Search Through Education Grants in Houston, Texas in the U.S.

Our Focus

By supporting organizations that advance and improve the quality of eye health, education and access to care, the Alcon Foundation plays a significant role in fulfilling our commitment to the global community. The purpose for the grant must be designated in the application and that designated purpose is the only purpose for which awarded grant funds may be used.

Supporting Programs that Strengthen Eye Care

Alcon provides charitable monetary donations (often referred to as grants) to eligible 501(c)3 organizations that offer high-quality programs and services to increase access to quality eye care and strengthen the communities in which we live and work. These donations are offered through the Alcon Foundation.

Supporting Programs that Strengthen Eye Care

The Foundation’s primary focus is supporting programs that improve the quality of eye care services and patient access to care, as well as programs that promote the advancement of eye health education, training and skillstransfer.

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. 

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.

Background

At Lubrizol, the communities where we work and live have long been valued stakeholders in the sustainability of our organization. In 1952, Lubrizol established The Lubrizol Foundation (Foundation), which provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and charities in our local home communities.

Grants will be awarded to organizations with missions consistent with Lubrizol's community engagement priorities and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 13, 14, 15, focused on advancing health and wellbeing, quality education, climate action and life under water and on land. 

Lubrizol’s Corporate Community Engagement Priorities

Grants will be awarded to organizations with a mission that is consistent with Lubrizol's Corporate Community Engagement Priorities, which are to improve lives and also align with the United Nations Strategic Development Goals (UN SDG) through:  

• Good Health and Well-Being – aligned with UN SDG 3
• Quality Education – aligned with UN SDG 4
• Protecting, preserving and enriching the natural environment – aligned with:
  • UN SDG 13 – Climate Change
  • UN SDG 14 –Life under Water
  • UN SDG 15 –Life on Land

The McKesson Foundation 

Founded in 1943, the McKesson Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporate foundation dedicated to advancing health outcomes for all. The Foundation’s mission is to remove barriers to quality healthcare across North America, especially for vulnerable and underserved communities.

Strategic Giving Pillars and Areas of Focus

The McKesson Foundation champions health equity by partnering with nonprofit organizations to advance efforts aligned with three strategic giving pillars and corresponding areas of focus:

Reducing the Burden of Cancer

The American Cancer Society states that one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. These cancer diagnoses often create both a health and financial crisis for patients and their families. Studies show factors including race/ethnicity, health insurance status and income can affect the timing of a patient’s diagnosis and treatment, as well as their survival and financial impact. Working with our partners, we aim to reduce the risk of getting cancer and address socioeconomic barriers to care.

• Prevention
  • provide education and services to encourage people to adopt healthy diets, exercise regularly, avoid tobacco, and protect their skin.
• Screening and Treatment
  • increase awareness of the importance of screenings, early detection and timely treatment among vulnerable populations; provide free health screenings for patients and connect them to care.
• Financial/Logistical Assistance
  • connect uninsured and underinsured patients to programs providing low or no-cost co-pays and social determinants of health (SDOH) interventions, e.g., transportation, childcare, healthy food, home meal delivery; reduce the economic burden of low-income patients with emergency funds for rent, utilities and other household expenses.

Preparing Tomorrow's Healthcare Workforce

• Patients report that they feel more heard and are more compliant with medical guidance when they share race/ethnicity with their healthcare practitioner. Nearly a third of the U.S. population is Black or Hispanic, yet the combined Black and Hispanic representation among oncologists is 8 percent and the combined Black, Indigenous and Hispanic representation among pharmacists is 10.7 percent. Closing the gap between diverse representation among the general population and among healthcare practitioners will improve health equity and patient outcomes.
• Oncology Professionals
  • increase underrepresented in medicine (URiM) student recruitment and retention;
  • increase all health professionals’ cultural competency to better serve a diverse patient population.
• Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians 
  • increase URiM recruitment and retention;
  • prepare students for broader pharmacist roles;
  • leverage pharmacists’ extensive training, community presence and public trust to serve vulnerable and rural patient populations.
• Student Engagement
  • increase students’ awareness of STEM careers;
  • support students’ financial literacy;
  • help prepare middle and high school students for higher education.

