The Scanlan Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas, established to further the Roman Catholic Church within the state of Texas through support of religious, charitable, and educational institutions. Founded on January 25, 1947, by sisters Lillian and Stella Scanlan, the foundation has grown from an initial $4 million estate to become a significant philanthropic force in Catholic philanthropy across Texas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$260.1M
+9.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.3M
-3.5% YoY
Grant Count
77
+8.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$69K
-11.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Scanlan Foundation's mission is to contribute to the support of religious, charitable, and educational institutions and works within the fifteen dioceses in the State of Texas, exclusively in order to further the Roman Catholic religion within the State of Texas.
Strategic Pillars: The foundation organizes its grantmaking around a culture of vocations as the foundational cornerstone, supporting four main mission-furthering pillars:
- Vocations (foundational to all funding decisions)
- Marriage & Holy Families
- Catholic Education
- Evangelization & Discipleship
- Life & Human Dignity
The foundation adopted a 25-year strategic plan leading up to its 75th anniversary in 2022, with revised funding procedures implemented in October 2021.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$10,000 to $200,000
Average Grant
Approximately $78,000 (2023)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Scanlan Foundation funds exclusively within the State of Texas, specifically supporting work across all fifteen Catholic dioceses in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $237.8 million to $238 million
- Total Revenue: $13.95 million to $14 million
- Total Expenses: $6.97 million to $6.97 million
- Total Liabilities: $5,740
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since September 1948; EIN: 74-1297212
Historical Impact: Over $150 million awarded in grants throughout the foundation's 75+ year history.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $260,148,700 | $237,809,800 | $213,789,376 |
| Revenue | $25,182,271 | $13,953,882 | $14,315,582 |
| Expenses | $6,859,535 | $6,968,481 | $7,714,368 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $23,977,656 | $12,513,519 | $12,052,152 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Scanlan Foundation
Scanlan Foundation Grant: Campus Ministry
SCANLAN FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Scanlan Foundation Grant: Diocese
SCANLAN FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Scanlan Foundation Grant: Higher Education
SCANLAN FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Archdiocese of Galveston-houston ($516,463), Archdiocese of San Antonio ($275,000), Diocese of Austin ($255,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 40 DAYS FOR LIFE BRYAN, TX | TO SUPPORT CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $35,000 |
| ABLAZE MINISTRIES BRYAN, TX | TO SUPPORT CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $15,000 |
| ANGELA HOUSE HOUSTON, TX | TO SUPPORT CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $15,000 |
| ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY CATHOLIC NEWMAN CENTER SAN ANGELO, TX | TO SUPPORT CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES | $40,000 |
| ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | TO SUPPORT CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $516,463 |
| ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN ANTONIO SAN ANTONIO, TX | TO SUPPORT CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $275,000 |
| CASA JUAN DIEGO HOUSTON, TX | TO SUPPORT CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES | $40,000 |
| CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL INC EL PASO, TX | TO SUPPORT CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES | $114,032 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | TO SUPPORT CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES AND CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $122,500 |
| CATHOLIC LITERARY ARTS HOUSTON, TX | TO SUPPORT CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES | $37,532 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Most Reverend Joe S. Vásquez — Archbishop of Galveston-Houston
- His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo — Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston
- Larry W. Massey, Jr. — President
- William H. Cravens — Executive Vice President
- Kirk M. Pfeffer — Treasurer
- Paul H. Layne — Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIRK M PFEFFER | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LARRY W MASSEY JR | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 50 | $90,000 |
| PAUL H LAYNE | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| WILLIAM H CRAVENS | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/D | 50 | $90,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 4550 Post Oak Place Drive, Suite 241, Houston, Texas 77027-3117
Phone: 713-783-3169
Email: grants@scanlanfoundation.org
Website: https://scanlanfoundation.org
Office Hours: Meetings by appointment only
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Scanlan Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Scanlan Foundation's mission is to contribute to the support of religious, charitable, and educational institutions and works within the fifteen dioceses in the State of Texas, exclusively in order to further the Roman Catholic religion within the State of Texas. **Strategic Pillars:** The foundation organizes its grantmaking around a culture of vocations as the foundational cornerstone, supporting four main mission-furthering pillars: • **Vocations** (foundational to…
How do I apply for a grant from Scanlan Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Typical grant range: $10,000 to $200,000 • Average grant size: Approximately $78,000 (2023) • Number of grants awarded: 71 grants in 2023 • Annual giving: Approximately $5.5 million to $6.97 million **Application Process:** • Two grant sessions annually (Spring and Fall) • Decision timeline: Approximately 5-6 months per session • Applicants are encouraged to review the foundation's strategic plan for guidance on priorities • Applications accepted from Roman Catholic 501(c)…
Where does Scanlan Foundation make grants?
The Scanlan Foundation funds exclusively within the State of Texas, specifically supporting work across all fifteen Catholic dioceses in Texas.
What size grants does Scanlan Foundation award?
In 2024, Scanlan Foundation awarded 77 grants totaling $5.3M — an average of about $69K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Scanlan Foundation's EIN?
Scanlan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-1297212. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Scanlan 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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