Search Through Grants for the Arts in Texas in the U.S.

American Electric Power Foundation

The AEP Foundation focuses on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and by providing support to help meet basic needs such as emergency shelter, affordable housing and eliminating hunger.

The Foundation also supports organizations whose mission and/or programming is committed to positive social justice outcomes. Other Foundation support may be offered to protect the environment, promote healthcare and safety, and enrich life through art, music and cultural heritage.

Focus Areas

The following focus areas will be eligible for consideration by the Foundation:

• Improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education, with an emphasis in the areas of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
• Providing basic human services in the areas of hunger and housing to assure that people have the necessities to build successful lives.
• Embracing change and equity through sustainable programs that move social justice forward.

The Cullen Foundation

Established in 1947 by Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen, The Cullen Foundation has a history of giving generously to support cultural arts, education, health care and public service in Texas, primarily in the greater Houston area. Cullen Family members still take active roles as Directors of the Foundation continuing the legacy of giving initiated by Mr. and Mrs. Cullen during their lives.

The original gift from Mr. and Mrs. Cullen to establish the Foundation consisted of working interests in oil and gas properties. Over the ensuing years the working interests, later converted into royalty interests, were gradually depleted and the residual holdings were disposed of in 2000. As the Foundation reduced its dependence on oil and gas income, its portfolio of marketable securities and other investments began to grow. As of December 31, 2017 the portfolio had a market value of $320 million.

The list of organizations receiving grants from the Foundation is long and diverse, covering a wide range of needs. The Foundation has distributed over $500 million in grants since inception. Please visit our Grant History page for funding details for the most recent years and grant payment amounts by program area since inception.

Dedicated to improving the quality of life of all people in Houston through sustained investments in high-performing education, healthcare, public service and arts organizations.

Grant Program

The Foundation supports a variety of charitable activities, including cultural arts, education, health care and public service programs. 

The Harold Simmons Foundation, established in 1988, is based in Dallas Texas and is funded primarily by Contran Corporation, a company controlled by Harold Clark Simmons.

The Harold Simmons Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life of all members of our community and to ensure they have the resources and opportunities to live with dignity and meaning. The Foundation strives to invest strategically in programs that support systems change and scalability of impact. We support organizations that promote early health and development, safe and enriching environments, and comprehensive support systems for individuals, children, and families. We believe advocacy and research are key elements in this work.

Grants are made by the Harold Simmons Foundation with the goal of improving lives and enriching the community.

Areas of interest include:

• education;
• health care, social welfare, including human rights;
• civic improvement; and
• culture & the arts.

We make grants for operating expenses, capital needs or special projects, generally in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 for first time applicants. In 2012, the Foundation distributed approximately 18.5 million dollars.

We seek well-researched grant proposals for projects that address current community needs only in the Dallas, Texas area. Projects that complement other public and private efforts and/or agency collaboration is encouraged. Proposals are welcomed year round and we have no application deadlines.

Background

Our Community Investment Program contributes to nonprofit organizations that operate within the immediate H-E-B service area. Depending on the need we may contribute in-kind product, volunteers, or monetary funding towards activities, projects, and causes that make a visible and possible difference. Our Community Investment Program primarily supports organizations focused on arts and humanities, disaster relief, diversity and inclusion, education and literacy, environmental and sustainability, health and wellness, hunger relief, military and veteran support, and general social services.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

H-E-B Tournament of Champions

The H-E-B Tournament of Champions was established in 1986 when DeckerFood Company asked H-E-B Grocery Co. to invite a few of their market vendors to play in a golf tournament and donate the proceeds to Special OlympicsTexas. The President of Decker Foods was the Chairman of the Board for Special Olympics Texas at that time. The event raised $38,500 and the proceeds made it possible to hire a Special OlympicsTexas Games Coordinator for Area 20 which included San Antonio. Chuck Hendryx(H-E-B V.P.) and Kathy Ashwin (Admin Asst.) organized the event in six weeks and concluded, if they had a year to plan the event, more money would be raised. The following year the event raised $78,000 and the rest is history!

Over the past 37 years, this event has raised over $145 million dollars benefiting Special OlympicsTexas and other worthwhile organizations that focus on children and educational initiatives throughout the State of Texas.

In 2003, the H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust was established and the event became a 501(c)3 tax exempt private foundation under the Internal Revenue codes.

We are a private family foundation on a mission to improve the quality and circumstances of life for the people of Texas now and in the future.

What We Fund: Our Program Areas

Texas is diverse. So is our giving.

We provide grants throughout Texas within our program areas and also our initiatives in education, environment, homelessness, and mental health.

