Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation
The Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in San Antonio, Texas. It supports charitable organizations in areas that include healthcare, zoo and animal welfare, and the promotion of education.
Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation gave $144K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Texas. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $143,690
- -27.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,264
- +9.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,875
- Total assets
- $771,079
- +21.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing says to contact Ron Herrmann and submit an application that includes proof of status under I.R.C. 509(a)(1). It lists healthcare, zoo and animal welfare, promotion of education, and an incompletely described additional category as award restrictions.
- Contact
Application contact: Ron Herrmann
Mailing address: 111 W Olmos Dr, San Antonio, TX 78212-1955
Phone: (210) 256-9168
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The University of Texas Health Science Center ($65K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $142K.
Grant Size Distribution
99 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 99 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant list shows a strong concentration in Texas: 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in that state. The filing reports 1% each for Washington, DC, and Kansas, and 0% each for New York and North Carolina. Many of the listed recipients are based in San Antonio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 13 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 32% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 59% 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 (2020–2025). 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
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $144K (2025) to $1.3M (2020). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $144K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $63,500 |
| St Mary's University San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $25,500 |
| San Antonio Zoological Society San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Texas Biomed Research Institute San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $13,600 |
| First Presbyterian Church San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $5,000 |
| San Antonio Museum of Art San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $4,000 |
| Texas Biomedical Forum San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $3,250 |
| Saint Mary's Hall San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Ballet San Antonio San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $2,500 |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, TX | Charitable | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $771,079 | $316,025 | $181,690 | $143,690 | 14 | $19,000 | — | $32,467 |
| 2024 | $636,886 | $107,508 | $235,780 | $197,634 | 21 | $19,073 | $10,302 | $34,037 |
| 2023 | $765,354 | $90,325 | $361,104 | $323,204 | 19 | $18,950 | $15,540 | $39,355 |
| 2022 | $1,036,254 | $12,902 | $261,310 | $211,010 | 22 | $236,160 | — | $56,359 |
| 2021 | $1,284,090 | $-153 | $725,433 | $667,233 | 23 | $696,333 | — | $73,478 |
| 2020 | $2,016,988 | $773,045 | $1,400,635 | $1,342,435 | 27 | — | $698,193 | $96,234 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No separate mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 filing lists healthcare, zoo and animal welfare, and promotion of education among its giving areas.
The foundation’s grants include support for educational, cultural, animal-welfare, and biomedical organizations. St. Mary’s University, its largest listed 2024 recipient, says it educates leaders for the common good through community, liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence. The San Antonio Zoological Society describes its mission as fostering appreciation and concern for all living things. The San Antonio Museum of Art says it brings people together with art and advances human connection and understanding. Texas Biomedical Forum says its purpose is to support the Texas Biomedical Research Institute.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $197,634. Listed grants ranged from $90 to $111,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest awards were $111,000 to St. Mary’s University, $28,974 to The University of Texas Health Science Center, and $20,000 to the San Antonio Zoological Society, all in San Antonio. Other listed recipients included Charity Ball Association ($10,000), First Presbyterian Church ($5,500), Ballet San Antonio ($5,000), and Texas Biomedical Forum ($3,520). Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 14 grants totaling $143,690.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ronald J Herrmann, Karen H Herrmann, David S Herrmann, and Emilie H Petty as trustees.
Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David S. Herrmann
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emilie H. Petty
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen H. Herrmann
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald J. Herrmann
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation
How much does Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation give each year?
Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation gave $144K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $198K across 21 grants.
What is Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,875, and its average grant was $10,264, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation give grants?
Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Antonio, TX (13 grants).
Does Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (14 grants).
Who are Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The University of Texas Health Science Center ($64,500 across 2 grants), St Mary's University ($25,500) and San Antonio Zoological Society ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation?
Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation reported $771K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $19K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $32K (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 Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation fund?
No separate mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 filing lists healthcare, zoo and animal welfare, and promotion of education among its giving areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2610755. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/roger-l-and-laura-d-zeller-charitable-foundation-morg_38293c1a75cf48e2b4bd7acb5506ab43
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_742610755_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/roger-l-and-laura-d-zeller-charitable-foundation-morg_38293c1a75cf48e2b4bd7acb5506ab43},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable 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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