Learn more about grants for Texas with Inside Philanthropy. Below you can find a curated list of top Texas funders and find your next grant with the search tool for Grant Finder. Become a member.
Giving Trends in Texas
Texan philanthropy has accelerated since the early 2010s as more people have migrated there to take advantage of the state’s growing tech sector and tax benefits, while it’s traditional sectors, oil and gas, continue to employee thousands. Population has also increased as various migrant groups have chosen Texas as their home. Home to over 5,400 active grantmakers, more than $3 billion dollars in grants have been awarded to Texas-based organizations. As in the rest of the Southwest, nonprofits’ decreased assets have hampered giving in recent years, though giving appears to be stabilizing.
Grants for education outpace all other giving areas in Texan grantmaking; however, some of that funding slants towards charter and private schools rather than public schools. Grants for health, human services, and to a lesser extent, arts and culture, are other important grantmaking areas in Texas. Knowledge about grants for education in Texas tends to filter through the Texas Education Grantmakers Advocacy Consortium (TEGAC), a grant-making organization comprised of 50 foundations involved in supporting advocacy for increased taxpayer funding for public education in Texas. The Texas Grants Resource Center, part of the University of Texas at Austin, is another important resource for help in accessing funding information on grants for Texas nonprofits.
In contrast from other states in the Southwest, Texas enjoys a larger portion of national grantmakers headquartered in the state, which benefits local communities as well. Texas’s funders are a mix of private, public and community foundations, which have raised Texas’s grantmaking profile by millions as more people move to the state. Major funders of Texas grants include the Greater Houston Community Foundation, Arnold Ventures, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, Inc., Houston Endowment, The Moody Foundation, The Brown Foundation, Inc., ExxonMobil Foundation, and the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, among others.
Foundations in Texas
80|20 FOUNDATION
The 80|20 Foundation supports entrepreneurial efforts, tech education, and urban options in San Antonio, Texas.
ABELL-HANGER FOUNDATION
The Abell-Hanger Foundation supports arts, culture, humanities, education, health, human services, public society benefit and religion in West Texas.
ABERCROMBIE FOUNDATION
The Abercrombie Foundation supports education, animal welfare, human services, the environment, health, and arts and culture mostly in Kentucky and Texas.
ALBERT AND MARGARET ALKEK FOUNDATION
The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation provides support for charitable, religious, scientific (primarily medical), cultural and educational organizations and programs serving the people of Texas.
AMARILLO AREA FOUNDATION
AAF supports education, social services, economic development, healthcare, culture, environment and infrastructure in the 26 counties of the Texas panhandle. Deadlines fall throughout the year.
ARNOLD VENTURES
Arnold Ventures, the private family foundation of John and Laura Arnold, takes a venture philanthropy approach to giving in a wide range of fields, including criminal justice, public health, women’s health, education, higher education and public finance policy.
AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
ACF supports Central Texas communities through arts and culture, animals, community engagement, education, environment and public space, health and wellness, human services and basic needs, and recreation. Their community grants program accepts online applications.
ANNE T. & ROBERT M. BASS FOUNDATION
The Anne T. & Robert M. Bass Foundation invests in education and human services organizations. Although this funder supports organizations across the country, the majority of its grants go to nonprofits located in Texas.
R.D. BEIRNE TRUST
The R.D. Beirne Trust supports human services, blind, elderly, orphans in Grayson County and Dallas, Texas.
BOONE FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Boone Family Foundation supports women and girls, education and the environment in Texas.
THELMA BRAUN & BOCKLETT FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Thelma Braun & Bocklett Family Foundation supports Grayson County, Texas in the areas of arts and culture, humanities, education, health, and human services.
BROWN FOUNDATION
The Brown Foundation was established upon the fortunes of brothers who made millions from the construction and oil pipeline industry. The foundation primarily focuses on public education and arts giving.
BROWNSVILLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This funder has a competitive grant process for Brownsville, Texas, groups in the areas of education, economic development, health, housing, the arts, historic preservation, and the environment.
CHARLES BUTT FOUNDATION
The Charles Butt Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, cultural, and health institutions.
EFFIE AND WOFFORD CAIN FOUNDATION
The Effie and Wofford Cain Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to medical and scientific research, human services, religious causes, and arts and culture.
CARLSON FOUNDATION
The couple's Texas grantmaking strongly tracks with board memberships and other personal connections in Dallas and Houston.
KATHERINE C. CARMODY CHARITABLE TRUST
This funder supports Texas nonprofits in the areas of education, human services, and religious-based groups. Much of the funding stays in Dallas, and there is one application cycle per year.