Accelerating Crisis Response

With the increased frequency and intensity of climate events, more people across North America need temporary or extended shelter, as well as food and medications, during and in the aftermath of crises. And with 10 percent of the population in both Canada and the U.S. living in food insecure households, programs to provide regular, nutritious meals to children, families and seniors can reduce chronic disease and improve long-term health.

• Preparedness
  • support relief agencies’ efforts to prepare for forecasted as well as unforeseen emergencies;
  • support relief agencies’ efforts to help people become Red Cross Ready.
• Disaster Relief and Recovery
  • mobilize resources to provide acute services, such as water, food, shelter, comfort kits, medicines, and healthcare for people affected by natural disasters or crises;
  • help families return to normalcy after a disaster.
• Medicine and Food
  • assist vulnerable individuals and communities by supporting acute and chronic care services that provide medicines and food.

About

Member of The Garden Club of America, River Oaks Garden Club was founded in 1927 and has made many contributions to the Houston community in the areas of conservation, horticulture and civic beautification. Proceeds from the Azalea Trail support these ongoing projects:

• Maintenance of River Oaks Garden Club Forum of Civics Building and Gardens. The gardens are open to the public.
• Maintenance of the 14-acre gardens of Bayou Bend, the former estate of Miss Ima Hogg, and now the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
• Establishment of the Bayou Bend Gardens Endowment, a charitable trust for the perpetual maintenance of the gardens. The endowment is supported by public contributions.
• Host of the annual Sadie Gwin Blackburn Environmental Seminar, which is open to the public. Admission is free.
• Publication of A Garden Book for Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast.
• Involvement

Mission Statement

Our Mission

The mission of The River Oaks Garden Club is to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to share the advantages of association by means of educational meetings, conferences, correspondence and publications, and to restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement.

John M. O'Quinn Foundation Grant

Background

John M. O’Quinn established The John M. O’Quinn Foundation in 1986. With his death in 2009, Mr. O’Quinn willed his entire estate to The Foundation. As of December 31, 2024, the Foundation has awarded more than $192 million in grants. Most of the funds have been given within the state of Texas with a special emphasis on Houston, Mr. O’Quinn’s home since his youth. Although The Foundation supports a wide variety of charitable activities, in honoring Mr. O’Quinn’s legacy, the Board of Trustees focuses on Houston and its surrounding areas for conservation, education, healthcare, and programs benefitting underprivileged youth.

Scanlan Foundation Grant

We believe that the most impactful way to carry out our mission of furthering the Roman Catholic Church in the State of Texas is to build a culture of vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and holy families.

This culture of vocations will be foundational in all that we do as we move forward with making decisions, strategic giving, and forming relationships. This cornerstone supports four main mission-furthering pillars of funding:

• Marriage & Holy Families,
• Catholic Education,
• Evangelization & Discipleship,
• and Life & Human Dignity.

Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life

At the center of our faith is the sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” (CCC 1324) Only a validly ordained priest can validly consecrate the Eucharist, so without priests, we lack access to the “sum and summary of our faith.” (CCC 1327) It is vital to the health of our Church that it continues to produce the fruit of new vocations to the priesthood to provide access to the sacraments.

It is similarly vital to the health of the Church to promote vocations to religious life, as religious sisters are dedicated to a wide range of forms of supporting the Church, whether it be through cloistered prayer or through apostolic works such as providing education, caring for the sick, and engaging in missionary work.

• Goal: Increase the number of men answering their vocation to join the priesthood and of women answering their vocation to join religious life.
  • Strategy: Scanlan Foundation seeks to support dioceses, organizations and ministries that would like to develop or execute a plan for vocations and a strong desire to increase the fruits of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. This includes, but is not limited to, education at the seminary level, support and community for discerners, ministries that directly engage and equip parish vocation committees, school-wide Catholic education curricula, campus ministry programs that strengthen faith and evangelize, vocation-focused retreats, and youth programming aimed at building awareness and encouraging vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Marriage & Holy Families

The Scanlan Foundation recognizes the importance of strong holy marriages and families in building a culture of vocations. “In our own time, in a world often alien and even hostile to faith, believing families are of primary importance as centers of living, radiant faith.” (CCC 1656) Not only do vocations to the priesthood and the religious life come out of holy, strong families, but also future generations of the domestic church because “the home is the first school of Christian life and ‘a school for human enrichment.’” (CCC 1657)

