The Herndon Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Austin, TX EIN: 74-2982730

The Herndon Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Austin, Texas. Its 2025 filing reports 21 grants totaling $97,000, including grants to charitable organizations in Texas and several other states.

Key facts about The Herndon Family Foundation

In short: The Herndon Family Foundation gave $97K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Texas. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
74-2982730
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$97,000
Grants made (2025)
21
Average grant
$4,619
Median grant
$3,000
New grantees (estimate)
10% first-time grantees (2 of 21, 2025)
Total assets
$1,443,641
Primary geography
Texas (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.4M

+9.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$97K

+0.5% YoY

Grant Count

21

-43.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$5K

+77.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Herndon Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $105K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is The Herndon Family Foundation open to new grantees?

10%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 2 of 21 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 93% 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 (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Friends of the Governor’s Mansion says its mission is to preserve historic collections, enhance the grounds, and educate the public about the mansion and its history. Shelburne Farms describes its mission as inspiring and cultivating learning for a sustainable future. Central Texas Food Bank says it works to increase food access in Central Texas through food provision, advocacy, programs, education, and other solutions.

Other 2025 recipients include organizations whose stated missions address humanitarian aid, military families, and children’s health. The foundation also made a grant for educational purposes to St Andrews Fund.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $97,000 through 21 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median grant of $3,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas. The other listed recipient-state shares were Tennessee, North Carolina, and Vermont at 5% each, and Virginia at 4%. The listed grants also included recipients in New York and Maryland.

Grant Distribution by State

12states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.

Cities

AustinDallasArlingtonBooneMemphisMeridianShelburneStaten IslandCharlottesvilleHoustonMount VernonRockvilleWilliamsburgCollege StationNew YorkFederal WayMontpelier StationColorado SpringsEl PasoLos Angeles

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K42 grants2019 35 grants2020 32 grants2021 39 grants2022 41 grants2023 37 grants2024 21 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $93K (2019) to $106K (2022). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $97K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

St Andrews Fund: $25KSt Andrews Fund$25KFriends of the Governor's Mansion: $10KFriends of the Governor'sMansion$10KCamp John Marc: $10KCamp John Marc$10KGeorge W Bush Presidential Center: $5KGeorge W Bush PresidentialCenter$5KScottish Rite for Children - Dallas: $5KScottish Rite for Children -Dallas$5KSt Jude's Chilrden's Hospital: $5KSt Jude's Chilrden's Hospital$5KSamaritan's Purse: $5KSamaritan's Purse$5KShelburne Farms: $5KShelburne Farms$5KCentral Texas Food Bank: $5KCentral Texas Food Bank$5KStephen Sillar Tunnel to Towers Fdn: $3KStephen Sillar Tunnel toTowers Fdn$3K

The largest 2025 recipient was St Andrews Fund ($25K). Together the top 10 received $78K.

Grant Size Distribution

170 grants across all recorded years

170<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 170 grants of 170 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
St Andrews Fund Austin, TXAn Unrestricted Gift for Educational Purposes.$25,000
Friends of the Governor's Mansion Austin, TXAn Unrestricted Gift.$10,000
Camp John Marc Meridian, TXAn Unrestricted Gift.$10,000
George W Bush Presidential Center Dallas, TXAn Unrestricted Gift$5,000
Scottish Rite for Children - Dallas Dallas, TXUnrestricted$5,000
St Jude's Chilrden's Hospital Memphis, TNAn Unrestrcited Gift$5,000
Samaritan's Purse Boone, NCAn Unrestrcited Gift$5,000
Shelburne Farms Shelburne, VTAn Unrestricted Gift$5,000
Central Texas Food Bank Austin, TXUnrestricted Grant$5,000
Stephen Sillar Tunnel to Towers Fdn Staten Island, NYAn Unrestricted Gift$3,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $1,443,641 $225,714 $106,465 $97,000 (21 grants)
2024 $1,322,441 $110,338 $104,198 $96,500 (37 grants)
2023 $1,318,036 $58,338 $104,702 $96,500 (41 grants)
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,443,641$1,322,441$1,318,036
Revenue$225,714$110,338$58,338
Expenses$106,465$104,198$104,702
Qualifying Distributions$97,000$96,500$96,500
Net Investment Income$216,249$102,640$50,136
Distributable Amount$104,678$100,523$92,346

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
  3. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 4, 2020)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 6, 2022)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 24, 2023)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists David Herndon as President; Dealey Decherd Herndon as Treasurer; Benjamin David Herndon as Vice President; Bryan Derek Herndon as Secretary; and Tanis Herndon and Erika Herndon as board members.

The Herndon Family Foundation is led by David Herndon, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • David Herndon

    President

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Benjamin David Herndon

    Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Bryan Derek Herndon

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Dealey Decherd Herndon

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Erika Herndon

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Tanis Herndon

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 2903 Tarry Trail, Austin, TX 78703
Phone: (512) 663-8882

Frequently asked questions about The Herndon Family Foundation

How much does The Herndon Family Foundation give each year?

The Herndon Family Foundation gave $97K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $97K across 37 grants.

What is The Herndon Family Foundation's typical grant size?

The Herndon Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $4,619, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Herndon Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.

Where does The Herndon Family Foundation give grants?

The Herndon Family Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (5%) and North Carolina (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (8 grants), Dallas, TX (3 grants) and Arlington, VA (2 grants).

Does The Herndon Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 86% of The Herndon Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "An Unrestrcited Gift" (3 grants).

Who are The Herndon Family Foundation's largest grantees?

The Herndon Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include St Andrews Fund ($25,000), Friends of the Governor's Mansion ($10,000) and Camp John Marc ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Herndon Family Foundation?

The Herndon Family Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $97K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $105K (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 Herndon Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Herndon Family Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Herndon Family Foundation's EIN?

The Herndon Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2982730. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does The Herndon Family 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.

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