Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation
The Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation is a private foundation established in 1966 and based in Houston, Texas. Administered by Sentinel Trust Company, the foundation serves as a philanthropic leader dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations within the Greater Houston-Galveston community and Southeast Texas, with particular emphasis on Catholic-affiliated charitable endeavors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.2M
-5.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
-17.4% YoY
Grant Count
109
-16.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-1.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To promote compassionate giving that serves the needs of the community.
The foundation provides support for the needs and well-being of institutions and peoples within the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Primary funding areas include:
- Education (elementary and secondary education, higher education)
- Health (in-patient medical care, hospital care, diseases and conditions)
- Religion (Christianity, Catholicism)
- Human Services (family services, child welfare)
Grantmaking
The foundation made 145 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $100,000. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, with particular focus on the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston region, including Austin, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker, and Waller counties. The foundation also supports organizations in California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $30,237,052
- Total Revenue: $297,798
- Total Expenses: $1,962,506
- Total Giving: $1,571,523
The foundation has celebrated over $100 million in cumulative grantmaking.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,237,052 | $31,901,760 | $31,460,171 |
| Revenue | $297,798 | $2,816,033 | $2,786,979 |
| Expenses | $1,962,506 | $2,374,444 | $2,356,804 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,716,728 | $2,044,913 | $1,970,072 |
| Net Investment Income | $978,093 | $2,544,693 | $2,401,411 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,872,868 | $1,753,933 | $2,020,441 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Frassati Catholic High School ($100,000), Holy Family Parish ($50,000), Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Angela House Houston, TX | General Support | $2,500 |
| Armand Bayou Nature Center Houston, TX | General Support | $10,000 |
| Art League of Houston Houston, TX | Healing Art Program | $5,000 |
| Avondale House Houston, TX | General Support | $8,000 |
| Bay Area Meals on Wheels Inc Houston, TX | General Support | $10,000 |
| Best Friends Animal Society Houston, TX | General Support | $20,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star Houston, TX | General Support | $3,500 |
| Bloom Fitness Houston, TX | General Support | $4,000 |
| Boys and Girls Country of Houston Inc Hockley, TX | BGC Education Program | $4,000 |
| Bridges to Life Houston, TX | General Support | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Sylvia Joan Cameron
- Robin Davis Franks
- Jean Marie Hale
- Eva Davis Langley
- Derek Spaeth
- Sentinel Trust Company LBA (serves as agent)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Davis Franks | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Jean Marie Hale | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Eva Davis Langley | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Derek Spaeth | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Sentinel Trust Company LBA | Trustee | 1 | $293,625 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Cameron Foundation marked its 20th anniversary in October 2024 with new grants awarded in that cycle. The foundation has maintained consistent grant cycles, awarding over $1 million in recent October grant cycles and continuing its commitment to supporting Catholic-affiliated charitable endeavors and community development throughout the Greater Houston-Galveston region.
Cameron Foundation awards more than $1 million in October grant cycle - TheContact Information
Address: 2001 Kirby Drive, Suite 1200, Houston, Texas 77019
Phone: 713-559-9510
Email: cameronfoundation@sentineltrust.com
Website: thecameronfoundation.com
EIN: 74-6073312
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To promote compassionate giving that serves the needs of the community. The foundation provides support for the needs and well-being of institutions and peoples within the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Primary funding areas include: • **Education** (elementary and secondary education, higher education) • **Health** (in-patient medical care, hospital care, diseases and conditions) • **Religion** (Christianity, Catholicism) • **Human Services** (family services, child welfare)
How do I apply for a grant from Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation?
The foundation made 145 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $100,000. Recent grants include: • North Houston Catholic High School/Frassati Catholic High School: $100,000 (Moving Forward in Faith Capital Campaign) • Holy Family Parish: $50,000 (Capital Campaign One Faith One Family) • Operation Finally Home: $46,000 (General Support) The foundation supports general support, COVID relief, youth education programs, workforce training and development, sc…
Where does Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, with particular focus on the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston region, including Austin, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker, and Waller counties. The foundation also supports organizations in California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Virginia.
What size grants does Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation award?
In 2024, Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation awarded 109 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation's EIN?
Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6073312. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Harry S & Isabel C Cameron 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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