Funding search · EIN 746013920 · Houston, TX

Houston Endowment

Name: Houston Endowment grants, 2020–2024
Creator: PaperOrbit
License: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organization-public-disclosure-and-availability-requirements

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

1,640
grants reported: $376.9M
total given: 2020–2024
filing years: $85,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 2020–2024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

houston matching gift directed capacity greater strengthening increase

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is built Report an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

Voter engagement and electoral participation across Greater Houston
Teacher pipeline, apprenticeships, and alternative certification for Houston districts
Immigration legal services, citizenship and naturalization outreach in Harris County
Charter school expansion and facilities financing in Houston
Houston arts, cultural districts, parks, trees, and local journalism
Nonprofit capacity building, evaluation, and public grant readiness

Typical grant

Median grant is $85,000 and half of all grants fall between $10,000 and $200,000, so most of the file is modest. The seven-figure checks go to system-level plays: charter seed and facilities funds, citywide voter engagement infrastructure, United Way campaign support, and capital projects for museums and theaters. Anchor grantees repeat, and some receive several grants in the same year for distinct pieces of work, so a first small grant is plausibly the front end of a multi-year relationship.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

“Greater Houston”
“Program Support for”
“Project Support for”
“General Operating Support”
“Increase Electoral Participation in Greater Houston”
“and Conduct an Independent Evaluation of the Project”
“In Support of the Charitable Activities of”
“Grow Your Own”

Positioning adjacent work

Anchor the work in Greater Houston or Harris County explicitly; out-of-state grantees are funded only for Houston deliverables.
Connect to teacher pipeline, civic engagement, or citizenship services, their three densest 2024 clusters.
Ask $250,000 to $500,000 for a defined project; reserve seven figures for citywide infrastructure.
Build an independent evaluation line into the proposal; they fund evaluation capacity as its own grant.
If your institution is out of state, name a Houston district, college, or nonprofit as the implementing partner.

Worth knowing: This is a place-based funder: 1,311 of 1,640 grants went to Texas recipients, and the DC, NY, CA, and MA grantees were almost all paid to run projects inside Houston, often through fiscal sponsors like Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, NEO Philanthropy, and Vanguard Charitable. Recent giving concentrates hard on democracy and immigration infrastructure alongside educator talent, with a small set of hubs such as Houston in Action, Greater Houston Community Foundation, and United Way absorbing outsized shares.

7 grants matching “teacher preparation” · $2.6M

$500,000
Teacher Prep Inspection-US · Sarasota, FL · 2024
Project Support to Conduct Program Assessments for Houston Educator Preparation Programs
$500,000
San Jacinto Community College Foundation Pasadena Texas · Pasadena, TX · 2024
Project Support to Launch a Teacher Preparation Program at San Jacinto Community College
$150,000
Texas Tech Foundation · Lubbock, TX · 2024
Project Support to Provide Transformational Teacher-Residency Support to Local Educator Preparation Programs
$120,000
Houston Community College Foundation · Houston, TX · 2024
Project support for the Development of a Strategic Plan to Codify Teacher Preparation and Workforce Activities
$600,000
Teacher Prep Inspection-US · Sarasota, FL · 2023
Project Support to Conduct Program Assessments for Houston Educator Preparation Programs
$500,000
San Jacinto Community College Foundation Pasadena Texas · Pasadena, TX · 2023
Project Support to Launch a Teacher Preparation Program at San Jacinto Community College
$250,000
Teachorg · San Francisco, CA · 2023
Program Support for TEACH for Houston to Strengthen Houston's Pipeline of Teacher Candidates for High-Quality Teacher Preparation Programs

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

Good Reason Houston9 grants · $15.4M
Greater Houston Community Foundation13 grants · $12.2M
Coalition for the Homeless of Houstonharris County2 grants · $10.5M
Houston in Action Network12 grants · $9.2M
Houston Independent School District Foundation10 grants · $8.4M
Equitable Facilities Fund2 grants · $7.0M
Yes Prep Public Schools7 grants · $6.0M
Aldine Independent School District11 grants · $5.8M
Communities Foundation of Texas20 grants · $5.3M
Houston Arts Alliance8 grants · $5.2M

Giving over time

$79.9M

2020

$96.8M

2022

$102.7M

2023

$97.5M

2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 1,640 grants.