Arts and Culture

Our founders were passionate about the arts’ ability to illuminate and reflect our communities, reimagine conversations, promote public engagement, and preserve memories. We support organizations throughout the state that provide opportunities for all Texans to experience and benefit from the arts. Our most significant partner is Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts and the Meadows Museum.

Civic and Public Affairs

Communities thrive when effective civic leadership and healthy public systems are supported by a strong network of nonprofit organizations. We assist communities in developing leadership talent, promoting civic and public collaboration, supporting nonprofits through management and capacity-building, and improving processes and infrastructures for delivery of services to all residents. We also recognize the importance of animals and the role they have in many people’s lives. We fund projects that improve their welfare and enhance the human-animal connection.

Education

The link between quality of education and quality of life is undeniable. Knowledge empowers choices that influence our social and family environment, health and mental well-being, home and community, and career and income. Each additional year of schooling increases earnings by 8-10%. In addition, early reading, high-quality instructors, access to resources, and high expectations for all students improve life-long study skills and academic achievements.

Environment

With our population in Texas expected to increase by 73% to 51.5 million people in 2070, the impacts on our environment will be significant. We focus on preserving our rich ecological and biological resources for future generations while meeting our growing needs.

Health

Access to quality health care is essential. Health and mental health programs that offer a chance to rethink what can be accomplished with new knowledge and technology ultimately lead to Texans living healthier lives. We invest in programs and initiatives that promote innovation in services and delivery and strengthen the ecosystem of health and mental health care.

Human Services

In communities across Texas, people face overwhelming challenges and times of personal or family crisis. We support programs and agencies that thoughtfully weave compassion and respect into the support systems that improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable Texans. We also place emphasis on supporting efforts that reduce homelessness in the Dallas area.

What We Fund: Initiatives 

Five initiatives are linked to our long-term goals, and requests in these areas receive additional consideration in the review process.

Postsecondary Completion

The changing economic landscape requires a shift in the kind of preparation offered to connect Texans to jobs, career paths, livable wages, and economic and social mobility. By 2030, 60% of the Texas workforce will need a postsecondary credential to be gainfully employed, a driving factor for the state’s higher education plan. We aim to ensure that awarded postsecondary degrees, credentials, and certificates align to real-time labor needs, are affordable for all Texans, and offer value to students and society. We are working with our partners to increase postsecondary completion rates beyond current projections to meet current and future workforce demands.

Educator Preparation

Quality teachers are consistently identified as the most important school-based factor in student achievement. On average, a high-performing teacher increases student learning by 50% more than expected growth over the course of a school year. Texas has hundreds of educator preparation programs of varying quality and varying levels of accessibility to aspiring teachers. The teacher pipeline must be robust to meet the needs of a growing state with a growing student population. We are working with our partners to define, build, and scale models of high-quality educator preparation. 

Water Conservation

Texas has grown rapidly, and the state’s population is projected to expand by 70% from 2020 to 2070. While this growth can fuel robust economic development, ensuring the vitality of Texas’ cities, industries, and agriculture while also protecting natural resources will require careful water management. As water demand increases, state water supplies will drop by 18%. The state water plan suggests that water conservation strategies could meet 30% of future water supplies. 

While conservation success can be determined in part by policies, everyday water users are the conservation decision makers, and how they value water is the most crucial element of achieving an overall demand reduction. We are working with our partners to advance water conservation, with the goal of reducing the planned use of water by 30% by 2030.

Depression

Depression is the most common mental illness in the U.S. In North Texas alone, 300,000 adults and children experience depression annually. We know that mental health treatment works: two-thirds of individuals who receive evidence-based, measurement-based care get better. However, less than one in 10 receive this type of care. 

With appropriate training and support, primary care physicians can screen, identify, and provide effective behavioral and mental health treatment and referrals to their patients, which could fill this gap in care. In fact, at least 80% of individuals diagnosed with depression can be treated by their primary care physician. We are working with our partners to integrate evidence-based practices into primary care at large healthcare systems, with the goal of ending untreated depression in North Texas by 2030.

Homelessness

Thousands of individuals experience homelessness every year in Dallas and Collin counties. Our neighbors face several challenges as they try to exit homelessness, such as affordable housing shortages, increased cost of living, and limited access to resources that help them remain housed. Access to adequate housing provides the safety needed to survive and the stability needed to thrive. We are working with our partners to make homelessness in Dallas and Collin counties rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Our goal is to house 6,000 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness by 2025.

