The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation
The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation is a private foundation based in Richmond, Texas. It makes grants to organizations serving the greater Richmond area and supports mental health care, spirituality and well-being, and nature-related activities through grants and its own facilities.
The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation at a glance
In short: The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation gave $14.0M across 119 grants in 2024 (avg $117K), mostly in Texas. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $13,950,355
- -0.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 119
- +8.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $117,230
- -8.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $293,692,185
- +7.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (10 of 93, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
Organizations that have not previously received a grant are considered by invitation only; previous grantees may submit requests year-round through the online system.
- Contact
Application contact: Julie Gaston
Mailing address: 611 Morton Street, Richmond, TX 77469
Phone: (281) 633-3202
Website: https://www.hw-foundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The TSTC Foundation ($1.4M across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $7.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
537 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 283 grants of 537 (53%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation states that it primarily makes organizational grants to benefit people in the greater Richmond, Texas area. Its mental health grantmaking focuses on Fort Bend County, with a primary focus on greater Richmond, and its stated support for research and higher education in mental health and spirituality covers Texas. Its 2024 grants were concentrated in Texas: the reported shares of grant dollars were 99% to Texas, 1% to Michigan, and 1% to Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 119 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 93 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $48K; repeat grants $162K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 51% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $9.3M (2021) to $14.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 119 grants totaling $14.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The TSTC Foundation Waco, TX | To construct an education building for tstc fort bend | $1,255,397 |
| City of Richmond Richmond, TX | Hike & bike trail & drainage improvements along clay street & second street in north richmond | $1,100,000 |
| Oakbend Medical Center Richmond, TX | Provide quality healthcare to fort bend cty indigent & purchase equipment to provide quality care | $1,000,000 |
| Fort Bend Family Health Center (DBA Accesshealth) Richmond, TX | For General Operating Support | $750,000 |
| YMCA of Greater Houston Houston, TX | To renovate and expand the t.w. Davis ymca located in richmond | $500,000 |
| San Jose Clinic Houston, TX | To open a class-a pharmacy in richmond to serve those who are uninsured | $484,000 |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Houston, TX | Mamie george community ctr operations for low-income families & vulnerable populations in fort bend cty | $440,330 |
| Houston Galveston Institute Richmond, TX | Mental health counseling programs in richmond and lamar cisd | $403,400 |
| Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center Houston, TX | General operations & endow the loise henderson wessendorff chair at the institute | $325,000 |
| Lamar Consolidated Independent School District Lcisd Rosenberg, TX | For School Security | $325,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $293,692,185 | $44,288,793 | $23,193,068 | $13,950,355 | 119 | $18,915,331 | $40,851,857 | $19,224,104 |
| 2023 | $272,596,460 | $32,777,923 | $22,923,014 | $14,022,782 | 110 | $19,238,538 | $29,005,070 | $17,390,527 |
| 2022 | $262,741,551 | $44,748,196 | $20,321,661 | $11,385,370 | 115 | $15,737,833 | $40,373,249 | $16,021,142 |
| 2021 | $238,202,932 | $25,640,232 | $16,635,319 | $9,266,815 | 89 | $13,289,545 | $22,567,014 | $16,360,936 |
| 2020 | $228,160,288 | $17,605,762 | $17,782,343 | $10,620,259 | 104 | — | $14,367,083 | $14,043,086 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19.2M for 2024 — 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 stated purpose is to support and encourage people to lead more productive and satisfying lives, experience and enhance their spirituality and well-being, and preserve and celebrate nature. Its website describes grants to organizations serving the greater Richmond area, support for Well Spring Center, mental health care in Fort Bend County—with a primary focus on greater Richmond—and research and higher education in mental health and spirituality within Texas. It also identifies nature centers at Long Acres Ranch near Richmond and the Narrows area on the Blanco River.
Its 2024 grants included support for education, health care, mental health services, community facilities, family services, and local infrastructure. For example, the TSTC Foundation received funding for an education building; the Houston Galveston Institute received support for mental health counseling programs; and OakBend Medical Center received support for care for indigent residents of Fort Bend County and equipment. The grantees describe their own work in varied terms: Fort Bend Family Promise provides shelter, meals, and support to families without homes; the Fort Bend County Women’s Center assists survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault; and Attack Poverty works with under-resourced communities through spiritual growth, education, revitalization, and basic needs.
The Foundation’s direct activities also include operating Well Spring Center, which hosted 73 events with 5,175 attendees in 2024, and Long Acres Ranch, which hosted outdoor activities and educational programming with 28,100 attendees that year.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation made 119 grants totaling $13,950,355. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $1,255,397, with a median of $50,000.
Among the largest grants were $1,255,397 to the TSTC Foundation for an education building at TSTC Fort Bend; $1,100,000 to the City of Richmond for trail and drainage improvements; and $1,000,000 to OakBend Medical Center for health care for indigent residents of Fort Bend County and equipment. Other notable awards included $750,000 to Fort Bend Family Health Center (DBA AccessHealth) for general operating support, $500,000 to the YMCA of Greater Houston for renovation and expansion of the T.W. Davis YMCA in Richmond, and $484,000 to San José Clinic to open a pharmacy in Richmond serving uninsured people.
Requests from organizations that have not previously received a grant are considered by invitation only. Previous grantees may submit requests year-round through the Foundation’s online system. Application materials include organizational tax-status, history and governance, and financial information, along with other requested information; applicants are also asked for a request purpose, budget, identified needs, and expected use of funds. The Foundation imposes restrictions on the purpose or use of awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists J Robinson as chairman of the board, C McDonald as president, J Moore as secretary/legal, and B Jones as CFO. Directors listed were L Ward, B Bleil, S Deleery, and W Robertson.
The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation is led by C. McDonald, President on the 2024 filing; all 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
C. McDonald
President
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$483K (2024)
J. Robinson
Chairman of Board
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$24K (2024)
B. Bleil
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
$23K (2024)
L. Ward
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$23K (2024)
S. Deleery
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
$23K (2024)
W. Robertson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
$24K (2024)
B. Jones
CFO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$334K (2024)
J. Moore
Secretary & Legal
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
$46K (2024)
Former officers (8)
- Former: Barbara Bleil (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ben Jones (2020–2023) — CFO
- Former: Charles Pat McDonald (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Jack H. Moore (2020–2023) — Secretary & Legal
- Former: Joe D. Robinson (2020–2023) — Chairman of Board
- Former: Lane Ward (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Seth Deleery (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Will Robertson (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $483K, to C McDonald (President). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation
How much does The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation give each year?
The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation gave $14.0M across 119 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $14.0M across 110 grants.
What is The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation's typical grant size?
The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $117,230, across 119 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation that year got $48K on average.
Where does The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation give grants?
The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (34 grants), Richmond, TX (24 grants), Rosenberg, TX (20 grants) and Waco, TX (5 grants).
Does The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 27% of The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (32 of 119) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "For School Security" (3 grants).
Who are The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation's largest grantees?
The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The TSTC Foundation ($1,405,397 across 4 grants), City of Richmond ($1,100,000) and Oakbend Medical Center ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation?
The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation reported $293.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $18.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to support and encourage people to lead more productive and satisfying lives, experience and enhance their spirituality and well-being, and preserve and celebrate nature. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation?
Organizations that have not previously received a grant are considered by invitation only; previous grantees may submit requests year-round through the online system. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation's EIN?
The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6047149. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-henderson-wessendorff-foundation-morg_34e85c71917843058fea6649a2912a7a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_746047149_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-henderson-wessendorff-foundation-morg_34e85c71917843058fea6649a2912a7a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Henderson-Wessendorff 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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