The Mary H Cain Foundation is a private foundation established in 2007 and based in Houston, Texas. Located at 8 Greenway Plaza, Suite 606, the foundation operates with a small staff of 2 employees and functions as an independent foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$87.4M
+13.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.5M
+145.6% YoY
Grant Count
21
+10.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$167K
+122.2% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds unrestricted scholarships and supports nonprofit organizations in the Houston area. Its areas of interest include:
- Education, including higher education
- Community development, including fire departments
- Parks and recreation
- Arts and culture
Types of support provided include general operating and project support.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual giving capacity. Recent grant activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Houston, Texas area and surrounding region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $87,422,180
- Total revenues: $6,434,621
- Total expenses: $3,807,515
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $77,113,415
- Total giving: $1,425,000
The foundation receives significant funding support from The Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation, which granted $3,500,000 to The Mary H Cain Foundation in 2024 for charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $87,422,180 | $77,113,415 | $67,552,052 |
| Revenue | $6,434,621 | $3,376,130 | $45,991,847 |
| Expenses | $3,807,515 | $1,729,162 | $1,927,054 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,500,000 | $1,425,000 | $1,425,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,262,506 | $2,680,676 | $436,358 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,060,086 | $3,545,539 | $1,363,564 |
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
90 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Houston Methodist Hospital ($850,000), Tirr Foundation ($850,000), St Martin's Episcopal Church ($450,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMON CARTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART FORT WORTH, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $100,000 |
| ATASCOCITA HIGH SCHOOL HUMBLE, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $19,000 |
| ATASCOCITA MIDDLE SCHOOL HUMBLE, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $6,000 |
| AVERY COUNTY SCHOOLS EDUCATION FUND LINVILLE, NC | UNRESTRICTED | $150,000 |
| FORREST GENERAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION HATTIESBURG, MS | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $850,000 |
| HUMBLE ISD ATHLETICS HUMBLE, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $60,000 |
| INSTITUTE FOR THE PUBLIC TRUST CHARLOTTE, NC | UNRESTRICTED | $30,000 |
| MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY HOUSTON, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| NEUHAUS EDUCATION CENTER BELLAIRE, TX | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARGARET WEAVER | CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT | 20 | $50,000 |
| LUCY HANES CHATHAM | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| PAMELA LYNN WOODS | SECRETARY, TREASURER | 40 | $129,299 |
Contact Information
- Telephone: 713-840-7896
- Address: 8 Greenway Plaza, Suite 606, Houston, TX 77046-0801
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Mary H Cain Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds unrestricted scholarships and supports nonprofit organizations in the Houston area. Its areas of interest include: • Education, including higher education • Community development, including fire departments • Parks and recreation • Arts and culture Types of support provided include general operating and project support.
How do I apply for a grant from The Mary H Cain Foundation?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual giving capacity. Recent grant activity includes: **2024 Grants:** • TIRR Foundation: $850,000 (unrestricted) • St Martin's Episcopal Church: $450,000 (unrestricted) • Surry Community College Foundation: $125,000 (unrestricted) • Additional 9 grants made in 2024 **Annual Giving Capacity:** Total annual giving reported at $3,500,000 The foundation made 15 grants in its most recent reporting period.
Where does The Mary H Cain Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Houston, Texas area and surrounding region.
What size grants does The Mary H Cain Foundation award?
In 2024, The Mary H Cain Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $3.5M — an average of about $167K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Mary H Cain Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Mary H Cain Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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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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