AMON G. CARTER FOUNDATION
This funder gives to art and culture, civic and public affairs, education, health, and human services. Most grants stay in Tarrant County, Texas. Unsolicited applications are accepted.
CATHAY BANK FOUNDATION
Southwest activities of the bank's charitable arm funds community programs in Texas that serve at-risk and low/middle income populations.
CHAPARRAL FOUNDATION
The Chaparral Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, youth, human services, and health.
CHISHOLM TRAIL COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION
This funder supports a wide range of interest areas in Williamson County, Texas. Annual grants are awarded to local groups through regular foundation events.
COASTAL BEND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This Texas funder supports efforts in seven coastal counties, in the fields of arts and culture, education, environment, families and children, health, human services, and the public good. Unsolicited applications are accepted for competitive grants once per year.
W.H. & MARY ELLEN COBB CHARITABLE TRUST
The W.H. & Mary Ellen Cobb Charitable Trust supports human services and especially nonprofits that assist children in the Panhandle region of Texas.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BRAZORIA COUNTY
This funder supports a variety of community projects in Brazoria County, Texas. It also awards grants through separate funds for health and human services, and women and children.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE BRAZOS VALLEY
This funder supports education, community, and other causes in the seven-county Brazos Valley in Texas. Grants are awarded once per year. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS
This funder ranks among the largest foundations in Texas. To be eligible for a Giving Guide grant, at least 50 percent of the population served must be residents of Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin or Rockwall counties.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
This funder supports Kerr County, Texas and the communities of Fredericksburg, Harper, Stonewall, Comfort, Bandera, and Medina. Funding interests are education and youth, community service, civic and cultural, and family and wellness.
CULLEN FOUNDATION
The Cullen Foundation supports organizations serving the Houston area. It prioritizes education, and also funds cultural arts, healthcare and public service.
NATHALIE AND GLADYS DALKOWITZ CHARITABLE TRUST
This funder supports arts, culture, humanities, education, human services, and religion in San Antonio and Bexar County, Texas. The annual grant application deadline is February 1 for local groups.
DALLAS FOUNDATION
This funder supports many nonprofit causes in the city of Dallas and Dallas County. Fields of interest include arts, basic needs, animal welfare, children, the elderly, and African Americans.
DALLAS WOMEN'S FOUNDATION
DWF operates much like a community foundation. Economic security, women-led households, and education and medical care for women and girls at risk are at the heart of the foundation's grantmaking.
KATRINE MENZING DEAKINS CHARITABLE TRUST
The Katrine Menzing Deakins Charitable Trust supports education, health, and human services in Texas.
WILLIAM E. DEAN III CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
This funder supports causes for animals, education, human services, and religion in Texas and beyond. Grant applications are due July 1 each year. While this foundation awards grants to organizations around the country, the majority of its funding supports nonprofits in Texas.
MICHAEL AND SUSAN DELL FOUNDATION
The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation supports education, global development and public health in the U.S., India and South Africa.
DAN L. DUNCAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Dan L. Duncan Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health and human services, education and youth, the arts, and the environment. It also earmarks funds for other community-related causes in Houston.
EAST TEXAS COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION
This funder has about eight grantmaking funds. Areas of interest include libraries, community, environment, nursing, music, and education.
J.N. & MACIE EDENS FOUNDATION
The Katrine Menzing Deakins Charitable Trust supports education, health, and human services in Texas.
EPISCOPAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
This funder focuses grantmaking on 57 counties in Southeast Texas and funds a variety of local healthcare and mental health causes. Grantmaking is expected to expand.
EXXONMOBIL FOUNDATION
ExxonMobil funds STEM education, health and biodiversity and conservation. Within that scope, the ExxonMobil Foundation has a partially overlapping emphasis on math and science education, women’s economic empowerment, and efforts to combat malaria. It no longer conducts environmental or higher education grantmaking.
FICHTENBAUM CHARITABLE TRUST
The Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust supports arts, culture, humanities, education, health, human services, medical research, and youth development in Texas.
FRIEDEL FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Friedel Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Jewish causes, health, and human services. It also earmarks funds for arts and cultural causes.
GEORGE FOUNDATION
This place-based funder supports education, health, human services, and community organizations and programs in Fort Bend, Texas. Letters of inquiry are reviewed year-round and grant applications four times per year.
PERRY DEAN AND ALICE GRAHAM CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Perry Dean and Alice Graham Charitable Foundation supports arts, culture, humanities, education, and human services in Texas.
GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Greater Houston Community Foundation bridges the gap between local donors and nonprofits. Most grantmaking stays local, but there’s some national and international grantmaking, too.
