Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation
The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation is a public charity based in Houston, Texas, formed in 2014. It supports literacy programs and services, including family and adult literacy, in-school interventions for struggling readers, summer learning, and access to books and educational resources for low-income families.
Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation at a glance
In short: Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation gave $754K across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $40K), mostly in Texas. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $754,252
- -11.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- -20.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $39,697
- +11.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $11,695,901
- +8.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 19, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 7887 San Felipe 250, Houston, TX 77063
Phone: (346) 212-2310
Website: https://bushhoustonliteracy.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Houston ($275K). Together the top 10 received $612K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($24,400), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 76 grants of 96 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 1% to recipients in Washington, DC. The listed grants show substantial support for Houston-area organizations, as well as grants to recipients elsewhere in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 19 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $42K. How we count
Medians: $24K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $549K (2020) to $1.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $754K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Houston Houston, TX | To provide uh cougar literacy program for fifth & third ward schools. | $275,000 |
| Harris County Public Library Houston, TX | To support family place creation and programming for the Harris county public library system. | $108,063 |
| Houston Public Library Foundation Inc Houston, TX | To support family place creation and programming for the houston public library system. | $61,000 |
| Literacy Now Houston, TX | To support reading interventionists in alief and aldine isd schools. | $40,000 |
| Texas A&M Foundation College Station, TX | To establish an endowed scholarship at tamu for graduate students seeking reading certification. | $25,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $24,400 |
| New Hope Housing Inc Houston, TX | To support the design and implemention of the savoy library at new hope housing. | $23,000 |
| Wesley Community Center Inc Houston, TX | To support ged instructor, provide programming, and purchase ged supplies. | $20,000 |
| West Houston Assistance Ministries Inc Houston, TX | To support burlington english & kaplan ged online platforms, pre/post ged tests, and supplies. | $20,000 |
| Nueces County Corpus Christi, TX | To support the Nueces county library's 202-'25 storywalk and summer reading programs. | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,695,901 | $5,349,658 | $5,153,195 | $754,252 | 19 | $356,835 |
| 2023 | $10,823,169 | $4,475,095 | $4,090,918 | $852,073 | 24 | $121,667 |
| 2022 | $9,395,008 | $3,437,512 | $3,644,942 | $841,056 | 20 | $31,263 |
| 2021 | $10,679,389 | $4,314,808 | $4,087,309 | $1,370,306 | 21 | $148,662 |
| 2020 | $9,969,702 | $3,250,844 | $2,682,384 | $549,275 | 12 | $184,326 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it is “dedicated to improving lives and communities through the power of literacy.” Its filing describes support for family and adult literacy programs, direct services, in-school literacy intervention for struggling readers, summer learning for disadvantaged children, and expanded access to books and educational materials for low-income families.
Its 2024 grants included support for library programming, reading interventions, GED instruction and resources, and youth educational programs. Among the grantees, the Houston Public Library Foundation describes its own work as supporting the Houston Public Library through funding and community partnerships, including literacy initiatives and technology access. HYPE Freedom School describes its mission as providing out-of-school educational and cultural enrichment for children and educational opportunities for families. The Chinese Community Center describes its mission as enriching families through educational, cultural, and social programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 19 itemized grants totaling $754,252. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $275,000, with a median of $20,000. Its filing’s program description separately states that expenditures included $783,252 in grants to organizations supporting literacy programs.
The largest reported grants included $275,000 to the University of Houston for its Cougar Literacy Program in Fifth and Third Ward schools; $108,063 to Harris County Public Library for Family Place creation and programming; $61,000 to Houston Public Library Foundation for Family Place creation and programming; and $40,000 to Literacy Now for reading interventionists in Alief and Aldine ISD schools. Other reported grants included $25,000 to Texas A&M Foundation to establish an endowed scholarship for graduate students seeking reading certification, and $20,000 each to Wesley Community Center for GED instruction and supplies, West Houston Assistance Ministries for GED-related platforms and resources, and Chinese Community Center for literacy staffing, books, and materials.
The filing states that recommended grants are processed after due diligence to verify a grantee organization’s nonprofit status and that the process includes verifying that grant funds are received by the organization.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Stephen D Maislin, director; Neil Bush, chair; Gregory Garland, vice chair; Pam Wells, treasurer; Terri Lacy, secretary; and Maria Bush, Martha Carnes, David Jones, Mark Lashier, and Ruth Simmons as directors.
Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation is led by Julie Baker Finck, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 15 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Julie Baker Finck
President & CEO
President & CEO → President, CEO & Treasurer, 2022
President, CEO & Treasurer → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$240K (2020) → $332K (2024)
Neil Bush
Chair
Chair & Director → Chairman & Director, 2021
Chairman & Director → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Bush
Director
Vice Chair & Director → Vice Chairman & Director, 2022
Vice Chairman & Director → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martha Carnes
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen D. Maislin
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Y. Ping Sun
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Juliet Stipeche
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Jones
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Lashier
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ruth Simmons
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Jakel
Chief Development Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$106K (2022) → $145K (2024)
Cindy Puryear Chief Strategic
Partnerships & Programs Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$118K (2024)
Terri Lacy
Secretary
Secretary & Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Garland
Vice Chair
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pam Wells
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Commissioner Rodney Ellis (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Tony Canales (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Greg C. Garland (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Renee Wizig-Barrios (2020) — Treasurer & Director
- Former: Reynauldi A Marshall (2020) — Chief Development Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $332K, to Julie Baker Finck (President/CEO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation
How much does Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation give each year?
Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation gave $754K across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $852K across 24 grants.
What is Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation's typical grant size?
Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $39,697, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation that year got $24K on average.
Where does Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation give grants?
Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (14 grants).
Does Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation's largest grantees?
Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Houston ($275,000), Harris County Public Library ($108,063) and Houston Public Library Foundation Inc ($61,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($24,400), which are not listed by name. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation?
Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation reported $11.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.3M.
What does Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it is “dedicated to improving lives and communities through the power of literacy.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation?
Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check bushhoustonliteracy.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation's EIN?
Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-5037878. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 2, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/barbara-bush-houston-literacy-foundation-morg_4fe8339ebe664640bba6e9c97dad39f2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_465037878_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/barbara-bush-houston-literacy-foundation-morg_4fe8339ebe664640bba6e9c97dad39f2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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