Sterling-Turner Foundation

HOUSTON, TX EIN: 74-1460482

The Sterling-Turner Foundation is a private family foundation based in Houston, Texas, established in 1960 (incorporated in 1962). The foundation supports nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status through grantmaking focused on charitable causes within specific Texas regions.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$14.0M

+12.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$3.4M

+18.1% YoY

Grant Count

106

+55.9% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$32K

-24.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sterling-Turner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.8M 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 supports a broad range of charitable activities including:

  • Higher and secondary education
  • Social services
  • Youth and elderly programs
  • Fine and performing arts
  • Cultural programs
  • Religious organizations (Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant)
  • Health services and hospitals
  • AIDS research and hospices
  • Programs for women, children, and minorities
  • Services for the homeless and handicapped
  • Urban and community development
  • Civic affairs
  • Libraries
  • Conservation programs

Grantmaking

Grant Range

s typically range from $5,000 to $500,000

Average Grant

approximately $30,000–$45,000

Review Cycle

Prior to March 1st of each year

How to Apply

**

Ready to take the next step with Sterling-Turner Foundation?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation restricts its funding to five specific Texas counties:

  • Tom Green
  • Kerr
  • Travis
  • Fort Bend
  • Harris

The foundation primarily funds projects within Texas, with particular concentration in cities including Arlington, Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

Grant Distribution by State

3states

States

GeorgiaTexasWyoming

Cities

ArlingtonAtlantaAustinBellaireBoerneBrookshireCypressDallasDeer ParkFort WorthHockleyHoustonHuntIngramJunctionKatyKerrvilleMedinaNew BraunfelsRawlins

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

  • Total Assets: $12,450,079
  • Total Revenues: $2,931,213
  • Total Expenses: $3,256,885
  • Total Grants Awarded: Approximately $2,739,000 (from 68 grants)

As of 2024:

  • Total Assets: $13,990,288–$14,000,000
  • Total Annual Giving: $3,440,000

The foundation's assets have grown from $5.4 million in 2011 to over $14 million in 2024.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$3M$4M$6M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$13,990,288$12,450,079$12,764,415
Revenue$5,392,957$2,931,213$4,003,819
Expenses$3,896,852$3,256,885$1,729,200
Qualifying Distributions$3,630,744$3,072,859$1,495,423
Net Investment Income$5,199,732$2,793,173$3,823,184
Distributable Amount$3,816,080$3,538,450$3,126,091

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$860K$2M$3M$3M48 grants202038 grants202167 grants202268 grants2023106 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Crossway Bible Church$120KHouston Food Bank$100KForge for Families$60K1 Hope for Kids Inc$50KCamp for All Foundation$50KHope and Healing Center …$50KHouston Botanic Garden$50KHouston's Amazing Place$50KHouston Zoo Inc$35KAlley Theatre$30K

Grant Size Distribution

236 grants across all recorded years

205<$50K21$50–100K5$100–250K$250–500K5$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Sterling-Turner Foundation

Foundation

Sterling-Turner Foundation Grants

Sterling-Turner Foundation

Amount

US $5,000 - US $100,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Crossway Bible Church ($120,000), Houston Food Bank ($100,000), Forge for Families ($60,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
1 Hope for Kids Inc San Antonio, TXSupport for 10 families$50,000
Alley Theatre Houston, TXGeneral support$30,000
Angela House Houston, TXGeneral support$25,000
Arms of Hope (Medina) Medina, TXGeneral support for Medina campus$25,000
Asia Society Texas Center Houston, TXGeneral support$25,000
Avondale House Houston, TXGeneral support$20,000
BEAR BE A Resource for CPS Kids Houston, TXGeneral support$30,000
Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department Boerne, TXGeneral support$30,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star Houston, TXGeneral support$20,000
Bookspring Austin, TXGeneral support$15,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • T R Reckling III – President and Director
  • Isla C Reckling – Treasurer and Director
  • L David Winston – Vice President and Director
  • Christiana R McConn – Secretary and Director
  • Chaille W Hawkins – Assistant Secretary and Director
  • Carroll R Goodman – Assistant Secretary
  • Michael D Hawkins – Assistant Secretary
  • Isla C Jornayvaz – Assistant Secretary
  • James S Reckling – Assistant Secretary

The foundation is governed by 15 officers and trustees and operates with minimal paid staff.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

