Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation
Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation is a private foundation, based in Houston, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $524K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $42K. Net investment income was $12K.
Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation at a glance
In short: Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation gave $42K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $41,500
- +3.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -37.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,300
- +66.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $524,231
- +51.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Contempory Art Museum ($15K). Together the top 5 received $42K.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 22 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 133% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $27K (2020) to $80K (2021). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $42K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Contempory Art Museum Houston, TX | General Purpose | $15,000 |
| Houston Food Bank Houston, TX | General Purpose | $13,000 |
| University of Houston Houston, TX | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| Holocaust Museum Houston, TX | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| River Oaks Baptist School Houston, TX | General Purpose | $3,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $524,231 | $224,708 | $46,569 | $41,500 | 5 | $41,500 | $11,610 | $31,142 |
| 2024 | $346,092 | $37,708 | $44,540 | $40,000 | 8 | $40,000 | $11,088 | $26,701 |
| 2023 | $353,031 | $11,663 | $46,755 | $40,000 | 2 | $40,000 | $7,670 | $25,275 |
| 2022 | $428,233 | $36,688 | $44,644 | $40,000 | 2 | $40,000 | $7,911 | $27,275 |
| 2021 | $396,292 | $13,835 | $3,061 | $79,500 | 5 | — | $7,424 | $26,579 |
| 2020 | $465,018 | $280,280 | $3,494 | $26,500 | 3 | — | $10,354 | $26,187 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Francis Marks Lowe
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lester A. Marks
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Alan Lowe (2024) — Director
- Former: Alana Marks (2024) — Director
- Former: Asher Marks (2024) — Director
- Former: Joshua Marks (2024) — Director
- Former: Robin Clarson (2024) — Director
- Former: Jay M. Marks (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation
How much does Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation give each year?
Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation gave $42K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $40K across 8 grants.
What is Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation's typical grant size?
Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,300, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation give grants?
Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (5 grants).
Does Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation's largest grantees?
Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Contempory Art Museum ($15,000), Houston Food Bank ($13,000) and University of Houston ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation?
Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation reported $524K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $42K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $31K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation's EIN?
Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7253928. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Jay & Shirley Marks Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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