The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation
The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. In 2024, it reported giving $625,000 through 17 grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in education, health care, animal welfare, food assistance, veteran support, and crisis response.
The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation at a glance
In short: The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation gave $625K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $37K), mostly in Texas. 59% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $625,000
- +30.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- +112.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $36,765
- -38.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $13,937,749
- +79.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 59% first-time grantees (10 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (58% 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 Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4015 Inverness Drive, Houston, TX 77019
Phone: (713) 355-4894
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Houston ($180K). Together the top 10 received $545K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 59 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Texas, 58%; Florida, 19%; Maine, 8%; Washington, DC, 6%; and New York, 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation open to new grantees?
59%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 17 grantees (59%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $47K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 35% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 82% 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 $472K (2020) to $678K (2021). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $625K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Houston Houston, TX | Cemo Hall Support | $180,000 |
| Street Art for Mankind Pinecrest, FL | General Operating Expenses | $120,000 |
| Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation Houston, TX | General Operating Expenses | $50,000 |
| Travis Mills Foundation Mt Vernon, ME | General Operating Expenses | $50,000 |
| Houston Public Media Houston, TX | General Operating Expenses | $40,000 |
| Brother Wolf Animal Rescue Asheville, NC | General Operating Expenses | $25,000 |
| Houston SPCA Houston, TX | General Operating Expenses | $20,000 |
| Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Washington, DC | General Operating Expenses | $20,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | General Operating Expenses | $20,000 |
| Houston Food Bank Houston, TX | General Operating Expenses | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Michael & Rebecca Cemo 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 | $13,937,749 | $6,867,456 | $695,351 | $625,000 | 17 | $625,000 | $2,261,891 | $766,140 |
| 2023 | $7,765,644 | $269,120 | $521,328 | $479,000 | 8 | $479,000 | $121,917 | $414,766 |
| 2022 | $8,017,852 | $125,705 | $683,679 | $619,000 | 11 | $619,000 | $56,151 | $441,465 |
| 2021 | $8,575,826 | $1,632,958 | $746,810 | $678,000 | 12 | $678,000 | $1,564,148 | $577,311 |
| 2020 | $7,689,828 | $772,261 | $533,919 | $472,395 | 11 | — | $710,737 | $447,458 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $766K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for the University of Houston, Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, Houston Public Media, Houston-area food and animal organizations, and organizations based elsewhere.
Grantees describe their own work in varied terms: the Travis Mills Foundation says it supports recalibrated veterans and their families through long-term programs; Brother Wolf Animal Rescue says it works to improve the lives of companion animals and the people who love them; World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises; and Farm Sanctuary says it pursues solutions to end animal agriculture and promotes compassionate vegan living through education and policy advocacy. These are the grantees’ descriptions, not statements of the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $625,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $180,000, with a median grant of $20,000.
The largest reported grants included $180,000 to the University of Houston for Cemo Hall support and $120,000 to Street Art for Mankind for general operating expenses. Other grants included $50,000 each to Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation and the Travis Mills Foundation, and $40,000 to Houston Public Media. The foundation also gave $25,000 to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue; $20,000 each to Houston SPCA, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, World Central Kitchen, and Houston Food Bank; and $15,000 each to Interfaith Ministries, Farm Sanctuary, and Soi Dog Foundation USA.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Rebecca A. Cemo as president and Stephanie C. Cemo and Jason M. Cemo as directors.
The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation is led by Rebecca A. Cemo, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rebecca A. Cemo
President
Vice President, Secretary & Director → President, Treasurer & Director, 2023
President, Treasurer & Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason M. Cemo
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie C. Cemo
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Michael J. Cemo (2020–2022) — President, Treasurer & Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation
How much does The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation give each year?
The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation gave $625K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $479K across 8 grants.
What is The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation's typical grant size?
The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $36,765, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation give grants?
The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (19%) and Maine (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (8 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 94% of The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation's largest grantees?
The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Houston ($180,000), Street Art for Mankind ($120,000) and Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation?
The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation reported $13.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $625K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $766K (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 Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for the University of Houston, Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, Houston Public Media, Houston-area food and animal organizations, and organizations based elsewhere. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation's EIN?
The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0537009. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 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 Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Michael & Rebecca Cemo Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-michael-and-rebecca-cemo-foundation-morg_7158e6c1b04e450da397f97f8f8cc6de
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760537009_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Michael \& Rebecca Cemo Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-michael-and-rebecca-cemo-foundation-morg_7158e6c1b04e450da397f97f8f8cc6de},
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 Michael & Rebecca Cemo 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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