Houston Endowment Inc

Supporting OrganizationIRS data 2020–2024

Houston, TXEIN 746013920 Website

Annual Giving

$99.6M-7% YoY

Grants

355

Median Grant

$125K

Organizations Funded

322

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Foundation Overview

Mission

Houston Endowment is a nonpartisan, private foundation that exists to serve the people of Greater Houston. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for everyone in Greater Houston, envisioning a vibrant region where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Focus Areas

charter school expansioncharter school facilitiesteacher preparation and residencyteacher apprenticeship (grow your own)k-12 public education improvementcollege access and scholarshipshomelessness and housing assistanceimmigration legal services and naturalization

Grant Types

general operating supportproject supportprogram supportcapital supportdirected grantsmatching giftsscholarshipscapacity building and evaluation support

Funded Initiatives

$2B+ assets, $1B to deploy over next 10 years, $15M Collaboration Fund expansion 2025, $15M homelessness reduction initiative, $4.9M Collaboration Fund 2024 (65 grantees), $400K Houston Public Library citizenship classes, founded 1937, perpetual place-based foundation

How to Apply

Grants awarded on invite-only basis. Organizations can share unsolicited ideas through GivingData portal. If strong alignment, invitation extended for full application. Accepts applications year-round with no deadlines. Geographic focus Greater Houston including Harris and 7 contiguous counties.

Does Not Fund

Invite-only basis, geographic restriction to Greater Houston (Harris County plus Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery, Waller counties), board policy prohibits applicant contact with board members, must be 501(c)(3) organizations

Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.

Giving History

2024-7%

$99.6M

Grants

355

Median

$125K

States

2023+9%

$106.6M

Grants

253

Median

$150K

States

2022

$97.8M

Grants

509

Median

$75K

States

Grant Size Distribution

$125K

Typical Grant (Median)

$500

Smallest

$75K

25th Pctile

$250K

75th Pctile

$5.0M

Largest

Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $75K and $250K.

Largest Recent Grants

$5.0M

2024

Greater Houston Community Foundation

TX · Program Support for Houston Charter Seed Fund

$5.0M

2024

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors INC

NY · In support of the Charitable Activities of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors' Sponsored Project the Greater Houston Voter Engagement Project

$3.0M

2024

United Way of Greater Houston

TX · Project Support for the Building Possibilities Campaign for United Way to Assist Houston's Nonprofit Sector Pursue Public Grants

$3.0M

2024

Harmony Public Schools

TX · Project Support for Phase Two of Houston Expansion

$2.3M

2024

Houston Local Information Initiative Inc DBA Houston Landing

TX · General Operating Support

Geographic Focus

$76.6M273 grants

$7.4M13 grants

$4.5M14 grants

$4.5M23 grants

$1.6M8 grants

Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.

Financial Overview

YearTotal AssetsGrants Paid

2024

$2.5B

$99.6M(4.0%)

2023

$2.4B

$106.6M(4.5%)

2022

$2.3B

$97.8M(4.2%)

2020

$1.4B

$80.9M(5.7%)

Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets

Network Intelligence

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Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.