Semmes Foundation Inc

SAN ANTONIO, TX EIN: 74-6062264 Website

Semmes Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 1952 by D. R. Semmes and based in San Antonio, Texas. The foundation has maintained tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status since August 1954. It operates as a charitable organization dedicated to supporting charitable, scientific, and educational purposes, with a primary focus on the San Antonio area.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$14.9M

-26.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$26.5M

+400.6% YoY

Grant Count

-55.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$6.6M

+1026.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Semmes Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation was formed for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes. Based on recent grant activity, priority areas include:

Education initiatives
Museums
Health-related organizations
Medical research support
General charitable support

Grantmaking

The foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations serving San Antonio and surrounding areas. Recent notable grants include:

How to Apply

The foundation accepts unsolicited proposals submitted via regular mail. Decision timeline is approximately 6-7 months.

Ready to take the next step with Semmes Foundation Inc?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation awards grants primarily in San Antonio, Texas, with a focus on local charitable organizations and initiatives.

Grant Distribution by State

Texas $38.2M (96%)

Alabama $1.5M (4%)

New Mexico $10K (0%)

States

Alabama New Mexico Texas

Cities

AustinSan AntonioSanta FeTuscaloosa

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total Revenue: $21,839,877
Total Expenses: $27,124,067
Total Assets: $14,900,000
Total Liabilities: $0

As of 2023:

Total Assets: $20,154,932
Total Revenues: $2,893,877
Total Expenses: $5,656,839
Investment Income: $1,248,209

The foundation dedicates approximately 98% of its total expenses to charitable giving, demonstrating strong commitment to its philanthropic mission.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$14,865,829	$20,154,932	$22,912,981
Revenue	$21,839,877	$2,893,877	$2,417,432
Expenses	$27,124,067	$5,656,839	$3,491,744
Qualifying Distributions	$26,566,572	$5,366,880	$3,175,473
Net Investment Income	$21,280,127	$2,640,600	$2,130,800
Distributable Amount	$1,959,692	$3,026,776	$3,099,329

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

45 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Semmes Foundation Inc

Foundation

Semmes Foundation Grant

SEMMES FOUNDATION INC

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Trinity University ($26,500,000), Mcnay Art Museum ($2,500), Texas Bar Foundation ($2,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
MCNAY ART MUSEUM SAN ANTONIO, TX	EVENT SUPPORT	$2,500
TEXAS BAR FOUNDATION AUSTIN, TX	LEGAL AID	$2,000
TRINITY UNIVERSITY SAN ANTONIO, TX	SEMMES SCHOOL OF SCIENCE (EDUCATION, RESEARCH, ENDOWMENT)	$26,500,000
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SAN ANTONIO SAN ANTONIO, TX	GENERAL SUPPORT	$500

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Thomas R Semmes (President)
Patricia Semmes (Vice President/Secretary)
Cory Albracht (Secretary Treasurer)
William M Fisher (Director)

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
THOMAS R SEMMES	PRESIDENT	15	—
PATRICIA SEMMES	VICE-PRESIDENT/SECRETARY	1	—
WILLIAM M FISHER	DIRECTOR	1	—
CORY ALBRACHT	SECRETARY-TREASURER	10	$50,000

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2023

The foundation made significant grants in 2023, including a $5 million endowment contribution to San Antonio Academy of Texas, representing a major commitment to educational initiatives in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Semmes Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation was formed for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes. Based on recent grant activity, priority areas include: • Education initiatives • Museums • Health-related organizations • Medical research support • General charitable support

How do I apply for a grant from Semmes Foundation Inc?

The foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations serving San Antonio and surrounding areas. Recent notable grants include: • San Antonio Academy of Texas: $5,000,000 (Endowment Fund, 2023) • McNay Art Museum: $151,000 (General Support, 2023) • Our Lady of the Lake University: $100,000 (President's Discretionary Fund, 2023) The foundation accepts unsolicited proposals submitted via regular mail. Decision timeline is approximately 6-7 months. **Mailing Address:** Cory Albracht Semmes Founda…

Where does Semmes Foundation Inc make grants?

The foundation awards grants primarily in San Antonio, Texas, with a focus on local charitable organizations and initiatives.

What size grants does Semmes Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, Semmes Foundation Inc awarded 4 grants totaling $26.5M — an average of about $6.6M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Semmes Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Semmes Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.