The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation
The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Austin, Texas. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations working in education, health, religious outreach, arts, historic preservation, and other areas.
The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation gave $44K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Texas. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $43,750
- -37.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- -6.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,125
- -33.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,625
- Total assets
- $66,907
- -24.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (4 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (75% 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 Cullen Family Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 5310, Austin, TX 78763
Phone: (512) 417-7301
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was March of Dimes ($16K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $43K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 66 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 23% to recipients in South Carolina. The remaining shares were reported for recipients in Washington, DC (1%), California (1%), and Virginia (1%). Austin, Texas, organizations received many of the listed grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 13 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $500; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $3K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 53% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 537% 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $44K (2024) to $94K (2021). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $44K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Furman University Greenville, SC | Fund education programs | $10,000 |
| March of Dimes Austin, TX | Support health programs for mom's and babies | $10,000 |
| March of Dimes Austin, TX | Fund research and programs to support healthy pregnancies. | $5,500 |
| Tarrytown United Methodist Church Austin, TX | Religious outreach to those in need | $5,000 |
| Texas Performing Arts Austin, TX | Support community art program offerings | $5,000 |
| Ascension Seton Foundation Austin, TX | Provide medical services to Central Texas residents | $2,500 |
| Friends of the Governor's Mansion Austin, TX | Maintain Texas historical property and artifacts | $2,000 |
| Interfaith Action of Central Tx Austin, TX | Programs to cultivate peace through interfaith dialogue | $1,250 |
| United Way of Greater Austin Austin, TX | Support childcare expansion efforts | $500 |
| Westlake High School Austin, TX | Support education programs in public school district | $500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $66,907 | $25,058 | $46,524 | $43,750 | 14 | $44,050 | $22,902 | $8,200 |
| 2023 | $88,733 | $27,960 | $73,063 | $70,000 | 15 | $70,350 | $25,603 | $9,730 |
| 2022 | $132,831 | $52,214 | $90,792 | $86,754 | 13 | $87,104 | $49,210 | $13,367 |
| 2021 | $174,109 | $28,015 | $98,299 | $93,730 | 14 | $94,030 | $24,081 | $18,362 |
| 2020 | $243,668 | $5,960 | $63,888 | $59,992 | 10 | — | $4,259 | $17,577 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K 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 2024 grants show support for organizations serving a range of purposes. For example, Furman University says its mission is to provide a distinctive liberal arts education; Friends of the Governor’s Mansion says it works to preserve historic collections, enhance the grounds, and educate the public; and Big Medium says it supports artists through equitable and inclusive platforms.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation made 14 grants totaling $43,750. Grants ranged from $250 to $10,000, with a median of $1,625. Among the largest were $10,000 to Furman University for education programs and $10,000 to March of Dimes for health programs for mothers and babies. Other grants included $5,000 to Tarrytown United Methodist Church for religious outreach to people in need, $5,000 to Texas Performing Arts for community art offerings, and $2,500 to Ascension Seton Foundation for medical services to Central Texas residents.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John D Cullen as President/Ttee, and Christen Cullen Barany and Lauren Cullen Cooley as trustees.
The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation is led by John D Cullen, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John D Cullen
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christen Cullen Barany
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Cullen Cooley
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Frequently asked questions about The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation
How much does The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation gave $44K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $70K across 15 grants.
What is The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,625, and its average grant was $3,125, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation that year got $500 on average.
Where does The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was South Carolina (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (10 grants).
Does The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include March of Dimes ($15,500 across 2 grants), Furman University ($10,000) and Tarrytown United Methodist Church ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation?
The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation reported $67K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $44K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations serving a range of purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Cullen Family Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4698834. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Cullen Family Charitable 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
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from The Cullen Family Charitable 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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