Types of Funding

• Specific programs or projects account for almost 85% of our total giving
• Although not a significant part of our funding, we will consider
  • Capital projects aligned with our initiatives and green building guidelines
  • Program-related investment loans
• Endowment and scholarship grants are rare

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

All Over Texas We are Here to Help

The Moody Foundation strengthens the future of Texas by investing in charitable projects that exhibit innovative ideas and make long-term improvement in our communities. Learn more about our grantees and the amazing work they are doing.

What We Fund

• Arts, Humanities, Religion
• Community and Social
• Education
• Health
• Science

The Moody Foundation proudly supports organizations of all sizes—from large-scale institutions and universities to small community-based groups. In short, the Foundation aims to support organizations who are dedicated to making a deep and sustained impact in their communities. While the Foundation prefers to make grants for specific programs or projects, the Foundation will consider most types of funding requests (including general operating, program, and capital).

The Foundation is currently focusing on grants that are in line with the following key areas of giving: education, social services and family well-being, health and wellness, and the arts. However, the Foundation maintains broad flexibility in grantmaking, both geographically and categorically within Texas, which allows timely responses to community needs and concerns.

Since its inception, the Foundation, which is still led by Lester T. Sunderland's descendants, has focused on supporting construction projects, awarding grants to nonprofits in the Kansas City region and other markets traditionally served by the Ash Grove Cement Company. 

 The Foundation prefers to make grants for construction and special interest projects rather than for annual operating expenses. 

Grants for planning, design, construction, renovation, repairs and restoration of facilities are considered. Areas of interest include higher education, youth serving agencies, health facilities, community buildings, museums, civic projects and energy efficient affordable housing projects sponsored by qualified tax-exempt organizations. 

Funding Areas

In recent grant cycles, the Board of Trustees has awarded the majority of grants in four broadly defined areas:

Higher Education

In 2022, the Foundation awarded $49 million to more than 35 educational organizations. Grantees included community colleges, private colleges, and public universities.

Human Services

The Foundation awarded $30 million to human service nonprofits in 2022, and many grants in this area went to groups that provide essential services to youth and families. Grantees included a range of youth-focused groups, including Reconciliation Services, the Nebraska Youth Justice Initiative in Omaha, Nebraska and the Sno-Valley Senior Center in Carnation, Washington. 

Arts and Culture

Arts and culture projects received $23 million in 2022, including grants to the Springfield Art Museum in Springfield, Missouri, the Omaha Zoo and the Seattle Aquarium in Seattle, Washington. Health Care and Hospitals.

Health Care and Hospitals

This is a growing area of need in many communities the Foundation serves. In 2022, $65 million was awarded to hospitals and health-care groups to build and improve their facilities.

Edith Winter Grace Trust

Funds are to be given to charitable organizations located in Tarrant County, Texas

Program Areas

• Animal Welfare,
• Arts and Culture,
• Civic Activities,
• Community Development,
• Education,
• Environment,
• Human and Social Services,
• Religious,
• Health and Medical Research,
• Scientific

Lola Wright Foundation Grant

Established by Miss Johnie Elizabeth Wright in 1954, the Lola Wright Foundation supports children and youth, public health and human services, education and community development, and arts and culture.

The Foundation’s grant making activities are limited to organizations operating primarily within a 50-mile radius of Austin, Texas.

Fields of Interest:

• Children and Youth
• Public Health and Human Services
• Education and Community Development
• Arts and Culture

Mission

Our mission is to meet basic human needs while building individual and social resiliency. 

Established in 1987, the Bernard & Audre Rapoport Foundation has dedicated over $70 million in grants to improve the social fabric of life.  

The Foundation seeks innovative solutions to intractable and persistent problems and strives to cultivate emerging talents and promising models. 

The entire Rapoport family is actively involved in the Foundation’s operations, which has touched many lives in the areas of education, arts and culture, health, community building & social services, and democracy & civic participation.

This commitment is rooted in generations past and continues to mold our future.

Areas of Funding Priorities

The Foundation prefers to concentrate on five primary areas including: Arts & Culture, Community Building & Social Service, Democracy & Civic Participation, Education, and Health.

Arts and Culture

The Foundation supports artistic and cultural programs that encourage the participation of children and disadvantaged members of the community thereby enriching their lives. Education and cultivation of new and young patrons is encouraged.

Education

The Foundation is interested in the broad area of education but with a special concern for early learning up to and through the elementary years. Other areas of interest include adult education and training initiatives, college and career readiness, and programs that enhance the capabilities of teachers and other professionals in public schools.  

Health

The Foundation seeks to improve the quality and delivery of healthcare services to all citizens, especially to women, children, and those who do not have access to conventional medical resources. Community-based outreach initiatives are also of interest to the Foundation.

