The George Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The George Foundation supports education, health, human services, and community organizations and programs in Fort Bend County, Texas.
IP TAKE: It is all about a single county with this funder, but the foundation supports a wide variety of causes here each year. With four grant cycles per year, this is a good funder to go to for timely projects.
PROFILE: Established in 1945, The George Foundation is Richmond, Texas-based funder that invests in Fort Bend County, and seeks to “partner with the community to leverage the Foundation’s resources to positively impact Fort Bend County and its residents.“ The story of this foundation dates back to 1824 when Henry and Nancy Jones received land in the Mexican territory of Tejas and became successful farmers and ranchers. In the 1920s, oil was discovered on The George Ranch, which dramatically elevated the family’s wealth. This is a 22,000-acre working ranch in Fort Bend County still today. With no living heirs, Albert and Mamie George established this foundation with $10,000 in seed money to benefit the people of Fort Bend County, Texas. Today, the foundation supports education, human needs, health, community enhancement, and the George Ranch Historical Park.
Grants for K-12 Education, Public Health and Access, and Community Development
Education funding touches on career readiness, dropout prevention, early childhood, public education models, K-12 public education, literacy, and parenting education. Human needs grantmaking is all about abuse and neglect prevention and intervention, basic needs, homelessness, housing assistance, senior services, youth development, and legal services. Health grants go toward addition prevention and intervention, care for the uninsured and indigent, and mental health. Community enhancement means supporting libraries, museums, parks, and the arts for this funder. Finally, grants go to the Fort Bend County Museum to support programming at George Ranch Historical Park.
Most recent grants have been between $10,000 and $100,000 lately, but some grants have reached the million-dollar mark. The foundation made over $1.3 million in grants to support nonprofit organizations serving Fort Bend County residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant seekers can view a list of past grants here. Grantmaking is focused on Fort Bend County, Texas. Additionally, the foundation occasionally supports special initiatives initiated by the trustees in response to community needs. The funder commonly provides general operating, program, and project support. Meanwhile, it awards capital projects grants on a rarer and very selective basis. In addition to nonprofit grants, it also awards scholarships to local students. The funder’s Youth-in-Philanthropy program engages 175 high school students each year in volunteerism efforts, and its Excellence for Nonprofit Leadership Program is designed to improve nonprofit capacity.
Important Grant Details
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant requests from local nonprofits. It requires letters of inquiry for requests of more than $25,000. However, organizations seeking less than $25,000 can simply complete the small grant application instead. The funder reviews letters of inquiry on a rolling basis throughout the year. Grant deadlines are January 15 for February-April review, April 15 for May-July review, July 15 for August-October review, and October 15 for November-January review. Direct general questions to the staff at 281-342-6109 or grants@thegeorgefoundation.org.
PEOPLE:
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