T R Reckling IIIPresident/Director$100Isla C RecklingTreasurer/Director$100L David WinstonVice President/Director$100Christiana R McConnSecretary/Director$100Chaille W HawkinsAssistant Secretary/Director$100Carroll R GoodmanAssistant Secretary$100Michael D HawkinsAssistant Secretary$100Isla C JornayvazAssistant Secretary$100James S RecklingAssistant Secretary$100John B RecklingAssistant Secretary$100Lauren E RecklingAssistant Secretary$100Stephen M Reckling JrAssistant Secretary$100Thomas K RecklingAssistant Secretary$100Thomas R Cliffe Reck…Assistant Secretary$100E Carroll SchulerAssistant Secretary$100

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
T R Reckling IIIPresident/Director1$100
Isla C RecklingTreasurer/Director1$100
L David WinstonVice President/Director1$100
Christiana R McConnSecretary/Director1$100
Chaille W HawkinsAssistant Secretary/Director1$100
Carroll R GoodmanAssistant Secretary1$100
Michael D HawkinsAssistant Secretary1$100
Isla C JornayvazAssistant Secretary1$100
James S RecklingAssistant Secretary1$100
John B RecklingAssistant Secretary1$100
Lauren E RecklingAssistant Secretary1$100
Stephen M Reckling JrAssistant Secretary1$100
Thomas K RecklingAssistant Secretary1$100
Thomas R Cliffe RecklingAssistant Secretary1$100
E Carroll SchulerAssistant Secretary1$100

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2023

The Sterling-Turner Foundation made a significant $500,000 donation to the Remember the Alamo Foundation in 2023 to support diorama restoration efforts. The foundation also provided $500,000 to Kinkaid School for an Entrepreneurship Faculty Endowment in the same year, demonstrating its commitment to education and cultural preservation initiatives within its service region.

The Sterling-Turner Foundation (Texas) - Grant Details

Contact Information

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sterling-Turner Foundation fund?

The foundation supports a broad range of charitable activities including: • Higher and secondary education • Social services • Youth and elderly programs • Fine and performing arts • Cultural programs • Religious organizations (Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant) • Health services and hospitals • AIDS research and hospices • Programs for women, children, and minorities • Services for the homeless and handicapped • Urban and community development • Civic affairs • Libraries • Conservation programs

How do I apply for a grant from Sterling-Turner Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • Made 68 grants in 2023 • Grant sizes typically range from $5,000 to $500,000 • Median grant size: approximately $15,000–$25,000 • Average grant size: approximately $30,000–$45,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2023):** • Remember the Alamo Foundation: $500,000 (Diorama Restoration) • Kinkaid School: $500,000 (Entrepreneurship Faculty Endowment) • The Museum of Fine Arts Houston: $119,000 (Rienzi Programs for Educators and Students and Garden Maintenance) **Application Process:**

Where does Sterling-Turner Foundation make grants?

The foundation restricts its funding to five specific Texas counties: • Tom Green • Kerr • Travis • Fort Bend • Harris The foundation primarily funds projects within Texas, with particular concentration in cities including Arlington, Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

What size grants does Sterling-Turner Foundation award?

In 2024, Sterling-Turner Foundation awarded 106 grants totaling $3.4M — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Sterling-Turner Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sterling-Turner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Sterling-Turner Foundation's EIN?

Sterling-Turner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-1460482. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Sterling-Turner Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Texas GrantsGeorgia GrantsWyoming Grants

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

William Z Hayes Foundation

DALLAS, TX

Assets

$629K

Grants

4

Total Given

$28K

Tr Uw Jane James Cook Item 19

DALLAS, TX

Assets

$861K

Grants

11

Total Given

$41K

Forsyth Fbo Leonard Wood Memorial

DALLAS, TX

Assets

$320K

Grants

1

Total Given

$18K

Teas Foundation

AMARILLO, TX

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$3.0M

Grants

3

Total Given

$138K

Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust

DALLAS, TX

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$13.5M

Grants

41

Total Given

$3.9M

Nelson & Debbie Fox Charitable Fdtn

LUBBOCK, TX

Assets

$329K

Grants

9

Total Given

$90K

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

What could you do with Sterling-Turner Foundation on Grantable?

  • Assess strategic fit with your organization
  • Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
  • Find open RFPs from this funder
  • Monitor for new funding opportunities
Start free — find your best funders See how it works

Go from researching Sterling-Turner Foundation to a real strategy.

Plan your approach