Community Building and Social Services

The Foundation seeks to build communities that improve the quality of life for all citizens and foster the growth and development of children. The Foundation encourages programs that build grassroots neighborhood networks, provide job training and job opportunities for the unemployed and under-employed, or provide a comprehensive safety net of social services for the least-advantaged citizens.  

Democracy and Civic Participation

The Foundation supports efforts both to make government more responsive and to encourage citizens to take an active interest and role in political life. The Foundation promotes intergovernmental cooperation as well as initiatives that broaden citizen awareness of public policy issues and alternatives, build skills necessary for political leadership, and provide opportunities for community service.  

Where We Fund

By policy, one-third of annual grant funds are required to be distributed for projects/programs located in Waco, Texas. (The bulk of awards in Waco tend to fall within the areas of Education, Health, Community Building & Social Services, and Arts & Culture.)

By policy, one-third of annual grant funds are considered discretionary and may be distributed in support of projects/programs throughout Texas and the United States as desired. In recent years, a significant portion of the Foundation’s discretionary grant budget has been largely focused on ad-hoc special interest areas as determined by our trustees. Once the Foundation’s 2025 ad-hoc working group topic has been announced, you will find the relevant information on this website. (The bulk of awards in TX/US tend to fall largely within Democracy & Civic Participation and to a lesser extent, Community Building.)

It is also worth noting that the Foundation does not typically consider funding direct service programs outside of the Waco/McLennan County area or programs benefitting a small geographic area or a narrow audience (outside of Waco/McLennan County). (For more information, please review our FAQ page before submitting an LOI.)

Finally, the remaining one-third of annual grant funds are obligated to the University of Texas at Austin Rapoport Service Scholarship program, the Jerusalem Foundation, and the Jewish Federations of North America.

First Horizon Foundation

Through the First Horizon Foundation we are constantly investing in organizations across our footprint that do important work every day to make the places we serve better and stronger.

Contributions from the Foundation include the following areas:

• Arts and Culture
• Education & Leadership
• Environment
• Financial Literacy
• Health & Human Services

Our contributions are targeted to strengthen these pillars of the communities we serve:

• Improving the well-being of our communities
• Investing in the financial future
• Educating and developing the next generation of leaders
• Promoting excellence and enrichment in the arts
• A more sustainable tomorrow and future

The Laura Jane Musser Fund wants to encourage collaborative and participatory efforts among citizens in rural communities that will help to strengthen their towns and regions in a number of civic areas including, but not limited to, economic development, business preservation, arts and humanities, public space improvements, and education.

Priority is placed on projects that: 

• Bring together a broad range of community members and institutions
• Provide the opportunity for diverse community members to work together
• Contain measurable short term outcomes within the first 12 to 18 months
• Include community members actively in all phases of the process 
• Work toward an outcome of positive change within their community

Projects must demonstrate:

• Support from a diverse cross-section of community members and institutions
• Matching financial and/or in-kind support from the local community
• Significant volunteer participation
• Reasonable plans to complete the project within 18 months or less

Funds will be available for: 

• Planning (up to $5,000) - These funds may support costs like: consultant or staff time, meeting costs, mailings, secretarial support, refreshments, local travel, childcare, etc.
• Note - this stage is optional and not a required phase prior to applying for or receiving an implementation grant. If an organization receives a planning grant from the Musser Fund, this in no way implies a commitment on the part of the Musser Fund to provide the organization with any subsequent implementation grant.
• But organizations that receive a planning grant may apply for subsequent implementation support after their planning activities are completed.      
• Implementation (Up to $25,000) - These funds are available to implement community based rural projects that originate in, have been planned by, and involve diverse people from the local community.
• Capital campaigns will not be supported.
• The projects should result in a tangible outcome within at least the first 18 months.
• Projects will be eligible for either planning or implementation funds during any one grant period.

What the Program will Cover:

• New programs or projects within their first three years
• A planning, and/or implementation phase

Wayne And Jo Ann Moore Charitable Foundation Grant

Mission:

To enhance the lives, communities, and opportunities of others through philanthropic consideration and giving.

A History of Philanthropy

Wayne and JoAnn Moore were both very philanthropic during their lives, giving to many different organizations. They believed that using their estate to establish a foundation was the best way to continue giving back to the community that had given them so many opportunities. The foundation was named in 2008 by the first board members after both Wayne and JoAnn had passed.

Our Impact

The Foundation strives to fund many diverse programs, including the arts, health and human services, and organizations that benefit the broader public in general. Wayne and JoAnn placed considerable emphasis on education and saw it as a path to a fulfilling life.

