galveston, TX | 26 | $13M | $100K | Yes | Assistance with the Generation One Academy and Empowered Fa…; Support creation of two affordable homes in Texas City for…; Support Galveston Teen Club operations and upgrades to the… |
| Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation | Houston, TX | 34 | $12M | $50K | Yes | Operational support; Amazing together campaign; Light the way campaign |
| Charles Jago Elder Charitable Trust | Houston, TX | 1 | $11M | $11M | Preselected only | To fund charitable activities |
| The Robert a Welch Foundation | Houston, TX | 9 | $11M | $160K | Yes | Basic research in chemistry and related fields |
| Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao Foundation | Houston, TX | 57 | $11M | $25K | Preselected only | General operating support; Program/project support |
| The John M O'Quinn Foundation | Houston, TX | 56 | $10M | $50K | Yes | To support operations; To support play your park campaign; To support the expansion of life flight fleet |
| The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation | Houston, TX | 48 | $9.9M | $107K | Preselected only | Annual operations.; McNair Scholar (Q. Zhao); McNair Scholar (M. Bround) |
| The Sarofim Foundation | Houston, TX | 4 | $8.0M | $69K | Yes | General charitable purposes; Gifts made by transferee foundation - the sarofim foundatio… |
| The Powell Foundation | Houston, TX | 110 | $7.9M | $28K | Yes | Designated Grant: General operating and support; Arts: Student Education Programs; Human Services: Stabilization and Empowerment |
| The Carl a Davis and Lois E Davis Foundation | Houston, TX | 13 | $7.5M | $10K | Preselected only | Operating support |
| Annunziato Family Foundation | Houston, TX | 7 | $7.2M | $100K | Preselected only | To support handup program; To support the organization; To support highly motivated, historically excluded students… |
| The Marcus Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | 2 | $7.2M | $3.6M | Preselected only | To support the exempt purpose of the receipient organization |
| The William Stamps Farish Fund | Houston, TX | 66 | $7.0M | $50K | Yes | Program support; General operations; Program support and capacity building |
| The Gordon & Mary Cain Foundation | Houston, TX | 2 | $7.0M | $3.5M | Preselected only | Charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes |
| Charter Fund Inc D/B/A Charter School Growth Fund | Broomfield, CO | 18 | $6.9M | $180K | Yes | Charter school growth; Charter school capacity-building; Impact and innovation |
| Huffington Foundation | Houston, TX | 32 | $6.8M | $25K | Preselected only | For women's health services programs; For homeless support programs; For alzheimer's medical research |
| The Cockrell Foundation | Houston, TX | 13 | $6.7M | $20K | Yes | General support; Support the Virginia and Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Permanently R…; General support - matching program |
| The Benificus Foundation | San Carlos, CA | 2 | $6.4M | $3.2M | Preselected only | General purpose |
| Centerpoint Energy Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | 126 | $5.9M | $25K | Preselected only | General donation |
| Santander Consumer USA Inc Foundation | Dallas, TX | 3 | $5.5M | $2.5M | Preselected only | Funding supports the digital inclusion initiative which inc… |
| Stoller Foundation | Houston, TX | 40 | $5.4M | $26K | Yes | Ministry; General support; Discretionary grant |
| The Notsew Orm Sands Foundation | Houston, TX | 1 | $5.3M | $5.3M | Yes | General support |
| MD Anderson Foundation | Houston, TX | 65 | $5.2M | $50K | Yes | General operating support; Program support; To help offset the expenses of food program |
| Carl C Anderson Sr and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation | Dallas, TX | 2 | $5.0M | $2.5M | Yes | Children's underwear assist / Emergency staffing funds; Unrestricted general support |
| George & Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation | Houston, TX | 1 | $5.0M | $5.0M | Yes | Schools, medical arts, conservation |
| The Whalley Foundation | Houston, TX | 52 | $4.9M | $50K | Preselected only | Fund programs; Funds programs |
| Jpmorgan Chase Foundation | New York, NY | 174 | $4.8M | $900 | Preselected only | Matching contribution (general operating support); In support of creating economic mobility and career pathways; In support of underserved small business expansion |
| John S Dunn Foundation | Houston, TX | 38 | $4.8M | $60K | Yes | Grant for operating support.; Grant to support student scholarships to provide 11 partial…; Grant to support research for the Cultivation Center to inc… |
