Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation
The Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Formed at Harry Bovay’s bequest, it supports education and community development in specific rural communities, as well as scouting and other initiatives reflecting its stated areas of interest.
Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation at a glance
In short: Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation gave $2.5M across 82 grants in 2024 (avg $30K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,454,511
- +9.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 82
- +110.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $29,933
- -47.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $39,995,907
- -0.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (52% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Follow the relevant application instructions under the foundation’s Areas of Giving and Application Guidelines. Students should contact their school counselor; community grant applicants apply through the community grants process.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists April 30 for educator grant applications and October 1 for community grant requests. Those 2026 dates have passed; community grant requests are reviewed at the November meeting.
- Deadline
- The website lists April 30 for educator grant applications and October 1 for community grant requests.
- Contact
Application contact: Rebecca Dietz
Mailing address: 1415 Louisiana St Suite 1900, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 651-2328
Email: rdietz@legacytrust.com
Website: https://bovayfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Bovay Scout RanchSHAC ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($132,617), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
196 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 164 grants of 196 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies community grant locations in Millport and Kennedy, Alabama; Fairmount, Georgia; North Lyon County, Kansas; and Guntown, Houlka, Rienzi, and Tishomingo, Mississippi. It also identifies scholarship and educator-grant eligibility in Lamar County, Alabama; Lyon and Osage Counties, Kansas; and Chickasaw County, Mississippi.
In 2024, 52% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 18% to New Mexico, 9% to Tennessee, 8% to Alabama, and 7% to Kansas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 82 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation gives
- Giving grew 100% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2021) to $2.5M (2022). In 2024 it made 82 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bovay Scout RanchSHAC Navasota, TX | General support | $1,000,000 |
| Philmont Scout Ranch Cimarron, NM | General support | $436,616 |
| Texas A&M Foundation College Station, TX | Grant - Harry E Bovay Jr. Foundation Symposium in Chemical Biology Endowment | $208,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN | Grant - Division of Cancer Survivorship | $202,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $132,617 |
| Retina Research Foundation Houston, TX | General support | $50,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | Donation - hurricane relief | $25,000 |
| Allen Community College Iola, KS | HS Dual Credit, Kansas voucher program | $20,228 |
| Washburn University Topeka, KS | Kansas voucher program | $20,154 |
| Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Houston, TX | General support | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $39,995,907 | $3,078,697 | $3,467,860 | $2,454,511 | 82 | $2,771,234 | $2,316,303 | $2,618,154 |
| 2023 | $40,285,070 | $2,273,870 | $2,721,684 | $2,236,430 | 39 | $2,483,092 | $1,503,309 | $2,556,937 |
| 2022 | $40,732,884 | $1,698,174 | $3,117,695 | $2,476,207 | 22 | $2,781,366 | $1,434,110 | $2,569,224 |
| 2021 | $42,152,405 | $5,650,900 | $1,707,537 | $1,227,197 | 13 | $1,587,883 | $3,760,051 | $2,745,195 |
| 2020 | $37,196,792 | $1,533,833 | $2,426,683 | $1,927,184 | 40 | — | $1,259,076 | $2,324,814 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it supports innovative and effective programs in education, scouting, and community development, guided by Harry Bovay’s values. Its website describes scholarships and grants for public-school graduates, educators, and communities, and notes support for the Boy Scouts of America, Cornell University, Texas A&M University, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and medical research institutions.
Its 2024 grants also went to organizations working in varied fields. For example, the Texas A&M Foundation describes its mission as raising and managing endowed gifts for Texas A&M University; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital says it advances cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment; and Retina Research Foundation says it funds research and education to reduce retinal blindness.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 82 grants totaling $2,454,511. Grant amounts ranged from $958 to $1,000,000, with a median of $5,000. Larger grants included $1,000,000 to Bovay Scout Ranch for general support; $436,616 to Philmont Scout Ranch for general support; $208,000 to the Texas A&M Foundation for the Harry E. Bovay Jr. Foundation Symposium in Chemical Biology Endowment; and $202,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for its Division of Cancer Survivorship. Other grants included $132,617 to an individual recipient Community College for its Tuition Guarantee Program and textbooks, and $50,000 to Retina Research Foundation for general support.
The foundation’s website directs high-school students at specified schools to contact their school counselors about tuition assistance. Educator grant applicants must apply through the foundation’s process; community grant requests are considered case by case. The filing directs applicants to the foundation’s application guidelines for forms, materials, and award restrictions. The filing also states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael L Patrick as President and Director; Peggy L Kelly as Vice President, Secretary, and Director; Frances Escriva as Treasurer and Director; and C Ronald Dorchester, Carl F Jaedicke, and Edward R Naumes as Directors.
Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation is led by Michael L Patrick, President & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 4 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael L Patrick
President & Director
Director → President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$125K (2024)
C Ronald Dorchester
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$9K (2020) → $9K (2024)
Frances Escriva
Treasurer & Director
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$9K (2020) → $9K (2024)
Peggy L Kelly
Vice President, Secretary & Director
Director → Vice President, Secretary & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$9K (2020) → $53K (2024)
Carl F Jaedicke
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward R Naumes
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $125K, to Michael L Patrick (President/Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation
How much does Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation give each year?
Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation gave $2.5M across 82 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.2M across 39 grants.
What is Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation's typical grant size?
Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $29,933, across 82 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation give grants?
Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New Mexico (18%) and Tennessee (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Emporia, KS (16 grants), Hays, KS (10 grants), Livingston, AL (8 grants) and Florence, AL (6 grants).
Does Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 20% of Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 82) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Kansas voucher program" (7 grants).
Who are Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation's largest grantees?
Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Bovay Scout RanchSHAC ($1,000,000), Philmont Scout Ranch ($436,616) and Texas A&M Foundation ($208,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($132,617), which are not listed by name. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation?
Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation reported $40.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation fund?
The foundation says it supports innovative and effective programs in education, scouting, and community development, guided by Harry Bovay’s values. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation?
Follow the relevant application instructions under the foundation’s Areas of Giving and Application Guidelines. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation's EIN?
Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0343221. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/harry-e-bovay-jr-foundation-morg_bddb0aa5bbb443c08af6c3d463a11128
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760343221_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/harry-e-bovay-jr-foundation-morg_bddb0aa5bbb443c08af6c3d463a11128},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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