T.L.L. Temple Foundation

The T.L.L. Temple Foundation works alongside rural communities to build a thriving East Texas and to alleviate poverty, creating access and opportunities for all.

Focus Areas

In support of its mission to build a thriving Deep East Texas and to alleviate poverty, the foundation makes grants in the areas of education, economic development and community revitalization, health, human services, arts and culture, and conservation and the environment. Central to the foundation’s work is the aim of breaking the cycle of poverty, and the foundation prioritizes support for residents and communities that most lack access to opportunities they need to succeed

Health

America’s Health Rankings, an independent health measure that combines more than 30 health-related metrics, ranks Texas 34th out of 50 states in resident health. Texans show comparatively high rates of obesity, physical inactivity, and diabetes. Disparities in health status–by race and ethnicity, geography and income–are also higher in Texas than in many states: Texas ranks 44th in the prevalence of health disparities in the nation.

Access to health care providers is also a challenge in Texas, particularly in rural areas of the state. This is partly a function of insurance coverage. According to the U.S. Census, Texas has the highest rate of uninsured residents in the nation: in 2016, 17.1% of Texas residents do not have health insurance coverage, compared to 9.4% nationally. It ranks second in lack of health insurance coverage for children: 9.5% of children in Texas have no health insurance, compared to 4.8% nationally. In our region, insured rates are even lower: in 2014, 21.3% of residents had no health insurance coverage, compared to 19.1% for the state in 2014. 

Given these challenges, our goal is simple: to improve the health of residents of Deep East Texas. The barriers of poverty, geographic isolation, and a lack of access to health care services make it particularly difficult for many residents in our region to improve and maintain their health. Yet poor health status often limits residents’ ability to get a high quality education, hold down a sustaining job, and stay out of poverty.

Education

Educational attainment is a significant challenge in our region. Based on U.S. Census data, Texas ranks 49th out of the 50 states for having the lowest percentage of adults with a high school diploma, with 18.5% of people 25 and older not having earned a high school degree or equivalent. According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board the problem is even more pronounced in our region. In the most recent 8th grade cohort available, there were 24,639 students in upper and southeast Texas counties we serve. Five years later, only 72.0% completed high school, meaning that almost 7,000 young people did not complete the most basic education.

The counties in our region lag even further behind when it comes to college completion: according to the U.S. Census’s 2015 American Community Survey, only 14.0% of people 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 27.1% in Texas and 29.3% nationally. This is particularly problematic considering that many of the region’s fastest growing occupations require at least an associate’s degree, if not a four-year degree. 

Education has always been a top priority for the T.L.L. Temple Foundation because it is the most effective tool to break the cycle of poverty and build a thriving region. Addressing the region’s low rates of educational attainment—particularly for low-income students—is critical to improving outcomes in poverty, health and economic development. We aim to increase access to high quality educational opportunities for residents in Deep East Texas. We invest in programs that measurably improve education outcomes in the region, including: early childhood education, out-of-school-time programs, and programs dedicated to increasing postsecondary preparation, access and success. We also support efforts to ensure that Deep East Texans have the skills needed to obtain and retain high quality jobs.

Economic Development and Community Revitalization

The 24 counties in our service region have very high rates of unemployment: according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2016, 52.9% of the population 16 and older was in the labor force, compared to 64.4% in Texas and 63.5% nationally. In the Deep East Texas Workforce Development Area, the unemployment rate was 7% in 2016. While this decreased from 10% in 2011, it is significantly higher than the state unemployment rate of 4.7% and the national unemployment rate of 4.9% during the same period.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, between 2012 and 2022, jobs are expected to increase by 13.1% in the Deep East Texas Workforce Development Area, compared to 21.3% for Texas, and 10.8% for the U.S. The fastest growing occupations correspond to the region’s aging population: home health and personal care aides, nursing, medical secretaries, and medical assistants. Most of these jobs require a two or four-year degree. 

We aim to improve economic opportunities and help develop and sustain thriving communities in the most economically challenged places in our service area. Vibrant communities and a robust regional economy are central to creating and sustaining a thriving Deep East Texas. We invest in efforts to transform disinvested communities into places with economic opportunities and equitable access to the essential community resources needed to help families thrive. Impact Lufkin, a foundation-initiated program, is an example of the foundation’s approach to holistic, resident-engaged community revitalization. Because engaged citizens are central to fostering strong communities, we also fund programs to increase civic participation. Finally, we invest in programs that strengthen the regional economy and improve economic opportunities for residents of Deep East Texas.