• Goal: Encourage couples discerning marriage to choose sacramental marriage and be well-prepared for their upcoming marriage.
  • Strategy: We wish to target funding and support to ministries that support dating and engaged couples. This includes college campus ministry and marriage preparation courses that enhance the current requirements.
• Goal: Strengthen and bolster existing marriages for their important role as the domestic church.
  • Strategy: We wish to target married couples, young families, and sacrament preparation. This effort can be done through faith-formation groups for men/husbands/fathers, faith-formation groups for women/wives/mothers, marriage support groups and mentorship programs, RCIA programs, and other sacrament preparation programs that incorporate the family in the catechesis of the youth.

Catholic Education

Scanlan Foundation has always considered Catholic Education to be critical to strengthening the fabric of our society. In the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the primary vehicles for impact that we have identified are Campus Ministry & Culture, Faculty Faith Formation, and Scanlan Scholar Tuition Assistance. In other dioceses, we believe the individual Bishops understand best the needs of their respective schools. Therefore, we will begin to provide grant funding directly to the dioceses outside of Galveston-Houston for their Catholic schools, as opposed to making grants directly to those schools.

• Goal: Enhance access to Catholic education for families who value the faith-based educational environment but would otherwise be unable to afford the tuition.
  • Strategy: Outside of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, provide funds for Catholic high school tuition assistance directly to the dioceses, for the Bishops to distribute where they see the greatest need. Within the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, tuition assistance will be funded through the Scanlan Scholar program. Schools will select students with demonstrated financial need who also fit a profile of a Scanlan Scholar: a practicing Catholic or someone actively converting to the faith through RCIA, a strong academic achiever, and an active member of the campus ministry and service community.
• Goal: Improve teacher faith-formation.
  • Strategy: Schools that wish to enhance their faculty’s knowledge and appreciation of the doctrine and history of the Catholic faith are encouraged to share their proposed faith-formation program. Overall grant-giving to high schools will shrink in order to meet the needs of the many ministries we support. Therefore, schools may find it more impactful to invest Scanlan Foundation grants into forming their faculty so as to better represent Christ to their students and to uphold the doctrine of the Catholic faith.
• Goal: Develop strong campus ministries.
  • Strategy: Schools that wish to develop robust programs through their school’s campus ministry that have a special focus on increasing vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and holy families should apply for grant funding to further their efforts. We wish to support regular occurring ministry events, Bible studies, access to sacraments, school-wide activities, and retreats that encourage students to begin taking serious consideration to the vocation God calls them to.

Evangelization & Discipleship

“God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness, freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life…He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church.” (CCC1) To further the Roman Catholic faith in Texas, it must grow. This can be done through evangelization and discipleship, sharing the hope and joy of the Gospel to encourage others to live a life centered on Christ. We share in God’s desire to encourage people to know and love God, and we support those who similarly wish to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

• Goal: Form Missionary Disciples, especially on the college campuses in Texas.
  • Strategy: Campus Ministries will be formed and strengthened across the state of Texas in an effort to ensure that all college students have access to a strong Catholic environment. We are looking for organizations that can carry this out, providing a priest offering sacraments, adoration, sacred music, Bible studies, and retreats for the continued formation of this critical young adult age group.
• Goal: Foster personal holiness and promote individual faith formation.
  • Strategy: Our target programs that we wish to strengthen and expand include youth ministries, RCIA, family faith formation programs, men’s and women’s groups, adult faith formation activities, and parish community-building.

Life & Human Dignity

A major component of the Roman Catholic faith is carrying out the social teachings of the Catholic Church, as laid out in the Beatitudes and defined through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The Scanlan Foundation is committed to support those organizations that are dedicated to the social teachings of the Catholic Church who see that ”social justice can only be obtained in respecting the transcendent dignity of man.” (CCC 1929) We recognize that people are most able to reach their God-given vocation when they are healthy, safe, and financially secure from conception to natural death.

