Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund
The Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund is a private foundation based in San Antonio, Texas, dedicated to advancing medical research. The foundation operates as an independent 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on supporting charitable organizations engaged in biomedical research.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$56.3M
-2.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.4M
-6.1% YoY
Grant Count
25
+4.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$137K
-9.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support charitable organizations conducting medical research with emphasis on finding cures for:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Arthritis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Retinitis and macular degeneration of the retina
The foundation lends special consideration to organizations operating in the San Antonio and Bexar County area, though it also funds research institutions beyond this region.
Grantmaking
The foundation concentrates on supporting the costs of medical research and does not accept grant solicitations for:
Ready to take the next step with Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation emphasizes funding organizations in the greater Bexar County area and San Antonio, Texas. However, recent grants indicate support for research institutions across Texas and beyond, including institutions in Maryland and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $56,252,299
- Total revenues: $3,543,399
- Total expenses: $4,700,320
- Total giving: $3,429,029
- Staff: 3 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $56,252,299 | $57,409,220 | $58,935,824 |
| Revenue | $3,543,399 | $3,319,269 | $5,224,412 |
| Expenses | $4,700,320 | $4,845,873 | $4,425,949 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,527,366 | $3,731,310 | $3,433,819 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,401,109 | $2,285,230 | $4,264,444 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,642,270 | $3,560,577 | $3,586,367 |
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
115 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BANKS M SMITH | TRUSTEE | 10 | $125,000 |
| DAVID P BERNDT | TRUSTEE | 3 | $100,000 |
| FORRESTER M SMITH III | TRUSTEE | 3 | $100,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025 Young Investigator Awards**
In July 2025, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio received $1.25 million to support research projects conducted by early career investigators. Recipients of the 2025 Voelcker Fund Young Investigator Awards included:
Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund grants UT Health San Antonio $1.25**Maria Falzone, PhD** (Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology; member of the Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute and UT Health San Antonio Mays Cancer Center) — Project: "Phospholipase dysregulation in breast cancer," investigating how GTPases RhoA1 and Arf regulate phospholipase D activity and their impact on breast cancer progression.
Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund grants UT Health San Antonio $1.25**Oleg Klykov, PhD** (Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry) — Project details included in the award announcement.
**2024 Grants**
Christus Santa Rosa Health System: $666,668 to support the Pediatric Neurosurgery Epilepsy Program
UT Health Newsroom: Voelcker Fund supports research for early career investigatorsTexas Biomedical Research Institute: $350,000 to support recruitment for cancer research specialists
UT Health Newsroom: Voelcker Fund supports research for early career investigators**2026 Young Investigator Awards**
The foundation announced the 2026 Young Investigator Awards with a Request for Proposals for basic and translational research.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities