The O'connor & Hewitt Foundation

VICTORIA, TX EIN: 74-2527227

The O'Connor & Hewitt Foundation is a private foundation established in 1989 and based in Victoria, Texas. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it has been tax-exempt since March 1990. The foundation operates as a family foundation with a focus on supporting nonprofit organizations primarily in South Texas, with particular emphasis on the Victoria area.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$26.8M

-3.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.8M

+4.5% YoY

Grant Count

76

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$24K

+4.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The O'connor & Hewitt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's giving priorities include:

  • Arts and culture
  • Education
  • Health organizations
  • Social services
  • Children and youth
  • Community development
  • Animal welfare
  • Fire departments
  • Catholic organizations and schools

The foundation provides both general operating support and project-specific funding to eligible organizations.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$10,000

Average Grant

$31,100

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily serves South Texas, with significant emphasis on Victoria, Texas and Victoria County. Ideal applicants are locally based charitable organizations that can document local impact.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Cities

AmarilloAustinBaltimoreBastropCollege StationColumbiaCorpus ChristiCueroFultonGoliadHoustonInezRefugioRockportSan AntonioVictoriaYoakum

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Giving (2024):

  • Total assets: $26,797,362
  • Total giving: $1,840,000
  • Total revenues: $1,287,092
  • Total expenses: $2,134,694

Staffing:

  • 1 employee on staff
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M$5M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$26,797,362$27,644,964$28,380,186
Revenue$1,287,092$1,291,497$-1,077,987
Expenses$2,134,694$2,026,719$2,470,360
Qualifying Distributions$1,915,747$1,835,546$2,279,828
Net Investment Income$402,063$1,115,891$338,323
Distributable Amount$2,301,902$1,932,209$1,953,042

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$551K$1M$2M$2M59 grants202068 grants202171 grants202276 grants202376 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

DOROTHY H O'CONNOR PET A…$388KST JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL$135KMEALS ON WHEELS SOUTH TE…$100KFOOD BANK OF THE GOLDEN …$60KSALVATION ARMY$60KCHRIST'S KITCHEN$50KGULF BEND CENTER$50KCOUNTY OF REFUGIO - DENN…$40KSOUTH TEXAS ZOOLOGICAL S…$37KBILLY T CATTAN RECOVERY …$30K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

208<$50K25$50–100K13$100–250K4$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Dorothy H O'connor Pet Adoption Center ($388,000), St Joseph High School ($135,000), Meals on Wheels South Texas ($100,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
100 CLUB OF ARANSAS COUNTY FULTON, TXPROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY WITH FUNDS FOR NECESSARY ITEMS$10,000
AMERICAN RED CROSS - CROSSROADS CHAPTER VICTORIA, TXOPERATING FUNDS FOR THE PREVENTION OF HUMAN SUFFERING IN THE FACE OF EMERGENCIES$7,000
ARANSAS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ROCKPORT, TXOPERATIONAL SUPPORT$5,000
BASTROP COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER BASTROP, TXOPERATING SUPPORT FOR PET SHELTER AND ADOPTION AGENCY$10,000
BASTROP OPERA HOUSE BASTROP, TXOPERATING SUPPORT$5,000
BILLY T CATTAN RECOVERY OUTREACH INC VICTORIA, TXROAD TO HOPE CAMPAIGN FOR NEW RECOVERY CENTER TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO LIFESAVING RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SERVICES IN VICTORIA, TX FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SUFFERING WITH SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS$30,000
BLUEBONNET EQUINE HUMANE SOCIETY INC COLLEGE STATION, TXOPERATING FUNDS TO EDUCATE OWNERS AND HELP EQUINES IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE$10,000
BLUEBONNET YOUTH RANCH YOAKUM, TXSUPPORT FOR ANNUAL GOLF EVENT AND OPERATING FUNDS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN$5,000
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - SOUTH TEXAS COUNCIL CORPUS CHRISTI, TXPREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE ETHICAL CHOICES BY INSTILLING THE VALUES OF THE SCOUT OATH AND LAW$5,000
CAT TALES RESCUE TEXAS ROCKPORT, TXOPERATIONAL SUPPORT$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Mary Austin Hewitt — President/Director
  • Dennis O'Connor Hewitt — Vice President/Director
  • Bruce Woolson — Secretary/Treasurer/Director
  • Ellen H Sanders — Executive Director

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

ELLEN H SANDERSEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$77K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
MARY AUSTIN HEWITTPRESIDENT/DIRECTOR1
DENNIS O'CONNOR HEWITTVICE-PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR1
AMY MIORISECRETARY/TREASURER/DIRECTOR1
ELLEN H SANDERSEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR30$77,107
BLAND PROCTORASSISTANT SECRETARY1
MARY KAY JANSSENASSISTANT TREASURER3

Contact Information

  • Address: PO Box 400, Victoria, TX 77902-0400
  • Telephone: 361-578-6271

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The O'connor & Hewitt Foundation fund?

The foundation's giving priorities include: • Arts and culture • Education • Health organizations • Social services • Children and youth • Community development • Animal welfare • Fire departments • Catholic organizations and schools The foundation provides both general operating support and project-specific funding to eligible organizations.

How do I apply for a grant from The O'connor & Hewitt Foundation?

**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $496,100 • Median grant size: $10,000 • Average grant size: $31,100 • Many awards fall in the $5,000–$100,000 range **Types of Support:** • General operating support • Project support • Event underwriting • Capital campaign assistance • Program funding **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • The Dorothy H O'Connor Pet Adoption Center: $388,000 (Memorial Bench and Operating Support for Pet Shelter and Adoption Agency) • Trinity E…

Where does The O'connor & Hewitt Foundation make grants?

The foundation primarily serves South Texas, with significant emphasis on Victoria, Texas and Victoria County. Ideal applicants are locally based charitable organizations that can document local impact.

What size grants does The O'connor & Hewitt Foundation award?

In 2024, The O'connor & Hewitt Foundation awarded 76 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The O'connor & Hewitt Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The O'connor & Hewitt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The O'connor & Hewitt Foundation's EIN?

The O'connor & Hewitt Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2527227. 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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