The Cullen Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 1947 by Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen in Houston, Texas. The foundation was created from working interests in oil and gas properties that were gradually converted into royalty interests and eventually disposed of in 2000. As the foundation reduced its dependence on oil and gas income, its investment portfolio of marketable securities and other investments grew substantially.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$271.5M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$17.9M
+4.4% YoY
Grant Count
33
-5.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$543K
+10.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cullen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Cullen Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life of all people in Houston through sustained investments in high-performing organizations. The foundation supports:
- Cultural Arts
- Education
- Health Care
- Public Service
The foundation is long-term oriented and envisions a Greater Houston region that grows even more caring, vibrant and robust with age. Funding is primarily directed to the greater Houston area, though the foundation has a history of giving generously to support these areas throughout Texas.
Grantmaking
The Cullen Foundation has distributed over $600 million in grants since inception. This total includes over $44 million in grants made to fund three independent Cullen trusts established in the 1970s.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Cullen Foundation primarily funds organizations in the greater Houston area and throughout Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $271,509,542
- Total Revenues: $25,038,826
- Total Expenses: $22,207,659
- Total Giving: $17,910,000
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $268,666,951
- Total Revenues: $9,343,682
- Total Expenses: $20,696,530
- Total Liabilities: $57,600
Staff: 6 employees (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $271,509,542 | $268,666,951 | $279,962,236 |
| Revenue | $25,038,826 | $9,343,682 | $18,825,483 |
| Expenses | $22,207,659 | $20,696,530 | $21,727,506 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $19,365,266 | $18,533,720 | $18,976,121 |
| Net Investment Income | $23,436,248 | $7,994,888 | $16,287,587 |
| Distributable Amount | $19,844,758 | $19,432,784 | $17,456,615 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Cullen Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Baylor College of Medicine ($3,000,000), University of Houston System ($2,500,000), Armand Bayou Nature Center ($1,500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alley Theatre Houston, TX | Annual Giving Grant | $175,000 |
| Armand Bayou Nature Center Houston, TX | Upper Armand Bayou Protection Project | $1,500,000 |
| Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX | Baylor College of Medicines Health Sciences Tower | $3,000,000 |
| Beta Foundation dba Beta Academy Houston, TX | Joy Campaign Phase II | $500,000 |
| BridgeYear Houston, TX | BridgeYear 3-Year Growth and Innovation Fund | $750,000 |
| Children's Museum Inc Houston, TX | Annual Giving Grant | $75,000 |
| Chinquapin Preparatory School Houston, TX | Completion of campaign to purchase a new bus fleet | $50,000 |
| Council on Recovery Houston, TX | Annual Giving Grant | $40,000 |
| Da Camera Society of Texas Houston, TX | Annual Giving Grant | $75,000 |
| DePelchin Children's Center Houston, TX | Toward Transitioning Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Region 6 to Community Based Care | $1,000,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Scott W. Wise – President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Information Officer
- Peggy Reid – Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
- Laura Chapman – Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Investments
- Roy H. Cullen – President of the foundation (grandson of the donors)
- Isaac Arnold, Jr. – Grandson of the donors
- Wilhelmina E. Robertson – Granddaughter of the donors
Cullen family members continue to take active roles as Directors of the Foundation, continuing the legacy of giving initiated by Mr. and Mrs. Cullen.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilhelmina E Robertson | Chairman/Dir | 10 | — |
| Carla Knobloch | Vice Chairman/Dir | 2 | — |
| Meredith T Cullen | Secretary/Dir | 2 | — |
| Isaac Arnold III | Director | 2 | — |
| Marvin E Odum | Director | 2 | — |
| Nina Zilkha | Director | 2 | — |
| Scott W Wise | President/CEO/CIO | 40 | $618,167 |
| Laura Chapman | COO/VP Investments | 40 | $380,687 |
| Peggy Reid | CAO/Controller | 40 | $265,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 2727 Allen Parkway, Suite 1050 Houston, TX 77019
Phone: 713-651-8837
Website: www.cullenfdn.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Cullen Foundation fund?
The Cullen Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life of all people in Houston through sustained investments in high-performing organizations. The foundation supports: • **Cultural Arts** • **Education** • **Health Care** • **Public Service** The foundation is long-term oriented and envisions a Greater Houston region that grows even more caring, vibrant and robust with age. Funding is primarily directed to the greater Houston area, though the foundation has a history of giving gen…
How do I apply for a grant from The Cullen Foundation?
The Cullen Foundation has distributed over $600 million in grants since inception. This total includes over $44 million in grants made to fund three independent Cullen trusts established in the 1970s. **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $17,910,000 • Typical award range: $40,000–$6,000,000 • Notable 2024 grants include: • Baylor College of Medicine: $3,000,000 (Health Sciences Tower) • Armand Bayou Nature Center: $1,500,000 (Upper Armand Bayou Protection Project) • Good Reason Hou…
Where does The Cullen Foundation make grants?
The Cullen Foundation primarily funds organizations in the greater Houston area and throughout Texas.
What size grants does The Cullen Foundation award?
In 2024, The Cullen Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $17.9M — an average of about $543K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Cullen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Cullen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Cullen Foundation's EIN?
The Cullen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0647361. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Cullen Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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