Hobby Family Foundation

HOUSTON, TX EIN: 76-0489862

Hobby Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Houston, Texas, established in 1995. The foundation was founded by W.P. Hobby, Jr., a former Lieutenant Governor of Texas (1973), former president of The Houston Post, and chair of H&C Communications. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation has been tax-exempt since March 1996.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.9M

+4.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$412K

-96.9% YoY

Grant Count

23

-70.9% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$18K

-89.5% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary giving focuses on:

  • Education
  • Environment
  • Hospitals
  • Human Services
  • Philanthropy and Voluntarism

The foundation indicates broad philanthropic interests across multiple subject areas and geographic regions.

Grantmaking

The foundation appears open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants funded.

Grant Range

$500 to $6,228,721

Average Grant

amount: $650

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation supports a wide range of geographic areas across the United States, including:

  • Primary funding states: Texas, North Carolina, and Virginia
  • Additional states supported: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island
  • Major cities funded: New York, Chicago, Dallas
  • Smaller communities: Blowing Rock, Bokeelia

Grant Distribution by State

17states
+9 more states

Cities

AlexandriaArlingtonAspenAustinBlowing RockBokeeliaBooneBrenhamBrooklynChapel HillCharlottesvilleChicagoColumbusCommerceCoronadoDallasEl CampoFayettevilleGettysburgHempstead

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

2023 Financial Summary:

  • Total Assets: $4,666,707
  • Total Revenue: $1,104,680
  • Total Expenses: $13,653,020
  • Total Liabilities: $0
  • Investment Income and Dividends: $415,661

Giving Rate: 169.2% (expenses exceed assets, indicating the foundation is drawing down reserves)

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$4M$8M$11M$15M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$4,879,796$4,666,707$11,289,388
Revenue$699,077$1,104,680$1,039,179
Expenses$491,862$13,653,020$904,623
Qualifying Distributions$415,137$13,495,100$761,927
Net Investment Income$635,352$978,196$896,483
Distributable Amount$442,736$900,059$1,071,995

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$3M$7M$10M$13M67 grants202065 grants202157 grants202279 grants202323 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

MENIL FOUNDATION INC - T…$70KTHE HOBBY CENTER FOUNDAT…$55KTHE CENTER FOR NEW AMERI…$50KBAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE$45KUATX$33KBUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP$30KKAPPA ALPHA THETA FOUNDA…$25KUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT A…$20KMEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY$13KHOPE CITY LIVE INC$10K

Grant Size Distribution

223 grants across all recorded years

211<$50K11$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Trustees:

  • Paul W. Hobby – Trustee & President (0.5 hours/week, uncompensated)
  • Grace H. Grundy – Trustee, Secretary and Treasurer (0.5 hours/week, uncompensated)
  • Janet M. Hobby – Trustee (uncompensated)

Staff:

  • Cathy Leeson – Listed as in care of name
  • The foundation operates with 0 employees

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
PAUL W HOBBYTRUSTEE & PRESIDENT0.5
GRACE H GRUNDYTRUSTEE, SECRETARY AND TREASURER0.5
JANET M HOBBYTRUSTEE0.5

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2023

The foundation's most recent tax filing was submitted in December 2023. The foundation profile was last updated in June 2025. The foundation continues to actively award grants across its designated program areas and geographic regions.

HOF Awards Grants to Fund Six More Projects - The Bass Fishing Hall Of Fame

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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