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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gordon a Cain Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Infantry Foundation ($1,100,000), Museum of Fine Arts Houston ($450,000), Alley Theatre ($285,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLEY THEATRE HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $285,000 |
| AMERICAN HERITAGE EDUCATION SOCIETY HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $45,000 |
| BLOWING ROCK MUSEUM BLOWING ROCK, NC | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| CASA DE ESPERANZA HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| CHILD ADVOCATES INC HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| CITIZENS AGAINST GOVERNMENT WASTE WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| DISCOVERY GREEN HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| GOOD SAMARITAN FOUNDATION OF TEXAS INC HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $30,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gordon a Cain Foundation fund?
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
How do I apply for a grant from Gordon a Cain Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • 52 grants reported in 2024 • 46 grants made in 2023 • Grant range: $500 to $1.1 million • Median grant: $15,000 • Average grant amount: $34,000 **Application Process:** Funding requests should be submitted as a formal proposal including: • Detailed explanation of the purpose and objectives of the proposed project or activity • Most recent financial information (as specified in application guidelines) Applications and letters of inquiry should be addressed to James D. Weave…
Where does Gordon a Cain Foundation make 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.
What size grants does Gordon a Cain Foundation award?
In 2024, Gordon a Cain Foundation awarded 52 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $54K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gordon a Cain Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gordon a Cain Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gordon a Cain Foundation's EIN?
Gordon a Cain Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8483773. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gordon a Cain 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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