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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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