The Mary H Cain Foundation
The Mary H Cain Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. It was founded to provide financial support primarily to local Houston charitable and educational organizations. In 2024, it reported 21 grants totaling $3.5 million.
The Mary H Cain Foundation at a glance
In short: The Mary H Cain Foundation gave $3.5M across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $167K), mostly in Texas. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,500,000
- +145.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- +10.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $166,667
- +122.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $87,422,180
- +13.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (3 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (82% 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 Mary H Cain Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a formal proposal to Margaret W Weaver. Include the materials described above; contact the office for any additional requirements.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states that proposals are due on the first day of the month before a board meeting.
- Deadline
- The filing states that proposals are due on the first day of the month before a board meeting.
- Contact
Application contact: Margaret W Weaver
Mailing address: 8 Greenway Plaza Suite 606, Houston, TX 77046
Phone: (713) 840-7896
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Mary H Cain Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Houston Methodist Hospital ($850K). Together the top 10 received $3.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 90 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing describes its support as primarily for local Houston charitable and educational organizations. In 2024, 82% of grant dollars went to Texas recipients, 9% to North Carolina, 7% to South Carolina, and 2% to Massachusetts; the filing also lists Mississippi at 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Mary H Cain Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 21 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $122K; repeat grants $174K. How we count
Medians: $125K first-time, $68K repeat.
- 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 233% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 86% 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 $1.0M (2020) to $3.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $3.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Methodist Hospital Houston, TX | Unrestricted | $850,000 |
| Tirr Foundation Houston, TX | Unrestricted | $850,000 |
| St Martin's Episcopal Church Houston, TX | Unrestricted | $450,000 |
| Health Services District of Kershaw County Camden, SC | Unrestricted | $230,000 |
| Texas Innocence Network Houston, TX | Unrestricted | $210,000 |
| Avery County Schools Education Fund Linville, NC | Unrestricted | $150,000 |
| Surry Community College Foundation Dobson, NC | Unrestricted | $125,000 |
| Amon Carter Museum of American Art Fort Worth, TX | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| TLR Foundation Houston, TX | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Sheldon Independent School District Houston, TX | Unrestricted | $95,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Mary H Cain Foundation?
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 | $87,422,180 | $6,434,621 | $3,807,515 | $3,500,000 | 21 | $3,500,000 | $2,262,506 | $4,060,086 |
| 2023 | $77,113,415 | $3,376,130 | $1,729,162 | $1,425,000 | 19 | $1,425,000 | $2,680,676 | $3,545,539 |
| 2022 | $67,552,052 | $45,991,847 | $1,927,054 | $1,425,000 | 18 | $1,425,000 | $436,358 | $1,363,564 |
| 2021 | $11,875,221 | $1,832,585 | $1,191,360 | $1,050,000 | 17 | $1,050,000 | $1,713,450 | $1,420,305 |
| 2020 | $11,233,267 | $895,590 | $1,131,257 | $1,022,000 | 15 | — | $793,152 | $1,032,987 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mary H Cain Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its purpose as providing financial support primarily to local Houston charitable and educational organizations. Its grants show support for organizations working in areas such as health, education, arts and culture, mental health, land conservation, and parks and recreation.
Grantees describe their own work in varied ways. TIRR Foundation says it seeks to improve the lives of people who have sustained central nervous system damage through injury or disease. Surry Community College Foundation says it provides financial assistance to students and supports activities that enhance the college’s learning environment. The Goodness Web Foundation says it works to advance mental health. Piedmont Land Conservancy says it protects natural and scenic lands, farms, and green space in Piedmont North Carolina. Memorial Park Conservancy says it preserves, restores, and enhances Houston’s Memorial Park for public enjoyment, recreation, and education.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $3.5 million. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $850,000, with a median grant of $75,000. Notable awards included $850,000 each to Houston Methodist Hospital and TIRR Foundation, $450,000 to St Martin’s Episcopal Church, $230,000 to the Health Services District of Kershaw County, and $210,000 to Texas Innocence Network. The listed grants were designated unrestricted.
The foundation’s filing says nonprofit organizations may submit a formal proposal. It requests a concise, clearly written proposal describing the project’s purpose and objectives, the organization and the people it serves, and the community need. Applicants should include a recent audited financial statement, a current itemized organizational budget, and a project budget if applicable, including the total project cost and amount requested. The filing asks applicants not to use presentation binders, report covers, display binders, or folders, and advises them to contact the office for additional requirements. It says inquiries and proposals from nonprofit organizations are welcomed and reviewed equally; the board makes final decisions, usually at meetings in May and December.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Margaret Weaver as chairman and president, Lucy Hanes Chatham as director, and Pamela Lynn Woods as secretary and treasurer.
The Mary H Cain Foundation is led by Margaret Weaver, Chairman & President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Margaret Weaver
Chairman & President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$50K (2023) → $50K (2024)
Lucy Hanes Chatham
Director
Vice President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Pamela Lynn Woods
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$129K (2023) → $129K (2024)
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 $129K, to Pamela Lynn Woods (Secretary, Treasurer). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Mary H Cain Foundation
How much does The Mary H Cain Foundation give each year?
The Mary H Cain Foundation gave $3.5M across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 19 grants.
What is The Mary H Cain Foundation's typical grant size?
The Mary H Cain Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $75,000, and its average grant was $166,667, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mary H Cain Foundation that year got $122K on average.
Where does The Mary H Cain Foundation give grants?
The Mary H Cain Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were North Carolina (9%) and South Carolina (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (7 grants) and Humble, TX (4 grants).
Does The Mary H Cain Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Mary H Cain Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Mary H Cain Foundation's largest grantees?
The Mary H Cain Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Houston Methodist Hospital ($850,000), Tirr Foundation ($850,000) and St Martin's Episcopal Church ($450,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Mary H Cain Foundation?
The Mary H Cain Foundation reported $87.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.1M (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 Mary H Cain Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its purpose as providing financial support primarily to local Houston charitable and educational organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mary H Cain Foundation?
Submit a formal proposal to Margaret W Weaver. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Mary H Cain Foundation's EIN?
The Mary H Cain Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8483925. 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Mary H Cain Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Mary H Cain Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Mary H Cain Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mary-h-cain-foundation-morg_81cb073c1ca94e0a8a1023a2a693a004
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208483925_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Mary H Cain Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mary-h-cain-foundation-morg_81cb073c1ca94e0a8a1023a2a693a004},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Mary H Cain 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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