The Credence Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Bellaire, TX EIN: 27-2931971

The Credence Foundation is a private foundation based in Bellaire, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports grants to individuals and charitable organizations, including support for housing and auto expenses, disaster relief, and services for vulnerable people.

Key facts about The Credence Foundation

In short: The Credence Foundation gave $271K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
27-2931971
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$271,392
Grants made (2024)
23
Average grant
$11,800
Median grant
$1,780
Total assets
$936,470
Primary geography
Texas (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$936K

-11.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$271K

+304.9% YoY

Grant Count

23

-11.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$12K

+357.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Credence Foundation reported a distributable amount of $61K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How The Credence Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 455% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 448% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants include assistance with housing, vehicle expenses, and disaster relief. Among the charitable organizations it supported, Moving Waters describes its mission as restoring dignity and fostering positive change among homeless individuals through hygiene services. Dalit Solidarity says it provides healthcare and educational development for poor families who cannot afford them. Catherine’s House describes its work as providing transitional housing and programs for women and children experiencing homelessness.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $271,392. Grant amounts ranged from $58 to $181,320, with a median grant of $1,780.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 4% to Virginia, and 1% to Oklahoma. The filing also lists recipients in North Carolina and California, each accounting for 0% of grant dollars.

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.

Cities

HoustonBelmontBaltimoreBoca RatonCypressOkarcheMooreSan DiegoAlexandriaBellaireDripping SpringsEdmondImperial BeachOlatheSpringMagnoliaRichmondStafford

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K28 grants2020 33 grants2021 32 grants2022 26 grants2023 23 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $38K (2020) to $271K (2024). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $271K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 9 recipients in 2024

Catholic Charities USA: $10KCatholic Charities USA$10KCongregation of the Sisters Charity of the Incarnate Word: $5KCongregation of the SistersCharity of the Incarnate Word$5KCatherine's House Inc: $1KCatherine's House Inc$1KMoving Waters Inc: $1KMoving Waters Inc$1KAngelmira's Center for Women with Advanced Cancer: $1KAngelmira's Center for Womenwith Advanced Cancer$1KCenter of Family Love: $1KCenter of Family Love$1KDalit Solidarity: $1KDalit Solidarity$1KGospel of Life Association: $1KGospel of Life Association$1KHouston Food Bank: $1KHouston Food Bank$1K

The largest 2024 recipient was Catholic Charities USA ($10K). Together the top 9 received $22K.

Organizations only. It also paid 14 grants to individuals ($249,392), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

142 grants across all recorded years

141<$50K$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 141 grants of 142 (99%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
14 grants to individuals Recipients not named —$249,392
Catholic Charities USA Alexandria, VAProvide disaster relief funds for victims of hurricanes helene and milton$10,000
Congregation of the Sisters Charity of the Incarnate Word Houston, TXProvide funds to serve the most vulnerable in the sick, the elderly, and children with food, housing, and healthcare$5,000
Catherine's House Inc Belmont, NCProvide funds for transitional housing for homeless women and children$1,000
Moving Waters Inc Cypress, TXProvide funds to improve the quality of life for homeless people by providing showers, via a mobile shower service, hygiene products, & essential clothing$1,000
Angelmira's Center for Women with Advanced Cancer Bellaire, TXProvide funds to care for women diagnosed with advanced metastatic cancer to improve their quality of life$1,000
Center of Family Love Okarche, OKProvide funds to house and care for developmentally challenged adults$1,000
Dalit Solidarity San Diego, CAProvide funds to construct water facilities for impoverished disadvantaged families$1,000
Gospel of Life Association Moore, OKProvide funds to house and care for poor elderly and terminally ill adults$1,000
Houston Food Bank Houston, TXProvide funds for food for children, families, and senions in southeast Texas who face hunger$1,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants Grant count
2024 $936,470 $164,790 $279,254 $271,392 23
2023 $1,054,483 $123,707 $74,174 $67,021 26
2022 $1,010,817 $220,770 $97,823 $90,755 32
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K$400K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$936,470$1,054,483$1,010,817
Revenue$164,790$123,707$220,770
Expenses$279,254$74,174$97,823
Qualifying Distributions$271,392$67,021$90,755
Net Investment Income$156,469$116,621$114,405
Distributable Amount$60,623$55,273$56,162

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

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

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Cynthia L. Ruder as president and Terrence L. Ruder as secretary/treasurer.

The Credence Foundation is led by Cynthia L. Ruder, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Cynthia L. Ruder

    President

    On filings since 2020

    2.8 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Terrence L. Ruder

    Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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.

Contact

Mailing address: 5323 Pocahontas Street, Bellaire, TX 77401-4822
Phone: (405) 823-7249

Frequently asked questions about The Credence Foundation

How much does The Credence Foundation give each year?

The Credence Foundation gave $271K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $67K across 26 grants.

What is The Credence Foundation's typical grant size?

The Credence Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,780, and its average grant was $11,800, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The Credence Foundation give grants?

The Credence Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (2 grants).

Does The Credence Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on The Credence Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Payment for Housing" (8 grants).

Who are The Credence Foundation's largest grantees?

The Credence Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Catholic Charities USA ($10,000), Congregation of the Sisters Charity of the Incarnate Word ($5,000) and Catherine's House Inc ($1,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 14 grants to individuals ($249,392), which are not listed by name. Together they received 6% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Credence Foundation?

The Credence Foundation reported $936K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $271K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $61K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Credence Foundation fund?

No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants include assistance with housing, vehicle expenses, and disaster relief. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Credence Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Credence Foundation's EIN?

The Credence Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2931971. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Credence Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

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

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