The Frost Foundation
The Frost Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1959, with roots tracing back to the early 1900s. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering meaningful change through partnerships with nonprofit organizations that address pressing community challenges.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$34.3M
+2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+37.4% YoY
Grant Count
69
+19.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
+15.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Frost Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Frost Foundation empowers communities by funding innovative, collaborative initiatives in human rights, education, animal welfare, and environmental stewardship—enabling individuals and organizations to achieve greater self-reliance and lasting impact. The foundation exclusively supports organizations registered with the IRS as 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
Vision: A future where communities thrive through equitable access to resources, where innovation drives meaningful progress—supported by The Frost Foundation's enduring commitment since 1959.
Core Values:
- Collaboration: Working hand in hand with grantees, community stakeholders, and fellow institutions to amplify collective impact
- Respect: Recognizing the inherent dignity and unique perspectives of all individuals through active listening and meaningful relationships
- Stewardship: Ethical and responsible management of resources through transparency, accountability, and prudent decision-making
- Growth: Fostering curiosity, open-mindedness, and continuous improvement through feedback and outcome evaluation
- Family Legacy: Honoring the Frost family's long-standing history of service and giving since 1959 while adapting to evolving community needs
Grantmaking
Average Grant
amount: $18,000
Review Cycle
December 1st for March board meeting; June 1st for September board meeting
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Frost Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports efforts across Louisiana and New Mexico as primary funding regions. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 20 states, with New Mexico, Louisiana, and Indiana accounting for approximately 86% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $34,307,771
- Total revenues: $2,689,970
- Total expenses: $2,546,444
- Total giving: $1,326,000
Historical Trends:
- 2023: Assets $31.2M | Total giving $830K | 52 grants
- 2022: Assets $37.9M | Total giving $1.2M | 68 grants
- 2021: Assets $34.9M | Total giving $1.3M | 59 grants
- 2020: Assets $33.0M | Total giving $1.6M | 58 grants
Staffing: 2 employees
IRS Status: Private foundation (NTEE code T20); IRS ruling year 1960; EIN 72-0520342
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $34,307,771 | $33,531,440 | $31,179,732 |
| Revenue | $2,689,970 | $1,652,865 | $1,726,922 |
| Expenses | $2,546,444 | $2,043,989 | $1,804,727 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,796,023 | $1,383,980 | $1,187,208 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,987,870 | $1,023,877 | $1,149,533 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,673,373 | $1,556,958 | $1,582,204 |
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 Frost Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Espanola Humane ($260,000), Laboratories Foundation ($144,000), St Vincent Hospital Foundation ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4 THE GIRLS FOUNDATION INC MIAMI, FL | OPERATING | $10,000 |
| ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION ALBUQUERQUE, NM | OPERATING | $3,000 |
| ANIMAL PROTECTION NEW MEXICO SANTA FE, NM | OPERATING | $11,000 |
| CHIMP HAVEN KEITHVILLE, LA | OPERATING | $15,000 |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF NM SANTA FE, NM | OPERATING | $15,000 |
| COOKING WITH KIDS SANTA FE, NM | OPERATING | $10,000 |
| EDEN HOUSE NEW ORLEANS, LA | OPERATING | $20,000 |
| END OF LIFE OPTIONS NEW MEXICO ALBUQUERQUE, NM | OPERATING | $11,000 |
| ESPANOLA HUMANE ESPANOLA, NM | OPERATING | $260,000 |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ALBUQUERQUE, NM | OPERATING | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Mary Amelia Whited-Howell: President and Director (compensation: $139,500 as of 2024)
- Philip B. Howell: Executive Vice President (compensation: $37,122 as of 2025)
The foundation is governed by 7 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY AMELIA WHITED-HOWELL | PRESIDENT | 40 | $139,500 |
| PHILIP B HOWELL | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $139,500 |
| TAYLOR F MOORE | SECRETARY, TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| ANN ROGERS GERBER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| PHILIP CARTER HOWELL | DIRECTOR | 20 | $37,122 |
| AMELIA REID HOWELL | DIRECTOR | 20 | $40,372 |
| HENRY FROST HOWELL | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Frost Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The Frost Foundation empowers communities by funding innovative, collaborative initiatives in human rights, education, animal welfare, and environmental stewardship—enabling individuals and organizations to achieve greater self-reliance and lasting impact. The foundation exclusively supports organizations registered with the IRS as 501(c)(3) nonprofits. **Vision:** A future where communities thrive through equitable access to resources, where innovation drives meaningful progress—s…
How do I apply for a grant from The Frost Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000–$260,000 • Median grant amount: $10,000 • Average grant amount: $18,000 • Recent annual grant volume: 52–68 grants per year • Total annual giving: $830,000–$1,600,000 (varies by year) **Application Process:** • Applicants must submit a one-page summary including organization name, address, phone number, and project or executive director information • Application deadlines: December 1st for March board meeting; June 1st for September board…
Where does The Frost Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports efforts across **Louisiana and New Mexico** as primary funding regions. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 20 states, with New Mexico, Louisiana, and Indiana accounting for approximately 86% of all grants.
What size grants does The Frost Foundation award?
In 2024, The Frost Foundation awarded 69 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Frost Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Frost Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Frost Foundation's EIN?
The Frost Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-0520342. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Frost 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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