The Cheniere Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Houston, Texas. Established in 2017, it is supported by Cheniere Energy Inc. and operates as a corporate foundation. The foundation is also known as Cheniere Cares Inc. (EIN: 82-2691447).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$86K
-30.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.0M
-8.6% YoY
Grant Count
119
+10.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-17.0% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's charitable giving pillars are defined by community voices in the areas where the company operates, employee passions, and leadership support. Primary funding focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Youth Education
- STEM Education
- Community Development
- Community Outreach
- Safety
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$250-$250,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in:
- Texas
- Louisiana
- District of Columbia
- Oklahoma
- United Kingdom
- China
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Filing (2023):
- Total Assets: $123,596
- Total Revenue: $3,346,142
- Total Expenses: $3,000,985
- Total Giving: $2,834,922-$3,274,075
Historical Data (2022):
- Total Assets: $51,000
- Total Giving: $2,300,000
- Number of Grants: 87
The foundation's giving rate exceeds 100% of assets annually, indicating it distributes substantially more than its asset base each year, likely supported by contributions from Cheniere Energy Inc.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $86,381 | $123,596 | $50,500 |
| Revenue | $2,964,270 | $3,346,142 | $2,655,726 |
| Expenses | $3,066,849 | $3,000,985 | $2,602,566 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,995,559 | $3,274,075 | $2,680,423 |
| Net Investment Income | $34,320 | $23,489 | $5,256 |
| Distributable Amount | $27,439 | $28,629 | $34,018 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Brees Dream Foundation ($100,000), City Of Gregory ($100,000), Buffalo Bayou ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Audubon Society Houston, TX | To support the Coastal Environmental Stewardship program | $15,000 |
| Beauregard Parish Fire Support Longville, LA | To purchase self-contained breathing apparatus to have onsite | $40,000 |
| Beauregard Parish School Board Deridder, LA | To support local school needs | $10,000 |
| Benevolent Healthcare Foundation dba Project Cure Centennial, CO | To support stafety equipment for the Houston warehouse | $15,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor U Project Lake Charles, LA | To support the Big Brothers Big Sisters MentorU program | $25,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Southwest Louisiana Inc Lake Charles, LA | Support of general programs | $30,000 |
| Black Girls Do Engineering Webster, TX | To support 2024 YWLA Summer Camp | $3,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Houston Houston, TX | To support continuing the general functions of the Boys and Girls Texans Teen Club | $5,000 |
| 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 |
| Buffalo Bayou Houston, TX | To support the 2024 Clean and Green Program, including staff additions to accommodate program growth | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Julie Nelson – President (4 hours/week, unpaid)
- Wendy Craven – Executive Director (10 hours/week, unpaid)
- Andrea Carter-Virtanen – Corporate Secretary (2 hours/week, unpaid)
- Robin Dane – Director, Treasurer (from 9/30/24, 1 hour/week, unpaid)
- Zach Davis – Director, Treasurer (to 9/30/24, 1 hour/week, unpaid)
- Jane Eapen – Director (1 hour/week, unpaid)
- Maas Hinz – Director (1 hour/week, unpaid)
- Kristin Kifer – Director (1 hour/week, unpaid)
- Florian Pintgen – Director (1 hour/week, unpaid)
- Frederik Smits van Oyen – Director (1 hour/week, unpaid)
- Viet Van – Director (1 hour/week, unpaid)
- Andrew Winata – Director (1 hour/week, unpaid)
The foundation operates with limited paid staffing, relying primarily on volunteer board members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julie Nelson | President | 4 | — |
| Andrea Carter-Virtanen | Corporate Secretary | 2 | — |
| Wendy Craven | Executive Director | 10 | — |
| Zach Davis | Director, Treasurer (to 9/30/24) | 1 | — |
| Robin Dane | Director, Treasurer (from 9/30/24) | 1 | — |
| Jane Eapen | Director | 1 | — |
| Maas Hinz | Director | 1 | — |
| Kristin Kifer | Director | 1 | — |
| Florian Pintgen | Director | 1 | — |
| Frederik Smits van Oyen | Director | 1 | — |
| Viet Van | Director | 1 | — |
| Andrew Winata | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made notable recent grants to educational institutions and community organizations:
Donated to South Beauregard Teacher Classroom Fund through Brandon Pitre and Cheniere Energy
Brandon Pitre and Cheniere Energy make Large Donation to South BeauregardPresented $50,000 to Del Mar College for a new Cheniere Process Technology Scholarship
Cheniere Foundation presents $50,000 alligator-shaped check to Del Mar CollegeContributed $42,000-$70,000 to Lamar State College Port Arthur for scholarships and apprenticeship programs
Cheniere Foundation donates $42K for Lamar State College Port Arthur scholarshipsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation donated more than $1,000,000 to organizations across Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Washington D.C., the United Kingdom, and China to address food insecurity and provide supplies and equipment for first responders and frontline healthcare workers.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cheniere Foundation fund?
The foundation's charitable giving pillars are defined by community voices in the areas where the company operates, employee passions, and leadership support. Primary funding focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Youth Education • STEM Education • Community Development • Community Outreach • Safety
How do I apply for a grant from Cheniere Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 98-124 grants in recent years • Median grant amount: $15,000-$20,000 • Grant range: $250-$250,000 • Total giving: approximately $2.8-$3.3 million annually **Application Policy:** The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. **Recent Grant Examples:** • $250,000 to Friends of the Texas Historical Commission for Sabine Pass Historic Park Site Improvement Plan (2023) • $207,000 to Thurgood Marshall College Fund for Academi…
Where does Cheniere Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in: • Texas • Louisiana • District of Columbia • Oklahoma • United Kingdom • China
What size grants does Cheniere Foundation award?
In 2024, Cheniere Foundation awarded 119 grants totaling $3.0M — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cheniere Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cheniere Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cheniere 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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