Chesmar Foundation
The Chesmar Foundation is a private foundation established in 2014 and based in The Woodlands, Texas. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a broad philanthropic mission that has evolved significantly since its inception. Originally created to support higher education through scholarships for children of Chesmar Homes employees and contractors, the foundation has expanded to support a diverse range of local and national organizations across multiple sectors including education, health, and community services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.6M
+6.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.3M
+130.0% YoY
Grant Count
68
+4.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$64K
+119.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chesmar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to refund cash donations from a prior period. However, its actual grantmaking reflects a diverse portfolio spanning:
- Higher Education: Scholarships and general support for colleges and universities
- Health Organizations: Support for disease-specific organizations and medical institutions
- Community Services: Organizations providing housing and support for at-risk populations
- Workforce Development: Teacher education and workforce preparation initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a standalone public website. Information is available through the Chesmar Homes website.
Grant Range
Varies widely, from smaller scholarships to major grants up to $1 million
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on Texas, with particular emphasis on the Greater Houston area and The Woodlands region. However, grantmaking extends across multiple states including California, New York, and others, supporting major urban centers such as Austin, Dallas, Houston, New York, and San Antonio, as well as smaller communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- $30,613,835 (as of December 2024)
- $28,773,611 (as of December 2023)
Annual Activity (2024):
- Total revenues: $6,231,470
- Total expenses: $4,373,339
- Total grants, contributions: $4,506,633
- Investment income and dividends: $984,255
Annual Activity (2023):
- Total revenues: $7,240,556
- Total expenses: $1,885,578
- Annual giving: $1,883,146
Staffing:
- 0 employees (foundation operates with volunteer leadership)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,613,835 | $28,773,611 | $23,385,927 |
| Revenue | $6,231,470 | $7,240,556 | $20,058,736 |
| Expenses | $4,373,339 | $1,885,578 | $322,473 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,349,232 | $1,884,578 | $320,859 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,722,383 | $737,556 | $61,936 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,375,953 | $1,189,407 | $213,269 |
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
220 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Dallas Community College Foundation ($1,000,000), Alamo College Foundation ($750,000), Lone Star College Foundation ($432,650).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AIDVANTAGE PORTLAND, OR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ALAMO COLLEGE FOUNDATION SAN ANTONIO, TX | SCHOLARSHIP | $750,000 |
| ALMA COLLEGE BAILEY SMITH ALMA, MI | SCHOLARSHIP | $6,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ANGEL REACH ORGANIZATION CONROE, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $109,020 |
| ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY SAN ANGELO, TX | SCHOLARSHIP | $6,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA WICHITA FALLS, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH HOUSTON HOU, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY REXBURG, IN | SCHOLARSHIP | $6,000 |
| CASA CHILD ADVOCATES OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY CONROE, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $115,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Donald P. Klein: President and Chair of the Chesmar Foundation; Founder and former CEO of Chesmar Homes
- Sarah Miller: Listed as contact person
- Leadership team members serve without compensation
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONALD P KLEIN | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JANET L KLEIN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DONALD P KLEIN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JEANNE TOTH | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SETH TOBEY | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JANA BLACKBURN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| LAURIE TARVER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated significant commitment to education partnerships in recent years:
Chesmar Foundation Donates $1 Million to Dallas College Foundation for Education**2024**: Donated $1 million to Dallas College Foundation to support scholarships and education initiatives, coinciding with the foundation's 50th anniversary celebration
Chesmar Foundation Donates $1 Million to Dallas College Foundation for Education**2024**: Awarded $900,000 to San Jacinto College Foundation for teacher education and workforce development
Chesmar Foundation Donates $1 Million to Dallas College Foundation for Education**2024**: Provided scholarships for Lone Star College nursing students
Chesmar Foundation donates scholarships for Lone Star College nursing studentsThe foundation continues its disaster relief legacy, having provided donations to numerous disaster recovery agencies following Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and maintains ongoing partnerships with community organizations including the Benefit Homes Project, Texas Children's Hospital, and the Adopt-a-Family Program.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Chesmar Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to refund cash donations from a prior period. However, its actual grantmaking reflects a diverse portfolio spanning: • **Higher Education**: Scholarships and general support for colleges and universities • **Health Organizations**: Support for disease-specific organizations and medical institutions • **Community Services**: Organizations providing housing and support for at-risk populations • **Workforce Development**: Teacher education and workforce preparati…
How do I apply for a grant from Chesmar Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 38 grants in 2024 • Made 65 grants in 2023 • Annual giving: approximately $1.9 million (2023-2024) • Grant range: Varies widely, from smaller scholarships to major grants up to $1 million **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • Dallas College Foundation: $1,000,000 (Scholarship) • Alamo Colleges Foundation: $750,000 (Scholarship) • Lone Star College Foundation: $432,650 (General Support) • Alzheimer's Association (among grantees) • Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) …
Where does Chesmar Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on Texas, with particular emphasis on the Greater Houston area and The Woodlands region. However, grantmaking extends across multiple states including California, New York, and others, supporting major urban centers such as Austin, Dallas, Houston, New York, and San Antonio, as well as smaller communities.
What size grants does Chesmar Foundation award?
In 2024, Chesmar Foundation awarded 68 grants totaling $4.3M — an average of about $64K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Chesmar Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Chesmar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Chesmar Foundation's EIN?
Chesmar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4136065. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chesmar 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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