The Blackwell Foundation
The Blackwell Foundation is a private foundation, based in Houston, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $497K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $26K. Net investment income was $54K.
The Blackwell Foundation at a glance
In short: The Blackwell Foundation gave $26K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $26,250
- +87.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +60.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,281
- +17.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $497,281
- +4.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (90% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Blackwell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation ($10K). Together the top 8 received $26K.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 43 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Blackwell Foundation gives
- Giving grew 31% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $14K (2024) to $28K (2021). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $26K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation Houston, TX | Nonspecific, in furtherance of org's goals | $10,000 |
| MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX | Nonspecific, in furtherance of org's goals | $5,000 |
| Arthritis National Research Foundation Irving, CA | Nonspecific, in furtherance of org's goals | $2,500 |
| Austin Pets Alive Austin, TX | Nonspecific, in furtherance of org's goals | $2,500 |
| Citizens for Animal Protection Houston, TX | Nonspecific, in furtherance of org's goals | $2,500 |
| Seton Fund Austin, TX | Nonspecific, in furtherance of org's goals | $2,500 |
| Houston Food Bank Houston, TX | Nonspecific, in furtherance of org;s goals | $1,000 |
| Interfaith Ministies Houston, TX | Nonspecific, in furtherance of org's goals | $250 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $497,281 | $59,574 | $37,908 | $26,250 | 8 | $30,250 | $53,632 | $29,084 |
| 2024 | $475,615 | $38,218 | $23,665 | $14,000 | 5 | $18,120 | $32,955 | $26,264 |
| 2023 | $461,062 | $25,183 | $35,958 | $25,500 | 12 | $30,770 | $20,310 | $24,620 |
| 2022 | $471,837 | $66,556 | $29,471 | $20,000 | 9 | $23,000 | $60,695 | $29,066 |
| 2021 | $434,752 | $81,206 | $41,014 | $28,000 | 9 | — | $75,592 | $25,451 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Blackwell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $29K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Blackwell Foundation is led by Karen M Blackwell, Trustee & Manager on every filing since 2021 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karen M Blackwell
Trustee & Manager
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$3K (2021) → $4K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $4K, to Karen M Blackwell (Trustee and Manager).
Frequently asked questions about The Blackwell Foundation
How much does The Blackwell Foundation give each year?
The Blackwell Foundation gave $26K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $14K across 5 grants.
What is The Blackwell Foundation's typical grant size?
The Blackwell Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,281, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Blackwell Foundation give grants?
The Blackwell Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (5 grants) and Austin, TX (2 grants).
Does The Blackwell Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on The Blackwell Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Nonspecific, in furtherance of org's goals" (8 grants).
Who are The Blackwell Foundation's largest grantees?
The Blackwell Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation ($10,000), MD Anderson Cancer Center ($5,000) and Arthritis National Research Foundation ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Blackwell Foundation?
The Blackwell Foundation reported $497K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $30K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $29K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Blackwell Foundation's EIN?
The Blackwell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0610529. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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