| Phillips Family Foundation | Houston, TX | 27 | $4.7M | $50K | Preselected only | General charitable purpose |
| Shell USA Company Foundation | Houston, TX | 730 | $4.5M | $1,970 | Preselected only | 1000; 500; 2000 |
| The Debakey Medical Foundation | Houston, TX | 8 | $4.4M | $350K | Preselected only | New Medical School agreement; George P. Noon, M.D. Endowed Chair in Surgery; Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Awards |
| Lilly Endowment Inc | Indianapolis, IN | 4 | $4.2M | $850K | Yes | Religion & cultural inst initiative; Hispanic pastoral leaders initiative; Thriving congregations initiative |
| Scharbauer Foundation Inc | Midland, TX | 2 | $4.0M | $2.0M | Yes | Midland capital campaign harmony public schools; 2024 board directed gift - general operating |
| Vivian L Smith Foundation | Houston, TX | 166 | $4.0M | $20K | Yes | General operations; Support the area of greatest need; Nursing program scholarships |
| The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation | Houston, TX | 2 | $4.0M | $2.0M | Preselected only | Health services; Children's hospital |
| Marek Family Foundation | Houston, TX | 99 | $4.0M | $10K | Preselected only | To further the exempt purpose of the organization; To support religious faith; To support underserved students on a pathway to college |
| Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation | Houston, TX | 197 | $3.9M | $10K | Yes | Towards support of general operations.; In memory of mrs. annette dewalch strake.; Towards support of scholarships for lower-income k-12 kids… |
| Dr Miriam & Sheldon G Adelson Medical Research Foundation | Needham, MA | 2 | $3.7M | $1.8M | Preselected only | Medical research |
| The Ct Bauer Foundation | Houston, TX | 18 | $3.6M | $33K | Preselected only | General support |
| Rockwell Fund Inc | Houston, TX | 47 | $3.6M | $75K | Yes | General operating support; Supportive housing programs; Services for hope clinic patients |
| The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation | Richmond, TX | 35 | $3.5M | $35K | Yes | For a $25,000 youth drawing scholarship; To support fort bend post adoption program, including richm…; To support the legal advocacy program and family violence p… |
| Je and Le Mabee Foundation Inc | Midland, TX | 4 | $3.3M | $750K | Preselected only | Community outreach; Education; Youth development |
| Guill Family Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | 22 | $3.3M | $75K | Yes | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Hildebrand Foundation | Houston, TX | 68 | $3.2M | $25K | Yes | General support; Program support; Capital campaign |
| Wellcome Leap Inc | San Diego, CA | 2 | $3.1M | $1.5M | Preselected only | Global health research |
| Rushing River Foundation | The Woodlands, TX | 3 | $3.1M | $25K | Preselected only | Donation to assist the organization in carrying out its mis… |
| Impetus Foundation | San Antonio, TX | 3 | $3.0M | $40K | Preselected only | General charitable purpose; General Charitable Purpse |
| Robert J & Helen C Kleberg Foundation | San Antonio, TX | 7 | $3.0M | $40K | Yes | Support medical study; Charitable; Accomodating blood cancer patients and family |
| The Wt & Louise J Moran Foundation | Houston, TX | 40 | $3.0M | $25K | Preselected only | To further the organization's charitable mission.; Moran ecoteens; Camp cullen health center |
| The Wortham Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | 18 | $2.9M | $45K | Yes | General operations |
| Fidelity Foundation | Boston, MA | 23 | $2.9M | $730 | Yes | Fidelity matching gifts to education; Planning; Technology & equipment |
| Leslie L Alexander Foundation Inc | Delray Beach, FL | 45 | $2.7M | $35K | Preselected only | Animal rescue; Humanitarian charity; Children's charity |
| Tarsadia Foundation | Newport Beach, CA | 2 | $2.6M | $1.3M | Preselected only | Program support |
| The Mary H Cain Foundation | Houston, TX | 7 | $2.6M | $210K | Yes | Unrestricted |
| The Stanton Foundation | Houston, TX | 11 | $2.6M | $60K | Preselected only | To support the mission of the organization |
| Michael & Susan Dell Foundation | Austin, TX | 5 | $2.5M | $350K | Yes | Improving Healthcare Pathways in Greater Houston; Innovative Counseling and Solutions for Post-Secondary Succ…; Accelerating Adoption of Texas Education Exchange |
| Fw Bert and Mae Dean Wheeler Foundation | College Station, TX | 3 | $2.5M | $100K | Preselected only | General fund; Cancer research |
| Fant Foundation | Houston, TX | 11 | $2.5M | $50K | Preselected only | General fund |