$10.0M
Coalition for the Homeless of Houstonharris County · Houston, TX · 2023
General Operating Support
$10.0M
Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2023
General Operating Support
$7.0M
Equitable Facilities Fund · New York, NY · 2022
Project Support for the Texas Facilities Fund (an EFF initiative that will provide low-cost financing and other forms of support to high-performing public charter schools throughout Texas)
$5.0M
Greater Houston Community Foundation · Houston, TX · 2024
Program Support for Houston Charter Seed Fund
$5.0M
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2024
In support of the Charitable Activities of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors' Sponsored Project the Greater Houston Voter Engagement Project
$5.0M
Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2022
General Operating Support
$5.0M
Buffalo Bayou Partnership · Houston, TX · 2020
Project Support Toward Implementation of the East Sector Master Plan
$4.5M
William Marsh Rice University · Houston, TX · 2023
Project Support to Design, Pilot, and Publish a Report with Recommended Interventions to Eliminate Voting Deserts across Greater Houston
$3.4M
Coalition for the Homeless of Houston Harris County · Houston, TX · 2020
Project Support for the Community COVID Housing Program
$3.2M
Houston Independent School District Foundation · Houston, TX · 2020
Toward providing students with outstanding higher education opportunities through the expansion of EMERGE and strengthening the college readiness systems across the district through centralizing support
$3.0M
Harmony Public Schools · Houston, TX · 2024
Project Support for Phase Two of Houston Expansion
$3.0M
United Way of Greater Houston · Houston, TX · 2024
Project Support for the Building Possibilities Campaign for United Way to Assist Houston's Nonprofit Sector Pursue Public Grants
$3.0M
Equitable Facilities Fund · New York, NY · 2023
Project Support for the Texas Facilities Fund (an EFF initiative that will provide low-cost financing and other forms of support to high-performing public charter schools throughout Texas)
$3.0M
Search Homeless Services · Houston, TX · 2023
General Operating Support
$3.0M
Pacific Charter School Development · Los Angeles, CA · 2022
Project Support for Texas Charter Schools Facilities
$3.0M
Yes Prep Public Schools · Houston, TX · 2020
Project Support for Leading Forward campaign: launch of high quality elementary schools
$2.5M
Greater Houston Community Foundation · Houston, TX · 2023
2023 Houston Endowment Directed Grant Program Administered by GHCF
$2.5M
Houston Local Information Initiative Inc Dba Houston Landing · Houston, TX · 2023
General Operating Support
$2.5M
Yes Prep Public Schools · Houston, TX · 2023
Project Support for Leading Houston Forward Campaign (Phase II)
$2.5M
Houston Local Information Initiative Dba Houston Landing · Houston, TX · 2022
General Operating Support
$2.5M
Yes Prep · Houston, TX · 2022
Project Support for Leading Houston Forward Campaign (Phase II)
$2.3M
Houston Local Information Initiative Inc Dba Houston Landing · Houston, TX · 2024
General Operating Support
$2.0M
Pacific Charter School Development · Los Angeles, CA · 2024
Project Support for Expansion of the Texas Charter School Development Facilities Fund
$2.0M
Houston Parks Board · Houston, TX · 2023
Project Support Toward Increasing Park Equity
$2.0M
Pacific Charter School Development · Los Angeles, CA · 2023
Project Support for Texas Charter Schools Facilities
$2.0M
Aldine Independent School District · Houston, TX · 2022
Project Support for Implementation of District Plan to Increase College, Career, and Military Readiness Outcomes
$2.0M
Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council · Houston, TX · 2022
General Operating Support
$2.0M
Houston Arts Alliance · Houston, TX · 2022
Project Support for the Houston BIPOC Arts Network & Fund (BANF) - Phase II Funding
$2.0M
Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2020
Toward increasing the number of students from Houston's urban core attending A & B schools
$1.8M
Houston Arts Alliance · Houston, TX · 2023
Project Support for the Houston BIPOC Arts Network & Fund (BANF) - Phase III Funding
$1.6M
Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative · Houston, TX · 2023
Project Support for the Give Citizenship a Boost Project and its Naturalization Application Fee Fund
$1.6M
Election Center · Katy, TX · 2023
Program Support for Incubating the Texas Association for Elections Administrators and Training for Elections Professionals
$1.5M
Greater Houston Community Foundation · Houston, TX · 2024
2024 Houston Endowment Directed Grant Program Administered by GHCF
$1.5M
Kipp Texas · Dallas, TX · 2023
Project Support for Charter School Growth
$1.5M
Spark · Houston, TX · 2023
Project Support for the Third Phase of the Park Desert Initiative
$1.5M
University of Houston · Houston, TX · 2023
Project Support to Develop and Implement the University of Houston Alternative Certification Program
