Houston Public Library Foundation
The Houston Public Library Foundation supports the houston public library (HPL) by securing funding and community partnerships to enhance its impact. We invest in innovative programs, literacy initiatives, and technology access ensuring all houstonians benefit from free educational resources. Through advocacy and collaboration, we empower the library to inspire learning, bridge digital divides, and strengthen communities, fostering a stronger houston through the transformative power of libraries.
Houston Public Library Foundation at a glance
In short: Houston Public Library Foundation gave $1.8M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $1.8M), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,812,734
- -2.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,812,734
- -2.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,812,734
- Total assets
- $21,668,588
- +5.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Houston Public Library Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Houston Public Library ($1.8M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Houston Public Library Foundation gives
- Giving grew 22% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2022) to $3.4M (2020). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Public Library Houston, TX | Support Activities & Operations | $1,812,734 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,668,588 | $1,409,539 | $2,555,744 | $1,812,734 | 1 | $92,460 |
| 2024 | $20,489,070 | $825,891 | $2,275,250 | $1,852,364 | 1 | $99,673 |
| 2023 | $20,096,120 | $1,473,546 | $1,975,891 | $1,574,052 | 1 | $107,766 |
| 2022 | $19,717,451 | $921,129 | $2,164,725 | $1,483,604 | 1 | $150,723 |
| 2021 | $23,882,250 | $1,377,846 | $2,740,257 | $2,084,558 | 1 | $813,121 |
| 2020 | $21,574,975 | $1,801,077 | $4,180,548 | $3,418,328 | 1 | $838,993 |
| 2019 | $23,117,749 | $3,734,293 | $3,416,465 | $2,666,951 | 1 | $719,392 |
About Houston Public Library Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Houston Public Library Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Houston, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $21.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.8M. Net investment income was $92K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Houston Public Library Foundation is led by Nicholas Sawacki, Member & Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2024); none of the 16 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nicholas Sawacki
Member & Executive Director
Member → Member & Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicolas Jimenez
Chair
Secretary → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ada Wang
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adriana Tamez
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alisha Adatia
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Burnita Diane Shephard
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dimitris Millas
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heaven Chee
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Smith
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Kemp St Rose
Secretary
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Logan Leal
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margo Melchor-Hernandez
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michele Leal
Vice Chair
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mimi Brown
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Lenny
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Teran Smith
Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Floyd Nathaniel Williams (2024) — Member
- Former: Licia Green-Ellis (2019–2023) — Chair
- Former: Neil Thomas (2019–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Zarine Boyce (2019–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Adan Vega (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Gaynell Drexler (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Mary Jane Wakefield (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Rachel Cevallos (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Carme Williams (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Melinda Little (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Sally Swanson (2019–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Tina Arias Peterman (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Alia Vinson (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Hisd Superintendent (2019–2020) — Executive Officio Director
- Former: Mayor Sylvester Turner (2019–2020) — Executive Officio Director
- Former: Rhea Brown Lawson (2019–2020) — Executive Officio Director
- Former: Licai Green-Ellis (2020) — Chair
- Former: Ryan Leach (2019) — Director
- Former: Sue Lovell (2019) — 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.
Frequently asked questions about Houston Public Library Foundation
How much does Houston Public Library Foundation give each year?
Houston Public Library Foundation gave $1.8M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.9M across 1 grant.
How large is Houston Public Library Foundation?
Houston Public Library Foundation reported $21.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.
What is Houston Public Library Foundation?
Houston Public Library Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Houston, TX. It holds $21.7M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Houston Public Library Foundation operate?
Houston Public Library Foundation has awarded grants in Texas.
What is Houston Public Library Foundation's EIN?
Houston Public Library Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-1926301. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 3, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Houston Public Library Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Houston Public Library 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.
Houston Public Library Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?