Human Services

Too many residents of Deep East Texas live in poverty. According to the U.S. Census, in 2015 in the 24 counties that we serve, 19.3% of residents live in poverty, compared to 15.9% of Texans and 13.5% of people in the U.S. The median household income (2010-2014) is 21% lower than the state of Texas, and 22% lower than the U.S. For these residents, poverty can become a vicious cycle, limiting access to the quality education, self-sustaining employment, and health care needed to rise above poverty.

The foundation works to ensure the most vulnerable residents in our service region have their basic needs met. By helping provide access to food, shelter, social services and other programs, we strive to make sure that there is a strong safety net to support the region’s low-income and vulnerable residents.

Arts and Culture

Arts and culture are critical for healthy communities and a thriving region. The foundation has long supported efforts to celebrate the region’s cultural heritage and document its important history. We will continue to help enrich the lives of Deep East Texans by investing in programs that provide access to artistic and cultural experiences.

Conservation and the Environment

Beginning with the first timber harvested in the second half of the nineteenth century, the Temple family has had a special bond with the forests, wetlands, and open spaces across our region. We believe that the health of our natural environment is closely connected to the health of our residents, our communities, and our region and so seek to protect our important natural resources.

The primary emphasis of the foundation’s conservation and environmental efforts is the Boggy Slough Conservation Area  - a Temple Foundation-managed program.

The aim of the Boggy Slough Conservation Area is to:

• serve as a model for conservation and land management;
• serve as a catalyst for creating a stewardship ethic and connection to nature in our communities; and
• bridge critical research gaps regarding the forest and bottomland ecosystems of the Neches River basin and the Southeast.

Type of Support

The foundation awards funding for multiple purposes, including: general operating support, project support, capital improvements, and organizational development and capacity building.

Size and Duration of Grants

The size and duration of grants is matched to the applicant’s scale of impact, need, capabilities and opportunities, and typically follow these guidelines:

• We provide one-year funding for initial grants
• We rarely make grants that exceed 30% of a project or organizational budget

Large Grants

For Requests Above $10,000

Organizations requesting a grant greater than $10,000 or more must use the application set forth below. All grant applications must satisfy the Foundation’s eligibility requirements and restrictions irrespective of grant size.

Our Program Areas

Our Foundation focuses on several key program areas that aim to create lasting, positive change in the communities we serve. These areas include Arts and Culture, Civic and Public Affairs, Education, Health, and Human Services. 

Arts and Culture

Our Foundation is dedicated to supporting the arts and culture as essential elements that enrich and define our communities.

Civic and Public Affairs

Our Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations and initiatives that promote civic engagement and strengthen public affairs. 

Education

Our Foundation is committed to supporting educational initiatives that provide equitable access to learning and foster the development of critical skills for individuals of all ages.

Health

Our Foundation is committed to supporting initiatives that improve health and well-being, with a focus on promoting access to quality care and addressing health disparities. 

Human Services

Our Foundation is dedicated to supporting human services initiatives that address the immediate and long-term needs of individuals and families, particularly those facing challenges such as poverty, homelessness, and hardship. 

Smaller Grants

For Requests of $10,000 or Less

Organizations requesting a grant of $10,000 or less must use the application set forth below. All grant applications must satisfy the Foundation’s eligibility requirements and restrictions irrespective of grant size.

Our Program Areas

Our Foundation focuses on several key program areas that aim to create lasting, positive change in the communities we serve. These areas include Arts and Culture, Civic and Public Affairs, Education, Health, and Human Services. 

Arts and Culture

Our Foundation is dedicated to supporting the arts and culture as essential elements that enrich and define our communities.

Civic and Public Affairs

Our Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations and initiatives that promote civic engagement and strengthen public affairs. 

Education

Our Foundation is committed to supporting educational initiatives that provide equitable access to learning and foster the development of critical skills for individuals of all ages.

Health

Our Foundation is committed to supporting initiatives that improve health and well-being, with a focus on promoting access to quality care and addressing health disparities. 

Human Services

Our Foundation is dedicated to supporting human services initiatives that address the immediate and long-term needs of individuals and families, particularly those facing challenges such as poverty, homelessness, and hardship. 

Education

Early Childhood Development & Education

The Powell Foundation seeks to ensure that all children benefit from high-quality early environments and services that foster their healthy development, foundational skill-building, school readiness, and lifelong success.

Our Early Childhood investments are focused in the following areas:

• High-quality providers & educators
• Supportive caregivers
• High-capacity sector

We invest in organizations who champion efforts to:

• Develop, sustain, and scale the availability of high-quality early childhood programs for infants, toddlers, and young children.
• Train and build the capacity of early childhood educators and providers.
• Strengthen the knowledge and capability of parents and other caregivers to nurture and guide their children’s early development and learning.
• Improve the coordination and reach of the intersecting systems impacting early childhood.