$1.5M
Alley Theatre · Houston, TX · 2022
Capital Support for the Alley Vision for the Future Campaign to support the Continued Enhancement of the Theatre and to Draw Down Matching Funds
$1.5M
Buffalo Soldiers National Museum · Houston, TX · 2022
Capital Support for the Ready & Forward Capital Campaign for Renovation of the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum and to Draw Down Matching Funds
$1.5M
Greater Houston Community Foundation · Houston, TX · 2022
Program Support for Houston Charter Seed Fund
$1.5M
Bakerripley · Houston, TX · 2020
Project Support for the City of Houston to Provide Direct Financial Assistance to Residents Impacted by COVID-19 and the Administration of the Funds
$1.5M
Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated · Austin, TX · 2020
Project Support for the One Breath Partnership
$1.5M
Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2020
Toward increasing the number of students from Houston's urban core attending A & B schools
$1.5M
Good Reason Houston · Houston, TX · 2020
Toward increasing the number of students from Houston's urban core attending A & B schools (challenge grant)
$1.4M
Texas Immigration Law Council · Austin, TX · 2024
General Operating Support
$1.4M
The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX · 2020
Toward support for Houston-area students participating in the University Leadership Network at The University of Texas at Austin
$1.3M
Houston Independent School District Foundation · Houston, TX · 2023
Project Support to Increase Electoral Participation among Students and Families, Coordinate District Activities with Community Groups, and Conduct an Independent Evaluation of the Project
$1.3M
Emerge Fellowship · Houston, TX · 2024
Project Support for Transitioning Program Staff from HISD to EMERGE
$1.2M
Harris County Public Library · Harris County Library, TX · 2024
Program Support for Harris County Public Library to Expand Citizenship Services
$1.2M
Collective Action for Youth · Houston, TX · 2024
Program Support to Increase Electoral Participation in Greater Houston
$1.1M
Harris County Public Library · Houston, TX · 2023
Program Support for Harris County Public Library to Expand Citizenship Services
$1.1M
Communities Foundation of Texas · Dallas, TX · 2023
Project Support for District Analysis to Inform Strategic Planning and Technical Assistance to Increase College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) Student Outcomes
$1.0M
Houston Independent School District Foundation · Houston, TX · 2024
Project Support to Increase Civic Engagement among Students and Families, Coordinate District Activities with Community Groups, and Conduct an Independent Evaluation of the Project
$1.0M
Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries · Houston, TX · 2024
Program Support for Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries to Launch the Pathways to Citizenship Collaborative in Greater Houston
$1.0M
Casa Mateo · Houston, TX · 2024
Program Support for the Launch of Casa Mateo
$1.0M
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston · Houston, TX · 2024
Capital Support Toward Land Acquisition for the Museum's West Expansion
$1.0M
Houston Arts Alliance · Houston, TX · 2024
For the Houston BIPOC Arts Network & Fund - Phase IV Sustaining
$1.0M
Houston in Action Network · Houston, TX · 2024
Project Support for Building Communications Capacity of Organizations Working to Get Out the Vote
$1.0M
Houston in Action Network · Houston, TX · 2024
Program Support to Increase Electoral Participation in Greater Houston
$1.0M
Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston · Houston, TX · 2024
Program Support to Launch an Immigration Legal Services Program
$1.0M
Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, MD · 2024
Project Support for the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University
$1.0M
Miller Theatre Advisory Board Inc Dba Miller Outdoor Theatre · Houston, TX · 2024
Capital Support for Renovations and Improvement for the Benefit of the Audience
$1.0M
My Connect Community · Houston, TX · 2024
General Operating Support
$1.0M
Public Private Strategies Institute · Washington, DC · 2024
Project Support for Public Private Strategies to Create the Houston Business Innovation Fund to Strengthen Civic Engagement of Businesses and Rebuild Trust in Our Democracy
$1.0M
Spark · Houston, TX · 2024
Project Support for the Third Phase of the Park Desert Initiative
$1.0M
Texas Tech Foundation · Lubbock, TX · 2024
Project Support to US Prep National Center to Strengthen High-Quality Teacher Pathways in Houston
$1.0M
Trees for Houston · Houston, TX · 2024
Project Support for Increasing Tree Equity
$1.0M
University of Houston · Houston, TX · 2024
Project Support to Develop and Implement the University of Houston Alternative Certification Program
$1.0M
Aldine Independent School District · Houston, TX · 2023