GREATER TEXAS FOUNDATION
GTF is an education funder that champions postsecondary success for Texas students. Grants often go to universities for postsecondary success programs and research on related topics.
GREEHEY FAMILY FOUNDATION
Makes grants in Bexar County and elsewhere in Texas, supporting health and human welfare issues, children's causes, education, and the homeless.
DONALD D. HAMMILL FOUNDATION
The Donald D. Hammill Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for people who have disabilities, the aged, and people who are financially disadvantaged, including the working poor and those who are indigent or chronically ill.
HARRY S. MOSS HEART TRUST
The Harry S. Moss Heart Trust supports heart disease-related medical research for prevention and cures in Texas, particularly Dallas.
HEAVENLY FATHER’S FOUNDATION
The Heavenly Father's Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Christian causes, policy, human services, and health.
HERZSTEIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Herzstein Charitable Foundation supports education, historic preservation, museums, arts, humanities, public affairs, environment, youth development, health, science and social services, and religious causes in Texas.
HILDEBRAND FOUNDATION
The Hildebrand Foundation is the creation of billionaire couple Jeff and Mindy Hildebrand, who made their fortune in the oil industry. It gives grants to faith-based organizations that serve the poor and needy in Texas.
LYDA HILL PHILANTHROPIES
Lyda Hill Philanthropies is the funding vehicle for the successful entrepreneur and granddaughter of an oil tycoon who supports early stage bio-medical research, environment, ocean preservation, alternative energy, science and math education, and cancer research in Texas and Colorado.
HILLCREST FOUNDATION
This funder supports education, health, and human services in the Dallas area and throughout North Texas. Grant requests are reviewed three times annually.
HOGG FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH
This funder is solely focused on improving mental health in Texas. It publishes open RFPs on its website when funding opportunities are available.
HOUSTON ENDOWMENT
Houston Endowment is focused on grantmaking in Texas’ Harris County and surrounding counties. Interest areas are arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services.
HUBBARD FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Hubbard Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health, human services, education, youth, and religious causes.
NANCY ANN HUNT AND RAY L. HUNT PHILANTHROPIC FUND
The Nancy Ann Hunt and Ray L. Hunt Philanthropic Fund supports education, youth, health, and human services in Texas.
IMPACT AUSTIN
Impact Austin supports Central Texas counties in the areas of community, education, and health and wellbeing.
IMPACT SA
Impact SA is a women’s collective giving foundation that serves the Greater San Antonio area and focuses on art and culture, education, environment, recreation and preservation, family, and health and wellness.
MINNIE M. JONES TRUST
The Minnie M. Jones Trust supports education and organizations that serve youth in Denison and Grayson County, Texas.
W.D. KELLEY FOUNDATION
Kelley supports education, health and human services in and around Georgetown, Texas. Unsolicited applications are accepted.
LUELLA KEMPER TRUST
The Luella Kemper Trust supports education and human services nonprofits in Grayson County, Texas.
JOHN G. AND MARIE STELLA KENEDY MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
This Corpus Christi-based funder focuses most of its efforts on Catholic education in South Texas. But at least 10 percent of annual grants go to secular groups as well.
HELEN FREEBORN KERR CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Helen Freeborn Kerr Charitable Foundation supports cancer-related medical research in the state of Texas.
KINDER FOUNDATION
Richard and Nancy Kinder established a foundation to contribute to parks, education, and human services in and around Houston. They have committed to giving 95 percent of their wealth to charity.
THE KIRKSEY FAMILY FOUNDATION
This funder supports a broad range of nonprofits in the Dallas, Texas-area.
KLE FOUNDATION
The KLE Foundation primarily seeks to provide quality educational opportunities to underserved communities.
ROBERT J. KLEBERG, JR. AND HELEN C. KLEBERG FOUNDATION
Kleberg awards community and health grants in Kleberg and surrounding counties of South Texas. Broader funding goes to medical science, biomedical research, education, arts, wildlife, and animal sciences.
ROBERT W. KNOX SR. AND PEARL WALLIS KNOX CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
This funder supports animals, education, religious causes, and human services. The family has strong Texas connections to Houston, San Antonio, and Galveston.
MARCIA AND OTTO KOEHLER FOUNDATION
This funder primarily supports organizations in San Antonio, Texas, in the areas of arts and culture, humanities, education, human services, youth development, and medical research. February 1 is the annual grant deadline.
KRONKOSKY FOUNDATION
Focuses on the Greater San Antonio region, with grantmaking for health and human services, and arts & culture. Also works on early childhood.
