The Hope Initiative for a Better Life
The Hope Initiative for a Better Life is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HOUSTON, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $377K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 12 grants totaling $106K. Net investment income was $41.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$377K
-13.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$106K
+55.8% YoY
Grant Count
12
+50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+3.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hope Initiative for a Better Life reported a distributable amount of $17K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Hope Initiative for a Better Life
Based on IRS filings
The Hope Initiative for a Better Life is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HOUSTON, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $377K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 12 grants totaling $106K. Net investment income was $41.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $377,244 | $433,389 | $482,969 |
| Revenue | $138,041 | $140,250 | $159,721 |
| Expenses | $194,186 | $152,025 | $143,154 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $106,362 | $68,281 | $45,947 |
| Net Investment Income | $41 | $539 | $95 |
| Distributable Amount | $16,807 | $22,134 | $18,309 |
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
49 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Friends of Louvre ($40,000), American Friends of the Verbier Festival ($22,300), The American Friends of Versailles ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LOUVRE NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $40,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE OCEAN CLEANUP NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $100 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE VERBIER FESTIVAL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $22,300 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF VAUX-LE-VICOMTE | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $13,250 |
| FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY PHOENIX, AZ | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $912 |
| GASTON LENOTRE SCHOLARSHIP INC HOUSTON, TX | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $4,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $7,500 |
| TEXAN FRENCH ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS HOUSTON, TX | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $1,600 |
| THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF VERSAILLES CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $15,000 |
| THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $200 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARIE S BENTZ | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT | — | — |
| ALAN E BENTZ | DIRECTOR/SECRETARY | — | — |
| MARILYN BENTZ | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Hope Initiative for a Better Life?
The Hope Initiative for a Better Life is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HOUSTON, TX. It holds $377K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Hope Initiative for a Better Life?
As of 2024, The Hope Initiative for a Better Life holds $377K in total assets with $138K in annual revenue. It awarded 12 grants totaling $106K in 2024.
Where does The Hope Initiative for a Better Life operate?
The Hope Initiative for a Better Life has awarded grants in Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, New York, Texas.
What size grants does The Hope Initiative for a Better Life award?
In 2024, The Hope Initiative for a Better Life awarded 12 grants totaling $106K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Hope Initiative for a Better Life required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Hope Initiative for a Better Life reported a distributable amount of $17K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Hope Initiative for a Better Life's EIN?
The Hope Initiative for a Better Life's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3933586. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hope Initiative for a Better Life's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.