The CT Bauer Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Houston, TX EIN: 46-3354831

The CT Bauer Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its 2023 grants supported organizations working in areas including early childhood education, schools, scholarships, wildlife conservation, and adolescent health; the foundation’s filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

The CT Bauer Foundation at a glance

In short: The CT Bauer Foundation gave $3.8M across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $163K), mostly in Texas. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$3,755,250
+11.9% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
23
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$163,272
+11.9% vs 2023
Median grant
$30,000
Total assets
$58,374,071
+7.3% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
0% first-time grantees (0 of 23, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Texas (99% 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 CT Bauer Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 11 Greenway Plaza Suite 2600, Houston, TX 77046
Phone: (713) 830-3400

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

Who The CT Bauer Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

UH College of Business Foundation: $1.8MUH College of BusinessFoundation$1.8MUniversity of Houston - Downtown: $815KUniversity of Houston -Downtown$815KCamp For All Foundation: $513KCamp For All Foundation$513KTexas Southern University: $80KTexas Southern University$80KSmall Steps Nurturing Center: $40KSmall Steps Nurturing Center$40KYellowstone Academy: $40KYellowstone Academy$40KFoundation for Teen Health: $35KFoundation for Teen Health$35KHouston Zoo Inc: $35KHouston Zoo Inc$35KKIPP Texas Inc: $35KKIPP Texas Inc$35KChinquapin Preparatory School: $30KChinquapin Preparatory School$30K

The largest 2024 recipient was UH College of Business Foundation ($1.8M). Together the top 10 received $3.5M.

Grant Size Distribution

118 grants across all recorded years

99<$50K6$50–100K$100–250K4$250–500K4$500K–1M5$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 118 (84%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The listed 2023 grantees are based in Houston, Texas, or, in the case of Chinquapin Preparatory School, Highlands, Texas.

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.

Cities

HoustonBellaireCypressHighlandsMartinsvilleWest Roxbury

Is The CT Bauer Foundation open to new grantees?

0%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 0 of 23 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. How we count

  • 100% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+19%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 135% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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$1M$2M$3M$4M25 grants2020 24 grants2021 23 grants2022 23 grants2023 23 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.9M (2020) to $3.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $3.8M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
UH College of Business Foundation Houston, TXGeneral support$1,843,000
University of Houston - Downtown Houston, TXGeneral support$815,000
Camp For All Foundation Houston, TXGeneral support$512,500
Texas Southern University Houston, TXGeneral support$80,000
Small Steps Nurturing Center Houston, TXGeneral support$40,000
Yellowstone Academy Houston, TXGeneral support$40,000
Foundation for Teen Health Houston, TXGeneral support$35,000
Houston Zoo Inc Houston, TXGeneral support$35,000
KIPP Texas Inc Houston, TXGeneral support$35,000
Chinquapin Preparatory School Highlands, TXGeneral support$30,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The CT Bauer Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$58,374,071$8,295,552$4,317,308$3,755,25023$3,928,813$7,952,057$2,914,272
2023$54,392,566$2,835,673$3,907,044$3,355,25023$3,533,024$2,507,997$2,729,750
2022$55,463,937$2,103,256$3,569,364$3,042,75023$3,191,097$1,769,696$2,811,052
2021$56,930,045$3,819,909$3,680,972$3,145,98124$3,308,213$3,453,377$3,027,840
2020$56,791,108$2,210,091$3,321,106$2,906,75025—$1,884,375$2,574,075

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The CT Bauer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.9M 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

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its reported grants include organizations whose own missions describe work in education and health, as well as wildlife conservation. For example, Small Steps Nurturing Center says it provides an early childhood program for economically at-risk children and their families. KIPP Texas says it creates academically excellent schools with families and communities, while the Foundation for Teen Health says it supports the Teen Health Clinic’s primary and reproductive health care for low-income adolescents and young adults.

Grantmaking

In 2023, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $3,355,250. In 2022, it reported 23 grants totaling $3,042,750. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 23 grants totaling $3.8 million.

