Cheniere Foundation
The Cheniere Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. It is a 501(c)(3) organization that complements Cheniere’s community investment strategy and supports charitable giving aligned with community needs.
Cheniere Foundation at a glance
In short: Cheniere Foundation gave $3.0M across 119 grants in 2024 (avg $25K), mostly in Texas. 65% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,989,654
- -8.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 119
- +10.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $25,123
- -17.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $86,381
- -30.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 65% first-time grantees (70 of 108, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (70% 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 Cheniere Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 845 Texas Avenue 1250, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 375-5000
Website: https://cheniere.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cheniere Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Foundation ($135K). Together the top 10 received $950K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($230,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
472 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 369 grants of 472 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Texas recipients received 70% of grant dollars, Louisiana recipients 14%, recipients in Washington, D.C. 8%, Ohio recipients 3%, and Colorado recipients 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 119 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Cheniere Foundation open to new grantees?
65%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 70 of 108 grantees (65%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 30% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 52% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $2.0M (2021) to $3.3M (2023). In 2024 it made 119 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $230,000 |
| Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Foundation Corpus Christi, TX | To support "Doing Business With Giants" | $135,000 |
| Brees Dream Foundation Independence Cuyahoga, OH | To cover education and training costs for approximately thirty (30) students at the BuildStrong Academy of Greater New Orleans | $100,000 |
| City Of Gregory Gregory, TX | To support the Community Development Project | $100,000 |
| SETX Traffic Project Beaumont, TX | To offset the project cost mitigating the negative impacts the SPL facility has on the community and users of the roadways | $100,000 |
| Buffalo Bayou Houston, TX | To support the 2024 Clean and Green Program, including staff additions to accommodate program growth | $75,000 |
| Education to Employment Workforce Development Programs Corpus Christi, TX | To support rural students in San Patricio County (Gregory-Portland and Ingleside High Schools) | $75,000 |
| Galveston Bay Foundation Kemah, TX | To support workforce development for three program technician interns and general programming costs associated with implementation of coastal prairie restoration volunteer projects | $75,000 |
| Johnson Bayou Fire Equipment Cameron, LA | To support additional firefighter equipment upgrades | $70,000 |
| CCA Texas Artificial Reef Project Houston, TX | To deploy artificial reef materials into the TPWD Sabine HI20 nearshore reefing site | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Cheniere Foundation?
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 | $86,381 | $2,964,270 | $3,066,849 | $2,989,654 | 119 | $2,995,559 | $34,320 | $27,439 |
| 2023 | $123,596 | $3,346,142 | $3,000,985 | $3,270,922 | 108 | $3,274,075 | $23,489 | $28,629 |
| 2022 | $50,500 | $2,655,726 | $2,602,566 | $2,672,384 | 98 | $2,680,423 | $5,256 | $34,018 |
| 2021 | $79,340 | $1,950,338 | $2,507,559 | $1,961,803 | 84 | $1,966,111 | — | $41,456 |
| 2020 | $97,561 | $2,154,934 | $2,463,994 | $2,445,621 | 63 | — | — | $38,634 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cheniere Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27K 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
The foundation’s website does not state a separate mission. Its 2024 grants show support for scholarships, education and workforce development, community development, environmental projects, public access, and emergency services.
Among the recipients, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund describes its mission as increasing access, retention, and graduation rates at its member schools, preparing students with leadership potential, and creating an employer pipeline. The Galveston Bay Foundation says its mission is to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay as a healthy and productive place. Houston Parks Board describes its mission as expanding, improving, and protecting parks and greenspace in the Houston region.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 119 grants totaling $2,989,654. Grant amounts ranged from $654 to $180,000, with a median of $15,000.
The largest reported grant was $180,000 to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund for scholarships for the 2024–25 academic year. Other notable grants included $135,000 to the Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Foundation for “Doing Business With Giants”; $100,000 to the Brees Dream Foundation for education and training costs for students at the BuildStrong Academy of Greater New Orleans; and $100,000 each to the City of Gregory for a community development project and SETX Traffic Project to mitigate impacts of the SPL facility on the community and road users.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing were Julie Nelson, President; Andrea Carter-Virtanen, Corporate Secretary; and Wendy Craven, Executive Director. Directors were Zach Davis, Treasurer through September 30, 2024; Robin Dane, Treasurer from September 30, 2024; Jane Eapen; Maas Hinz; Kristin Kifer; Florian Pintgen; and Frederik Smits van Oyen.
Cheniere Foundation is led by Julie Nelson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 12 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Julie Nelson
President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Craven
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Florian Pintgen
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Zach Davis
Director & Treasurer
Treasurer → Director & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maas Hinz
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robin Dane
Director & Treasurer
Director → Director & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Viet Van
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Winata
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frederik Smits van Oyen
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Eapen
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Kifer
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Carter-Virtanen
Corporate Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Deanna Newcomb (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Michael Dove (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ramzi Mroueh (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ihekweazu Obi (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Ari Aziz (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Hillary Ware (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lisa Cohen (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Tom Bullis (2020) — Director
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 Cheniere Foundation
How much does Cheniere Foundation give each year?
Cheniere Foundation gave $3.0M across 119 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.3M across 108 grants.
What is Cheniere Foundation's typical grant size?
Cheniere Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $25,123, across 119 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cheniere Foundation that year got $26K on average.
Where does Cheniere Foundation give grants?
Cheniere Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Louisiana (14%) and District of Columbia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (25 grants), Corpus Christi, TX (20 grants), Port Arthur, TX (10 grants) and Lake Charles, LA (9 grants).
Does Cheniere Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of Cheniere Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 119) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Employee giving fund recipient" (17 grants).
Who are Cheniere Foundation's largest grantees?
Cheniere Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Foundation ($135,000), Brees Dream Foundation ($100,000) and City Of Gregory ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($230,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Cheniere Foundation?
Cheniere Foundation reported $86K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $27K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Cheniere Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website does not state a separate mission. Its 2024 grants show support for scholarships, education and workforce development, community development, environmental projects, public access, and emergency services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cheniere Foundation?
The foundation 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 Cheniere Foundation's EIN?
Cheniere Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2691447. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Cheniere 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
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cheniere Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cheniere-foundation-morg_6a646e9622df4f41b6193582a881b94b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_822691447_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cheniere Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cheniere-foundation-morg_6a646e9622df4f41b6193582a881b94b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Cheniere 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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