The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation
The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. It reported 12 grants totaling $400,000 in 2024, all to recipients in Texas.
Key facts about The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation
In short: The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation gave $400K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $33K), mostly in Texas. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 76-0608321
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $400,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- Average grant
- $33,333
- Median grant
- $17,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $4,552,178
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The 2024 filing names Kathryn Watts Smyth as the person to contact. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None, according to the 2024 filing.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.6M
-9.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$400K
+6.7% YoY
Grant Count
12
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
+6.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation reported a distributable amount of $411K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 12 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 21% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 98% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in a range of areas. For example, Houston Wilderness says it works to protect and promote the region’s diverse ecoregions, while Houston Botanic Garden describes its mission as enriching life through plant discovery, education, and conservation. ProUnitas says it helps school districts identify and respond to student needs, and the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation says it is dedicated to improving lives and communities through literacy.
Other 2024 recipients include The Brookwood Community, which says it creates meaningful work and a sense of belonging for adults with disabilities, and Glenwood Cemetery, which says it manages and maintains the cemetery, including the sale of burial lots.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 12 grants totaling $400,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $155,000, with a median grant of $17,500. The largest awards included $155,000 to the University of Texas Health Science Center, $50,000 to The Menil Collection, $40,000 to Houston Arboretum, and $30,000 to The Church of St. John the Divine. Each grant was listed for general charitable purposes.
The foundation also gave $25,000 to Houston Audubon Society, $20,000 to Houston Wilderness, and $15,000 each to the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Houston Botanic Garden, ProUnitas, and The Brookwood Community.
Review Cycle
None, according to the 2024 filing.
How to Apply
The 2024 filing names Kathryn Watts Smyth as the person to contact. It states that no specific form of data is required and that the foundation does not make loans, gifts, scholarships, or grants to individuals.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Texas. The listed recipients were based in Houston or, in the case of The Brookwood Community, Brookshire, Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $220K (2022) to $400K (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $400K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Texas Health Science Center ($155K). Together the top 10 received $380K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 50 (80%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $155,000 |
| The Menil Collection Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| Houston Arboretum Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $40,000 |
| The Church of St John the Divine Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $30,000 |
| Houston Audubon Society Inc Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $25,000 |
| Houston Wilderness Inc Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $20,000 |
| Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $15,000 |
| Houston Botanic Garden Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $15,000 |
| Prounitas Houston, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $15,000 |
| The Brookwood Community Inc Brookshire, TX | General Charitable Purposes | $15,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,552,178 | $375,776 | $502,449 | $400,000 | 12 |
| 2023 | $5,017,568 | $161,666 | $467,864 | $375,000 | 12 |
| 2022 | $5,295,341 | $192,206 | $297,888 | $220,000 | 8 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,552,178 | $5,017,568 | $5,295,341 |
| Revenue | $375,776 | $161,666 | $192,206 |
| Expenses | $502,449 | $467,864 | $297,888 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $402,469 | $377,369 | $222,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $265,644 | $126,103 | $124,599 |
| Distributable Amount | $410,529 | $373,065 | $379,227 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kathryn Watts Smyth as president and director; John R. Pitts as vice president and director; Jeffrey Firestone as treasurer and director; and Patti Young as assistant secretary and director.
The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation is led by Kathryn Watts Smyth, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kathryn Watts Smyth
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Firestone
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John R. Pitts
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patti Young
Assistant Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Contact
Application contact: Kathryn Watts Smyth
Mailing address: 3711 San Felipe St 3D, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: (713) 202-2087
Frequently asked questions about The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation
How much does The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation give each year?
The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation gave $400K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $375K across 12 grants.
What is The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation's typical grant size?
The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $17,500, and its average grant was $33,333, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation give grants?
The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (11 grants).
Does The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation's largest grantees?
The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Texas Health Science Center ($155,000), The Menil Collection ($50,000) and Houston Arboretum ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation?
The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $402K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $411K (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 Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in a range of areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation?
The 2024 filing names Kathryn Watts Smyth as the person to contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation's EIN?
The Nancy and Clive Runnells Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0608321. 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 September 2026.
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