Pierce Runnells Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker HOUSTON, TX EIN: 76-0512606

Pierce Runnells Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HOUSTON, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 16 grants totaling $260K. Net investment income was $310K.

Key facts about Pierce Runnells Foundation

EIN: 76-0512606
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $260,000
Grants made (2024): 16
Average grant: $16,250
Median grant: $12,500
New grantees (estimate): 31% first-time grantees (5 of 16, 2024)
Total assets: $3,180,052
Primary geography: Texas (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated April 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who Pierce Runnells Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Pierce Runnells Foundation's 16 itemized 2024 grants were Texas (96%). The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (6 grants) and Houston, TX (5 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is Pierce Runnells Foundation open to new grantees?

31%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 5 of 16 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $18K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.

56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving fell 40% from 2021 to 2024. Method
In 2024 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$3.2M

+0.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$260K

+8.3% YoY

Grant Count

+45.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$16K

-25.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pierce Runnells Foundation reported a distributable amount of $249K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Pierce Runnells Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Focus Areas

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

Texas $250K (96%)

Pennsylvania $10K (4%)

Share of all 16 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Pennsylvania Texas

Cities

AustinHoustonBlessingDel ValleBrookshireLiberty HillPittsburghSan Antonio

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$3,180,052	$3,178,241	$3,019,144
Revenue	$353,412	$382,672	$149,661
Expenses	$311,338	$283,317	$280,909
Qualifying Distributions	$261,885	$242,799	$237,500
Net Investment Income	$309,617	$342,154	$108,204
Distributable Amount	$248,960	$220,621	$225,720

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 3, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

71 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include UT Health Houston ($70,000), Depelchin Childrens Center ($20,000), Texas Science and History Museum ($20,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
UT HEALTH HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$70,000
DEPELCHIN CHILDRENS CENTER HOUSTON, TX	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$20,000
TEXAS SCIENCE AND HISTORY MUSEUM AUSTIN, TX	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$20,000
HOPE HOUSE LIBERTY HILL, TX	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$15,000
HORSELINK AUSTIN, TX	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$15,000
HOUSTON SYMPHONY HOUSTON, TX	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$15,000
PEASE PARK CONSERVANCY AUSTIN, TX	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$15,000
TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL AUSTIN, TX	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$15,000
PX PROJECT HOUSTON, TX	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$10,000
TREEFOLKS DEL VALLE, TX	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
John Pitts	Treasurer	0.25	—
Kate Thompson	Secretary & Director	0.25	—
Jeff Firestone	President & Director	0.25	—
Kathryn Watts Smyth	Vice-President	0.25	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pierce Runnells Foundation?

Pierce Runnells Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HOUSTON, TX. It holds $3.2M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Pierce Runnells Foundation?

As of 2024, Pierce Runnells Foundation holds $3.2M in total assets with $353K in annual revenue. It awarded 16 grants totaling $260K in 2024.

Where does Pierce Runnells Foundation operate?

Pierce Runnells Foundation has awarded grants in Pennsylvania, Texas.

What size grants does Pierce Runnells Foundation award?

In 2024, Pierce Runnells Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $260K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Pierce Runnells Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Pierce Runnells Foundation reported a distributable amount of $249K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.