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. Established in 1991, the foundation was created by Roger L. Zeller and his wife Laura D. Zeller to support charitable causes aligned with their philanthropic interests.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$637K
-16.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$198K
-38.9% YoY
Grant Count
21
+10.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-44.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $34K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving is limited to the following areas:
- Health care
- Zoo and animal welfare
- Promotion of education
- Charities related to the sport of bowling
The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to health care initiatives, notably funding a wing of the Cancer Therapy & Research Center in San Antonio.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, New York, and Virginia, with a strong emphasis on San Antonio and the local Texas community.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $636,886 |
| Total Giving (2024) | $197,634 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $636,886 | $765,354 | $1,036,254 |
| Revenue | $107,508 | $90,325 | $12,902 |
| Expenses | $235,780 | $361,104 | $261,310 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $19,073 | $18,950 | $236,160 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,302 | $15,540 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $34,037 | $39,355 | $56,359 |
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
112 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include St Mary's University ($111,000), The University of Texas Health Science Center ($28,974), San Antonio Zoological Society ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $3,000 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $28,974 |
| TEXAS BIOMEDICAL FORUM SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $3,520 |
| SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $1,500 |
| JUDICAIL WATCH WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| SAN ANTONIO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
| TEXAS BIOMED RESEARCH INSTITUTE SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| SAINT MARY'S HALL SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| ST MARY'S UNIVERSITY SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $111,000 |
| OLD SAINT JOE CEMETARY WICHITA, KS | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Roger L. Zeller is the founder of the foundation. Zeller is a decorated military veteran and prominent figure in the bowling industry. He served as owner, president, and chief executive officer of Columbia Industries, which he purchased in 1960. Under his leadership, Columbia 300 became the largest manufacturer of bowling balls, producing more than 5,000 bowling balls daily during the 1970s and 1980s. Zeller was elected to the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame for meritorious service in 1995 and inducted into the San Antonio Bowling Council Hall of Fame in 1977. He also received the Billiard and Bowling Institute of America Industry Service Award in 1988 and served as a trustee for the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.
Laura D. Zeller is co-founder of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RONALD J HERRMANN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KAREN H HERRMANN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAVID S HERRMANN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| EMILIE H PETTY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 111 W Olmos Dr, San Antonio, TX 78212-1955
Telephone: 210-343-3303
EIN: 74-2610755
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving is limited to the following areas: • Health care • Zoo and animal welfare • Promotion of education • Charities related to the sport of bowling The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to health care initiatives, notably funding a wing of the Cancer Therapy & Research Center in San Antonio.
How do I apply for a grant from Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $50 to $127,500. **Annual Giving:** The foundation distributed $197,634 in total giving based on its most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024). **Grant Focus Areas:** Primary funding focuses on higher education, wildlife, education nonprofits, and science education.
Where does Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, New York, and Virginia, with a strong emphasis on San Antonio and the local Texas community.
What size grants does Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $198K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $34K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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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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