HELEN IRWIN LITTAUER EDUCATIONAL TRUST
The Helen Irwin Littauer Educational Trust supports arts, culture, humanities, education, food, agriculture, nutrition, health, housing, shelter, and human services in Texas.
W.P. & BULAH LUSE FOUNDATION
This funder primarily supports Dallas nonprofits in the areas of education, health, and human services. Online grant applications are accepted two times per year.
MEADOWS FOUNDATION
This is a Texas-focused private funder that supports the following issues across the state: arts and culture, civic and public affairs, education, health, and human services, environment, public education, and mental health.
McCOMBS FOUNDATION
Focuses on Texas. Supports education, as well as arts and culture, human services, health, and more.
ROBERT AND JANICE MCNAIR FOUNDATION
The McNair foundation's grantmaking involves education, human services and more. While this funder awards grants to organizations across the country, the majority of its funding focuses on Texas.
CYNTHIA AND GEORGE MITCHELL FOUNDATION
This Texas funder supports nonprofit efforts in water, clean energy, shale sustainability, and sustainability education. In the coming years, it will also fund land conservation and community efforts in Galveston.
WILLIAM A. AND ELIZABETH B. MONCRIEF FOUNDATION
This Texas-focused foundation prioritizes health, specifically cancer research; Forth Worth is the home of the Moncrief Cancer Institute. It also backs arts and culture, animal rights, and human services.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This Texas funder has many funds that touch on pretty much every nonprofit service you can imagine. Grants are awarded once per year.
MOODY FOUNDATION
This funder supports charitable causes in Galveston, Austin, and Dallas. Interests are arts, humanities, religion, education, health, science, and community.
BOYD & EVELYN MULLEN FOUNDATION
The Boyd & Evelyn Mullen Foundation supports education, human services, health, medical research, and religious causes mostly in the Houston area of Texas.
THE DIRK NOWITZKI FOUNDATION
The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation awards grants annually to organizations focusing on children’s wellbeing, health and education.
ONEOK FOUNDATION
This corporate funder mostly supports education, health, and human services organizations in Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. Community and art grants are also given. Unsolicited grant applications are accepted.
ORIX FOUNDATION
The ORIX Foundation is a corporate funder that focuses much of its grantmaking on the Greater Dallas area. It backs youth, poverty, health, and veteran causes.
CARRIE S. ORLEANS TRUST
The Carrie S. Orleans Trust supports human services organization that provide for basic needs in Dallas County in Texas.
GENEVIEVE AND WARD ORSINGER FOUNDATION
Supports nonprofits in Bexar County, Texas, with an emphasis on the arts, education, and youth.
PERMIAN BASIN AREA FOUNDATION
This foundation supports education, arts and culture, health and human services, elderly, community development, and affordable housing causes in a multi-country region of West Texas.
SARAH AND ROSS PEROT JR. FOUNDATION
The philanthropic vehicle of billionaire Ross Perot Jr. and his wife Sarah. Much of their grantmaking takes place in Dallas, and Texas at large, backing a variety of causes.
DR. & MRS. PAUL PIERCE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
The Dr. & Mrs. Paul Pierce Memorial Foundation supports education, health, and human services organizations in Grayson County, Texas.
HAHL PROCTOR CHARITABLE TRUST
The Hahl Proctor Charitable Trust supports arts, culture, humanities, education, and human services in the Permian Basin Area of Texas.
ED RACHEL FOUNDATION
This funder supports causes in Texas related to youth, education, and land conservation. It has also given grants to arts and culture, church, and animal welfare causes.
REES-JONES FOUNDATION
With a focus on North Texas nonprofits, the Rees-Jones Foundation awards grants in the areas of human services, youth development, mental health, and community benefit. The billionaire couple often makes multi-million-dollar grants.
GARLAND D. RHOADS FOUNDATION
The Garland D. Rhoads Foundation supports disease treatment and prevention, community improvement, capacity building, education, health care, human services, and religion in Texas.
ANN L. & CAROL GREEN RHODES CHARITABLE TRUST
The Ann L. & Carol Green Rhodes Charitable Trust supports the arts, theater, human services, animal welfare, and education in Tarrant County, Texas.
SID W. RICHARDSON FOUNDATION
This funder supports education and health throughout Texas and human services and cultural organizations in the Fort Worth area. Unsolicited letters of inquiry are accepted.
ANNIE LEE ROBBINS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Annie Lee Robbins Charitable Foundation supports human services, senior citizens, animal welfare, arts, culture, humanities, and education in Navarro County, Texas.