Project Support for Implementation of District Plan to Increase College, Career, and Military Readiness Outcomes
$1.0M
Collective Action for Youth · Houston, TX · 2023
Program Support to Increase Electoral Participation in Greater Houston
$1.0M
Houston in Action Network · Houston, TX · 2023
Program Support to Increase Electoral Participation in Greater Houston
$1.0M
National Center for Grow Your Own · Plymouth, MI · 2023
Project Support to Initiate Planning and Development of Grow Your Own Apprenticeship Programs with Local School Districts
$1.0M
Texas Tech Foundation · Lubbock, TX · 2023
Project Support to US Prep National Center to Strengthen High-Quality Teacher Pathways in Houston
$1.0M
The Beacon of Downtown Houston · Houston, TX · 2023
General Operating Support
$1.0M
Trees for Houston · Houston, TX · 2023
Project Support for Increasing Tree Equity
$1.0M
United States Veterans Initiative · Houston, TX · 2023
General Operating Support
$1.0M
Beatrice Mayes Institute Charter School · Houston, TX · 2022
Project Support for Beatrice Mayes Institute's Building a Legacy Campaign to Serve Additional K-8 Students
$1.0M
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston · Houston, TX · 2022
Program Support to Strengthen the Refugee Resettlement Infrastructure in Greater Houston
$1.0M
Harmony Public Schools · Houston, TX · 2022
Project Support for Houston Expansion
$1.0M
Houston in Action Network · Houston, TX · 2022
Program Support to Increase Electoral Participation in Greater Houston
$1.0M
Houston Independent School District Foundation · Houston, TX · 2022
Project Support to Implement the EMERGE Fellowship Program for the Graduating Classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024 at Houston ISD
$1.0M
Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston · Houston, TX · 2022
Program Support to Strengthen the Refugee Resettlement Infrastructure in Greater Houston
$1.0M
Kipp Texas Public Schoolshouston · Houston, TX · 2022
Project Support for the Rise Together Campaign for the Expansion of KIPP Public Schools in Houston
$1.0M
The Alliance · Houston, TX · 2022
Program Support to Strengthen the Refugee Resettlement Infrastructure in Greater Houston
$1.0M
United Way of Greater Houston · Houston, TX · 2022
Project Support for Out2Learn
$1.0M
Ymca of Greater Houston · Houston, TX · 2022
Program Support to Strengthen the Refugee Resettlement Infrastructure in Greater Houston
$1.0M
Emerge Fellowship · Houston, TX · 2020
General Operating Support
$1.0M
Idea Public Schools · Houston, TX · 2020
Toward IDEA Public Schools - Greater Houston Launch Phase One
$1.0M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation · Houston, TX · 2020
Toward Great Opportunities (GO) Neighborhoods: Continuation and enhancements for data, health, and civic engagement
$1.0M
The Beta Foundation · Houston, TX · 2020
Project Support for Beta Academy's Joy Campaign for Expansion
$1.0M
United Way of Greater Houston · Houston, TX · 2020
Toward the Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund
$950,000
Brazosport Independent School District · Clute, TX · 2024
Project Support to Expand Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs
$950,000
Brazosport Independent School District · Clute, TX · 2023
Project Support to Expand Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Programs
$875,000
Public Citizen Foundation · Austin, TX · 2020
Project Support for the Healthy Port Communities Coalition
$850,000
Houston in Action Network · Houston, TX · 2024
General Operating Support
$850,000
Houston in Action Network · Houston, TX · 2024
Program Support to Increase Electoral Participation in Greater Houston
$850,000
Houston in Action Network · Houston, TX · 2023
General Operating Support
$850,000
Houston in Action Network · Houston, TX · 2023
Program Support to Increase Electoral Participation in Greater Houston
$850,000
Houston in Action Network · Houston, TX · 2022
Program Support to Increase Electoral Participation in Greater Houston
$850,000
Houston in Action Network · Houston, TX · 2022
General Operating Support
$800,000
Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative · Houston, TX · 2023
Project Support to Supplement the Work of the Harris County's Immigration Legal Services Fund

View all 1,640 grants →

Who else funds this kind of work

Same state

Greater Houston Community Foundation5,612 grants · $873.8M
The Big 12 Conference50 grants · $1.91B
Texas Essential Healthcare Partnerships297 grants · $972.3M

Similar purposes

The Brown Foundation1,913 grants · $286.8M
The William Stamps Farish Fund567 grants · $63.1M
Kinder Foundation299 grants · $233.7M

Similar grant size

The Ford Foundation10,731 grants · $2.35B
Silicon Valley Community Foundation10,471 grants · $10.10B
Tides Foundation9,402 grants · $1.86B

Grants already paid are the record; PaperOrbit reads your paper and finds the funders whose record matches it — then explains why.

Search funders like this one

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.