Buena Vista Foundation
Buena Vista Foundation is a private foundation established in 1998 and based in Houston, Texas. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Key facts about Buena Vista Foundation
- EIN
- 74-2869876
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,670,557
- Grants made (2024)
- 51
- Average grant
- $32,756
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $32,801,474
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who Buena Vista Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Buena Vista Foundation's 51 itemized 2024 grants were Texas (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (46 grants). 82% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32.8M
+11.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
+50.3% YoY
Grant Count
51
+13.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
+32.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Buena Vista Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 34 grants totaling $1,670,557 in 2024.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Texas and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 51 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $32,801,474
- Total Giving: $1,670,557
- Total Revenues: $1,472,789
- Total Expenses: $1,877,119
- Investment Income and Dividends: $687,582
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,801,474 | $29,480,454 | $25,840,364 |
| Revenue | $1,472,789 | $1,182,569 | $987,762 |
| Expenses | $1,877,119 | $1,299,434 | $1,432,031 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,741,973 | $1,165,666 | $1,272,696 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,357,317 | $1,063,585 | $840,104 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,548,033 | $1,355,407 | $1,361,131 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
225 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include St Edward's University ($200,000), Austin Education Fund ($175,422), Retina Foundation ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ST EDWARD'S UNIVERSITY AUSTIN, TX | BUENA VISTA FOUNDATION CAMP ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP | $200,000 |
| AUSTIN EDUCATION FUND AUSTIN, TX | SUPPORT GENERAL FUND | $175,422 |
| RETINA FOUNDATION DALLAS, TX | SUPPORT GENERAL FUND | $125,000 |
| TODOS JUNTOS LEARNING CENTER AUSTIN, TX | SUPPORT GENERAL FUND | $108,000 |
| UNITED WAY FOR GREATER AUSTIN AUSTIN, TX | SUPPORT GENERAL FUND | $105,035 |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS AUSTIN, TX | SUPPORT EDUCATION | $100,000 |
| WATERLOO GREENWAY AUSTIN, TX | SUPPORT GENERAL FUND | $100,000 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA AUSTIN, TX | IGNITE AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIO LEARNING LAB | $75,000 |
| CREATIVE ACTION AUSTIN, TX | SUPPORT GENERAL FUND | $70,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN AUSTIN, TX | TEXAS INSTITUTE FOR CHILD & FAMILY WELL BEING | $70,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BETSY G ABELL | PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| SAMUEL HV ABELL | VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER | — | — |
| LUCY H ABELL | VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 701 N Post Oak Rd Ste 635, Houston, TX 77024-3885
Telephone: 713-204-3050
EIN: 74-2869876
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Buena Vista Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Science and STEM education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Buena Vista Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $500 to $200,000. **Recent Grants (2024):** • St Edward's University: $200,000 (Buena Vista Foundation Camp Endowed Scholarship) • Todos Juntos Learning Center: $108,000 (General Fund support) • United Way for Greater Austin: $105,035 (General Fund support) The foundation made 34 grants totaling $1,670,557 in 2024.
Where does Buena Vista Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Texas and Florida.
What size grants does Buena Vista Foundation award?
In 2024, Buena Vista Foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Buena Vista Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Buena Vista Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Buena Vista Foundation's EIN?
Buena Vista Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2869876. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Buena Vista Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.