Calpine Foundation
Calpine Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. It supports organizations in communities where Calpine employees live and work, with its stated philanthropic mission focused on improving quality of life in those communities.
Calpine Foundation at a glance
In short: Calpine Foundation gave $302K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $301,560
- +3.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- +8.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,197
- -4.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $21,540
- Total assets
- $4,792,360
- +2.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Calpine Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications are provided internally within Calpine Corporation and by mail or email to people submitting requests who cannot access them via the internet. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations; award restrictions are listed as none.
- Contact
Application contact: Denise Straka
Mailing address: 717 Texas Avenue Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 830-2040
Website: https://calpine.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Calpine Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hill County Child Protective Services Board ($43K). Together the top 10 received $237K.
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 108 grants of 110 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 7% to recipients in Florida. The foundation’s website describes its tournament giving as supporting charities near its Texas-based energy facilities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Calpine Foundation gives
- 92% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 61% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 190% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $293K (2023) to $802K (2020). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $302K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hill County Child Protective Services Board Hillsboro, TX | Youth/Human Services | $43,080 |
| CASA De Esperanza De Los Ninos Inc Houston, TX | Youth/Health | $21,540 |
| Cure RTD Foundation Dallas, TX | Health/Human Services | $21,540 |
| Kids Meals Inc Houston, TX | Youth/Health | $21,540 |
| Pleasant Hill Children's Home Oakwood, TX | Youth Community/ Education | $21,540 |
| Shape Community Center Houston, TX | Community & Civic | $21,540 |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children Tampa, FL | Youth/Health | $21,540 |
| The Bridge Over Troubled Waters Inc Pasadena, TX | Community & Civic | $21,540 |
| The Laurel's Army Foundation Cypress, TX | Youth/Health | $21,540 |
| The Ray E Martin Memorial Fund San Antonio, TX | Grants/Scholarships | $21,540 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,792,360 | $536,810 | $441,651 | $301,560 | 13 | $439,656 | $163,244 | $230,868 |
| 2023 | $4,695,077 | $1,536,554 | $440,980 | $292,500 | 12 | $440,980 | $143,520 | $178,052 |
| 2022 | $3,599,182 | $504,314 | $143,166 | — | — | $143,166 | $33,841 | $165,779 |
| 2021 | $3,238,034 | $1,797,760 | $779,811 | $775,000 | 3 | $779,811 | $114 | $112,017 |
| 2020 | $2,220,085 | $2,527,684 | $814,267 | $801,950 | 82 | — | $1,701 | $26,574 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Calpine Foundation reported a distributable amount of $231K 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
Calpine’s philanthropic mission is to enhance quality of life in communities where its employees live and work. Its stated areas of support include education and workforce development, environmental and community issues, social justice initiatives, and economic opportunity for all. It places particular emphasis on organizations where employees volunteer their time and resources.
The 2024 grantees illustrate a range of services. The Rose says its mission is to save lives through breast health services, advocacy, and access to care. Casa de Esperanza de los Niños describes its work as breaking the cycle of child abuse and neglect through residential and family support programs. The Bridge Over Troubled Waters describes itself as a crisis intervention and prevention agency focused on domestic and sexual violence and homelessness. SHAPE Community Center says it works to improve the quality of life for people of African descent through community programs and activities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $301,560. Grants ranged from $21,540 to $43,080, with a median of $21,540. The largest listed grant was $43,080 to Hill County Child Protective Services Board for youth and human services. Other listed 2024 grants included $21,540 each to Casa de Esperanza de los Niños, Cure RTD Foundation, Kids Meals, Shriners Hospitals for Children, and The Rose.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Denise Straka as director and president; Zamir Rauf as director and treasurer; Diana Woodman Hammett as director and secretary; Hether Benjamin Brown, Kevin McMahon, and Rick Pena as directors and vice presidents; and Rosemary Antonopoulos as vice president.
Calpine Foundation is led by Denise Straka, Director & President on every filing since 2021; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Denise Straka
Director & President
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diana Woodman Hammett
Director & Secretary
Advisory Director → Director & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hether Benjamin Brown
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin McMahon
Director & Vice President
Advisory Director & Audit Com Member → Director & Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Zamir Rauf
Director & Treasurer
Audit Com. Member, Director & Treasurer → Director & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Pena
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosemary Antonopoulos
Vice President
New on the 2024 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: W Thaddeus Miller (2020–2023) — Director & Vice President
- Former: Jim Kluesener (2020–2021) — Director & Vice President
- Former: John B. Thad Hill (2020–2021) — Director, Chairman & CEO
- Former: Norma Dunn (2020) — Director & President
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.
Frequently asked questions about Calpine Foundation
How much does Calpine Foundation give each year?
Calpine Foundation gave $302K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $293K across 12 grants.
What is Calpine Foundation's typical grant size?
Calpine Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $21,540, and its average grant was $23,197, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Calpine Foundation give grants?
Calpine Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (3 grants).
Does Calpine Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Calpine Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Youth/Health" (4 grants).
Who are Calpine Foundation's largest grantees?
Calpine Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Hill County Child Protective Services Board ($43,080), CASA De Esperanza De Los Ninos Inc ($21,540) and Cure RTD Foundation ($21,540), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Calpine Foundation?
Calpine Foundation reported $4.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $440K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $231K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Calpine Foundation fund?
Calpine’s philanthropic mission is to enhance quality of life in communities where its employees live and work. Its stated areas of support include education and workforce development, environmental and community issues, social justice initiatives, and economic opportunity for all. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Calpine Foundation?
Applications are provided internally within Calpine Corporation and by mail or email to people submitting requests who cannot access them via the internet. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Calpine Foundation's EIN?
Calpine Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0025038. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Calpine Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Calpine Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/calpine-foundation-morg_c33d4635c061478bb8a4c568aa26460b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_260025038_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Calpine Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/calpine-foundation-morg_c33d4635c061478bb8a4c568aa26460b},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-06. 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 Calpine 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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