McCombs Foundation

OVERVIEW: The McCombs Foundation, which is the philanthropic vehicle of billionaire Red McCombs and his wife Charline, is focused on the state of Texas and gives to education, arts and culture, human services, health, and more. The foundation is the

IP TAKE: This funder is partial to the San Antonio area and has become more accessible to local grantseekers here in recent years.

PROFILE: Founded in the early 1980s, the McCombs Foundation is the foundation of  Billy Joe "Red" McCombs, the founder of the Red McCombs Automotive Group and co-founder of Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartCommunications). McCombs and his wife, Charline, move their philanthropy through the McCombs Foundation. Grants from the foundation “have no strings attached but require as much return as a regular business investment would.” Grantmaking areas of interest include education and youth, health, human services, arts and culture, San Antonio community.

Grants for K-12 Education, Public Health and Access, Arts and Culture, and Community Development

The foundation has a minimal web presence that is part of the McCombs Enterprises website. However, the foundation supported a number of education and youth organizations in Texas. Past grantees include San Antonio Can Academies, Junior Achievement of South Texas, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas, Trinity University in San Antonio, Saint Mary's Hall, Southwestern University, Baylor University, and East Central School Foundation. The funder has also supported health organizations like the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, and the Texas Neurofibromatosis Foundation. The couple through their foundation have supported human services outfits such as YMCA of Greater San Antonio, San Antonio Food Bank, and Haven for Hope, a nonprofit which provides services for the homeless. The McCombs strongly support local arts and culture as well. Past grantees include the Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation, San Antonio Museum of Art, Witte Museum, Riverwalk Jazz, and Texas Transportation Museum. Finally, Texas churches such as Alamo Heights United Methodist Church and the First Baptist Church of San Antonio have received this funder’s support.

Important Grant Details

Foundation grants tend to range from $500 to $10,000. The couple's philanthropy is very focused on the state of Texas and especially the San Antonio area.

McCombs accepts unsolicited grant requests via mail but not by phone or email. The foundation’s phone number to contact the staff is 210-821-6523.

PEOPLE:

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