Who funds Houston Museum of Natural Science?
63 private foundations reported grants to Houston Museum of Natural Science in Houston, Texas totaling $12.8 million across 69 grants in tax years 2023 to 2025. The largest funder was The Brown Foundation Inc, with $3.0 million.
From the funders' IRS Form 990-PF filings.
- Foundation funders63
- Grants reported69
- Total received$12.8 million
- Funders taking applications24
Foundations that fund Houston Museum of Natural Science
| Foundation | Purpose given | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Brown Foundation Inc | Brown Hall of Entomology ($2,850,000) and Youth Education Support ($150,000) | 1 | $3.0 million |
| Dan L Duncan Foundation | Education and historical preservation | 1 | $2.4 million |
| The Cockrell Foundation | Support the Virginia and Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Permanently Restricted Endowment | 2 | $1.7 million |
| Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao Foundation | Program/project support | 3 | $1.0 million |
| Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation | 2024 in lieu of gala, annual commitment | 1 | $775,000 |
| The Benton Family Foundation | Charitable | 1 | $600,000 |
| The Glassell Family Foundation Inc | general purpose | 1 | $512,500 |
| The John M O'Quinn Foundation | To create the jmoqf endowment for youth programming | 1 | $500,000 |
| John P McGovern Foundation | General support | 2 | $480,000 |
| Melbern G & Susanne M Glasscock Foundation | Education campaign | 1 | $275,000 |
| Hamill Foundation | Capital Campaign to renovate Cullen Gem & Mineral Hall | 1 | $250,000 |
| Andrew Delaney Foundation | Natural history, natural sciences museum - capital campaign for gem/mineral hall renovation | 1 | $150,000 |
| The Cullen Foundation | Annual Giving Grant | 1 | $150,000 |
| The WT & Louise J Moran Foundation | Moran ecoteens | 1 | $100,000 |
| William S & Lora Jean Kilroy Foundation | Charitable purposes | 1 | $75,000 |
| CFP Foundation | General Support | 1 | $70,000 |
| The Holthouse Foundation for Kids | Operating support | 1 | $65,000 |
| Centerpoint Energy Foundation Inc | General donation | 1 | $50,000 |
| The Powell Foundation | Quality Public K-12 Schools: Student Supports | 1 | $50,000 |
| Phillips Family Foundation | General charitable purpose | 1 | $50,000 |
| The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc | To support the cockrell butterfly center and renovation of the pollinator garden | 1 | $50,000 |
| The Carruth Foundation Inc | General support | 1 | $50,000 |
| Three G Foundation | General support | 1 | $50,000 |
| Gordon A Cain Foundation | Unrestricted | 1 | $35,000 |
| Sterling-Turner Foundation | General support | 1 | $30,000 |
| Vivian L Smith Foundation | Support 2025 youth science education programming | 2 | $30,000 |
| Fox and Monica Benton Foundation | Charitable | 1 | $25,900 |
| MD Anderson Foundation | To support youth science education programming | 1 | $25,000 |
| J Squared Family Foundation | Contribution | 1 | $25,000 |
| Harry Bass Foundation | Program | 1 | $20,000 |
| Fred and Mabel R Parks Foundation | Program support | 1 | $20,000 |
| The Shackouls Family Foundation | General charitabe purposes | 1 | $15,000 |
| Steen Family Foundation | Education operating | 1 | $15,000 |
| Strake Foundation | Big Energy Gala | 1 | $15,000 |
| Mithoff Family Charitable Foundation Inc | General fund | 1 | $14,500 |
| Adler Foundation | General operations | 1 | $12,760 |
| James C and Teresa K Day Foundation | General support | 1 | $10,000 |
| Huff Family Foundation | General Operations | 1 | $10,000 |
| Keith & Mattie Stevenson Foundation | General purpose | 1 | $10,000 |
| Shell USA Company Foundation | 8371 | 1 | $8,371 |
| Melcher Charitable Trust | 2026 gala donation | 2 | $5,250 |
| The Coneway Family Foundation | Charitable | 1 | $5,000 |
| Union Pacific Foundation | Education (K-12) | 1 | $5,000 |
| Denmannewman Foundation | Support program | 1 | $5,000 |
| The Tapeats Fund | General & Unrestricted | 1 | $5,000 |
| The Bunchberry Foundation | Public welfare | 1 | $4,300 |
| Ray C Fish Foundation | General | 1 | $4,300 |
| Exxonmobil Foundation | Education | 1 | $4,200 |
| The Fruehauf Foundation | Arts, culture, and humanities operating support | 1 | $3,400 |
| The Carl A Davis and Lois E Davis Foundation | Operating support | 1 | $2,500 |
| Anne Lamkin Kinder Foundation Inc | General support | 1 | $2,500 |
| The Zions Bancorporation Foundation | Advance the knowledge of natural science | 1 | $2,500 |
| McNeill Charitable Foundation Inc | General operating | 1 | $1,500 |
| Alvin & Lucy Owsley Foundation | Contribution to the general operating fund to enable them to fulfill their charitable purpose. | 1 | $1,000 |
| The RR Family Foundation | Provides funds to accomplish its charitable purpose | 1 | $1,000 |
| The Vermillion Family Foundation in | Contribution | 1 | $1,000 |
| Amazonsmile Foundation | General support | 1 | $500 |
| Concordia Foundation | general fund | 1 | $400 |
| William & Karen Tell Foundation | General & Unrestricted | 1 | $300 |
| Edith Fbondi Foundation | Education | 1 | $230 |
| Leonard and Teresa Friedman Foundation | Charitable | 1 | $150 |
| The Gerhard and Diane Hill Charitable Foundation | Charitable | 1 | $106 |
| AI and Manet Schepps Foundation | Unrestricted Operating Funds | 1 | $100 |
Using this list
A foundation that already gives to Houston Museum of Natural Science gives in its field and region, so the list doubles as a prospect list for similar organizations in Houston. Open a foundation to see its application rules, typical grant and every other grant it paid.
Questions people ask
Who funds Houston Museum of Natural Science?
The Brown Foundation Inc, Dan L Duncan Foundation, The Cockrell Foundation, Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao Foundation and Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation, and 58 more, according to their IRS Form 990-PF filings.
How much does Houston Museum of Natural Science get from foundations?
$12.8 million in 69 reported grants from 63 private foundations in tax years 2023 to 2025. Government grants and gifts from individuals are not included.
Which of these funders accept applications?
The Brown Foundation Inc, The Cockrell Foundation, The John M O'Quinn Foundation, John P McGovern Foundation and Melbern G & Susanne M Glasscock Foundation say in their filings that they accept applications.