• Goal: Assist the poor, sick, and vulnerable. 
  • Strategy: We fund and strengthen those Catholic organizations that provide ministries and programs that provide essential services to the poor, sick, and vulnerable.
• Goal: Promote faith-based therapy.
  • Strategy: We support organizations that assist with mental illnesses, addictions, family and marriage issues, and other spiritual, mental, and emotional distress in ways that are faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
• Goal: Strengthen the culture of life.
  • Strategy: Promote organizations that have a proven track record for protecting life at all stages from conception to natural death. This includes ministries focused on ending the culture of abortion, that promote natural family planning, that support families in crisis, that teach medical ethics and advocate for end-of-life care.

Ministry

This application form is for Catholic ministries in the State of Texas only. Qualified applicants may submit one application per year. If you are a campus ministry, high school or institution of higher education, please download the corresponding application form for your category and do not use this form.

Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company

One of the largest employee-managed funds of its kind in the world, the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company has been empowering employees to make a greater impact by pooling their tax-deductible donations for more than 60 years. Employee-led grantmaking committees at 20 Boeing sites- provide combined employee donations to nonprofits in their communities through ECF grants.

Charitable or educational organizations can apply for grants from the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of The Boeing Company.

Houston Chapter

The Employee Community Fund (ECF) of Boeing Houston is an employee owned and operated organization supported through employee payroll deductions or gifts. The ECF Board of Directors manages and disburses funds collected on behalf of the ECF consistent with its charter and in the local communities where the members work and live. The ECF Board also promotes membership and contributions to the ECF and leads the annual ECF Awareness Campaign for the Houston site.

Focus 

The focus of the Houston Chapter is to provide financial support to help local non-profit organizations distribute and deliver health and human services to meet the community’s demands regardless of gender, race, religion, social stature, and sexual orientation.

Grantmaking Strategies

Since 1961, the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation has supported the health of our environment, reproductive justice, and the nurture of nature in Texas and Colorado. We are primarily interested in making investments that benefit one or more of the following geographic regions: greater Houston, central Texas and southwestern Colorado, as well as efforts of statewide significance in Texas.

We provide different types of support, including operating, project and capital grants, and are open to providing operating and project grants for terms of up to two years at a time.

Our grantmaking reflects our belief that the well-being of humans and nature are linked. We believe that our support of nature and natural spaces; the dignity, health, worth, and power of people — especially those under threat — is in direct service of the vision for a healthy and harmonious world.

With commitment, focus and a long-term vision, we invest toward environmental justice & conservation, reproductive rights & justice, parks & open space, environmental literacy, and animal care facilities.

Priorities

Environmental Justice & Conservation

The health and well-being of our communities, natural spaces, and critical species are inextricably linked and essential to one another. Key threats in our region include the pace and scale of new development, an expanding industrial footprint and continued reliance on gray infrastructure, all with few regulatory safeguards, contributing to climate change, biodiversity loss, urban flooding, inadequate water supply, and air and water pollution. Communities of color and those with low incomes are disproportionately burdened by these environmental harms.

The Foundation invests in efforts to mitigate climate change and reduce harmful emissions; protect and steward land and water resources; and improve habitat and recover species of concern. The Foundation supports advocacy initiatives, community organizing, legal strategies and on-the-ground conservation, and values work that centers the vision and voices of those most impacted.

Reproductive Rights & Justice

Everyone should have reproductive autonomy and access to the full spectrum of reproductive care, no matter their income or the place they call home. However, access to reproductive services has become increasingly difficult, especially in Texas, and the lack of comprehensive care leads to unintended pregnancies and births. Unintended pregnancy, including teen pregnancy, is associated with a range of adverse outcomes for pregnant youth, adults, their families, and communities.

The Foundation invests in efforts to advance reproductive justice such as advocacy initiatives, community organizing and legal strategies, and values work that centers the vision and voices of those most burdened by restrictions on reproductive rights.

Parks & Open Space

Parks, trails and open spaces provide places for children, families and communities to connect with nature and each other. Parks provide opportunities for physical activity, support mental well-being and allow people to gain appreciation for the natural world. However, many residents within the Foundation’s geographies of interest do not live within the recommended 10-minute walk of a park, and there are disparities in the quality of local parks across communities.

The Foundation invests in efforts to develop and improve community parks and trail networks in central Texas, greater Houston and southwestern Colorado. The Foundation values park initiatives that benefit neighborhoods with a history of disinvestment, as well as efforts that engage residents in their design and implementation.

