Stedman West Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Houston, TX EIN: 74-6039393

The Stedman West Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. It makes grants to publicly supported 501(c)(3) organizations, with the majority of its grants going to medical, educational, and cultural arts organizations.

Stedman West Foundation at a glance

In short: Stedman West Foundation gave $1.6M across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $65K), mostly in Texas. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$1,570,000
-7.1% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
24
+41.2% vs 2023
Average grant
$65,417
-34.2% vs 2023
Median grant
$25,000
Total assets
$24,676,344
+0.5% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
27% first-time grantees (6 of 22, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Texas (75% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Stedman West Foundation

How to Apply

The foundation says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications should be submitted in letter or proposal form and include a brief description of the organization’s activities, the proposed use of funds, the amount requested, and other pertinent information. Grants may be made at any meeting of the trustees. Awards are limited to publicly supported 501(c)(3) organizations; applications from individuals are not considered.

Contact

Application contact: Stedman West Foundation Attn Stuart
Mailing address: PO Box 7, Houston, TX 77001
Phone: (713) 520-0400

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Stedman West Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Ucsd): $350KScripps Institution ofOceanography (Ucsd)$350KUniversity of Texas-Austin (Campus Beautification Council): $340K across 2 grantsUniversity of Texas-Austin(Campus Beautification…$340K · 2 grantsMD Anderson Cancer Center: $200KMD Anderson Cancer Center$200KCaesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Kingsville: $125KCaesar Kleberg WildlifeResearch Institute Kingsville$125KThe Menninger Clinic: $100KThe Menninger Clinic$100KThe University of Texas - Jefferson Center: $100KThe University of Texas -Jefferson Center$100KBaylor University: $50K across 2 grantsBaylor University$50K · 2 grantsHouston Methodist Hospital Foundation: $50KHouston Methodist HospitalFoundation$50KNavy Seal Museum San Diego: $50KNavy Seal Museum San Diego$50KHouston Grand Opera: $40KHouston Grand Opera$40K

The largest 2024 recipient was Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Ucsd) ($350K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.

Grant Size Distribution

124 grants across all recorded years

87<$50K12$50–100K19$100–250K3$250–500K2$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 87 grants of 124 (70%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation gives preference to Texas organizations. In 2024, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 25% to recipients in California. The foundation says it may fund organizations in other states when funds are available.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.

Cities

HoustonAustinKingsvilleWacoDallasFalfurriasEagle LakeFriendswoodSan DiegoTylerLa JollaSan Antonio

Is Stedman West Foundation open to new grantees?

27%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 6 of 22 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $137K; repeat grants $47K. How we count

Medians: $50K first-time, $23K repeat.

  • 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+10%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 91% 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 (2020–2024). 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M28 grants2020 30 grants2021 25 grants2022 17 grants2023 24 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2020) to $1.7M (2023). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $1.6M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Ucsd) La Jolla, CASupport of the future oceans research aquarium at the ted and jean scripps marine conservation and technology facility at scripps institution of oceanography for the stedman conservation suite naming.$350,000
University of Texas-Austin (Campus Beautification Council) Austin, TXSupport for capital project to enhance the beauty of the campus through creation of the stedman family gardens landscape project at ut austin.$265,000
MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TXMedical research funding to support the melanoma moon shots program. Specifically supporting project 2: novel strategies for melanoma cns metastases$200,000
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Kingsville Kingsville, TXFunding for Protien-Cottonseed Research Project on Faith Ranch$125,000
The Menninger Clinic Houston, TXSupport of Adolescent Mental Health Care Programs$100,000
The University of Texas - Jefferson Center Austin, TXSupport of the stuart w. Stedman excellence fund for the thomas jefferson center for the study of core texts and ideas.$100,000
University of Texas-Austin (Campus Beautification Council) Austin, TXSupport for annual fund to enhance the beauty of the campus.$75,000
Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation Houston, TXSupport of research in the bioenergetics program specific grant studying the role of mitochondria in covid-19 long-hauler patients.$50,000
Navy Seal Museum San Diego San Diego, CAGeneral Support of Organization's Mission$50,000
Houston Grand Opera Houston, TX2024 Operating Budget to Support the Arts.$40,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$24,676,344$2,035,540$1,905,395$1,570,00024$1,583,000$1,812,973$1,738,849
2023$24,553,472$1,064,742$2,014,759$1,690,00017$1,703,000$746,579$1,654,999
2022$25,503,486$2,574,825$2,083,398$1,590,00025$1,603,000$2,053,424$1,629,000
2021$25,012,059$3,173,020$1,745,360$1,430,25030$1,443,250$2,951,344$1,610,457
2020$23,584,399$2,823,113$1,796,348$1,403,50028—$2,537,411$1,411,595

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stedman West Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation does not state a mission in the available information. It says the majority of its grants are made to medical, educational, and cultural arts organizations.

Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of recipients. The Menninger Clinic describes itself as a world leader in psychiatric treatment, research, and education. Baylor University says its mission is to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment. YES Prep Public Schools says it prepares low-income youth for four-year colleges through an academic program that emphasizes community service. Other 2024 recipients included medical centers, an opera company, a wildlife research institute, and organizations focused on civic engagement and public education.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 24 grants totaling $1,570,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $350,000, with a median of $25,000.

Among the largest 2024 awards were $350,000 to Scripps Institution of Oceanography for the Stedman Conservation Suite at a planned research aquarium; $265,000 to the University of Texas at Austin for the Stedman Family Gardens landscape project; and $200,000 to MD Anderson Cancer Center for melanoma research. Other notable awards included $125,000 to the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute for a protein-cottonseed research project, $100,000 to The Menninger Clinic for adolescent mental health care programs, and $100,000 to the University of Texas’s Jefferson Center.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Lynn S. Meagher, Stuart W. Stedman, and Randolph L. Pullin as trustees.

Stedman West Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Randolph L. Pullin

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Stuart W. Stedman

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lynn S. Meagher

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Betty Ann Stedman (2020) — Trustee · Filing note: Deceased 72620

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Stedman West Foundation

How much does Stedman West Foundation give each year?

Stedman West Foundation gave $1.6M across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.7M across 17 grants.

What is Stedman West Foundation's typical grant size?

Stedman West Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $65,417, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Stedman West Foundation that year got $137K on average.

Where does Stedman West Foundation give grants?

Stedman West Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (25%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (8 grants), Austin, TX (6 grants), Dallas, TX (3 grants) and Kingsville, TX (2 grants).

Does Stedman West Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 17% of Stedman West Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Stedman West Foundation's largest grantees?

Stedman West Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Ucsd) ($350,000), University of Texas-Austin (Campus Beautification Council) ($340,000 across 2 grants) and MD Anderson Cancer Center ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Stedman West Foundation?

Stedman West Foundation reported $24.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (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 Stedman West Foundation fund?

The foundation does not state a mission in the available information. It says the majority of its grants are made to medical, educational, and cultural arts organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Stedman West Foundation?

The foundation says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Stedman West Foundation's EIN?

Stedman West Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6039393. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Stedman West Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/stedman-west-foundation-morg_a52f41fe92f541f68e44b4292b4de70b

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_746039393_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Stedman West Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/stedman-west-foundation-morg_a52f41fe92f541f68e44b4292b4de70b},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Stedman West 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.

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