The Cockrell Foundation
The Cockrell Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Rooted in Cockrell family values, its stated mission is to create lasting, positive change through thoughtful, strategic giving. It prioritizes organizations in the Greater Houston Area and initiatives at the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin.
The Cockrell Foundation at a glance
In short: The Cockrell Foundation gave $10.8M across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $600K), mostly in Texas. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,808,776
- +2.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- -25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $600,488
- +37.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $176,651,747
- +13.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% 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 The Cockrell Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website says it is not accepting unsolicited funding requests. Its 2024 filing states that it accepts online applications only, with the requested materials specified on its website, and that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing says grants are made primarily in Houston; grants outside Texas or the United States are not made unless they benefit a Houston project, and requests outside Houston are discouraged.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists no deadlines.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Margaret Baker The Cockrell Foundat
Mailing address: 3737 Buffalo Speedway 1100, Houston, TX 77098
Phone: (713) 209-7500
Website: https://cockrellfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Cockrell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Texas Foundation ($4.0M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $10.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
119 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 94 grants of 119 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website prioritizes organizations based in the Greater Houston Area and initiatives at the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. Its 2024 filing states that grants are made primarily in Houston and that grants outside Texas or the United States must benefit a Houston project. In 2024, all reported grant dollars went to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Cockrell Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 14 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $830K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 93% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+17%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $9.1M (2020) to $11.5M (2022). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $10.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Texas Foundation Austin, TX | Support Cockrell Endowments scholarships and professorships | $4,016,163 |
| MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX | Support the Virginia Harris Cockrell Presidential Initiative Fund Endowment | $3,193,232 |
| Methodist Hospital Foundation Houston, TX | Support the Virginia and Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Permanently Restricted Endowment | $1,693,232 |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science Houston, TX | Support the Virginia and Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Permanently Restricted Endowment | $1,683,232 |
| Kids' Meals Inc Houston, TX | General support | $30,000 |
| University of Texas Foundation Austin, TX | Support the Cockrell Scholars Dinner | $23,764 |
| Grace Bible Church Houston, TX | General support | $20,000 |
| Hermann Park Conservancy Houston, TX | Support art installation and education programs with HMNS | $20,000 |
| Houston's Amazing Place Inc Houston, TX | Amazing Together Campaign, grow scholarship fund, build endowment | $20,000 |
| Kinkaid School Inc Houston, TX | Support the All-In Campaign | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Cockrell Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $176,651,747 | $34,000,894 | $13,286,079 | $10,808,776 | 18 | $10,991,211 | $31,923,920 | $11,821,945 |
| 2023 | $155,936,932 | $10,617,553 | $13,060,173 | $10,517,833 | 24 | $10,667,388 | $8,709,048 | $10,958,332 |
| 2022 | $157,115,540 | $13,267,048 | $14,650,843 | $11,491,352 | 28 | $11,623,307 | $9,933,665 | $10,649,787 |
| 2021 | $157,849,285 | $29,505,173 | $12,109,151 | $9,258,078 | 26 | $9,397,196 | $27,218,115 | $11,630,470 |
| 2020 | $140,453,263 | $15,977,704 | $11,130,850 | $9,057,411 | 23 | — | $13,674,379 | $9,408,077 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cockrell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it aims to empower the organizations it supports and strengthen their ability to fulfill their missions. Its website identifies four focus organizations: The University of Texas at Austin, Houston Methodist Hospital System, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and MD Anderson Cancer Center. It also describes support for the Cockrell School of Engineering, including endowments for faculty chairs and student scholarships.
The foundation’s grant history groups giving into education, health, culture, and community. In 2024, its largest listed grants included support for Cockrell endowments, scholarships and professorships at the University of Texas Foundation; an endowment at MD Anderson Cancer Center; and endowments at Methodist Hospital Foundation and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. The University of Texas Foundation says it advances education by financially supporting the University of Texas System and its institutions. The Houston Museum of Natural Science says its mission is to advance public knowledge of natural science and maintain a first-class museum. Hermann Park Conservancy describes itself as dedicated to the stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park, while The Brookwood Community says it provides an educational environment and meaningful work for adults with disabilities. Houston’s Amazing Place says it supports families facing dementia and Alzheimer’s and advances brain health.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $10,808,776. Grant amounts ranged from $103 to $4,016,163, with a median of $20,000. Its largest reported awards were $4,016,163 to the University of Texas Foundation for Cockrell endowments, scholarships and professorships; $3,193,232 to MD Anderson Cancer Center for the Virginia Harris Cockrell Presidential Initiative Fund Endowment; $1,693,232 to Methodist Hospital Foundation for the Virginia and Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Permanently Restricted Endowment; and $1,683,232 to the Houston Museum of Natural Science for the Virginia and Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Permanently Restricted Endowment. Other reported 2024 grants included $30,000 to Kids’ Meals Inc. for general support and several $20,000 awards, including grants to Grace Bible Church, Hermann Park Conservancy, Houston’s Amazing Place, Kinkaid School, Second Baptist Church, and The Brookwood Community.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ernest H. Cockrell as president and director; Sherrie J. Reinhackel as vice president and director; Stephanie Cockrell as executive director; and David A. Cockrell, Ernest D. Cockrell, Janet S. Cockrell, Frederick W. Brazelton, W. McComb Dunwoody, J. Webb Jennings III, and Ronald T. Nixon as directors.
The Cockrell Foundation is led by Stephanie Cockrell, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 4 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stephanie Cockrell
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$12K (2023) → $120K (2024)
Ernest D Cockrell
President, Director & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sherrie J Reinhackel
Vice President & Director
Vice President → Vice President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$4K (2022) → $20K (2024)
Tracy K Payne
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$20K (2023) → $20K (2024)
David A Cockrell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J Webb Jennings III
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janet S Cockrell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald T Nixon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frederick W Brazelton
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
W McComb Dunwoody
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret N Baker
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$28K (2023) → $20K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Laura J Turner (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Milton T Graves (2020–2022) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $120K, to Stephanie Cockrell (Executive Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Cockrell Foundation
How much does The Cockrell Foundation give each year?
The Cockrell Foundation gave $10.8M across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $10.5M across 24 grants.
What is The Cockrell Foundation's typical grant size?
The Cockrell Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $600,488, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Cockrell Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does The Cockrell Foundation give grants?
The Cockrell Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (13 grants) and Austin, TX (3 grants).
Does The Cockrell Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of The Cockrell Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Cockrell Foundation's largest grantees?
The Cockrell Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Texas Foundation ($4,044,927 across 3 grants), MD Anderson Cancer Center ($3,193,232) and Houston Museum of Natural Science ($1,693,232 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Cockrell Foundation?
The Cockrell Foundation reported $176.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11.8M (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 The Cockrell Foundation fund?
The foundation says it aims to empower the organizations it supports and strengthen their ability to fulfill their missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Cockrell Foundation?
The foundation’s website says it is not accepting unsolicited funding requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Cockrell Foundation's EIN?
The Cockrell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6076993. 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Cockrell Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-cockrell-foundation-morg_0427d24e7f794d4b91621801835a8c08
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_746076993_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Cockrell Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-cockrell-foundation-morg_0427d24e7f794d4b91621801835a8c08},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 The Cockrell 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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