Quality Public K-12 Schools

The Powell Foundation believes that all students should receive a high-quality public K-12 education through access to effective schools, curriculum, programming, and support services that ensure they graduate from high school prepared for post-secondary success.

Our Quality Public K-12 Schools investments are focused in the following areas:

• Excellent educators
• Student supports
• Quality schools & school models

We invest in organizations who champion efforts to:

• Strengthen preparation, pathways, training, and development for teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.
• Ensure students receive high-quality, evidence-based academic instruction, programming, and supports.
• Promote the positive development of non-cognitive skills, social-emotional learning, and positive school climate and culture.
• Scale and expand access to high-quality district and public charter school models that strengthen educational outcomes for all students.

Post-secondary Pathways to Success

The Powell Foundation seeks to ensure that all students are prepared for, can access, and complete a post-secondary program that leads to meaningful employment opportunities.

Our Post-Secondary Pathways to Success investments are focused in the following areas:

• Post-secondary access and success
• Post-secondary readiness
• Policies and systems

We invest in organizations who champion efforts to:

• Increase access to and participation in advanced coursework, career awareness programming, and college and career entrance exams.
• Strengthen post-secondary advising and counseling and provide replicable and scalable tools to improve access.
• Bolster the academic preparedness of students to pursue post-secondary pathways; increase student proficiency in non-cognitive and affective skills critical to post-secondary success.
• Strengthen post-secondary persistence, certificate/degree completion, and career attainment.
• Support policies that increase post-secondary access, persistence, and success.

Aligned Cradle-to-Career Education System

The Powell Foundation supports efforts to coordinate and connect people, programs, systems, and policies and collective efforts to create a seamless and integrated educational pathway for children and youth.

Our Aligned Cradle-to-Career Education System investments are focused in the following area:

• Effective tools, policies, and systems

We invest in organizations who champion efforts to:

• Promote continuity across the education system, supporting students at pivotal transition points and accelerating high-impact practices.
• Convene and build a coalition of advocates in support of a sustained and scaled cradle-to-career continuum.
• Invest stakeholders in an aligned vision for strengthening and better connecting early childhood, K-12, and post-secondary.
• Democratize access to user-friendly data and the creation of tools to track and monitor outcomes for students across the full continuum.

Supportive Communities

The Arts

The Powell Foundation works to promote vibrant communities by expanding equitable access to educational experiences in the arts and encouraging public engagement with diverse arts and culture.

Our Arts investments are focused in the following areas:

• Arts education
• Public arts and culture access

We invest in organizations who champion efforts to:

• Provide arts education and cultural experiences to K-12 students, particularly those attending schools in “arts deserts”.
• Provide training on teaching and learning techniques that integrate the arts.
• Expand the community’s access to and engagement in the arts.
• Increase diversity and representation in the arts, with a lens towards historically marginalized groups.

Conservation

The Powell Foundation seeks to foster environmental benefits for current and future generations by connecting people to nature, building environmental stewardship, and addressing critical problems in the local environment.

Our Conservation investments are focused in the following areas:

• Conservation & Environmental education
• Connecting people to nature
• Environmental protection

We invest in organizations who champion efforts to:

• Create high-quality conservation and environmental science learning experiences for children and youth.
• Foster an appreciation and understanding of nature, the natural environment, and environmental stewardship, particularly among children and youth.
• Increase equitable access to public parks and urban greenspaces to support community wellbeing.
• Address critical environmental issues and efforts focused on protecting, preserving, and improving natural resources impacting our geographies through the support of programs, initiatives, and advocacy efforts.

Human Services

The Powell Foundation seeks to foster community wellbeing by empowering children, families, and individuals with the resources and supports they need to flourish.

Our Human Services investments are focused in the following areas:

• Stabilization & empowerment
• Emotional wellbeing

We invest in organizations who champion efforts to:

• Address food security and hunger alleviation at scale for children, youth, families, and other vulnerable populations.
• Provide housing, wrap-around services, and skill-building programs for homeless and housing insecure individuals, including transition-age youth.
• Promote emotional wellbeing of children and youth in crisis by providing mental/behavioral health interventions and supports.
• Coordinate and build the capacity of school systems to use evidence-based practices to promote students’ mental and behavioral health, including prevention, identification, and treatment efforts.

Our Mission

The Kerr Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit charitable and educational Oklahoma corporation, established to identify and support 501(c)3 organizations, programs and institutions that provide new or enhanced opportunities for those within the granting areas, particularly the young.

