John P McGovern Foundation
The John P McGovern Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. It supports nonprofit organizations in areas the foundation identifies as health, the arts, and the enhancement and preservation of the environment.
John P McGovern Foundation at a glance
In short: John P McGovern Foundation gave $23.6M across 244 grants in 2024 (avg $97K), mostly in Texas. 5% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $23,553,258
- +262.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 244
- +15.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $96,530
- +213.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $138,354,350
- +10.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (10 of 187, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John P McGovern Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Requests should include a letter describing the need or grant request, verification of 501(c)(3) status, a list of the Board of Directors, and the annual budget. The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its stated award restrictions are a focus on nonprofit organizations that promote health, the arts, and the enhancement and preservation of the environment.
- Review Cycle
- No submission deadline.
- Deadline
- No submission deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Julia Mitchell
Mailing address: 2211 Norfolk St Ste 900, Houston, TX 77098
Phone: (713) 524-5255
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John P McGovern Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was UT-Health Science Center Medical School ($10.0M). Together the top 10 received $18.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($25,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,079 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 837 grants of 1,079 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 1% to recipients in Maryland. The filing also lists recipients in New York, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, each accounting for 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 244 itemized grants.
Cities
Is John P McGovern Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 187 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1M; repeat grants $76K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 80% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 224% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 365% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.5M (2023) to $23.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 244 grants totaling $23.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UT-Health Science Center Medical School Houston, TX | General support | $10,000,000 |
| University of Houston Houston, TX | General support | $2,000,000 |
| Houston Zoo Houston, TX | General support | $1,500,000 |
| Children's Museum Houston, TX | General support | $1,000,000 |
| Hermann Park Conservancy Houston, TX | Program Support | $1,000,000 |
| Hermann Park Conservancy Houston, TX | Dr Jack Train Engine | $500,000 |
| The Grand 1894 Opera House Galveston, TX | 2025 Program Support | $300,000 |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science Houston, TX | General support | $290,000 |
| Houston Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Inc Houston, TX | JPM Cntr. for Community Education, Aftercare, Relapse Prevention, and Recovery Support | $225,000 |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science Houston, TX | General support | $190,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $138,354,350 | $37,128,352 | $10,650,295 | $23,553,258 | 244 | $24,050,343 | $10,076,216 | $6,592,106 |
| 2023 | $125,486,624 | $22,899,642 | $9,350,082 | $6,497,000 | 211 | $7,088,989 | $5,266,468 | $5,935,279 |
| 2022 | $119,788,592 | $20,844,606 | $23,601,166 | $8,146,350 | 198 | $8,702,947 | $3,245,725 | $6,159,377 |
| 2021 | $140,265,532 | $24,215,873 | $10,314,413 | $7,269,168 | 191 | $7,820,172 | $10,057,777 | $6,759,084 |
| 2020 | $120,879,825 | $6,656,916 | $10,794,526 | $7,067,350 | 235 | — | $5,995,945 | $6,440,172 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John P McGovern Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its focus as supporting nonprofit organizations that promote health, the arts, and the enhancement and preservation of the environment. Its 2024 grants included support for medical education, museums, a zoo, a children’s museum, and park conservation.
The grantees describe their work in varied ways. Houston Zoo says it connects communities with animals to inspire action to save wildlife. Hermann Park Conservancy describes its work as stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park. The Children’s Museum says it provides child-centered learning through parenting, literacy, and STEM programs and exhibits. Houston Museum of Natural Science says its mission is to advance knowledge of natural science and maintain a first-class museum.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 244 grants totaling $23,553,258. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $10,000,000, with a median of $20,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $10,000,000 to UT-Health Science Center Medical School for general support; $2,000,000 to the University of Houston for general support; $1,500,000 to Houston Zoo for general support; and $1,000,000 each to Children’s Museum for general support and Hermann Park Conservancy for program support. Other grants included $500,000 to Hermann Park Conservancy for the Dr Jack Train Engine, and $300,000 to The Grand 1894 Opera House for 2025 program support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists William C Shrader as President, Julia Mitchell as Vice President & Secretary, and Sheila Lewis as Treasurer.
John P McGovern Foundation is led by William C Shrader, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
William C Shrader
President
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $15K (2024)
Julia Mitchell
Vice President & Secretary
Secretary → Vice President & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$127K (2020) → $144K (2024)
Sheila Lewis
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
24 hrs/week
$81K (2020) → $129K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kathrine McGovern (2020–2023) — President
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $144K, to Julia Mitchell (Vice President & Secretary). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about John P McGovern Foundation
How much does John P McGovern Foundation give each year?
John P McGovern Foundation gave $23.6M across 244 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.5M across 211 grants.
What is John P McGovern Foundation's typical grant size?
John P McGovern Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $96,530, across 244 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John P McGovern Foundation that year got $1M on average.
Where does John P McGovern Foundation give grants?
John P McGovern Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (182 grants), Galveston, TX (21 grants), Austin, TX (5 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does John P McGovern Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 26% of John P McGovern Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (63 of 244) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (29 grants), "Annual Luncheon" (6 grants) and "2024 Program support" (4 grants).
Who are John P McGovern Foundation's largest grantees?
John P McGovern Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include UT-Health Science Center Medical School ($10,000,000), University of Houston ($2,125,000 across 3 grants) and Hermann Park Conservancy ($1,720,000 across 4 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($25,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is John P McGovern Foundation?
John P McGovern Foundation reported $138.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $24.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John P McGovern Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its focus as supporting nonprofit organizations that promote health, the arts, and the enhancement and preservation of the environment. Its 2024 grants included support for medical education, museums, a zoo, a children’s museum, and park conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John P McGovern Foundation?
Requests should include a letter describing the need or grant request, verification of 501(c)(3) status, a list of the Board of Directors, and the annual budget. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John P McGovern Foundation's EIN?
John P McGovern Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6053075. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John P McGovern Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-p-mcgovern-foundation-morg_44de4271f547470fbe55ce47cfd6d352
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_746053075_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John P McGovern Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-p-mcgovern-foundation-morg_44de4271f547470fbe55ce47cfd6d352},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from John P McGovern 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.
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