The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts
The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts is a public charitable trust established in 1979 and based in Houston, Texas. Operating as a supporting organization, it was created to benefit performing arts institutions throughout the State of Texas, with particular emphasis on organizations within the Greater Metropolitan Houston area. The trust functions as a subordinate organization under the Houston Ballet Foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$132.4M
+27.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.9M
+0.6% YoY
Grant Count
43
+4.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$91K
-4.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts operates for the benefit of performing arts institutions within the State of Texas, primarily those in the Greater Metropolitan Houston area. The trust supports the disciplines of music, dance, singing, and theatre, with a priority focus on organizations that have a primary emphasis on community performances.
As a matter of policy, the trust does not make grants to organizations that are supporting organizations. All beneficiary organizations must be described as 501(c)(3) entities and cannot be private foundations within the meaning of section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Grantmaking
The trust supports a diverse network of performing arts organizations in the Houston area, including Alley Theatre, American Festival for the Arts, ARS Lyrica Houston, Children's Museum of Houston, DaCamera of Houston, Diverse Works, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater, The Ensemble Theatre, Express Children's Theater, Foundation for Modern Music, Gilbert & Sullivan Society, HITS Unicorn Theater, Houston Ballet Foundation, Houston Chamber Choir, Houston Early Music, Houston Friends of Music, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Masterworks Chorus, Houston Repertoire Ballet, Houston Symphony Society, Houston Young Artists Concerts, Houston Youth Symphony & Ballet, James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts, Main Street Theatre at Autry House, Mercury Baroque, and 22 additional organizations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily funds performing arts institutions within the Greater Metropolitan Houston area and the State of Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $132,390,547
- Total revenues: $32,863,579
- Total expenses: $4,753,507
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $132,390,547 | $104,280,475 | $99,363,815 |
| Revenue | $32,863,579 | $9,784,297 | $18,721,495 |
| Expenses | $4,753,507 | $4,867,637 | $4,092,087 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $32,863,579 | $9,784,297 | $18,721,495 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
188 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alley Theatre ($1,715,000), Houston Ballet Foundation ($400,000), Houston Grand Opera Association ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Wall Theatre Company Houston, TX | Support for the 2024-2025 season | $40,000 |
| Alley Theatre Houston, TX | Toward general operating support and future campaign. | $1,715,000 |
| American Festival for the Arts Houston, TX | Toward underwriting collaborations | $20,000 |
| Apollo Chamber Players Houston, TX | Support for the 2024-2025 season | $20,000 |
| Ars Lyrica Houston Houston, TX | Support for the 2024-2025 season | $20,000 |
| Asia Society Texas Center Houston, TX | Support for the 2024-2025 season | $10,000 |
| Catastrophic Theatre Houston, TX | Support for the 2024-2025 season | $40,000 |
| Chamber Music Houston Houston, TX | Support for the 2024-2025 season | $15,000 |
| Classical Theatre Company Houston, TX | Support 17th Anniversary Season and Shakespear Outreach Program | $10,000 |
| Conroe Symphony Orchestra Conroe, TX | To support The Best of Broadway with Sal Viviano | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer:
- Cornelia Zilkha
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornelia Zilkha | Chair | 1 | — |
| Carroll R Ray | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Louisa Sarofim | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Daniel Zilkha | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Chris Joseph | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Kathryn Ketelson | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Cornelia C Long | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Isabel Lummis | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Rose Hochner Nelson | Trustee | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 515 Post Oak Blvd Houston, TX 77027-9482
Phone: 713-333-2239
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts fund?
The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts operates for the benefit of performing arts institutions within the State of Texas, primarily those in the Greater Metropolitan Houston area. The trust supports the disciplines of music, dance, singing, and theatre, with a priority focus on organizations that have a primary emphasis on community performances. As a matter of policy, the trust does not make grants to organizations that are supporting organizations. All beneficiary organizations must be des…
How do I apply for a grant from The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving in 2024: $3,912,000 • Typical award range: $7,000–$1,715,000 • The trust maintains an active grantmaking program supporting performing arts organizations **Beneficiary Organizations:** The trust supports a diverse network of performing arts organizations in the Houston area, including Alley Theatre, American Festival for the Arts, ARS Lyrica Houston, Children's Museum of Houston, DaCamera of Houston, Diverse Works, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater, The En…
Where does The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts make grants?
The trust primarily funds performing arts institutions within the Greater Metropolitan Houston area and the State of Texas.
What size grants does The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts award?
In 2024, The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts awarded 43 grants totaling $3.9M — an average of about $91K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts's EIN?
The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2060976. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts'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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