Among the 2023 grantees, Small Steps Nurturing Center received $330,000; Yellowstone Academy Inc received $40,000; Houston Zoo Inc and KIPP Texas Inc each received $35,000; Chinquapin Preparatory School and YES Prep Public Schools Inc each received $30,000; FEI Houston Scholarship Foundation received $28,000; and Foundation for Teen Health received $25,000.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The CT Bauer Foundation is led by Darren Wolfman, President on every filing since 2020; all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Darren Wolfman

    President

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $85K (2020) → $105K (2024)

  • Lisa Laminack

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $12K (2020) → $25K (2024)

  • Bob Casey

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    $14K (2021) → $20K (2024)

Former officers (1)
  • Former: James Stinson (2020–2021) — Vice President

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

Darren Wolfman — President: $105KDarren WolfmanPresident$105KLisa Laminack — Secretary: $25KLisa LaminackSecretary$25KBob Casey — Vice President: $20KBob CaseyVice President$20K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $105K, to Darren Wolfman (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about The CT Bauer Foundation

How much does The CT Bauer Foundation give each year?

The CT Bauer Foundation gave $3.8M across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.4M across 23 grants.

What is The CT Bauer Foundation's typical grant size?

The CT Bauer Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $163,272, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The CT Bauer Foundation give grants?

The CT Bauer Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (18 grants).

Does The CT Bauer Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of The CT Bauer Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The CT Bauer Foundation's largest grantees?

The CT Bauer Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include UH College of Business Foundation ($1,843,000), University of Houston - Downtown ($815,000) and Camp For All Foundation ($512,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The CT Bauer Foundation?

The CT Bauer Foundation reported $58.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The CT Bauer Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its reported grants include organizations whose own missions describe work in education and health, as well as wildlife conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The CT Bauer Foundation?

The foundation states that it 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 CT Bauer Foundation's EIN?

The CT Bauer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3354831. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The CT Bauer Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

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

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

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 22, 2025)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The CT Bauer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

The Tapeats Fund

Wilmington, DE

In 2024, the Tapeats Fund supported wildlife conservation and animal care, education, and human services, including workforce development for returning citizens. It made 80 grants ranging from $2,500 to $130,000, with a median grant of $5,000; most funding went to Texas, followed by California and Montana. The fund says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and applications are directed to Margaret Borho.

Assets

$16.9M

Grants

80

Total Given

$771K

Greater Houston Community Foundation

Houston, TX

The Foundation makes grants through donor-advised and other donor-established funds for public benefit, human services, education, and health, including initiatives addressing economic mobility and poverty in Harris County. In 2024, its median grant was $25,000; it serves Greater Houston, while grants also go to recipients elsewhere in Texas and beyond. It does not accept proposals for the upcoming High-Impact Grantmaking cycle and plans to invite selected organizations or collaboratives to apply.

Assets

$1.1B

Grants

1,724

Total Given

$232.3M

The Brown Foundation Inc

Houston, TX

The Brown Foundation funds education, arts and culture, healthcare, human services, and civic assets, with education and the arts as top priorities and public education giving focused almost exclusively on greater Houston. Its 2025 grants ranged from $20,000 to $11 million, with a median of $50,000; it primarily supports Houston organizations and selectively funds distinctive opportunities elsewhere in Texas and beyond.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$1.1B

Grants

222

Total Given

$84.3M

Albert & Ethel Herzstein

Houston, TX

The foundation supports qualified nonprofits working in education, community strengthening, helping people overcome adversity, heritage preservation, and related efforts to help people reach their potential. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $1 million, with a median of $10,000; it favors Houston-area and other Texas organizations, though it also funds elsewhere. It accepts proposals through an online portal on a rolling basis, with no more than one request per organization in any 12-month period.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$132.3M

Grants

320

Total Given

$5.9M

MD Anderson Foundation

Houston, TX

The MD Anderson Foundation funds tax-exempt organizations working in health and medicine, education, arts and culture, and improving the lives of underserved people, primarily in Houston and Harris County, Texas. In 2024, grants ranged from $7,500 to $360,000, with a median of $50,000. It accepts written applications from tax-exempt organizations; no deadline is stated.

Assets

$107.0M

Grants

75

Total Given

$6.2M

The Powell Foundation

Houston, TX

The Powell Foundation funds public education, arts, conservation, and human services that support children and youth in Harris, Travis, and Walker Counties, Texas. Its 2025 grants had a median of $15,000, though awards ranged from $50 to $1.5 million. New organizations may submit an online pre-application at any time; current grantees must wait until invited to apply.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$491.9M

Grants

271

Total Given

$20.4M

More similar funders

More Funders in Texas

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The CT Bauer Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ct-bauer-foundation-morg_1afe118552e44e6da12de76ec23f26c5

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_463354831_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The CT Bauer Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ct-bauer-foundation-morg_1afe118552e44e6da12de76ec23f26c5},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 CT Bauer 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.

The CT Bauer Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?