Gordon a Cain Foundation
The Gordon A. Cain Foundation is a private family foundation incorporated in Texas in 2007. Based in Houston, the foundation was established to continue the philanthropic legacy of Gordon Arbuthnot Cain (1912-2002), a pioneering chemical industry entrepreneur and venture capitalist. The foundation operates as a family-run organization providing financial support to charitable organizations, primarily in the Houston area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$68.8M
+12.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
+13.0% YoY
Grant Count
52
+13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$54K
-0.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was created to honor Gordon Cain's generous spirit and commitment to improving lives through innovation and trust in human beings. The foundation reflects Gordon Cain's belief in free enterprise and employee ownership.
Primary funding areas include:
- Higher and secondary education
- Social services
- Health associations
- Arts and culture
- Denominational causes
- Public policy groups with limited-government, free-market orientation
Grantmaking
Funding requests should be submitted as a formal proposal including:
Grant Range
$500 to $1.1 million
Average Grant
amount: $34,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds charitable organizations in Houston, Texas. Grantmaking also reaches organizations in Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Louisiana, and California, with 84% of grants supporting organizations in Texas, Georgia, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $68.8 million
- Total giving: $2.8 million
- Annual income: $48.6 million
Historical Growth:
- Total assets grew from $12.4 million in 2011 to $68.8 million in 2024
- Annual giving increased from $977,000 in 2020 to $2.5 million in 2023
Funding Source: The foundation receives significant support from The Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation, which provided $45.4 million in 2022.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $68,822,371 | $61,236,709 | $59,712,536 |
| Revenue | $10,865,216 | $3,186,975 | $45,747,295 |
| Expenses | $3,394,273 | $2,943,381 | $1,577,237 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,927,024 | $2,498,500 | $1,325,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,628,641 | $2,257,490 | $578,174 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,338,791 | $3,094,569 | $1,030,798 |
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
223 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Gordon a Cain Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- James D. Weaver - Chairman, President, Director (20 hours/week, $110,000 compensation)
- Sharyn A. Weaver - Secretary, Treasurer, Director (10 hours/week, no compensation)
- Alyson A. Nicholas - Director
- James K. Weaver - Director
- Charles H. Henry - Accounting & Personnel (10 hours/week, $71,000 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES D WEAVER | CHARMAIN, PRESIDENT, DIREC | 20 | $110,000 |
| SHARYN A WEAVER | SECRETARY, TREASURER, DIRE | 10 | — |
| ALYSON A NICHOLAS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JAMES K WEAVER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent Grantmaking Examples
Recent developments and announcements
Notable grants made in 2023 include:
National Infantry Museum Foundation: $1,100,000
Alley Theatre: $305,000
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston: $203,000
Contact Information
Address: 8 Greenway Plaza, Suite 606, Houston, TX 77046-0801
Phone: 713-840-7896
Website: www.gordonacainfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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