Environmental Literacy

Along with building critical thinking skills and improving academic achievement, environmental education enhances connections with nature and encourages future environmental stewardship. Ensuring that all children and youth have access to high-quality environmental education – particularly in the outdoors – will build knowledge, skills and motivation to tackle environmental challenges of today and tomorrow.

The Foundation invests in evidence-based environmental education programs, and values efforts that incorporate experiential learning, highlight local ecosystems, emphasize principles of environmental justice and are designed to benefit youth who have limited access to nature and are contending with environmental harms.

Animal Care Facilities

To maintain a healthy ecological balance, it is vital that we protect and care for animals, both domestic and wild. However, the built environment and human activity present hazards to wildlife within the Foundation’s geographic areas of interest, and challenges related to stray dogs and cats, animal cruelty, and pet ownership are pervasive.

The Foundation invests in organizations within central Texas, greater Houston and southwestern Colorado that rehabilitate ill or injured wildlife, as well as facilities that provide comprehensive, low-cost services for domestic animals. In addition, the Foundation is interested in efforts to create a more coordinated and efficient system of animal care in our communities.

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

About the Foundation

The Kosciuszko Foundation is dedicated to promote educational and cultural exchanges between the United States and Poland and to increase American understanding of Polish culture and history.

Founded in 1925, on the eve of the 150th anniversary of Thaddeus Kosciuszko's enlistment in the American revolutionary cause, the Foundation is a national not-for-profit, nonpartisan, and nonsectarian organization.

The Foundation's work reaches audiences throughout the United States, through its headquarters in New York City and its regional Chapters in Chicago, Denver (Rocky Mountain), Houston (Texas), Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Springfield (New England), Buffalo (Western New York State), Ohio (Cleveland) as well as through its National Advisory Council.

The Kosciuszko Foundation is a membership organization, which is supported by contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals who share the Foundation's mission of fostering the relations and understanding between the United States and Poland.

Program Description

Kosciuszko Foundation Tuition Scholarships support American students of Polish descent for graduate level studies, such as masters and Ph.D. studies, at colleges and universities in the United States. Scholarships are up to $12,000. Funding is only for full-time studies in the United States and English Schools of Medicine in Poland.  

American Society of Civil Engineers

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) represents more than 160,000 members of the civil engineering profession in 177 countries. Founded in 1852, ASCE is the nation’s oldest national civil engineering society.

ASCE stands at the forefront of a profession that plans, designs, constructs, and operates society’s economic and social engine – the built environment – while protecting and restoring the natural environment. Through the expertise of its active membership, ASCE is a leading provider of technical and professional conferences and continuing education, the world’s largest publisher of civil engineering content, and an authoritative source for codes and standards that protect the public. The Society advances civil engineering technical specialties through nine dynamic institutes and leads with its many professional- and public-focused programs.

ASCE Houston Branch Student Chapter Scholarship 

The American Society of Civil Engineers Houston Branch has funded the 2025 ASCE Student Chapter Scholarship Fund and will be awarding scholarships to outstanding students from the local ASCE Houston Branch university student chapters (Prairie View A&M University, Rice University, Texas Southern University, University of Houston-Main Campus, University of Houston-Downtown and University of Texas at Tyler-Houston Engineering Center).

The scholarships will be awarded on the basis of overall merit, in recognition of personal student achievements, involvement and achievements with the ASCE Student Chapter, and with regard to financial responsibility. The number and value of each scholarship will be determined upon receipt of the scholarship applications. The total number and dollar amount of Scholarship awards is determined each year by the ASCE Houston Branch, however the minimum amount of any award this year will be $500.

Robert W. Knox, Jr., a resident of Houston, Texas, established the Foundation in 1964 in honor of his parents Robert W. Knox, Sr. and Pearl Wallis Knox. Robert W. Knox, Sr., a well-known physician in Houston, married Pearl Wallis of Galveston in 1892. Dr. Knox was president of the Texas State Medical Association, Chief Surgeon for the Southern Pacific Railway and helped establish several hospitals in the San Antonio, Houston and Louisiana areas. Robert Knox was active in the real estate business in Houston and was a veteran of both world wars.

