The Gailo Trust
The Gailo Trust is a private foundation established in 1963 and based in Houston, Texas. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation with a primary focus on education-related giving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$758K
-12.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$147K
+13.3% YoY
Grant Count
33
+6.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+6.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gailo Trust reported a distributable amount of $100K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving is primarily directed toward education. Based on recent grant activity, funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts and culture (including support for performing arts institutions)
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
Grant Range
$2,000
Average Grant
amount: $300–$50,272
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, California, and Massachusetts, with a concentration of activity in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $758,251
- Total revenues: $43,055
- Total expenses: $148,642
- Net income: -$105,587
- Total liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Dividends: $42,640
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $415
- Contributions received: $0
- Interest revenue: $0
Giving Rate: Approximately 19% of assets annually
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $758,251 | $863,838 | $859,097 |
| Revenue | $43,055 | $136,931 | $102,486 |
| Expenses | $148,642 | $132,190 | $92,519 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $144,472 | $129,700 | $87,025 |
| Net Investment Income | $42,640 | $136,931 | $102,486 |
| Distributable Amount | $99,650 | $91,467 | $92,941 |
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
163 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alley Theatre ($50,272), Alley Theatre ($10,000), Harvard University ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLEY THEATRE HOUSTON, TX | ANNUAL COMMITMENT | $10,000 |
| ALLEY THEATRE HOUSTON, TX | ANNUAL FUNDRAISER GALA | $3,000 |
| ALLEY THEATRE HOUSTON, TX | BOARD COMMITMENT | $50,272 |
| AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM HOUSTON, TX | ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN | $1,000 |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE HOUSTON, TX | BREAST CANCER RESEARCH | $1,000 |
| EMERGE HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| EMERGE HOUSTON, TX | BUILD THE VILLAGE FUND RAISER | $500 |
| DUNHAUNG FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS | $1,000 |
| EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | FUNDS FOR PERFORMING ARTS SEASON | $700 |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY CAMBRIDGE, MA | KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE WOMEN'S INITIATIVESOF THE WOMEN AND PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAM | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOIS F STARK | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation made 31 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2024), with activity spanning education, arts, and human services sectors. The foundation maintains active grantmaking relationships with institutions including the Alley Theatre and University of Texas at Austin.
2026 Failey Grants Awarded to Nine Institutions | The Decorative Arts TrustFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Gailo Trust fund?
The foundation's giving is primarily directed toward education. Based on recent grant activity, funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Arts and culture (including support for performing arts institutions)
How do I apply for a grant from The Gailo Trust?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $144,472 • Number of grants: 28–31 grants annually • Median grant size: $2,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$50,272 • Average grant amount: $300–$50,272 **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • Alley Theatre: $50,272 (Board Commitment) and $10,000 (Annual Commitment) • Psi Chi - University of Texas at Austin (Harry Ransom Center): $10,000 • Baker Ripley: $3,000 (2023) **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is b…
Where does The Gailo Trust make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, California, and Massachusetts, with a concentration of activity in Texas.
What size grants does The Gailo Trust award?
In 2024, The Gailo Trust awarded 33 grants totaling $147K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Gailo Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Gailo Trust reported a distributable amount of $100K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Gailo Trust's EIN?
The Gailo Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6054992. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gailo Trust'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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