Cullen Trust for Higher Education
Support institutions of higher education.
Cullen Trust for Higher Education at a glance
In short: Cullen Trust for Higher Education gave $3.0M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $337K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,031,710
- +21.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- +80.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $336,857
- -32.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $500,000
- Total assets
- $66,474,090
- -4.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Cullen Trust for Higher Education funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Houston Christian University ($600K across 2 grants). Together the top 6 received $3.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 25 grants of 37 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Cullen Trust for Higher Education gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+3%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2018 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2023) to $3.5M (2020). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern University Georgetown, TX | To Support the Renovation of Mood Bridwell Hall | $500,000 |
| Houston Christian University Houston, TX | To support the construction of hcu's new science, engineering and nursing building | $500,000 |
| Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX | Toward the construction of the health sciences tower as part of the expansion of the mcnair campus | $500,000 |
| University of St Thomas Houston, TX | To Support Ust's Innovation and Athletics Initiatives. | $500,000 |
| University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | To establish and support an endowed chair for the executive director of the value institute for health and care at dell medical school. | $500,000 |
| University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, TX | To support the cullen trust for higher education fellowship symposium on translational research and the cullen trust for higher education fellowship program | $250,000 |
| Houston Christian University Houston, TX | Toward Establishment and Funding for 2024-2025 Early Literacy | $100,000 |
| University of St Thomas Houston, TX | Toward establishment and funding for 2024-2025 celt community scholars | $100,000 |
| Southwestern University Georgetown, TX | Toward establishment and funding for 2024-25 student mentorship program | $81,710 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $66,474,090 | $-20,546 | $3,407,149 | $3,031,710 | 9 | $-31,889 |
| 2023 | $69,910,673 | $186,367 | $2,844,357 | $2,500,000 | 5 | $291,563 |
| 2022 | $72,454,705 | $2,402,134 | $3,497,115 | $3,200,000 | 8 | $2,383,522 |
| 2021 | $73,561,343 | $3,628,117 | $3,276,989 | $2,950,000 | 7 | $3,995,848 |
| 2020 | $72,830,979 | $3,592,130 | $3,768,728 | $3,466,667 | 8 | $3,386,928 |
| 2018 | $73,308,646 | $4,054,503 | $3,257,191 | $2,966,667 | 8 | $3,485,562 |
About Cullen Trust for Higher Education
Based on IRS filings
Cullen Trust for Higher Education is a public charity focused on Education, based in Houston, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2018 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $66.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $3.0M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Cullen Trust for Higher Education is led by Corbin J. Robertson Jr., Trustee & Chairman on every filing since 2018; none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Corbin J. Robertson Jr.
Trustee & Chairman
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Cragg
Trustee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Morenz
Trustee & Vice Chairman
Trustee → Trustee & Vice Chairman, 2020
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Curtis Huff
Trustee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hugh Roy Marshall Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Arnold
Trustee & Treasurer
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert B. Sloan Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katie Cullen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jolie Howard
Secretary
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Roy Walter Cullen (2018) — Trustee & Vice Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2024. "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 Cullen Trust for Higher Education
How much does Cullen Trust for Higher Education give each year?
Cullen Trust for Higher Education gave $3.0M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.5M across 5 grants.
What is Cullen Trust for Higher Education's typical grant size?
Cullen Trust for Higher Education's median grant in 2024 was $500,000, and its average grant was $336,857, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Cullen Trust for Higher Education give grants?
Cullen Trust for Higher Education gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (6 grants) and Georgetown, TX (2 grants).
Does Cullen Trust for Higher Education give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Cullen Trust for Higher Education's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Cullen Trust for Higher Education's largest grantees?
Cullen Trust for Higher Education's largest 2024 grantees include Houston Christian University ($600,000 across 2 grants), University of St Thomas ($600,000 across 2 grants) and Southwestern University ($581,710 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Cullen Trust for Higher Education?
Cullen Trust for Higher Education reported $66.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
What is Cullen Trust for Higher Education?
Cullen Trust for Higher Education is a public charity focused on Education, based in Houston, TX. It holds $66.5M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Cullen Trust for Higher Education's EIN?
Cullen Trust for Higher Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-1999641. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS January 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Cullen Trust for Higher Education funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- UK Annual Writing Award: 'Pleasure in the Task of Writing' £250 (1st prize); £50 (runners-up); books for school library · Due November 5, 2026
- Nellie Mae Event Sponsorship Fund Grant Up to US $5,000 · Due November 5, 2026
- Rubin and Gloria Feldman Family Educational Institute Up to $5,000 · Due November 5, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cullen Trust for Higher Education's focus areas in our free grants database
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