The CFP Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1997 and granted tax-exempt status in August 1998. Based in Houston, Texas, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused primarily on educational initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$63.0M
+6.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.4M
-15.6% YoY
Grant Count
59
+9.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$58K
-22.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, CFP Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities center on education, with a particular emphasis on supporting educational institutions and programs in Texas. The foundation also engages in broader philanthropic work related to grantmaking and voluntarism.
Grantmaking
The CFP Foundation operates as a private family foundation that typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. The foundation does not maintain formal grant programs or public application processes.
Grant Range
$10,000 to $1,000,000+
Average Grant
$63,000-$98,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Texas, particularly the Houston and North Texas regions. However, grants have also been made to organizations in California and Colorado, with these three states accounting for approximately 98% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023-2024):
- Total assets: $59.2 million (2023); $63.0 million (2024)
- Total revenues: -$1.17 million (2023)
- Total expenses: $4.64 million (2023)
- Investment income and dividends: $1.07 million (2023)
- Total liabilities: $0 (2023)
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $16.7 million in 2011 to $63 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $63,005,164 | $59,184,469 | $64,988,568 |
| Revenue | $8,040,782 | $-1,165,661 | $2,068,244 |
| Expenses | $4,220,087 | $4,638,438 | $5,191,245 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,690,531 | $4,264,920 | $4,651,804 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,573,226 | $845,351 | $1,638,803 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,377,190 | $3,924,364 | $4,057,057 |
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
201 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include St John's School ($500,000), Southern Methodist University ($400,000), University of Texas at Austin - Texas Challenge ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen Community Foundation Basalt, CO | General Support | $30,000 |
| Bo's Place Houston, TX | General Support | $20,000 |
| Breakthrough Houston Houston, TX | General Support | $50,000 |
| Camp for All Foundation Houston, TX | General Support | $45,000 |
| Camp Allen Navasota, TX | General Support | $15,000 |
| Casa De Esperanza De Los Ninos Incorporated Houston, TX | General Support | $30,000 |
| Childhood Cancer Family Alliance Inc Stafford, TX | General Support | $15,000 |
| Children's Museum Inc dba The Children's Museum of Houston Houston, TX | General Support | $25,000 |
| Chinquapin Preparatory School Highlands, TX | General Support | $60,000 |
| Christian Community Service Center Inc Houston, TX | General Support | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders & Trustees:
- Gary Crum (MBA '72, UT Austin) — Founding Trustee and Chief Executive Officer
- Sylvie Crum (BA '74, UT Austin) — Founding Trustee and Chief Executive Officer
Staff:
- Clayton M. Harkness — Executive Director (compensation: $123,000-$128,000)
The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary T Crum | President/Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Sylvie P Crum | Executive VP | 1 | — |
| Clayton M Harkness | Co-Executive Director | 40 | $128,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The CFP Foundation provided lead funding for the "Houston Loves Teachers" campaign, a multi-year collective impact initiative announced in May 2023. This campaign was developed in collaboration with Good Reason Houston and the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority's CFP National Championship Host Committee. The campaign supports the recruitment and retention of teachers in Greater Houston area public schools through resources, job postings, and a resume portal. The foundation's funding covered the campaign launch through May 2024, with Good Reason Houston managing ongoing operations.
Contact Information
Address: 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2600, Houston, TX 77046
Phone: (713) 830-3400
The foundation does not maintain a public website or published email address.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CFP Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities center on education, with a particular emphasis on supporting educational institutions and programs in Texas. The foundation also engages in broader philanthropic work related to grantmaking and voluntarism.
How do I apply for a grant from CFP Foundation?
The CFP Foundation operates as a private family foundation that typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. The foundation does not maintain formal grant programs or public application processes. **Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $4.0 million (2023) • Total grants distributed: $3,394,040 (2024 filing) • Number of grants: 54 grants made in 2023 • Grant range: $10,000 to $1,000,000+ • Median grant size: $25,000 • Average grant size: $63,000-$98,000 **R…
Where does CFP Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Texas, particularly the Houston and North Texas regions. However, grants have also been made to organizations in California and Colorado, with these three states accounting for approximately 98% of all grants.
What size grants does CFP Foundation award?
In 2024, CFP Foundation awarded 59 grants totaling $3.4M — an average of about $58K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is CFP Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, CFP Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is CFP Foundation's EIN?
CFP Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0537479. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in CFP 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.
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