The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation
The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation is a Texas-based philanthropic organization established in 1978 and headquartered in The Woodlands, with an additional office in Austin. The foundation is a mission-driven grantmaking organization that seeks innovative, sustainable solutions for human and environmental problems, functioning as an engine of change in both policy and practice.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$420.0M
+8.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$12.1M
-7.4% YoY
Grant Count
398
+0.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
-7.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation works at the nexus of environmental protection, social equity, and economic vibrancy. Issues related to sustainability represent the foundation's core focus, identified as both a process and a goal to ensure long-term human and ecosystem well-being.
The foundation currently supports several sustainability-related grantmaking programs focused primarily in Texas:
- Clean Energy
- Galveston
- Land Conservation
- Mitchell Innovation Lab
- Sustainability Education
- Subsurface Energy
- Water
The foundation also operates Cook's Branch Conservancy, an almost 7,000-acre ecological preserve in the East Texas Piney Woods, and makes grants to Galveston—the hometown of the late George P. Mitchell—and other issues and organizations reflecting the legacy, values, and vision of Cynthia and George Mitchell.
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants.
Grant Range
$115
Average Grant
$115
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a broad funding reach across the United States, with involvement in funding initiatives across multiple cities and states including New York, Los Angeles, and Houston. Primary grantmaking programs are focused in the state of Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $420 million
- Revenue: $50,009,442
- Expenses: $18,667,468
- Total Liabilities: $0
Prior Year Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $388.6 million
- Annual Expenses: $18.4 million
- Revenue: $28.4 million
Historical Context: Since its incorporation in 1978, the foundation and its founders have distributed or pledged an estimated $800 million in grants to various causes, programs, and institutions.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $419,986,359 | $388,623,760 | $378,544,831 |
| Revenue | $50,009,442 | $28,428,897 | $18,959,177 |
| Expenses | $18,667,468 | $18,359,968 | $19,681,521 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $18,237,765 | $18,296,959 | $18,988,311 |
| Net Investment Income | $49,699,340 | $19,999,951 | $6,873,151 |
| Distributable Amount | $19,082,335 | $17,263,199 | $17,591,120 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bayou City Waterkeeper Inc ($130,000), Buffalo Bayou Partnership ($50,000), Build Galveston ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1894 Inc Galveston, TX | To support the Grand 1894 Opera House | $10,000 |
| A Bike for Every Child Wilmington, NC | To have our community come together and support our youth to ride into happier, healthier futures | $1,000 |
| A Safe Place Inc Wrightsville Beach, NC | Prevention, advocacy, and restoration for victims of sex trafficking and exploitation. | $9,000 |
| Advanced Energy Institute Washington, DC | To Expand and Defend Advanced Energy Markets and Distributed Energy Resources in Texas | $35,000 |
| Affordable Central Texas Inc Austin, TX | For Texas Housing Conservancy | $1,000 |
| Afrorack Stem Learning Chicago, IL | To support making modular synthesis accessible to underprivileged children | $5,000 |
| Airlie Gardens Foundation Inc Wilmington, NC | To establish an outstanding historical garden with cultural and educational programs | $2,500 |
| Alamo Pintado Equine Health Foundation Los Olivos, CA | For research and advancement in the equine vet medicine industry | $5,000 |
| Alimenta La Solidaridad Inc Skillman, NJ | To mitigate child malnutrition in Venezuela | $30,000 |
| All About Rabbits Rescue Inc Forest Hills, NY | For the rescue of abandoned and neglected rabbits and their placement into loving forever homes | $7,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Katherine Lorenz serves as President of the foundation. The organization is led by a diverse board of members who oversee its operations.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine Lorenz | President | 40 | $264,992 |
| C Grant Mitchell | Chair | 2 | — |
| M Kent Mitchell | Vice Chair | 1 | $16,000 |
| Nichelle Bielinski | Secretary | 40 | $106,528 |
| Spiros Vassilakis | Treasurer | 3 | — |
| Graham Mitchell | Board member | 1 | $9,000 |
| Christine Mitchell | Board member | 1 | $4,000 |
| Sarah Mitchell | Board member | 0.5 | $4,000 |
| Cody Mitchell | Board member | 1 | $3,000 |
| Sheridan Lorenz | Board member | 1 | — |
| Mark D Mitchell | Board member | 1 | $6,000 |
| Katina Mitchell | Board member | 1 | $9,000 |
| J Kirk Mitchell | Board member | 1 | — |
| Adrienne Dreiss Ropp | Board member | 2 | $60,424 |
| Meredith Heimburger | Board member | 1 | — |
| Skye Tellen | Board member | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
University of Houston received a $1.1 million gift from the foundation for Usher Syndrome research
UH receives $1.1M gift from Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation for UsherThe National Science Foundation awarded $1 million to the Permian Energy Development Lab, with which the foundation is involved
UH receives $1.1M gift from Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation for UsherUniversity of Texas Permian Basin serves as co-principal investigator in NSF grant work supported by the foundation
University of Texas Permian Basin co-principal investigator in NSF grantFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation fund?
The foundation works at the nexus of environmental protection, social equity, and economic vibrancy. Issues related to sustainability represent the foundation's core focus, identified as both a process and a goal to ensure long-term human and ecosystem well-being. The foundation currently supports several sustainability-related grantmaking programs focused primarily in Texas: • Clean Energy • Galveston • Land Conservation • Mitchell Innovation Lab • Sustainability Education • Subsurface Energy …
How do I apply for a grant from The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2023): $13,050,177 • Total awarded this year: $13.1 million • Total grants (previous year): 109,265 • Average grant size: $115 The foundation is open to new applicants.
Where does The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a broad funding reach across the United States, with involvement in funding initiatives across multiple cities and states including New York, Los Angeles, and Houston. Primary grantmaking programs are focused in the state of Texas.
What size grants does The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation award?
In 2024, The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation awarded 398 grants totaling $12.1M — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation's EIN?
The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2170127. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Cynthia & George Mitchell 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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