Houston Family Foundation
The Houston Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Armonk, New York. It supports organizations and work in science and medical fields, education, the arts, and human social services.
Key facts about Houston Family Foundation
In short: Houston Family Foundation gave $565K across 100 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), top state Indiana. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 57-1133811
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $565,102
- Grants made (2025)
- 100
- Average grant
- $5,651
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (15 of 87, 2025)
- Total assets
- $2,462,182
- Primary geography
- Indiana (26% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The Foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.5M
-16.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$565K
+9.7% YoY
Grant Count
100
+11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-1.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Houston Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $521K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Houston Family Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 87 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 76% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 120% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to support leadership, collaboration, and the common good by providing funds for science and medical work, education, the arts, and human social services. Its FAQ also lists arts, civic affairs, education, environment, health, and social services as fields it typically funds.
Its 2025 grants included organizations working on varied community needs. Middle Way House describes its work as supporting survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking; Hoosier Hills Food Bank collects and distributes food for free feeding programs in central Indiana; and Peace for DC works to end gun violence and build a peaceful city. Other recipients included Bridges to Community, which describes its mission as advancing a more just and sustainable world through service, learning, and community development; Neighbors Link, which works to support the integration of immigrants; and Save the Redwoods League, which protects and restores redwood forests.
The Foundation generally requires applicants to have current 501(c)(3) determination letters or otherwise valid tax-exempt status. It says it is unlikely to support individual schools, camps, congregations, or youth groups except in remarkable cases.
Grantmaking
The Foundation reported 100 grants totaling $565,102 in 2025. Grants ranged from $83 to $50,000, with a median of $2,000. Notable awards included $50,000 to Middle Way House, $30,000 each to Gaia Global Health and Hoosier Hills Food Bank, $27,569 to Holmes Presbyterian Conference Association, and $25,000 each to Bridges to Community, Community FoodBank of New Jersey, and Peace for DC.
How to Apply
The Foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its FAQ describes a Letter of Inquiry submitted through an online application portal as the first step in applying. It says fiscal sponsors may be considered in unique circumstances, does not accept late proposals, and does not provide multi-year funding. Past grantees are not eligible to submit another Letter of Inquiry until the current grant is closed and reports have been received.
Ready to take the next step with Houston Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to Indiana (26%), New York (21%), California (13%), New Jersey (12%), and the District of Columbia (6%). The Foundation also made grants to recipients in other states, including Iowa and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 100 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $368K (2019) to $565K (2025). In 2025 it made 100 grants totaling $565K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Middle Way House ($50K). Together the top 10 received $289K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
401 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 395 grants of 401 (99%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Way House Bloomington, IN | Middle Way Matching Challenge Campaign | $50,000 |
| Gaia Global Health Oakland, CA | General Purpose | $30,000 |
| Hoosier Hills Food Bank Bloomington, IN | General Purpose | $30,000 |
| Holmes Presbyterian Conference Assoc Inc Holmes, NY | Renovation Project - Stock Transfer | $27,569 |
| Bridges to Community Crugers, NY | Infrastructure, Training, Microloans | $25,000 |
| Community Foodbank of NJ Hillside, NJ | General Purpose | $25,000 |
| Peace for DC Washington, DC | General Purpose | $25,000 |
| Neighbors Link Corporation Mount Kisco, NY | General Purpose - Stock Transfer | $24,506 |
| Community Foundation of Bloomington & Monroe Counties Bloomington, IN | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Episcopal Relief and Development Harlan, IA | General Purpose | $20,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $565,102 | 100 |
| 2024 | $515,000 | 90 |
| 2023 | $485,000 | 74 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,462,182 | $2,949,330 | $3,223,114 |
| Revenue | $155,779 | $218,520 | $376,125 |
| Expenses | $723,187 | $621,165 | $593,969 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $623,542 | $522,815 | $512,245 |
| Net Investment Income | $56,134 | $125,170 | $294,601 |
| Distributable Amount | $520,698 | $488,280 | $423,840 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 2, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 20, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Foundation’s 2025 filing lists Anne H. Bentzen as president and treasurer, Cynthia A. Houston as secretary, and Brad Bentzen as assistant treasurer from December 18, 2025. It lists Andrew G. Houston as vice president through December 28, 2025, and James Houston as vice president from December 18, 2025. The filing notes that Jane Houston, assistant treasurer, passed away in November 2025.
The Foundation’s website lists Jim and Jackie Lee Houston as founders and names James R. Houston II as founder and president among its board of trustees.
Houston Family Foundation is led by Anne H. Bentzen - Co Houston Family, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2021; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anne H. Bentzen - Co Houston Family
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$20K (2021) → $50K (2025)
Andrew G. Houston - Co Houston
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia A. Houston - Co Houston
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Houston - Co Houston
Assistant Treasurer Passed on
Director → Assistant Treasurer, 2021
Assistant Treasurer → Assistant Treasurer Passed on, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brad Bentzen - Co Houston
Assistant Treasurer From
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Houston - Co Houston
Vice President From
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Anne Benetzen (2019–2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $50K, to Anne H Bentzen - Co Houston Family (President, Treasurer).
Contact
Mailing address: 3 Pheasant Drive, Armonk, NY 10504
Phone: (914) 588-4079
Website: https://houstonfamilyfoundation.com
Frequently asked questions about Houston Family Foundation
How much does Houston Family Foundation give each year?
Houston Family Foundation gave $565K across 100 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $515K across 90 grants.
What is Houston Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Houston Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $5,651, across 100 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Houston Family Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Houston Family Foundation give grants?
Houston Family Foundation's top state is Indiana, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (21%) and California (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bloomington, IN (10 grants), Denver, CO (7 grants), Mt Kisco, NY (6 grants) and Washington, DC (6 grants).
Does Houston Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 65% of Houston Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (65 of 100) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Houston Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Houston Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Middle Way House ($50,000), Gaia Global Health ($40,000 across 3 grants) and Hoosier Hills Food Bank ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Houston Family Foundation?
Houston Family Foundation reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $624K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $521K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Houston Family Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to support leadership, collaboration, and the common good by providing funds for science and medical work, education, the arts, and human social services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Houston Family Foundation?
The Foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Houston Family Foundation's EIN?
Houston Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-1133811. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Houston Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Houston Family Foundation by hand.
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