Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation
The Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation is a Form 990-PF private foundation located in Houston, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in areas including health, education, early childhood services, community development, and the arts.
Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation gave $715K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $72K), mostly in Texas. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $715,000
- -39.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -23.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $71,500
- -21.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $20,755,042
- +6.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4400 Post Oak Parkway 2160, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: (713) 623-8867
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Second Baptist Church ($420K). Together the top 10 received $715K.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 54 grants of 69 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 3% went to recipients in Massachusetts. The listed Texas recipients were based in Houston; the Massachusetts recipient was Roxbury Latin School in West Roxbury.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $77K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 26% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 77% 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 $715K (2025) to $1.2M (2024). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $715K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Second Baptist Church Houston, TX | Special needs program | $420,000 |
| Agape Development Ministries Houston, TX | General support | $100,000 |
| Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Houston, TX | Educational programs | $35,000 |
| The Roxbury Latin School West Roxbury, MA | Professional development program | $35,000 |
| Houston Grand Opera Assoc Houston, TX | Bauer Family High School Voice Studio | $25,000 |
| The Kinkaid School Inc Houston, TX | EMSI program | $25,000 |
| The Monarch School Inc Houston, TX | Scholarship tuition assistance | $25,000 |
| Houston Symphony Society Houston, TX | Student Concert Series | $20,000 |
| The Forge for Families Houston, TX | Operational support | $20,000 |
| Second Baptist School Houston, TX | Operational support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation?
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 | $20,755,042 | $2,099,457 | $767,279 | $715,000 | 10 | $734,890 | $2,079,568 | $955,409 |
| 2024 | $19,422,864 | $877,048 | $1,232,064 | $1,190,000 | 13 | $1,207,182 | $859,866 | $991,804 |
| 2023 | $19,777,880 | $684,878 | $1,140,118 | $1,075,000 | 16 | $1,099,558 | $660,318 | $995,344 |
| 2022 | $20,233,120 | $468,065 | $1,003,615 | $970,000 | 12 | $1,002,456 | $449,390 | $1,053,303 |
| 2021 | $20,768,670 | $1,370,969 | $999,750 | $905,000 | 18 | $928,777 | $1,355,028 | $1,006,327 |
| 2020 | $20,397,451 | $1,637,424 | $1,088,002 | $1,045,000 | 22 | — | $1,622,755 | $1,013,926 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $955K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Memorial Hermann Foundation describes its mission as improving health and creating healthier communities; Small Steps Nurturing Center says it provides early childhood education for economically at-risk children and their families; and Houston Arboretum & Nature Center describes its work as educating people about the natural environment and protecting native plants and animals. Other recipients include organizations focused on community leadership, therapeutic education, secondary education, orchestral performances, and student development, as described by those organizations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $1,190,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $850,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest reported grants included $850,000 to Memorial Hermann Foundation for general support, $75,000 to Agape Development Ministries for general support, and $60,000 to Small Steps Nurturing Center for teacher salary support. Other listed grants included $30,000 to Houston Arboretum & Nature Center for educational programs, $30,000 to Roxbury Latin School for professional development, and $25,000 to Houston Grand Opera Association for the Bauer Family High School Voice Studio. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 10 grants totaling $715,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists C Douglas Bauer as president and trustee; Jeffrey C Lamberth as secretary and trustee; Jay C Houren as treasurer and trustee; and Ted Pulsifer, Meredith Cullen, and Henry JN Taub II as trustees.
Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation is led by C Douglas Bauer, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
C Douglas Bauer
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Henry JN Taub II
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay C Houren
Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey C Lamberth
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Cullen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ted Pulsifer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/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 Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation
How much does Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation give each year?
Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation gave $715K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 13 grants.
What is Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $71,500, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation give grants?
Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (9 grants).
Does Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 30% of Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Second Baptist Church ($420,000), Agape Development Ministries ($100,000) and Houston Arboretum & Nature Center ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation?
Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation reported $20.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $735K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $955K (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 Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation's EIN?
Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0537473. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 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 September 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston, TX
The Foundation makes grants through donor-advised and other donor-established funds for public benefit, human services, education, and health, including initiatives addressing economic mobility and poverty in Harris County. In 2024, its median grant was $25,000; it serves Greater Houston, while grants also go to recipients elsewhere in Texas and beyond. It does not accept proposals for the upcoming High-Impact Grantmaking cycle and plans to invite selected organizations or collaboratives to apply.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,724
Total Given
$232.3M
The Brown Foundation Inc
Houston, TX
The Brown Foundation funds education, arts and culture, healthcare, human services, and civic assets, with education and the arts as top priorities and public education giving focused almost exclusively on greater Houston. Its 2025 grants ranged from $20,000 to $11 million, with a median of $50,000; it primarily supports Houston organizations and selectively funds distinctive opportunities elsewhere in Texas and beyond.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
222
Total Given
$84.3M
Albert & Ethel Herzstein
Houston, TX
The foundation supports qualified nonprofits working in education, community strengthening, helping people overcome adversity, heritage preservation, and related efforts to help people reach their potential. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $1 million, with a median of $10,000; it favors Houston-area and other Texas organizations, though it also funds elsewhere. It accepts proposals through an online portal on a rolling basis, with no more than one request per organization in any 12-month period.
Assets
$132.3M
Grants
320
Total Given
$5.9M
MD Anderson Foundation
Houston, TX
The MD Anderson Foundation funds tax-exempt organizations working in health and medicine, education, arts and culture, and improving the lives of underserved people, primarily in Houston and Harris County, Texas. In 2024, grants ranged from $7,500 to $360,000, with a median of $50,000. It accepts written applications from tax-exempt organizations; no deadline is stated.
Assets
$107.0M
Grants
75
Total Given
$6.2M
Strake Foundation
Houston, TX
The Strake Foundation funds Catholic institutions, education (especially high school and above), women’s health and pro-life causes, free-market and individual-liberty work, and Houston community, homelessness, and low-income needs, with a strong Houston emphasis. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,000 to $600,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts unsolicited online requests, limits applicants to one application per calendar year, and has no stated deadline.
Assets
$51.9M
Grants
151
Total Given
$2.9M
Vivian L Smith Foundation
Houston, TX
The Vivian L Smith Foundation supports qualifying nonprofit organizations across charitable fields, including education, health care, youth services, and family support; it does not fund individuals. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $20,000, and nearly all grant dollars went to Texas, though it reports no geographic restrictions. It accepts requests without a required form; applicants must state the purpose and provide proof of qualifying status.
Assets
$69.1M
Grants
189
Total Given
$4.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ruth-and-ted-bauer-family-foundation-morg_1fea6205e57346168f79198eeddaaa64
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760537473_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ruth-and-ted-bauer-family-foundation-morg_1fea6205e57346168f79198eeddaaa64},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-12. 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 Ruth and Ted Bauer Family 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.
Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?