Bhandara Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Houston, TX EIN: 76-0522768

Bhandara Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including religious, community, education, and social-service organizations.

Bhandara Foundation at a glance

In short: Bhandara Foundation gave $74K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in Texas. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$74,363
+134.4% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
12
+71.4% vs 2023
Average grant
$6,197
+36.7% vs 2023
Median grant
$1,004
Total assets
$522,656
+97.0% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
50% first-time grantees (6 of 12, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Texas (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Bhandara Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 6060 Richmond Ave 380, Houston, TX 77057
Phone: (713) 952-5555

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Bhandara Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Zoroastrian Assoc of Houston: $37KZoroastrian Assoc of Houston$37KNufdi Fund: $17KNufdi Fund$17KAtash Kadeh Temple: $12KAtash Kadeh Temple$12KIslamic Society of Greater Houston: $3KIslamic Society of GreaterHouston$3KTouch Base Center for DeafBlind: $3KTouch Base Center forDeafBlind$3KStar of Hope: $1KStar of Hope$1KEtoile Academy Charter School: $1KEtoile Academy Charter School$1KAlief Youth Sports League: $500Alief Youth Sports League$500Westbury High School Foundation: $500Westbury High SchoolFoundation$500Culture of Health-Advancing Togethe: $500Culture of Health-AdvancingTogethe$500

The largest 2024 recipient was Zoroastrian Assoc of Houston ($37K). Together the top 10 received $74K.

Grant Size Distribution

34 grants across all recorded years

34<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 34 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 23% to recipients in Washington, DC.

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.

Cities

HoustonWashingtonBurr RidgeSpringRockvilleSan Francisco

Is Bhandara Foundation open to new grantees?

50%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 6 of 12 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $9K. How we count

Medians: $500 first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 600% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 370% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). 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

$0$20K$40K$60K$80K3 grants2021 12 grants2022 7 grants2023 12 grants2024

From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2021) to $74K (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $74K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Zoroastrian Assoc of Houston Houston, TXCarry Out Exempt Purposes$36,699
Nufdi Fund Washington, DCCarry Out Exempt Purposes$17,008
Atash Kadeh Temple Houston, TXCarry Out Exempt Purposes$11,797
Islamic Society of Greater Houston Houston, TXCarry Out Exempt Purposes$2,500
Touch Base Center for DeafBlind Houston, TXCarry Out Exempt Purposes$2,500
Star of Hope Houston, TXCarry Out Exempt Purposes$1,008
Etoile Academy Charter School Houston, TXCarry Out Exempt Purposes$1,000
Alief Youth Sports League Houston, TXCarry Out Exempt Purposes$500
Westbury High School Foundation Houston, TXCarry Out Exempt Purposes$500
Culture of Health-Advancing Togethe Houston, TXCarry Out Exempt Purposes$500
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Bhandara Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$522,656$327,747$79,701$74,36312$74,363$45,173$20,111
2023$265,347$46,768$39,511$31,7237$31,723$1,226$7,109
2022$258,090$155,548$67,188$62,23212$62,232—$5,284
2021$169,741$60,259$17,022$10,6303——$1,666

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bhandara Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its listed 2024 grantees include organizations with varied missions. Friends of Namal describes its mission as supporting academic excellence and the uplift and development of youth with Namal values, contributing to organizations and the community, and finding innovative solutions to rural challenges through trained academics.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation gave 12 grants totaling $74,363. Grants ranged from $101 to $36,699, with a median grant of $1,004. The largest grants went to Zoroastrian Association of Houston ($36,699), Nufdi Fund ($17,008), and Atash Kadeh Temple ($11,797). Other recipients included the Islamic Society of Greater Houston and Touch Base Center for DeafBlind, each receiving $2,500, and Friends of Namal, which received $101.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Feroze Bhandara and Shernaz Bhandara as trustees, and Berzin Bhandara as secretary and treasurer.

Bhandara Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Feroze Bhandara

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    20 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shernaz Bhandara

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    25 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Berzin Bhandara

    Secretary & Treasurer

    New on the 2024 filing

    6 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Bhandara Foundation

How much does Bhandara Foundation give each year?

Bhandara Foundation gave $74K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $32K across 7 grants.

What is Bhandara Foundation's typical grant size?

Bhandara Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,004, and its average grant was $6,197, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bhandara Foundation that year got $3K on average.

Where does Bhandara Foundation give grants?

Bhandara Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (10 grants).

Who are Bhandara Foundation's largest grantees?

Bhandara Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Zoroastrian Assoc of Houston ($36,699), Nufdi Fund ($17,008) and Atash Kadeh Temple ($11,797), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Bhandara Foundation?

Bhandara Foundation reported $523K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $74K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Bhandara Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its listed 2024 grantees include organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Bhandara Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Bhandara Foundation's EIN?

Bhandara Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0522768. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.

Does Bhandara Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Bhandara Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Trehan Charitable Foundation

Stafford, TX

The foundation primarily supports education for students in need, including scholarships and help for poor and indigent children in India, as well as social, charitable, and religious work. Its 2023 grants averaged about $15,500, though it made no grants in 2024. It says the board considers charitable organizations that meet its bylaws, with no application deadline; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Assets

$1.4M

Grants

10

Total Given

$155K

Carleton Speed Family Foundation

Houston, TX

The Carleton Speed Family Foundation supported Texas charities in areas including education, disability services, domestic violence, animal welfare, and assistance for low-income people and seniors. In 2022, grants ranged from $1,500 to $12,500, with a median of $2,500; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Arts, Culture & Humanities

Assets

$117K

Grants

14

Total Given

$75K

Hamill Foundation

Houston, TX

The Hamill Foundation supports social services, education, health and medical research, animal welfare, children’s programs, and the arts, primarily in Texas. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $150,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$212.4M

Grants

81

Total Given

$14.9M

Vivian L Smith Foundation

Houston, TX

The Vivian L Smith Foundation supports qualifying nonprofit organizations across charitable fields, including education, health care, youth services, and family support; it does not fund individuals. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $20,000, and nearly all grant dollars went to Texas, though it reports no geographic restrictions. It accepts requests without a required form; applicants must state the purpose and provide proof of qualifying status.

Assets

$69.1M

Grants

189

Total Given

$4.5M

Jean Lykes Grace Foundation

Houston, TX

The Jean Lykes Grace Foundation funds charitable organizations working in areas such as religion, education, health, community services, animal welfare, and international relief. In 2024, it made grants of $1,000–$32,000, with a median of $5,000; most funding went to Texas, with some grants elsewhere. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$1.9M

Grants

29

Total Given

$150K

Jack and Annis Bowen Foundation

Houston, TX

The Jack and Annis Bowen Foundation supports a range of charitable work, including food access, housing, violence prevention, children’s welfare, disability services, mental health, and the arts, with a strong focus on Texas, especially Houston. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $6,000, with a median of $3,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$839K

Grants

27

Total Given

$81K

More similar funders

More Funders in Texas

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Bhandara Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bhandara-foundation-morg_a10f48fb2c4f47f582e239d635321cd1

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760522768_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Bhandara Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/bhandara-foundation-morg_a10f48fb2c4f47f582e239d635321cd1},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Bhandara 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.

Bhandara Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?