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Private foundations Houston, TXtax years 2023 to 2025

Private foundations in Houston, TX

1,263 private foundations based in Houston, TX filed a 990-PF in the last two years. In their latest returns they gave $1.6 billion in 22,937 grants, and 228 say they accept applications.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Foundations with a return in the last two years, each by its latest return (tax years 2023 to 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

Largest givers

By grants paid, latest return
  1. Laura and John Arnold FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 789 grants Preselected only $193,332,143 giving
  2. The Sarofim FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 90 grants Accepts applications $105,249,647 giving
  3. Houston Endowment IncHouston, TX · tax year 2024 355 grants Accepts applications $99,578,383 giving
  4. The Brown Foundation IncHouston, TX · tax year 2024 222 grants Accepts applications $84,269,500 giving
  5. Kinder FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2025 78 grants Preselected only $66,876,693 giving
  6. Dan L Duncan FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 79 grants Preselected only $39,519,544 giving
  7. The Robert A Welch FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 69 grants Accepts applications $38,348,669 giving
  8. Stoller FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 216 grants Accepts applications $32,556,368 giving
  9. Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 169 grants Preselected only $28,783,770 giving
  10. Leducq Foundation for Cardiovascular ResearchHouston, TX · tax year 2024 116 grants Preselected only $25,565,310 giving
  11. John P McGovern FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 244 grants Accepts applications $23,553,258 giving
  12. The Terry FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 13 grants Preselected only $22,463,345 giving
  13. The Hook Family FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2025 2 grants Preselected only $21,710,423 giving
  14. Jerold B Katz FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 22 grants Accepts applications $21,305,600 giving
  15. The Powell FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2025 271 grants Accepts applications $20,425,720 giving
  16. Centerpoint Energy Foundation IncHouston, TX · tax year 2025 486 grants Preselected only $18,349,026 giving
  17. The Cullen FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 33 grants Accepts applications $17,910,000 giving
  18. The Elkins FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 76 grants Accepts applications $17,256,822 giving
  19. The William Stamps Farish FundHouston, TX · tax year 2024 134 grants Accepts applications $16,748,450 giving
  20. Shell USA Company FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 4,650 grants Preselected only $16,017,669 giving
  21. The John M O'Quinn FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 78 grants Accepts applications $15,010,000 giving
  22. Hamill FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 81 grants Preselected only $14,912,000 giving
  23. Albert and Margaret Alkek FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 58 grants Accepts applications $14,000,000 giving
  24. Hildebrand FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2025 122 grants Accepts applications $13,958,123 giving
  25. The Robert and Janice McNair FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 68 grants Preselected only $13,813,073 giving

Foundations that accept applications

Largest first

The return gives an application contact and does not check the preselected-only box.

  1. The Sarofim FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 90 grants Accepts applications $105,249,647 giving
  2. Houston Endowment IncHouston, TX · tax year 2024 355 grants Accepts applications $99,578,383 giving
  3. The Brown Foundation IncHouston, TX · tax year 2024 222 grants Accepts applications $84,269,500 giving
  4. The Robert A Welch FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 69 grants Accepts applications $38,348,669 giving
  5. Stoller FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 216 grants Accepts applications $32,556,368 giving
  6. John P McGovern FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 244 grants Accepts applications $23,553,258 giving
  7. Jerold B Katz FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 22 grants Accepts applications $21,305,600 giving
  8. The Powell FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2025 271 grants Accepts applications $20,425,720 giving
  9. The Cullen FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 33 grants Accepts applications $17,910,000 giving
  10. The Elkins FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 76 grants Accepts applications $17,256,822 giving
  11. The William Stamps Farish FundHouston, TX · tax year 2024 134 grants Accepts applications $16,748,450 giving
  12. The John M O'Quinn FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 78 grants Accepts applications $15,010,000 giving
  13. Albert and Margaret Alkek FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 58 grants Accepts applications $14,000,000 giving
  14. Hildebrand FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2025 122 grants Accepts applications $13,958,123 giving
  15. The Fondren FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $13,002,029 giving
  16. The Lanier Theological Library FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 16 grants Accepts applications $10,899,357 giving
  17. The Cockrell FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 18 grants Accepts applications $10,808,776 giving
  18. The Notsew Orm Sands FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 7 grants Accepts applications $9,032,500 giving
  19. Joseph & Terri Gugenheim Charitable FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2025 Grants listed in an attachment (not in the e-file) Accepts applications $8,132,545 giving
  20. Jacob and Terese Hershey FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 174 grants Accepts applications $6,844,100 giving
  21. George & Mary Josephine Hamman FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $6,361,250 giving
  22. Christian Brothers Automotive FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2025 2 grants Accepts applications $6,255,654 giving
  23. MD Anderson FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 75 grants Accepts applications $6,191,500 giving
  24. Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 320 grants Accepts applications $5,876,300 giving
  25. John S Dunn FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 45 grants Accepts applications $5,107,452 giving

Giving by cause

Grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Education426 foundations $282,656,71033% of the total
  2. Philanthropy and grantmaking197 foundations $93,368,47511% of the total
  3. Arts and culture276 foundations $81,533,9059% of the total
  4. Health279 foundations $73,115,5438% of the total
  5. Environment174 foundations $65,177,7278% of the total
  6. Human services320 foundations $64,874,5987% of the total
  7. 19 other causes $206,187,63524% of the total

Most active small givers

Foundations with under $1 million in assets, by the number of grants they listed.

  1. Cheniere FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 119 grants Preselected only $2,989,654 giving
  2. Skyward Specialty Insurance FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 90 grants Preselected only $147,638 giving
  3. The Sparks FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 72 grants Preselected only $69,923 giving
  4. Winkelmann Charitable FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2025 55 grants Preselected only $45,450 giving
  5. Sysco Disaster Relief Foundation IncHouston, TX · tax year 2024 55 grants Accepts applications $42,654 giving
  6. Yk Scholarship Foundation IncHouston, TX · tax year 2025 48 grants Accepts applications $101,000 giving
  7. The Cross FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 45 grants Preselected only $1,132,578 giving
  8. LVM FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 43 grants Preselected only $76,200 giving
  9. C Wayne and Patricia J Miller FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 41 grants Preselected only $70,200 giving
  10. Leonard and Teresa Friedman FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 39 grants Preselected only $143,550 giving
  11. Arnold & Itkin FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 38 grants Preselected only $262,800 giving
  12. Don A Sanders Family FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 38 grants Preselected only $253,960 giving
  13. First Community Cares FoundationHouston, TX · tax year 2024 37 grants Accepts applications $240,250 giving
  14. The Gailo TrustHouston, TX · tax year 2025 37 grants Preselected only $152,700 giving
  15. T Ragan Ryan Foundation IncHouston, TX · tax year 2024 36 grants Accepts applications $33,700 giving