DAVID AND BETTY SACKS FOUNDATION
This funder supports Texas groups in the areas of performing arts, fine arts, education, amateur sports, and prevention of cruelty towards animals and children. It is managed by Bank of America with an annual grant deadline.
SAROFIM FOUNDATION
Sarofim Foundation funds literacy, STEM and English learning programs, as well as health organizations.
SAN ANGELO AREA FOUNDATION
This community foundation supports 17 counties in the San Angelo, Texas, area. It funds many needs, including education, elderly, animal welfare, arts and culture, social services, environment, health and youth.
SAN ANGELO HEALTH FOUNDATION
A famous health funder, San Angelo also awards education, research, arts, social services and environment grants. All grantmaking is focused on San Angelo and the Concho Valley.
SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION
This community foundation supports many program areas, emphasizing children and youth, seniors, women, African Americans, and Hispanics. Bexar County and the 13 surrounding counties are considered for grants.
HAROLD SIMMONS FOUNDATION
Harold Simmons’ two daughters run this family foundation that focuses grantmaking on Dallas-area nonprofits. Areas of interest are education, healthcare, social welfare, human rights, civic improvement, and arts and culture.
SIMMONS FOUNDATION
This funder supports organizations in the Greater Houston area and Harris County. Interests are health, education, civic/community, and human services.
CLARA BLACKFORD SMITH & W. AUBREY SMITH CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Clara Blackford Smith & W. Aubrey Smith Charitable Foundation supports education, health, organizations human services in Grayson County, Texas.
HELEN GERTRUDE SPARKS CHARITABLE TRUST
The Helen Gertrude Sparks Charitable Trust supports arts, culture, humanities, education, health, and human services organizations in Texas.
ST. DAVID'S FOUNDATION
This Central Texas health funder supports programs for older adults, healthcare education/careers, nutrition and physical activity, mental health, access to care for low-income residents, and dental services for children.
STEIN FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST
The Stein Family Charitable Trust supports arts, culture, humanities, and human services organizations in Tarrant County, Texas.
STINSON FOUNDATION
The Stinson Foundation supports nonprofits that serve children and families and that promote local art, education, culture, humanities, and human services efforts in the Permian Basin area of Texas.
EUGENE STRAUS CHARITABLE TRUST
The Eugene Straus Charitable Trust supports education, environment, health, human services, arts, culture, humanities, and religion-related causes in Dallas County, Texas.
ROY & CHRISTINE STURGIS CHARITABLE TRUST
Sturgis primarily supports nonprofits in Arkansas, but some grants go to the Dallas, Texas, area. Interests are arts, culture, humanities, education, health, and human services.
SULENTIC FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Sulentic Family Foundation funds health and human services organizations, as well as education; it appears to prioritize Texas, particularly the city of Dallas.
JONI ELAINE TEMPLETON FOUNDATION
The Joni Elaine Templeton Foundation supports animal welfare, community improvement, capacity building, education, human services, and religious causes in Texas.
SHELBY RAE TENGG FOUNDATION FOR HEART AND CANCER RESEARCH
The Shelby Rae Tengg Foundation for Heart and Cancer Research supports medical research addressing heart disease and cancer in Bexar County, Texas.
TEXAS PRIDE IMPACT FUNDS
This component fund of the Dallas Foundation supports LGBT needs throughout Texas. Unsolicited applications are accepted.
TOCKER FOUNDATION
The Tocker Foundation supports small, rural Texas libraries serving populations of 12,000 or less and partners with community libraries to meet the particular needs of the community.
TOPFER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Topfer Family Foundation is committed to helping people connect to the tools and resources needed to build self-sufficient and fulfilling lives.
VALLEY BAPTIST LEGACY FOUNDATION
The Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation supports obesity and diabetes prevention, healthy lifestyles, access to care, mental health, aging in place, dental health, medical education and scholarships in Texas.
WACO FOUNDATION
This funder supports groups in Waco and McLellan County working to help people in poverty, people with disabilities, the elderly, and children and youth. It also is committed to nonprofit capacity building.
CRYSTELLE WAGGONER CHARITABLE TRUST
The Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust supports human services, arts, culture, and humanities organizations in North Texas.
WICHITA FALLS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation supports 13 counties in Texas and four border counties in Oklahoma. Broad interests are arts and culture, education, environment, historic preservation, health, and human services.
MILTON HICKS WOOD & HELEN GIBBS WOOD CHARITABLE
The Milton Hicks Wood & Helen Gibbs Wood Charitable Trust supports local human services efforts in Texas.
ZACHRY FOUNDATION
Funding areas include education, the arts, health, and science. Grantmaking focuses on the San Antonio, Texas, area.
