The Humphreys Foundation
The Humphreys Foundation is a private, independent 501(c)(3) foundation incorporated in Texas in 1957 and tax-exempt since September 1959. Based in Liberty, Texas, the foundation is a grantmaking organization that supports arts and culture initiatives, with a particular emphasis on performing arts and dramatic arts education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.8M
-5.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+7.0% YoY
Grant Count
20
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$92K
+7.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Humphreys Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is giving for production costs of plays and performances in the field of dramatic arts. The foundation also makes grants to colleges and universities, which use the funding to award scholarships to students studying drama or dance under the supervision of the grantee educational institutions.
The foundation's funding priorities include:
- Performing arts (dance, ballet, theater, music, opera)
- Arts and culture projects
- Drama and dance education
- Theater production costs
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$20,000
Average Grant
$382
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds projects in Texas, with documented support for initiatives in:
- Baytown
- Beaumont
- Galveston
- Houston
- Huntsville
- Liberty
- Round Top
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (Fiscal Year Ending September 2024):
- Total assets: $15,844,312
- Total revenue: $1,140,467
- Total expenses: $1,997,394
- Net income: -$856,927
- Total liabilities: $0
Giving:
- Total distributions (2024): $1,845,000
- Expense ratio: 101.9% of total revenue spent on programs
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,844,312 | $16,715,626 | $16,773,631 |
| Revenue | $1,140,467 | $1,761,334 | $1,768,590 |
| Expenses | $1,997,394 | $1,795,454 | $2,042,538 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,891,931 | $1,751,071 | $1,975,067 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,035,004 | $1,719,951 | $1,701,119 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,877,652 | $1,598,877 | $1,712,531 |
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
118 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Houston Grand Opera ($300,000), Houston Symphony ($250,000), Alley Theatre ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AD PLAYERS HOUSTON, TX | 2024 PRODUCTIONS | $175,000 |
| ALLEY THEATRE HOUSTON, TX | 2024 PRODUCTIONS | $200,000 |
| BEAUMONT COMMUNITY PLAYERS BEAUMONT, TX | 2024 PRODUCTIONS | $10,000 |
| EXPRESS CHILDRENS THEATRE HOUSTON, TX | 2024 OPERATING EXP. | $2,500 |
| THE GRAND 1984 OPERA HOUSE GALVESTON, TX | 2024 PRODUCTIONS | $15,000 |
| HOUSTON BALLET HOUSTON, TX | 2024 PRODUCTIONS | $50,000 |
| HOUSTON GRAND OPERA HOUSTON, TX | 2024 PRODUCTIONS | $300,000 |
| HOUSTON SYMPHONY HOUSTON, TX | 2024 PRODUCTIONS | $250,000 |
| MAIN STREET THEATER HOUSTON, TX | 2024 PRODUCTIONS | $20,000 |
| MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE HOUSTON, TX | 2024 PRODUCTIONS | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Linda Bertman – President (2 hours per week, $3,000 compensation)
- Jeff Paine – Vice President and Treasurer (0 hours per week, no compensation)
- Philip B. Carson – Secretary (0 hours per week, no compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINDA BERTMAN | P | 6 | $36,000 |
| JEFF PAINE | VP, T | — | — |
| PHILIP B CARSON | VP, S | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported performing arts organizations in Texas, including HITS Theatre in Houston, a children's performing arts organization providing musical theater training for grades K-12. The foundation is listed among the sponsors enabling HITS Theatre to deliver comprehensive theater education to over 1,200 students annually.
Humphrey presents Allstate Foundation Helping Hands Grant to LCC \u2014\Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Humphreys Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is giving for production costs of plays and performances in the field of dramatic arts. The foundation also makes grants to colleges and universities, which use the funding to award scholarships to students studying drama or dance under the supervision of the grantee educational institutions. The foundation's funding priorities include: • Performing arts (dance, ballet, theater, music, opera) • Arts and culture projects • Drama and dance education • Theater prod…
How do I apply for a grant from The Humphreys Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical awards range from $2,500 to $325,000 • Median grant size: $20,000 • Average grant size: $382 **Recent Activity:** • 2024: 20 grants awarded totaling $1,845,000 • 2023: 2,357 grants awarded totaling $1,700,000 • The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants funded **Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $15.8 million (as of fiscal year ending September 2024) • Annual expenses: $1.997 million (fiscal year 2024) • Annual revenue: $1…
Where does The Humphreys Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds projects in Texas, with documented support for initiatives in: • Baytown • Beaumont • Galveston • Houston • Huntsville • Liberty • Round Top
What size grants does The Humphreys Foundation award?
In 2024, The Humphreys Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $92K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Humphreys Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Humphreys Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Humphreys Foundation's EIN?
The Humphreys Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6061381. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Humphreys 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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