James and Molly Crownover Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Houston, TX EIN: 76-0700578

The James and Molly Crownover Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. In 2024, it made 21 grants totaling $374,447 to charitable organizations, including Houston Grand Opera, Rice University, and United Way of Houston.

Key facts about James and Molly Crownover Foundation

In short: James and Molly Crownover Foundation gave $374K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), mostly in Texas. 42% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
76-0700578
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$374,447
Grants made (2024)
21
Average grant
$17,831
Median grant
$5,000
New grantees (estimate)
42% first-time grantees (8 of 19, 2024)
Total assets
$1,593,363
Primary geography
Texas (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.6M

-12.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$374K

-12.7% YoY

Grant Count

21

-12.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$18K

-0.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James and Molly Crownover Foundation reported a distributable amount of $176K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is James and Molly Crownover Foundation open to new grantees?

42%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 8 of 19 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $31K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 212% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for arts organizations such as Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet, educational institutions such as Rice University and St. John’s School, and community and charitable organizations.

Among the grantees, the Holdsworth Center says it works to improve the quality of Texas pre-K–12 public education by supporting and developing educational leaders. Houston Parks Board describes its mission as expanding, improving, and protecting parks and greenspace in the Houston region. Teach For America says it finds, develops, and supports leaders to teach students in underserved communities.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 21 grants totaling $374,447. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $97,101, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest grants included $97,101 to Houston Grand Opera for its Founders Council and two grants to Rice University totaling $123,572 for several programs and purposes. United Way of Houston received $45,196 for its Building Possibilities Campaign and annual pledge. Other notable grants included $27,227 to American Hospital of Paris for general support and $15,274 to Asia Society of Texas for an annual pledge.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 2% to New York, and 1% to California. The state associated with the remaining 7% is unspecified in the grant data.

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.

Cities

HoustonNew YorkStanfordWashingtonAustinDallasRutherfordRye BrookSt HelenaVirginia Beach

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K13 grants2020 23 grants2021 21 grants2022 24 grants2023 21 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $260K (2020) to $429K (2023). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $374K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Rice University: $124K across 2 grantsRice University$124K · 2 grantsHouston Grand Opera: $97KHouston Grand Opera$97KUnited Way of Houston: $45KUnited Way of Houston$45KAmerican Hospital of Paris: $27KAmerican Hospital of Paris$27KAsia Society of Texas: $18K across 2 grantsAsia Society of Texas$18K · 2 grantsHouston Ballet: $10KHouston Ballet$10KHouston Methodist Society (Methodist Hospital Foundation): $10KHouston Methodist Society(Methodist Hospital…$10KHouston Parks Board: $5KHouston Parks Board$5KSt Helena Hospital Foundation: $5KSt Helena Hospital Foundation$5KSt John's School: $5KSt John's School$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was Rice University ($124K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $346K.

Grant Size Distribution

102 grants across all recorded years

92<$50K7$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 102 (90%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Houston Grand Opera Houston, TXFounders Council$97,101
Rice University Houston, TX2024 friend of fondren; moody center for the arts; boniuk institute; evening for rice's honour; friends of fondren dinner; kinder institute luncheon$63,500
Rice University Houston, TXBrockman music and performing arts; leebron university professor; nest phase 2 gap$60,072
United Way of Houston Houston, TXBuilding Possibilities Campaign; Annual Pledge$45,196
American Hospital of Paris General Support$27,227
Asia Society of Texas Houston, TXAnnual Pledge$15,274
Houston Ballet Houston, TXAnnual Pledge$10,000
Houston Methodist Society (Methodist Hospital Foundation) Houston, TXAnnual Pledge$10,000
Houston Parks Board Houston, TXAnnual Luncheon Desroches Co-Chair$5,000
St Helena Hospital Foundation St Helena, CAIn Memory of Elaine Jones$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $1,593,363 $49,312 $374,447 $374,447
2023 $1,811,330 $517,875 $428,836 $428,836
2022 $1,638,384 $389,967 $295,150 $284,752
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,593,363$1,811,330$1,638,384
Revenue$49,312$517,875$389,967
Expenses$374,447$428,836$295,150
Qualifying Distributions$374,447$428,836$289,951
Net Investment Income$49,312$517,875$75,545
Distributable Amount$176,499$142,171$135,328

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists James Crownover, Molly Crownover, and Corwin Crownover as directors.

James and Molly Crownover Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Corwin Crownover

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • James Crownover

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Molly Crownover

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Jerry Suich (2020) — Director

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.

Contact

Mailing address: 4605 Post Oak Place Ste 216, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: (713) 425-7095

Frequently asked questions about James and Molly Crownover Foundation

How much does James and Molly Crownover Foundation give each year?

James and Molly Crownover Foundation gave $374K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $429K across 24 grants.

What is James and Molly Crownover Foundation's typical grant size?

James and Molly Crownover Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $17,831, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James and Molly Crownover Foundation that year got $4K on average.

Where does James and Molly Crownover Foundation give grants?

James and Molly Crownover Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (16 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).

Does James and Molly Crownover Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 10% of James and Molly Crownover Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Annual Pledge" (4 grants) and "2024 Luncheon" (3 grants).

Who are James and Molly Crownover Foundation's largest grantees?

James and Molly Crownover Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Rice University ($123,572 across 2 grants), Houston Grand Opera ($97,101) and United Way of Houston ($45,196), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is James and Molly Crownover Foundation?

James and Molly Crownover Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $374K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $176K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does James and Molly Crownover Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for arts organizations such as Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet, educational institutions such as Rice University and St. John’s School, and community and charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from James and Molly Crownover Foundation?

The foundation 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 James and Molly Crownover Foundation's EIN?

James and Molly Crownover Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0700578. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does James and Molly Crownover 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.

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