The Powell Foundation

EIN 746104592

Houston, TX 77027 |(713) 523-7557

https://www.powellfoundation.org
Total Given 2016–2023
$86.4M
875 grants · $10.8M avg/year
based on 8 yrs of IRS 990-PF records on file
$10M+/yr
major funder
capacity
$30K
typical mid grants · $8K–$75K
grant size
30%
supporter · 149/497 multi-year
repeat
$421.2M
Assets (2023)
497
Distinct Recipients

Focus Areas

Education Health Arts & Culture Environment Human Services

Application Information

Accepts Unsolicited Proposals Unknown
Contact Person httpswwwpowellfoundationorgapply
Phone (713) 523-7557
Deadlines All requests must be submitted online in advance of the board meeting in the spring or the fall.
How to Apply The Foundation's Board of Directors meets twice per year, in the spring and fall. All requests must be submitted through an online application process (https://www.powellfoundation.org/apply) in advance of the board meeting. Organizations approved for funding must sign and return a grant agreement for disbursement of payment. The Board of Directors has the authority for the final approval of each grant. Refer to the website for the most up-to-date grant guidelines and deadlines.
Restrictions The Powell Foundation seeks to support nonprofit organizations with the potential to achieve high impact in education, the arts, conservation, and human service sectors within the Foundation's geographic areas of interest, Harris, Travis, and Walker Counties, Texas. The requesting organizations must be tax-exempt and demonstrate their ability to engage in sound financial planning and solid management practices. The Foundation does not support grants to religious organizations, fund-raising events, other private foundations, individuals, or for past operating deficits. 2021 Board Grants: Education $6.3M (45%), the Arts $2M (14%), Conservation $4M (29%), and Human Services $1.7M (12%). Refer to the website for historical giving in prior years.

Financial Trends

Giving Over Time

Total Assets Over Time

View financial data as table
YearTotal GivingTotal AssetsRevenueGrants
2016 $3.1M $166.3M $131.7M 4
2017 $6.3M $231.7M $35.8M 1
2018 $8.1M $206.9M $8.0M 3
2020 $13.6M $396.6M $11.8M 2
2021 $15.8M $469.7M $20.4M 271
2022 $20.7M $372.8M $35.5M 305
2023 $18.8M $421.2M $22.8M 289

Grant Size Distribution

Based on 875 grants on record

Minimum
$500
25th Pctl
$8K
Median
$30K
Average
$99K
75th Pctl
$75K
Maximum
$13.1M

Geographic Distribution

Texas Counties Served

81.7% of US grants · Rank #1 of 24 states $78.8M across 715 grants 18 of 254 counties

Top 10 counties

  1. 1 Harris 446 grants · $59.4M
  2. 2 Travis 182 grants · $13.2M
  3. 3 Dallas 35 grants · $3.0M
  4. 4 Walker 17 grants · $1.0M
  5. 5 Bexar 1 grant · $974K
  6. 6 Lubbock 2 grants · $350K
  7. 7 Grimes 14 grants · $288K
  8. 8 Waller 1 grant · $200K
  9. 9 Blanco 3 grants · $75K
  10. 10 Hays 3 grants · $75K
+8 more counties · 11 grants · $253K

Officers & Directors

Grants Awarded (875 total)

Purpose
See attachment efiling purposes, TX $13,077,232 See attachment 2020
See attachment efiling purposes, TX $7,911,294 See attachment 2018
See attachment efiling purposes, TX $6,296,857 See attachment 2017
See attachment efiling purposes, TX $1,532,546 See attachment 2016
Kaboom Washington, DC $1,495,256 Conservation - Development of public playscapes in Walker County 2021
Hermann Park Conservancy Houston, TX $1,048,890 Conservation - Play Your Park project and general support 2021
Collaborative for Children Houston, TX $1,016,916 Early Childhood Development and Education: Quality early learning centers and providers 2022
Houston Arts Alliance Houston, TX $993,405 Arts - Support launch of Houston BIPOC Arts Network Fund (BANF) 2021
AVANCE Inc San Antonio, TX $974,456 Early Childhood Development and Education: Parent, family, and caregiver support 2022
Equal Opportunity Schools Seattle, WA $866,570 Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-secondary readiness initiatives 2023
UTeach Institute co University of Texas Foundation Austin, TX $802,166 Quality K-12 Public Schools: Excellent educator initiatives 2022
Spark Houston, TX $801,814 Conservation: Community access to parks and urban greenspaces 2023
HAY Center Foundation Houston, TX $700,000 Human Services - Support of construction of the HAY Center campus 2021
The University of Texas Foundation - Charles A Dana Center Austin, TX $597,621 Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent educator initiatives 2023
Collaborative for Children Houston, TX $555,000 Support for the development of a Promise Neighborhood-Gulfton in the College Bound from Birth Initiative 2016
Kipp Houston, TX $505,000 Teacher development and training component of KIPPing Point Campaign 2016
Buffalo Bayou Partnership Houston, TX $503,730 Conservation - Support of Phase 1 Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan implementation 2021
Austin Parks Foundation Austin, TX $503,085 Conservation: Community access to parks and urban greenspaces 2022
Buffalo Bayou Partnership Houston, TX $500,000 Improvements at Turkey Bend, as part of the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan implementation 2020
Spark Houston, TX $500,000 To support the creation of school parks within park deserts in Houston 2016
Breakthrough Austin, TX $493,384 Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-secondary access, success, and completion initiatives 2023
Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy Inc Houston, TX $492,960 Conservation: Community access to parks and urban greenspaces 2023
Hill Country Conservancy Austin, TX $491,527 Conservation: Environmental protection efforts 2022
The University of Texas Foundation - The University of Texas at Austin Coll Austin, TX $475,000 Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent educator initiatives 2023
Holdsworth Center Austin, TX $400,000 Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent educator initiatives 2023