Program Categories

Education - Institutions of elementary, junior high, pre-collegiate, along with institutions of higher learning to include health science centers and medical research done by educational institutions

Arts and Culture - Organizations in the visual arts and performing arts areas, museums and libraries

Health - Institutions providing health care, doing medical research, or outreach organizations employing primarily professionals from the allied health area

Human Services - Organizations providing services in diverse areas to the public, and specifically to the disadvantaged, people with special needs and the elderly

Project Categories

Capital - Bricks and mortar projects, including equipment

Program - Programs having an objective and specified time span

Operating - Funds to be used to cover basic ongoing administrative and personnel expenses

Adeline & George McQueen Foundation

Support of charitable, educational, religious, or hospital organizations or undertakings in the State of Texas.

Program Areas

• Education,
• Religious,
• Scientific,
• Arts and Culture

Alice E. and Joseph C. Blewett Foundation Grant

Joseph and Alice Blewett lived most of their lives in Dallas, Texas. They were active in civic organizations and interested in educational opportunities for young people, as well as other charitable and religious programs that benefit all people.

Program areas

• Arts, culture, and humanities  
• Education
• Environment, animals
• Health
• Human services
• Public/society benefit
• Religion

States served 

Texas 

Geographic limitations 

There are no geographic limitations; however, the foundation has a practice of primarily supporting organizations located in and around Dallas, Texas.

Smallwood Foundation

For the support of charitable purposes within a hundred mile radius of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas metroplex; a hundred mile radius of Gainesville, Florida and a hundred mile radius of Minden, Nevada.

Program Area(s):

• Arts and Culture,
• Civic Activities,
• Community Development,
• Education,
• Human and Social Services.

John T. Shea Foundation

The John T. Shea Foundation provides support for religious, charitable, scientific, public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals. 

Grants are made to charitable organizations in Houston, Texas, with preference given to organizations working to prevent cruelty to children or animals.

Program Areas

• Arts and Culture,
• Civic Activities,
• Scientific,
• Human and Social Services,
• Environment,
• Health and Medical Research

The Gene Conley Foundation was created under the Last Will and Testament of Lillian Conley Martin, formerly Lillian Cornelius Conley, of Quanah in Hardeman County, Texas. Ms. Martin died on March 16, 1987.

The Gene Conley Foundation awards grants exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals. It's mission is to support a variety of charitable causes, primarily within north central, Texas.

Program areas:

• Arts, culture, and humanities 
• Education 
• Environment, animals 
• Health 
• Human services 
• Public/society benefit 
• Religion

Charlotte B. Proehl Foundation

For the support of charitable organizations in the Greater Houston, Texas area.

Program Areas

• Animal Welfare
• Arts and Culture
• Civic Activities
• Community Development
• Education
• Environment
• Human and Social Services
• Religious
• Health and Medical Research
• Scientific

As one of the world’s largest independent exploration and production companies based on production and proved reserves, ConocoPhillips prides itself on being a great neighbor and a responsible citizen in the communities where we live and work. We recognize that the most effective Charitable Investments are achieved by entering into strategic relationships with organizations that serve the needs of the community and help the company meet its business objectives. We encourage collaborative problem-solving to allocate our Charitable Investments appropriately to achieve performance objectives. 

Local Community Giving

In communities across the globe, our taxes and investments contribute to economic growth, and we also work to determine ways to be good neighbors. This includes working with community members and partners to meaningfully and measurably contribute to each community’s unique needs by identifying and addressing areas of local concern through charitable investments and volunteerism in support of education, health and safety, the environment, the arts, civic and social services, and disaster relief.

With our recent expansion into the Permian, we significantly increased our investment in this region. This funding supported a number of social services and education initiatives. Investments included support for the West Texas Food Bank (WTFB) campus expansion which will help address the needs from the rapidly growing population. Funded education initiatives included support of the Bynum School for children with disabilities, Midland Independent School District Education Foundation and Midland College student scholarships.

Education remains an important focus for our charitable giving. In Alaska, we supported the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP) efforts to place Alaska Natives in science and engineering on a career path to leadership. We also donated $1.5 million in high-tech equipment to seven universities including Prairie View A&M, Colorado School of Mines and Texas Tech University following the decommissioning of our Bartlesville Research Center.

Description of Funding Opportunity

The Nina Heard Astin Charitable Trust was created to support a variety of charitable causes. There are no geographic limitations; however, the trust primarily supports organizations located in Texas.

Program Areas

• Arts, culture, and humanities 
• Education 
• Environment, animals 
• Health 
• Human services 
• Religion