The Powell Foundation
Accepts applications
The Powell Foundation is a private foundation in Houston, Texas. In tax year 2025 it gave $20.8 million in 271 grants; the typical grant was $15,000 and the largest $1.5 million. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$20.8 million
- Number of grants271
- Typical grant$15,000
- Largest grant$1.5 million
- Assets$492 million
- New grantees48%
Giving in 2025 was up from $18.7 million the year before.
48% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $17.6 million | 269 | $421 million |
| 2024 | $18.7 million | 276 | $452 million |
| 2025 | $20.8 million | 271 | $492 million |
How to apply
| Contact | httpspowellfoundationorgapplication 2001 Kirby Drive Suite 1011, Houston, TX 77019 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (713) 523-7557, grants@powellfoundation.org |
| What to submit | Organizations interested in applying for a Powell Foundation grant must submit an online pre-application form. If the pre-application is advanced, the organization will be invited to submit a full application via the Powell Foundation's online Grant Portal. The Powell Foundation Board of Directors makes all final decisions about grant requests during the Spring (May) and Fall (November) Board Meetings. Organizations approved for funding must sign and return a grant agreement for disbursement. Refer to the website for grant guidelines. |
| Deadlines | Refer to the website for the application process and deadlines. |
| Restrictions | The Powell Foundation is dedicated to catalyzing progress in public education, the arts, conservation, and human services. Funding is focused on the Foundation's geographic areas of interest in Harris, Travis, or Walker Counties, Texas. Requesting organizations must be tax-exempt under IRC 501(c)(3). This includes public charities, government organizations, and eligible supporting organizations. No grants are made to individuals, endowments, scholarship funds, private foundations, fundraising/marketing events, debt retirement/past operating deficits, candidates for political office or to influence specific legislation, or for realizing religious or doctrinal purpose. 2025 Giving: Education $12.3M (65%) and Supportive Communities: the Arts $2.2M (11%), Conservation $3M (16%), and Human Services $1.6M (8%). |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The Powell Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 22 states, the most to Texas.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 197 | $15.4 million |
| Massachusetts | 7 | $1.4 million |
| Louisiana | 5 | $1.2 million |
| District of Columbia | 9 | $758,546 |
| California | 7 | $430,500 |
| Washington | 1 | $372,313 |
| New York | 9 | $241,050 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $200,000 |
| Maryland | 2 | $196,000 |
| New Hampshire | 5 | $55,700 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Precinct4Forward | Conservation: Connecting People to Nature | $1.5 million |
| Boys & Girls Club of Walker County | Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success | $1.3 million |
| The Holdsworth Center | Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent Educators | $981,164 |
| BridgeYear | Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success | $949,815 |
| The Bridgespan Group | Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems | $838,175 |
| Catalyst Education DBA Catalyst Exchange | Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems | $700,000 |
| United Way for Greater Austin | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators | $655,729 |
| University of Houston Foundation | Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success | $399,000 |
| Education First | Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems | $372,313 |
| 40 Schools | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector | $370,000 |
| AVANCE Inc | Early Childhood Development and Education: Supportive Caregivers | $365,000 |
| Arts Connect Houston | Arts: Student Education Programs | $350,000 |
| Creative Action | Arts: Student Education Programs | $350,000 |
| National Association for Family Child Care | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators | $350,000 |
| Trust for Learning a project of New Venture Fund | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector | $350,000 |
| Austin 2030 Network co Social Good Fund Inc | Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success | $308,000 |
| The Trail Conservancy | Conservation: Connecting People to Nature | $300,000 |
| United Way of Greater Houston | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators | $300,000 |
| Bonterra Jumpstart Fund | Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems | $260,000 |
| The Bridgespan Group | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector | $252,463 |
| Austin Childrens Museum DBA Thinkery | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators | $200,000 |
| Breakthrough Central Texas | Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success | $200,000 |
| Emerge | Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success | $200,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated | Conservation: Conservation/ Environmental Education | $200,000 |
| Philanthropy Advocates co Waco Foundation | Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems | $200,000 |
| Rice University School Literacy & Culture | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators | $200,000 |
| Summer House Institute | Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent Educators | $200,000 |
| Improving Education Inc | Early Childhood Development and Education: Supportive Caregivers | $191,000 |
| Huntsville Independent School District | Quality Public K-12 Schools: Student Supports | $151,000 |
| Austin Public Education Foundation DBA Austin Ed Fund | Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent Educators | $150,000 |
| Children At Risk Inc | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector | $150,000 |
| Collaborative for Children | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators | $150,000 |
| Connective | Human Services: Stabilization and Empowerment | $150,000 |
| E3 Alliance | Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems | $150,000 |
| Good Reason Houston | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector | $150,000 |
| Hermann Park Conservancy | Conservation: Connecting People to Nature | $150,000 |
| Memorial Park Conservancy Inc | Conservation: Connecting People to Nature | $150,000 |
| Young Audiences Inc of Houston | Arts: Student Education Programs | $150,000 |
| The Bridgespan Group | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector | $140,000 |
| Genaustin DBA Girls Empowerment Network | Human Services: Emotional Wellbeing | $128,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Katherine Osborne Valdez
- Ben H Powell V
- Charles F Caldwell
- Marian M Casey
- Ben H Powell VI
- Terry Bruner
- Christopher D Casey II
- Thao Costis
- E Inez Hill
- Katherine P Hill
- Molly N Kidd
- Elizabeth K Moore
Questions people ask
Does The Powell Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications, with this on deadlines: Refer to the website for the application process and deadlines.
How much does The Powell Foundation give?
$20.8 million in tax year 2025, across 271 grants, with a typical grant of $15,000.
Who runs The Powell Foundation?
Its 2025 filing lists Katherine Osborne Valdez (Board President/Director), Ben H Powell V (VP/Director), Charles F Caldwell (Secretary/Director) and Marian M Casey (Treasurer/Director) among 12 officers and trustees.
What does The Powell Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, environment and conservation and human services.