The John R Eckel Jr Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Houston, Texas, established in 2010. The foundation was created following the death of John R. Eckel Jr., an American businessman and art collector who founded Copano Energy. The foundation focuses on philanthropic giving across arts, healthcare, and educational initiatives, with particular emphasis on cultural institutions in the Houston area and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$23.1M
-21.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-7.0% YoY
Grant Count
29
+20.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
-23.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John R Eckel Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily supports the arts, healthcare, and educational initiatives. Notable funding areas include:
- Arts and Culture: Support for museum exhibitions, gallery programs, and cultural institutions
- Operating Support: Funding for ongoing programs and operations at cultural organizations
- Capital Campaigns: Support for major institutional initiatives
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$28,000
Average Grant
$28,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. locations, including:
- Primary Focus: Houston, Texas area
- Other Locations: Brooklyn, Florham Park, Los Angeles, New York, Galveston, Hempstead, Jackson
- States: California, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, and Texas
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $23.1 million
- Revenue: -$4.54 million
- Expenses: $1.8 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $29.4 million
- Total Revenues: $444,833
- Total Expenses: $2.06 million
Tax Status:
- EIN: 27-2818091
- Tax-exempt since December 2010
- Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,056,085 | $29,394,813 | $31,012,956 |
| Revenue | $-4,540,642 | $444,833 | $-984,744 |
| Expenses | $1,798,086 | $2,062,976 | $2,333,855 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,354,123 | $1,446,662 | $1,873,444 |
| Net Investment Income | $768,930 | $971,854 | $312,855 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,180,290 | $1,177,643 | $1,126,731 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Menil Foundation Inc ($100,000), Orange Show Foundation ($100,000), Whitney Museum of American Art ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Artadia Brooklyn, NY | To support an Artadia 2024 award to a talented, emerging Houston artist | $15,000 |
| Astrodome Conservancy Houston, TX | Unrestricted operating support | $10,000 |
| Buffalo Bayou Partnership Houston, TX | Supporting a new, site-specific media and sound installation by Rachel Rossin at the Houston | $50,000 |
| Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Houston, TX | Unrestricted operating support | $40,000 |
| FotoFest Inc Houston, TX | Support of FotoFest's Literacy Through Photography Learning Program | $25,000 |
| Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council Galveston, TX | Unrestricted operating support | $10,000 |
| Genesys Works Houston, TX | Unrestricted operating support | $60,000 |
| Gulf Coast-A Journal of Literature and Fine Arts Houston, TX | Unrestricted operating support | $10,000 |
| Houston Botanic Garden Houston, TX | Unrestricted operating support | $25,000 |
| Lawndale Art and Performance Center Houston, TX | Unrestricted operating support | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Douglas L Lawing: President and Treasurer (full-time, $150,000 annual compensation)
- Jeffrey A Casey: Vice President and Secretary (part-time, $10,000 annual compensation)
- T Randolph Harris: Director (part-time, $10,000 annual compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas L Lawing | President/Treasurer | 40 | $150,000 |
| Jeffrey A Casey | VP/Secretary | 1 | $10,000 |
| T Randolph Harris | Director | 1 | $10,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 515 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1000 Houston, TX 77027-9482 United States
Phone: 713-333-2200
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John R Eckel Jr Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily supports the arts, healthcare, and educational initiatives. Notable funding areas include: • **Arts and Culture**: Support for museum exhibitions, gallery programs, and cultural institutions • **Operating Support**: Funding for ongoing programs and operations at cultural organizations • **Capital Campaigns**: Support for major institutional initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from John R Eckel Jr Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • In 2023, the foundation made 28 grants totaling approximately $1.4 million in distributions • Average grant size: $28,000 • Maximum grant size: $500,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • The Museum of Fine Arts Houston: $500,000 (Capital Campaign) • Whitney Museum of American Art: $100,000 (Eckel Gallery Exhibition Program) • Menil Foundation: $100,000 (Operating Support) **Grant Characteristics:** • The foundation appears open to new applicants • Grants support both capital cam…
Where does John R Eckel Jr Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. locations, including: • **Primary Focus**: Houston, Texas area • **Other Locations**: Brooklyn, Florham Park, Los Angeles, New York, Galveston, Hempstead, Jackson • **States**: California, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, and Texas
What size grants does John R Eckel Jr Foundation award?
In 2024, John R Eckel Jr Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John R Eckel Jr Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John R Eckel Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John R Eckel Jr Foundation's EIN?
John R Eckel Jr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2818091. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John R Eckel Jr Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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