Private foundation · EIN 74-6104592
The Powell Foundation
Houston, TX
The Powell Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, TX. On its Form 990-PF for tax year 2025, it reported $20.4M in grants and contributions paid across 271 grants, with $492M in assets (fair market value). Its return lists how to submit a request. Its largest grants went to Precinct4Forward, Boys & Girls Club of Walker County and The Holdsworth Center.
How to request funding
- Contact
- httpspowellfoundationorgapplication
- Phone
- 7135237557
- Address
- 2001 Kirby Drive Suite 1011, Houston, TX, 77019
- Form and materials
- 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%).
As reported on the foundation's Form 990-PF for tax year 2025. Requirements change; confirm with the foundation before applying.
Largest grants, tax year 2025
Historical data · not a prediction| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precinct4Forward | Houston, TX | Conservation: Connecting People to Nature | $1,500,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Walker County | Huntsville, TX | Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success | $1,262,295 |
| The Holdsworth Center | Austin, TX | Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent Educators | $981,164 |
| BridgeYear | Houston, TX | Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success | $949,815 |
| The Bridgespan Group | Boston, MA | Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems | $838,175 |
| Catalyst Education DBA Catalyst Exchange | New Orleans, LA | Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems | $700,000 |
| United Way for Greater Austin | Austin, TX | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators | $655,729 |
| University of Houston Foundation | Houston, TX | Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success | $399,000 |
| Education First | Seattle, WA | Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems | $372,313 |
| 40 Schools | New Orleans, LA | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector | $370,000 |
| AVANCE Inc | San Antonio, TX | Early Childhood Development and Education: Supportive Caregivers | $365,000 |
| Arts Connect Houston | Houston, TX | Arts: Student Education Programs | $350,000 |
| Creative Action | Austin, TX | Arts: Student Education Programs | $350,000 |
| National Association for Family Child Care | Washington, DC | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators | $350,000 |
| Trust for Learning a project of New Venture Fund | Washington, DC | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector | $350,000 |
| Austin 2030 Network co Social Good Fund Inc | Austin, TX | Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success | $308,000 |
| The Trail Conservancy | Austin, TX | Conservation: Connecting People to Nature | $300,000 |
| United Way of Greater Houston | Houston, TX | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators | $300,000 |
| Bonterra Jumpstart Fund | Oakland CA, CA | Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems | $260,000 |
| The Bridgespan Group | Boston, MA | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector | $252,463 |
| Austin Childrens Museum DBA Thinkery | Austin, TX | Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators | $200,000 |
| Breakthrough Central Texas | Austin, TX | Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success | $200,000 |
| Emerge | Houston, TX | Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success | $200,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated | New York, NY | Conservation: Conservation/ Environmental Education | $200,000 |
| Philanthropy Advocates co Waco Foundation | Waco, TX | Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems | $200,000 |
The 25 largest of 271 grants listed on the return. Names and purposes as reported to the IRS.
Where its grants went
- Texas$15.4M · 197 grants
- Massachusetts$1.36M · 7 grants
- Louisiana$1.18M · 5 grants
- District of Columbia$759K · 9 grants
- California$431K · 7 grants
- Washington$372K · 1 grant
- New York$241K · 9 grants
- Pennsylvania$200K · 1 grant
- Maryland$196K · 2 grants
- New Hampshire$55.7K · 5 grants
- Tennessee$53.8K · 11 grants
- North Carolina$37.5K · 3 grants
Quick answers
Does The Powell Foundation accept grant applications?
Its Form 990-PF lists how to submit a request. Form and materials: 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%).. Confirm current requirements with the foundation before applying.
How much does The Powell Foundation give each year?
For tax year 2025, it reported $20,425,720 in grants and contributions paid (271 grants). Giving can change from year to year.
What organizations has The Powell Foundation funded?
Its largest grants in tax year 2025 went to Precinct4Forward (TX), $1.5M, Boys & Girls Club of Walker County (TX), $1.26M, The Holdsworth Center (TX), $981K, BridgeYear (TX), $950K and The Bridgespan Group (MA), $838K.