Boyd & Evelyn Mullen Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Boyd & Evelyn Mullen Foundation supports education, human services, health, medical research, and religious causes mostly in the Houston area of Texas.
IP TAKE: This is a responsive funder that pays attention to shifting local needs . and has very specific ideas in mind for its grantmaking strategies.
PROFILE: The Boyd & Evelyn Mullen Foundation is a private foundation in Texas and the giving legacy of the Mullen couple who owned a car dealership in Pasadena, Texas. The Mullens were involved with their local community throughout their lives. Evelyn Mullen wished to study nursing, but was not able to attend college. Instead, she became an advocate for others pursuing their education. The funder aims to “advance education, literary studies, science, and religion, thereby improving the welfare of those in need.” Managed by Bank of America’s Texas office, grantmaking funds education, human services, health, medical research, and religious causes.
Grants for Education, Public Health and Access, and Community Development
The Mullen Foundation broadly funds work in its areas of grantmaking; however, it prioritizes college education scholarships, disaster relief, and helping people who are blind or visually impaired. The foundation also regularly supports organizations that address homelessness or conduct medical research about nutrition. That said, the foundation trustees often reconsider their areas of focus and adapt them to meet local needs in the Houston area. In general, education grants support students attending Texas institutions of higher learning, support high school success, and boost college graduation rates. Literary studies grant support history, art history, musicology, philosophy, religious studies, and foreign literature. Human services grants fund organizations that help the hungry, disabled, homeless, and abused women and children. Medical research grants fund the study complex diseases, while science grants aim to improve health and the environment. Finally, the foundation supports faith-based organizations that serve local people regardless of creed or denomination.
Grantmaking focuses on Texas, predominately Houston and its surrounding areas. Grantees are also based in Highlands, Texas. The funder provides mostly one-year grants that go towards program and operating support needs. However, it considers occasional capital improvement grant requests and multi-year grant requests too. Organizations may only submit one grant request per 12-month period. Past local grantees include the Star of Hope Mission, Baylor College of Medicine, Sunshine Kids Foundation, and Bridges to Life.
Important Grant Details
Foundation grants range between $5,000 and $30,000. This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. The annual application deadline is July 31 and applicants can expect to hear back with a funding decision within about three months after this date. Grant seekers must use the Bank of America online system to apply for a grant. Direct general questions to the staff at tx.philanthropic@ustrust.com or 800-357-7094.
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