Serafy Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1997 in Texas and designated as tax-exempt since May 1999. Based in Brownsville, Texas, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.4M
+5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$511K
+0.5% YoY
Grant Count
42
+20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-16.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Serafy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $591K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
Serafy Foundation ranks among the top funders in the Brownsville area by total giving, positioning it as a significant local grantmaker.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Texas
- Illinois
- New Jersey
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Resources:
- Total assets: $11,443,491 (2023)
- Total assets: $10.9M (alternative 2023 reporting)
- Total revenue: $338,000 (2023)
- Total expenses: $808,000 (2023)
- Total liabilities: $0 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,443,491 | $10,896,865 | $10,141,715 |
| Revenue | $992,407 | $338,314 | $610,883 |
| Expenses | $826,420 | $807,559 | $711,607 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $511,267 | $508,890 | $573,450 |
| Net Investment Income | $683,826 | $84,764 | $533,413 |
| Distributable Amount | $590,612 | $511,944 | $522,541 |
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
182 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include St Mary's Catholic School ($70,000), Utrgv ($56,000), College of American Pathologists ($40,350).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BURNING TREE FOUNDATION DALLAS, TX | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| CHANCELLOR'S COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AUSTIN, TX | GENERAL FUND | $2,000 |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF BROWNSVILLE BROWNSVILLE, TX | GENERAL FUND | $26,815 |
| COLLEGE OF AMERICAN PATHOLOGISTS NORTHFIELD, IL | GENERAL FUND | $40,350 |
| FOUNDATION FOR A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE TEXAS AUSTIN, TX | GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
| GENEVA SCHOOL OF BOERNE BOERNE, TX | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| GUADALUPE REGIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL BROWNSVILLE, TX | GENERAL FUND | $9,000 |
| MARY MOTHER OF THE CHURCH BROWNSVILLE, TX | GENERAL FUND | $20,100 |
| MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL FUND | $26,000 |
| MOODY CLINIC BROWNSVILLE, TX | GENERAL FUND | $6,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NICHOLAS T SERAFY JR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 205 W Levee Street Brownsville, TX 78520-5558 United States
Phone: 956-546-5315
EIN: 74-2861035
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Serafy Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Science and STEM education • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Serafy Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $511,267 (most recent fiscal year) • Typical award range: $100–$94,000 • The foundation does not currently list live grant opportunities **Grant Distribution:** Serafy Foundation ranks among the top funders in the Brownsville area by total giving, positioning it as a significant local grantmaker.
Where does Serafy Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Texas • Illinois • New Jersey
What size grants does Serafy Foundation award?
In 2024, Serafy Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $511K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Serafy Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Serafy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $591K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Serafy Foundation's EIN?
Serafy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2861035. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Serafy 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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