The foundation is for religious, charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals within the United States.

GRANTS

In keeping with the mission of the Show, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo provides grants to 501(c)(3) charities and accredited institutions of higher education to support programming that benefits youth, supports education, expands agricultural horizons, and/or preserves and honors pioneer heritage and cultures. To date, the Show has presented over $89 million in research, grants, and educational programs to more than 100 organizations and institutions in Texas.

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

Mission

Founded in 1943, the McKesson Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporate foundation dedicated to advancing health outcomes for all. The Foundation’s mission is to remove barriers to quality healthcare across North America, especially for vulnerable and underserved communities.

Strategic Giving Pillars and Areas of Focus

The McKesson Foundation champions health equity by partnering with nonprofit organizations to advance efforts aligned with three strategic giving pillars and corresponding areas of focus:

Reducing the Burden of Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates 1.9M people will receive a cancer diagnosis in 2022 and two in five Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. These cancer diagnoses often create both a health and financial crisis for patients and their families. Studies show factors including race/ethnicity, health insurance status and income can affect the timing of a patient’s diagnosis and treatment, as well as their survival and financial impact. Working with our partners, we aim to reduce the risk of getting cancer and address socioeconomic barriers to care.

• Prevention
  • provide education and services to encourage people to adopt healthy diets, exercise regularly, avoid tobacco, and protect their skin.
• Screening and Treatment
  • increase awareness of the importance of screenings, early detection and timely treatment among vulnerable populations; provide free health screenings for patients and connect them to care.
• Financial/Logistical Assistance
  • connect uninsured and underinsured patients to programs providing low or no-cost co-pays and social determinants of health (SDOH) interventions, e.g., transportation, childcare, healthy food, home meal delivery; reduce the economic burden of low-income patients with emergency funds for rent, utilities and other household expenses.

Preparing Tomorrow's Healthcare Workforce

Patients report that they feel more heard and are more compliant with medical guidance when they share race/ethnicity with their healthcare practitioner. Nearly a third of the U.S. population is Black or Hispanic, yet the combined Black and Hispanic representation among oncologists is 8 percent and the combined Black, Indigenous and Hispanic representation among pharmacists is 10.7 percent. Closing the gap between diverse representation among the general population and among healthcare practitioners will improve health equity and patient outcomes.

• Oncology Professionals
  • increase underrepresented in medicine (URiM) student recruitment and retention;
  • increase all health professionals’ cultural competency to better serve a diverse patient population.
• Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians 
  • increase URiM recruitment and retention;
  • prepare students for broader pharmacist roles;
  • leverage pharmacists’ extensive training, community presence and public trust to serve vulnerable and rural patient populations.
• Student Engagement
  • increase students’ awareness of STEM careers;
  • support students’ financial literacy;
  • help prepare middle and high school students for higher education.

Accelerating Crisis Response

With the increased frequency and intensity of climate events, more people across North America need temporary or extended shelter, as well as food and medications, during and in the aftermath of crises. And with 10 percent of the population in both Canada and the U.S. living in food insecure households, programs to provide regular, nutritious meals to children, families and seniors can reduce chronic disease and improve long-term health.

• Preparedness
  • support relief agencies’ efforts to prepare for forecasted as well as unforeseen emergencies;
  • support relief agencies’ efforts to help people become Red Cross Ready.
• Disaster Relief and Recovery
  • mobilize resources to provide acute services, such as water, food, shelter, comfort kits, medicines, and healthcare for people affected by natural disasters or crises;
  • help families return to normalcy after a disaster.
• Medicine and Food
  • assist vulnerable individuals and communities by supporting acute and chronic care services that provide medicines and food.

Pew Biomedical Scholars 

The Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences provides funding to young investigators of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of human health. The program makes grants to selected academic institutions to support the independent research of outstanding individuals who are in their first few years of their appointment at the assistant professor level.

Based on their performance during their education and training, candidates should demonstrate outstanding promise as contributors in science relevant to human health. Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and pioneering approaches to basic, translational, and applied biomedical research. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles but who bring in concepts and theories from more diverse fields are encouraged to apply.

