The Ellwood Foundation
The Ellwood Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas, established as a trust in 1958 and designated as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1962. The foundation operates as an independent grantmaking organization supporting charitable causes primarily in Texas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$42.1M
+5.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
-5.3% YoY
Grant Count
66
-1.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$41K
-3.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ellwood Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary areas of interest are medical research and education, with particular emphasis on mental health. Types of support provided include research, project support, general support, equipment funding, and building funds.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual giving activity:
Grant Range
**: $10,000 to $160,000
Average Grant
Amount**: $41,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, with particular concentration in the Houston area. Of 66 grants awarded in 2024, 58 were to Houston-based organizations, with additional grants to organizations in Bellaire, Brookshire, Fort Worth, Hockley, Manchaca, Navasota, and Richmond, Texas, as well as one grant to an organization in University, Mississippi.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $42,121,644 (as of 2024)
Revenue (Fiscal Year 2024):
- Total revenues: $5,428,294
- Investment income and dividends: $1,338,411
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $3,888,944
Expenses: $3,091,748 (2024)
Liabilities: $0
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no outstanding liabilities and generates revenue primarily through investment income and asset sales.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $42,121,644 | $39,785,098 | $39,772,151 |
| Revenue | $5,428,294 | $3,263,944 | $4,416,715 |
| Expenses | $3,091,748 | $3,185,130 | $3,056,071 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,675,000 | $2,825,000 | $2,675,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,196,962 | $3,053,853 | $4,416,715 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,868,402 | $2,665,286 | $2,829,539 |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Md Anderson Cancer Center ($160,000), Md Anderson Cancer Center ($160,000), Ronald Mcdonald House ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCESS HEALTH RICHMOND, TX | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $35,000 |
| AMAZING PLACE HOUSTON, TX | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $40,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HOUSTON, TX | CANCER RESEARCH | $20,000 |
| ARCHWAY ACADEMY HOUSTON, TX | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $30,000 |
| AWARE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION HOUSTON, TX | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $75,000 |
| BELONG KITCHEN HOUSTON, TX | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $20,000 |
| BLUE BIRD CIRCLE HOUSTON, TX | RESEARCH FOR PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY | $15,000 |
| BO'S PLACE HOUSTON, TX | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS | $40,000 |
| BOYS GIRLS COUNTRY HOCKLEY, TX | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION | $70,000 |
| BRIARWOOD SCHOOL HOUSTON, TX | SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS | $80,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by three trustees:
- Raymond L Brown
- M Lee Hightower
- HW Hightower Jr
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAYMOND L BROWN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| M LEE HIGHTOWER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| HW HIGHTOWER JR | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ellwood Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary areas of interest are medical research and education, with particular emphasis on mental health. Types of support provided include research, project support, general support, equipment funding, and building funds.
How do I apply for a grant from The Ellwood Foundation?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual giving activity: • **Total Annual Giving**: $2,675,000 (2024) • **Number of Grants**: 66-67 grants annually • **Grant Range**: $10,000 to $160,000 • **Average Grant Amount**: $41,000 • **Median Grant Amount**: $30,000 Recent grant recipients include MD Anderson Cancer Center (lymphoma/myeloma research and program support), The Brookwood Community (facilities support), Ronald McDonald House, The Center for Hearing Speech, and the Mus…
Where does The Ellwood Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, with particular concentration in the Houston area. Of 66 grants awarded in 2024, 58 were to Houston-based organizations, with additional grants to organizations in Bellaire, Brookshire, Fort Worth, Hockley, Manchaca, Navasota, and Richmond, Texas, as well as one grant to an organization in University, Mississippi.
What size grants does The Ellwood Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ellwood Foundation awarded 66 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $41K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ellwood Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ellwood Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Ellwood Foundation's EIN?
The Ellwood Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6039237. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ellwood 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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