| A R Tony and Maria J Sanchez Family Foundation | Houston, TX | 20 | $2.5M | $85K | Preselected only | General operating support; Cross academy funding initiative & ignite campaign; Legal advocacy program for low to moderate-income survivors… |
| Sterling-Turner Foundation | Houston, TX | 77 | $2.5M | $25K | Yes | General support; Programming and maintenance; Game Changer event |
| Zorich Family Foundation | Houston, TX | 15 | $2.4M | $100K | Preselected only | General charitable purpose |
| Marvy Finger Family Foundation | Houston, TX | 31 | $2.4M | $30K | Yes | Promotion of performing arts in the Houston community; Research, education, and preservation of the fine arts; Housing assistance for Texas Medical Center patients and th… |
| Kean Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | 1 | $2.4M | $2.4M | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Diabetes Care Foundation | Omaha, NE | 6 | $2.3M | $75K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Tlc Foundation From the Heart | Artesia, NM | 2 | $2.3M | $1.1M | Preselected only | To further education; Eliminate cancer patient care, research, and prevention thr… |
| The Glassell Family Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | 9 | $2.3M | $250K | Preselected only | general purpose; General purpose |
| The Medallion Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | 67 | $2.2M | $15K | Yes | Back to school program; Replace bedroom flooring in the apartments; Radio awareness campaign |
| Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Foundation | Houston, TX | 7 | $2.2M | $48K | Preselected only | Education program support; General community support; General education support |
| Robert M Beren Family Foundation Inc C/O Donna Stucky | Wichita, KS | 3 | $2.2M | $450K | Preselected only | Israel emergency fund; General fund; Uos capital campaign |
| Strake Foundation | Houston, TX | 94 | $2.2M | $10K | Yes | General Operating Support; General Operating Funds; Annual Luncheon Sponsorship |
| Shadywood Foundation | Houston, TX | 8 | $2.1M | $250K | Preselected only | Contribution to advance the education and growth of kinkaid…; Contribution to aid in delivering innovative patient treatm…; Contributions to the memorial of carrie horne and anne pull… |
| Jerry C Dearing Family Foundation | Houston, TX | 30 | $2.1M | $63K | Preselected only | General support |
| Robert R & Kay M Onstead Foundation | Houston, TX | 1 | $2.1M | $2.1M | Preselected only | See Statement 13-A Detail. |
| Srb Charitable Corporation | Fort Worth, TX | 1 | $2.0M | $2.0M | Preselected only | General |
| Wolf Creek Charitable Foundation C/O Baldwin Family Office | West Conshohocken, PA | 1 | $2.0M | $2.0M | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| The Mulva Family Foundation | Austin, TX | 2 | $2.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | Support for melanoma program; Support for prostate cancer program |
| Exxonmobil Foundation | Spring, TX | 34 | $1.9M | $4,200 | Preselected only | Education |
| Lorraine & Jeannette Clift George Charitable Foundation | Houston, TX | 2 | $1.9M | $944K | Preselected only | To facilitate continued support of the arts in under-served…; General support |
| Davis Charitable Trust C/O the Northern Trust Company | Austin, TX | 1 | $1.9M | $1.9M | Preselected only | Md anderson cancer research |
| The Rawley Foundation Xxxxx0008 | Chicago, IL | 23 | $1.9M | $40K | Preselected only | General |
| Cfp Foundation | Houston, TX | 31 | $1.9M | $30K | Preselected only | General Support |
| John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation | Chicago, IL | 5 | $1.9M | $400K | Preselected only | In support of general operations; To mainstream equity within india's climate action through…; To support the work of the environmental justice team |
| Jlh Foundation | Katy, TX | 2 | $1.8M | $917K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| The Humphreys Foundation | Liberty, TX | 13 | $1.7M | $175K | Yes | Productions; Operations |
| The Duncan Fund | Houston, TX | 1 | $1.7M | $1.7M | Yes | General capital contribution |
| Florence and William K McGee Jr Family Foundation | Houston, TX | 30 | $1.7M | $25K | Yes | General support; Operations support community centers; Scout reach program |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Houston, Texas?
The Sarofim Foundation, Houston Endowment Inc, Kinder Foundation, The Brown Foundation Inc, Dan L Duncan Foundation and 95 others reported grants to Houston organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Houston. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.