The Edaren Foundation
The Edaren Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas, that funds initiatives benefiting education, the arts, and the environment. Its stated geographic focus is Texas, though it is not restricted from supporting projects elsewhere.
The Edaren Foundation at a glance
In short: The Edaren Foundation gave $345K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $22K), mostly in Texas. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $345,000
- -19.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $21,563
- +0.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $2,511,800
- +4.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (4 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Edaren Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 800 Capitol Street Ste 1700, Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (409) 893-1732
Website: https://edarenfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Edaren Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Parks Conservation ($60K). Together the top 10 received $275K.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 96 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies Texas as its geographic focus, while stating that it is not restricted from helping projects outside Texas. In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 4% to recipients in Mississippi.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Edaren Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 16 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 56% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 197% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $345K (2025) to $526K (2021). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $345K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Parks Conservation Round Rock, TX | 202 Pledge Pymt Protecting Americas | $60,000 |
| Nature Conservancy of Texas Nacogdoches, TX | Protection Work in East Texas | $50,000 |
| Art Museum of Se Texas Beaumont, TX | For Adrian Esparza and Japeth Asiedu | $35,000 |
| Dacamera Music Encounters Houston, TX | Charitable Donation | $25,000 |
| Art League Houston Houston, TX | Support Artist of the Year | $20,000 |
| Big Thicket Association Beaumont, TX | Support Neches River ADV & Ed Prog | $20,000 |
| Texas Advocates Austin, TX | To Support Project Lead | $20,000 |
| AFA American Family Association Tupelo, MS | Support 2025-2026 Season | $15,000 |
| Armand Bayou Nature Center Pasadena, TX | Support Environmental Education Prog | $15,000 |
| Beaumont Botanical Gardens Beaumont, TX | Crape Myrtle Sponsor BBG Raffle 2025 | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Reported grantmaking:
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,511,800 | $469,189 | $366,036 | $345,000 | 16 | $345,000 | $448,153 | $174,867 |
| 2024 | $2,416,280 | $327,005 | $455,391 | $427,830 | 20 | $427,830 | $299,444 | $180,828 |
| 2023 | $2,544,574 | $281,089 | $466,044 | $445,200 | 21 | $445,200 | $260,156 | $183,896 |
| 2022 | $2,729,529 | $223,161 | $453,024 | $418,171 | 21 | $418,171 | $188,245 | $187,355 |
| 2021 | $2,959,391 | $362,391 | $550,400 | $526,300 | 18 | $526,300 | $338,291 | $217,143 |
| 2020 | $3,147,527 | $220,588 | $412,666 | $390,572 | 13 | — | $198,494 | $193,790 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Edaren Foundation reported a distributable amount of $175K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to fund or assist in funding initiatives designed to benefit education, the arts, and the environment. It gives additional consideration to initiatives that combine two or more of those areas.
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in these fields. For example, the Big Thicket Association says its mission is to preserve, protect, and promote the Big Thicket region and its natural resources and cultural history through advocacy, education, and research. The Coastal Prairie Conservancy says it works to sustain a resilient Texas by preserving coastal prairies, wetlands, farms, and ranches, and by restoring habitat and educating the public. Armand Bayou Nature Center says it works to preserve local habitats and help people experience and understand local ecosystems through preservation and education.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 16 grants totaling $345,000 in 2025, compared with 20 grants totaling $427,830 in 2024 and 21 grants totaling $445,200 in 2023. In 2025, grants ranged from $10,000 to $60,000, with a median grant of $15,000. The foundation’s stated grant-size target is $10,000–$100,000.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $60,000 to National Parks Conservation for “202 pledge pymt protecting Americas,” $50,000 to Nature Conservancy of Texas for protection work in East Texas, and $35,000 to Art Museum of Southeast Texas for Adrian Esparza and Japeth Asiedu. Other grants included $25,000 to DaCamera Music Encounters, $20,000 to Art League Houston, and $20,000 to the Big Thicket Association.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website also describes an application process for eligible organizations: applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations, not individuals or political organizations, and should have a mission or project matching the foundation’s mission. The described application consists of separate PDF attachments: a board letter stating the purpose and requested amount, a detailed program or project budget, a one-page organizational history, a board-of-directors list, and a one- to two-page strategic-plan summary or statement of goals for the next three to five years. The foundation says it responds upon receiving a complete application and provides a funding decision within 60 days.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Russell A. Waddill and Elizabeth C. Waddill as directors. The foundation’s website identifies Elizabeth Waddill and her husband, Russ Waddill, as its founders.
The Edaren Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Russell A. Waddill
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Elizabeth C. Waddill
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Eric Meadows (2020) — Director
- Former: Heather Petkovsek (2020) — Director
- Former: Jeff Waddill (2020) — Director
- Former: Stephanie Flatten (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Edaren Foundation
How much does The Edaren Foundation give each year?
The Edaren Foundation gave $345K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $428K across 20 grants.
What is The Edaren Foundation's typical grant size?
The Edaren Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $21,563, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Edaren Foundation that year got $28K on average.
Where does The Edaren Foundation give grants?
The Edaren Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Beaumont, TX (4 grants), Houston, TX (4 grants) and San Antonio, TX (2 grants).
Does The Edaren Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on The Edaren Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Edaren Foundation's largest grantees?
The Edaren Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National Parks Conservation ($60,000), Nature Conservancy of Texas ($50,000) and Art Museum of Se Texas ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Edaren Foundation?
The Edaren Foundation reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $345K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $175K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Edaren Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to fund or assist in funding initiatives designed to benefit education, the arts, and the environment. It gives additional consideration to initiatives that combine two or more of those areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Edaren Foundation?
The Edaren Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check edarenfoundation.org for any change to that policy.
What is The Edaren Foundation's EIN?
The Edaren Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-5450757. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Edaren Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Edaren Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Edaren Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-edaren-foundation-morg_706a42eaaf8f47aaa28a970639273116
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_455450757_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Edaren Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-edaren-foundation-morg_706a42eaaf8f47aaa28a970639273116},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Edaren 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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