Ideas with the potential to produce an unusually high impact are encouraged. Selection of the successful candidates will be based on a detailed description of the work that the applicant proposes to undertake, evaluations of the candidate’s performance, and notable past accomplishments, including honors, awards, and publications. In evaluating the candidates, the National Advisory Committee gives considerable weight to both the project proposal and the researcher, including evidence that the candidate is a successful independent investigator and has the skill set needed to carry out their high-impact proposal.

Funding from the NIH, other government sources, and project grants from nonprofit associations do not pose a conflict with the Pew scholars program.

Funding

The current grant level is $300,000.

An award of $75,000 per year for four years will be provided to the sponsoring institution for use by the scholar, subject to annual review of the scholar’s progress. Grant agreements will be issued in August of the award year. The awarded funds may be used at the discretion of the Pew scholar, for personnel, equipment, supplies, or travel directly related to the scholar's research and as to best advance his or her research and career.

• The amount of the award that may be used for the principal investigator’s salary is limited to $12,500 per year (including benefits) or $50,000 over the duration of the grant. There are no limits on student or postdoctoral salaries.
• Not more than 8 percent ($24,000) of the total award value may be allocated for facilities and administration (F&A) charges or indirect costs (IDCs).
• Should the funds not be immediately required, they may be accumulated and carried over through the grant period and, with written approval of the program office, the grant may receive a no-cost extension for one additional year (without additional funds).
• Subawards are allowed.

During the four-year grant term, program participants are required to attend an annual meeting held in March or April. All eligible expenses for attendees’ travel, lodging, and meals are paid by Pew. The meeting provides Pew scholars with an opportunity to present their research and for scientific collaboration and exchange with other scholars and members of the National Advisory Committee.

Community Assistance Grant

The Junior League is committed to exploring new opportunities that expand its community outreach through Community Assistance Grants.

The Community Assistance Committee evaluates grant applications for projects in the greater Houston community that do not currently receive volunteer support from the League and makes funding recommendations to the League’s Board of Directors for consideration. Specifically, requests that address a critical or basic need, fund a pilot program and/or expand a significant service to the community are considered. Eligible recipients can only receive a Community Assistance grant once every three years.

Community Assistance Grants are funded, in part, by the Barbara and Roy Adams Endowed Community Grant Fund held by the Junior League of Houston Foundation. This endowed fund was made possible through a generous estate gift from Barbara Beardmore Adams (1940 – 2014), a Junior League member from 1982 – 2014.

Focus Areas

The focus areas for this year's Community Assistance Grants are listed below:

• Children’s Education
• Children and Women’s Health and Well-Being
• Whole Family Basic Needs

Community Assistance Pilot Program

This year the Junior League of Houston is launching a Community Assistance pilot that may award up to three agencies $10,000 for their operating funds every year for three years starting this upcoming year with the goal of helping early-stage organizations increase their capacity to make a positive impact in the greater Houston community.

Focus Areas

The focus areas for this year is listed below:

• Children’s Education
• Children and Women’s Health and Well-Being
• Whole Family Basic Needs

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

Supporting Programs that Strengthen Eye Care

The Foundation’s primary focus is supporting programs that improve the quality of eye care services and patient access to care, as well as programs that promote the advancement of eye health education, training and skills-transfer.

Supporting Programs That Strengthen and Enhance our CommunitiesThe Foundation also supports select cultural, humanitarian and community development programs that meaningfully enhance quality of life in the communities where Alcon has a U.S. facility:

• Fort Worth, Texas
• Houston, Texas
• Huntington, West Virginia
• Irvine, California
• Johns Creek, Georgia
• Lake Forest, California
• Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania

Mission

Mrs. Evelyn Mullen and her husband Boyd owned a car dealership in Pasadena, Texas. Throughout their lives, the Mullens were involved in their community and strove to meet its changing needs. Mrs. Mullen dreamed of going to college to study nursing, but while she did not have an opportunity to do so, she became a strong advocate for education during her lifetime.

The Boyd & Evelyn Mullen Foundation was established to support charitable organizations in Texas, with a priority for the Houston area, endeavoring to advance education, literary studies, science, and religion, thereby improving the welfare of those in need. Specific areas of funding interest include education via college scholarships; disaster relief; enriching the lives of the blind and visually impaired; meeting the needs of homeless men, women and children; and Medical Research with a focus on nutrition.

