Grits Foundation
Grits Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas, established in 1997. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and focuses on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.0M
-3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$330K
+13.8% YoY
Grant Count
16
+6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
+6.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Grits Foundation reported a distributable amount of $340K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications.
Grant Range
$5,000–$100,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Texas
- Massachusetts
- California
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $3,963,280
- Total revenue: $197,561
- Total expenses: $335,091
- Net assets: $3,963,280
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $4,100,067
- Total giving: $290,000
- Total revenue: $175,203
- Total expenses: $297,708
Revenue Sources (2024):
- Interest revenue: $223
- Dividends: $113,144
- Sales of assets: $84,194
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,963,280 | $4,100,067 | $4,217,244 |
| Revenue | $197,561 | $175,203 | $77,943 |
| Expenses | $335,091 | $297,708 | $260,143 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $332,084 | $292,074 | $252,428 |
| Net Investment Income | $194,554 | $169,569 | $74,671 |
| Distributable Amount | $340,049 | $291,605 | $294,264 |
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
79 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Planned Parenthood ($115,000), Texas Children's Hospital ($115,000), Communities in School ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA BOSTON, MA | TO FUND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $5,000 |
| CASA DE ESPERANZA HOUSTON, TX | TO FUND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $5,000 |
| COHEN BRAY HOUSE OAKLAND OAKLAND, CA | TO FUND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $5,000 |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOL HOUSTON, TX | TO FUND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $10,000 |
| HOUSTON ARBORETUM & NATURE CENTER HOUSTON, TX | TO FUND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $5,000 |
| HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES HOUSTON, TX | TO FUND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $5,000 |
| MEDICAL BRIDGES HOUSTON, TX | TO FUND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $10,000 |
| NEUHAUS EDUCATION CENTER BELLAIRE, TX | TO FUND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $10,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD HOUSTON, TX | TO FUND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $115,000 |
| SMALL STEPS NURTURING CENTER HOUSTON, TX | TO FUND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN T PETERKIN | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| GEORGE A PETERKIN III | V-P, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SUSAN PETERKIN HEY | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| LYNN PETERKIN | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| KATE F PETERKIN | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 7811 Wedgewood Lane, Houston, TX 77055-6846
- Telephone: 281-888-3351
- EIN: 31-1505617
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Grits Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Grits Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $290,000 • Number of grants: 15 grants annually (as of most recent filing) • Typical grant range: $5,000–$100,000 • Median grant size: $5,000 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Planned Parenthood ($100,000) • Urban Harvest ($10,000) • Archaeological Institute of America ($5,000) **Application Process:** The foundation accepts applications.
Where does Grits Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Texas • Massachusetts • California
What size grants does Grits Foundation award?
In 2024, Grits Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $330K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Grits Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Grits Foundation reported a distributable amount of $340K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Grits Foundation's EIN?
Grits Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1505617. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Grits 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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