Nelson Puett Foundation
The Nelson Puett Foundation is a private family foundation based in Austin, Texas, established in 1955. The foundation is connected to Nelson Puett & Associates, a real estate company founded in 1949 that has been instrumental in developing many of Austin's established neighborhoods. The foundation carries forward the philanthropic legacy of the Puett family, which has a long history of community support in Austin and surrounding areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$17.4M
-1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-1.5% YoY
Grant Count
55
+10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-10.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nelson Puett Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Education
- Religion
- Social services
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily directs funding to organizations in:
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Indiana
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $17,397,863 (most recent filing)
- Total Giving: $1,308,169
- Total Liabilities: $509,000 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,397,863 | $17,577,954 | $17,803,291 |
| Revenue | $1,158,225 | $1,049,506 | $934,500 |
| Expenses | $1,355,244 | $1,355,849 | $1,440,352 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,308,169 | $1,328,055 | $1,414,503 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,127,408 | $1,034,506 | $921,565 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,352,475 | $1,289,805 | $1,343,180 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Remember the Alamo Foundation ($510,000), Shikar Safari Club International ($175,100), Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation ($58,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMVETS AUSTIN, TX | CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL | $1,500 |
| AUGUSTHEART SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL | $23,500 |
| AUSTIN SPEECH LABS AUSTIN, TX | CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL | $25,000 |
| DEL VALLE LITTLE LEAGUE DEL VALLE, TX | CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL | $3,470 |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY DURHAM, NC | CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL | $7,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION AUSTIN, TX | CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL | $400 |
| HELPING HAND HOME FOR CHILDREN AUSTIN, TX | CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL | $10,000 |
| HVFD HUNT, TX | CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL | $240 |
| INGRAM INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AUSTIN, TX | CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL | $48,294 |
| LULING HIGH SCHOOL LULING, TX | CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL | $38,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Nelson Harwood Puett operates Nelson Puett & Associates and continues the family tradition of philanthropic support established by his father, Nelson Puett Jr., the original founder of the real estate company.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NELSON HARWOOD PUETT | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| CAROLINE C PUETT | SECRETARY/TREASURER | — | — |
| CAROLINE CHENAULT PUETT PRICE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ELIZABETH BARROW PUETT | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Nelson Puett Foundation made a significant $2.5 million donation to The Alamo, demonstrating continued major philanthropic engagement in Texas cultural and historical preservation.
The Nelson Puett Foundation Donates $2.5 Million to The Alamo | The AlamoFrequently Asked Questions
What does Nelson Puett Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Education • Religion • Social services • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Nelson Puett Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $100,000 to $540,000. **Annual Giving:** The foundation distributed $1,308,169 in total giving according to the most recent filing data. **Recent Activity:** The foundation remains actively engaged in grantmaking, with documented grant distributions in recent years.
Where does Nelson Puett Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily directs funding to organizations in: • Texas • Tennessee • Indiana
What size grants does Nelson Puett Foundation award?
In 2024, Nelson Puett Foundation awarded 55 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Nelson Puett Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Nelson Puett Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Nelson Puett Foundation's EIN?
Nelson Puett Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6062365. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Nelson Puett 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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