Areas of Focus

While continuing Mrs. Mullen's important work by supporting organizations fitting the mission she outlined, she also wanted the Foundation to adapt to the demands of the present day, therefore Trustees established the priorities noted on this page. These areas of focus may be adjusted from time to time to address the most pressing challenges facing residents of Houston and surrounding areas.

Education

The Foundation is devoted to encouraging the pursuit of higher education among the less fortunate. To accomplish this goal, the Foundation will:

• Support organizations that provide scholarships to deserving students attending Texas colleges and universities
• Support programs that help deserving students succeed in high school so that they can go on to college
• Support programs that seek to increase college graduation rates of deserving students attending Texas colleges

Literary studies

The Foundation seeks to fund programs in fields such as classics, history, history of art, musicology, philosophy, religious studies and all areas of literary studies, including the study of foreign literatures.

Disaster preparedness and relief

The Foundation is dedicated to providing support, relief and recovery in the wake of domestic natural disasters (cyclones, earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and tsunamis) and other tragedies.

Human services

The goal of the Foundation is to fund programs designed to provide social enrichment to individuals in the community. Grants are awarded to programs that help the hungry, disabled and homeless, as well as abused women and children.

Medical Research

Medical Research is vital to improving human health, as it brings about a better understanding of the cause and effect of complex diseases. The Foundation will fund organizations that conduct Medical Research in the field of nutrition.

Science

The Foundation is devoted to supporting programs aimed at advancing promising research and technological developments that have the potential to expand knowledge, improve health and protect the environment. Support will also be provided for programs that enhance science education and learning.

Religion

The Foundation is committed to funding programs that reinvigorate religious life in the Houston area and connect people with a community of faith. The Foundation believes that such a connection (regardless of creed or denomination) reinforces ethical behavior and motivates active engagement driven by a concern for others. These desired outcomes cut across all of the Foundation's areas of interest.

Funding

Grants are made to support primarily operating and program/project needs, but requests for 1-time capital improvements may also be considered. Grants typically range between $5,000 and $30,000.

Background

Every community faces unique barriers that require collaborative solutions to thrive. The Dow Promise Program supports educational and economic challenges Black youth and adults face in the United States by addressing community-identified needs and advancing equitable opportunities. Through grants of up to $10,000 towards social, economic or environmental initiatives, Dow Promise not only fosters a thriving community, but a shared future.

Since 2000, this annual competitive program has committed to uplifting communities in which Dow operates by supporting their needs and investing in positive social change for long-term success.

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 Welch Foundation

The Welch Foundation is a legacy to the world from Robert Alonzo Welch, a self-made man with a strong sense of responsibility to humankind, an enthusiastic respect for chemistry and a deep love for his adopted state of Texas.

The Welch Foundation, based in Houston, Texas, is one of the nation's largest private funding sources for basic chemical research. Since its founding in 1954, the organization has contributed to the advancement of chemistry through research grants, departmental programs, endowed chairs and other special projects at educational institutions in Texas.

Postdoctoral Fellows

The Robert A. Welch Foundation is launching a new postdoctoral fellowship program, in conjunction with Life Sciences Research Foundation (LSRF).

Purpose

The Postdoctoral Fellows Grant Program provides three-year fellowships to recent PhD graduates from around the world to support the development of their chemical research careers in Texas. The aim is to fund fellows who intend to tackle important chemistry-related problems in interesting and novel ways within laboratories that provide world-class training.

Chemical Research

As with other research programs funded by the Welch Foundation, ‘chemical research’ includes all subfields of Chemistry (organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, quantum, surface, theoretical, medicinal, catalysis, earth, space, and electrochemistry) and the allied fields of Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Chemical Physics, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, and Nanoscience (including Photonics and Plasmonics).

Funding

Successful candidates will be awarded three-year fellowships of $97,000/year. In addition to the stipend and research allowance provided through LSRF ($77,000/year), Welch will provide a supplemental research grant directly to the host institution ($20,000/year) with the fellow named as principal investigator.

This grant is intended to provide the fellow with additional resources for research (e.g., reagents and small equipment) and professional development (e.g., scientific meetings and publication charges). Funds can be carried forward to the next year and requests for no-cost extensions will be considered.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.