The Don A Sanders Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas, established in 1997. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$51K
+20.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$254K
-8.1% YoY
Grant Count
38
+11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-17.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Don a Sanders Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides giving for:
- Christian churches and organizations
- Children's services
- Education
- Health and human services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 42 grants in 2024. Recent grant recipients include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, Louisiana, and Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $51,446
- Total revenues: $255,864
- Total expenses: $253,960
- Total grants, contributions, etc.: $255,000
- Investment income and dividends: $864
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $51,446 | $42,598 | $31,928 |
| Revenue | $255,864 | $12,064 | $425,249 |
| Expenses | $253,960 | $276,291 | $1,394,950 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $253,960 | $276,291 | $1,393,661 |
| Net Investment Income | $864 | $12,064 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $1,100 | — | $1,494 |
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
175 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Houston ($39,410), Houston Police Foundation ($32,500), Sam Houston State University ($21,800).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HOUSTON TEXANS FOUNDATION HOUSTON, TX | EXEMPT FUNCTION | $10,000 |
| SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY HUNTSVILLE, TX | EXEMPT FUNCTION | $21,800 |
| UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | EXEMPT FUNCTION | $39,410 |
| HOUSTON POLICE FOUNDATION HOUSTON, TX | EXEMPT FUNCTION | $32,500 |
| YMCA HOUSTON, TX | EXEMPT FUNCTION | $5,000 |
| HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO HOUSTON, TX | EXEMPT FUNCTION | $2,000 |
| NOLAN RYAN FOUNDATION ROUND ROCK, TX | EXEMPT FUNCTION | $750 |
| EAST TEXAS ANGEL NETWORK LONGVIEW, TX | EXEMPT FUNCTION | $6,000 |
| HARMON FAMILY FOUNDATION HOUSTON, TX | EXEMPT FUNCTION | $1,000 |
| MEMORIAL HERMAN FOUNDATION HOUSTON, TX | EXEMPT FUNCTION | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DON A SANDERS | President | — | — |
| BEN T MORRIS | Vice President | — | — |
| WALTER P ZIVELY | Secretary | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 600 Travis St Ste 5900, Houston, TX 77002-2909
Telephone: 713-224-3100
EIN: 76-0537031
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Don a Sanders Family Foundation fund?
The foundation provides giving for: • Christian churches and organizations • Children's services • Education • Health and human services
How do I apply for a grant from Don a Sanders Family Foundation?
The foundation made 42 grants in 2024. Recent grant recipients include: • Houston Police Foundation: $32,500 • Houston Texans Foundation: $10,000 • The Sunshine Kids Foundation: $10,000 • Linda Lorelle Scholarship Fund: $10,000 • Nolan Ryan Foundation: $16,000 (2023) • Harmon Family Foundation: (2023) Total giving in 2024 was $253,960. The foundation's grant-making focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking, and human services.
Where does Don a Sanders Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, Louisiana, and Michigan.
What size grants does Don a Sanders Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Don a Sanders Family Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $254K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Don a Sanders Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Don a Sanders Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Don a Sanders Family Foundation's EIN?
Don a Sanders Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0537031. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Don a Sanders Family 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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