Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Houston, TX EIN: 46-1580212

The Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including Houston museums, a livestock show and rodeo, a wildlife conservation organization, and educational and community organizations.

Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation at a glance

In short: Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation gave $1.4M across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $61K), mostly in Texas. 52% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$1,399,700
+18.9% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
23
+4.5% vs 2023
Average grant
$60,857
+13.7% vs 2023
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$152,442,078
+360.0% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
52% first-time grantees (12 of 23, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Texas (97% 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 Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 300 Jackson Hill St, Houston, TX 77007-7430
Phone: (713) 293-1517

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Houston Museum of Natural Science: $775KHouston Museum of NaturalScience$775KThe Museum of Fine Arts Houston: $295KThe Museum of Fine ArtsHouston$295KHouston Livestock Show & Rodeo: $115KHouston Livestock Show & Rodeo$115KTexas Parks and Wildlife Foundation: $50KTexas Parks and WildlifeFoundation$50KEpiscopal High School: $30KEpiscopal High School$30KBoys and Girls Country: $30KBoys and Girls Country$30KThe Peregrine Fund: $25KThe Peregrine Fund$25KCity Ballet of Houston: $20KCity Ballet of Houston$20KHope and Healing Center and Institute: $10KHope and Healing Center andInstitute$10KSt Ambrose University: $10KSt Ambrose University$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was Houston Museum of Natural Science ($775K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.

Grant Size Distribution

104 grants across all recorded years

89<$50K3$50–100K6$100–250K2$250–500K4$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 89 grants of 104 (86%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2024 filing reports that 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 2% to Idaho, 1% to Iowa, and less than 1% to Tennessee.

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.

Cities

HoustonSan AntonioBellaireBoiseDallasLa PorteAustinGaithersburgHockleyAlpineKingsvilleRestonVirginia BeachCorpus ChristiDavenportMedinaMemphisNew YorkSpring

Is Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation open to new grantees?

52%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 12 of 23 grantees (52%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $121K. How we count

Medians: $4K first-time, $30K repeat.

  • 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 82% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 71% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M13 grants2020 21 grants2021 25 grants2022 22 grants2023 23 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $758K (2020) to $1.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $1.4M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Houston Museum of Natural Science Houston, TX2024 in Lieu of Gala, Annual Commitment$775,000
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston Houston, TXBayou bend garden party, campaign for the mfah campus, conservation center build-out, general contributions$295,000
Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Houston, TXJunior Market Steer Auction$115,000
Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation Dallas, TXGear up for Game Wardens Region IV$50,000
Episcopal High School Bellaire, TXLead the Way Capital Campaign, Educational Donation$30,000
Boys and Girls Country Hockley, TXGeneral Fund$30,000
The Peregrine Fund Boise, IDGlobal Conservation Efforts$25,000
City Ballet of Houston Houston, TXInner City Nutcracker Support$20,000
Hope and Healing Center and Institute Houston, TXAnnual Campaign$10,000
St Ambrose University Davenport, IAGeneral Fund$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$152,442,078$120,958,036$1,643,902$1,399,70023$1,399,700$6,712,709$1,982,905
2023$33,142,944$20,722,658$1,302,432$1,177,59322$1,177,593$583,890$777,119
2022$13,737,718$2,053,825$1,003,367$830,30025$830,300$344,036$702,298
2021$12,706,760$940,587$903,848$767,40021$767,400$795,632$703,031
2020$12,660,678$485,782$906,827$757,50013—$255,892$633,034

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for arts and cultural institutions, conservation, education, community programs, and other charitable organizations.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science describes its mission as advancing knowledge of natural science and maintaining a first-class museum. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston says it connects Houston communities with diverse histories of art through collections, exhibitions, learning programs, conservation, and research. The Peregrine Fund describes its mission as conserving birds of prey worldwide. St. Ambrose University says it prepares learners for lives of service, justice, and leadership. These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their work, not statements of the foundation’s mission.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $1,399,700. Grants ranged from $700 to $775,000, with a median grant of $5,000. In 2023, it reported 22 grants totaling $1,177,593; in 2022, it reported 25 grants totaling $830,300.

The largest reported 2024 grants included $775,000 to the Houston Museum of Natural Science for an in-lieu-of-gala contribution and annual commitment; $295,000 to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, for several purposes including the Bayou Bend Garden Party and campaign and conservation-center support; and $115,000 to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo for the Junior Market Steer Auction. Other reported grants included $50,000 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation for “Gear Up for Game Wardens Region IV,” $30,000 each to Episcopal High School and Boys and Girls Country, and $25,000 to The Peregrine Fund for global conservation efforts.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists S. Reed Morian and Laurie N. Morian as trustees. Earl Dyke, William L. Hixon, William C. Montgomery, Thomas Roupe, and Sarah W. Dyke are listed as advisory trustees.

Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation's 2024 filing lists 7 officers; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • William L. Hixon

    Advisory Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    $30K (2020) → $30K (2024)

  • Earl Dyke

    Advisory Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Laurie N. Morian

    Trustee

    Advisory Trustee → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • S. Reed Morian

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • William C. Montgomery

    Advisory Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Thomas Roupe

    Advisory Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

  • Sarah W. Dyke

    Advisory Trustee

    New on the 2024 filing

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Randy Hale (2020–2023) — Advisory Trustee

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

William L Hixon — Advisory Trustee: $30KWilliam L HixonAdvisory Trustee$30K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $30K, to William L Hixon (Advisory Trustee).

Frequently asked questions about Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation

How much does Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation give each year?

Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation gave $1.4M across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 22 grants.

What is Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation's typical grant size?

Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $60,857, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation that year got $6K on average.

Where does Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation give grants?

Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (12 grants) and Austin, TX (2 grants).

Does Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 48% of Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation's largest grantees?

Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Houston Museum of Natural Science ($775,000), The Museum of Fine Arts Houston ($295,000) and Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo ($115,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation?

Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation reported $152.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for arts and cultural institutions, conservation, education, community programs, and other charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation's EIN?

Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1580212. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 20, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 3, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 12, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 31, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/laurie-and-reed-morian-foundation-morg_95e0d52df2ac4bd0a17280e16c994222

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461580212_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Laurie and Reed Morian Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/laurie-and-reed-morian-foundation-morg_95e0d52df2ac4bd0a17280e16c994222},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Laurie and Reed Morian 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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