The Search Foundation
The Search Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports 17 grants totaling $699,312 to charitable organizations, including grants for projects and general support.
The Search Foundation at a glance
In short: The Search Foundation gave $699K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $41K), top state New York. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $699,312
- +33.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- +13.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $41,136
- +18.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $10,463,406
- +5.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (2 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (11% 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 Search Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 820 Gessner 800, Houston, TX 77024
Phone: (713) 627-2440
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Search Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was La Petite Bibliotheque Ronde ($126K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $648K.
Grant Size Distribution
75 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 75 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant-dollar distribution lists 69% for recipients in an unspecified state or location, 11% for New York, 8% for the District of Columbia, 4% for Washington, and 4% for Texas. The listed grants also include recipients in France and Greece.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Search Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 14 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $54K. How we count
Medians: $26K first-time, $42K repeat.
- 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 127% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $355K (2020) to $699K (2024). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $699K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fondation De France | Search Project | $120,796 |
| Fondation Nationale Des Sciences Politiques | Global Institute for Feminist Transformation | $110,030 |
| La Petite Bibliotheque Ronde | General Support | $76,537 |
| Kifissia Children's Library | General support and construction of database to preserve educational programming | $66,930 |
| Ocean Foundation Washington, DC | Fondation Tara Ocean Project | $53,890 |
| La Petite Bibliotheque Ronde | Rent and Expenses During Renovations of Historic Building | $49,239 |
| Epic Foundation New York, NY | Common Justice | $30,000 |
| Omprakash Seattle, WA | Child's Dream Foundation-Scholarship Fund and Children's Medical Fund | $30,000 |
| The Periwinkle Foundation Houston, TX | General Support | $30,000 |
| Fondation Musee Schlumberger | General Support | $28,196 |
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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 | $10,463,406 | $1,356,818 | $824,360 | $699,312 | 17 | $699,312 | $1,244,070 | $548,895 |
| 2023 | $9,930,948 | $602,029 | $631,192 | $523,101 | 15 | $523,101 | $499,963 | $561,831 |
| 2022 | $9,960,111 | $382,115 | $511,733 | $420,207 | 14 | $420,207 | $296,386 | $521,076 |
| 2021 | $10,089,729 | $460,803 | $714,540 | $590,359 | 16 | $590,359 | $342,256 | $518,932 |
| 2020 | $10,343,466 | $541,555 | $495,845 | $355,128 | 13 | — | $396,714 | $398,721 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Search Foundation reported a distributable amount of $549K 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 include support for a feminist transformation institute, children’s libraries, a project related to the Tara Ocean Foundation, and organizations receiving general support.
Among its grantees, OMPRAKASH describes its mission as improving global education through cross-cultural exchange and helping grassroots organizations reach a global audience. EPIC Foundation says it supports charitable and nongovernmental organizations, including those focused on child development and welfare and defense of the planet. The Periwinkle Foundation says its camps, arts, and survivor programs serve children, young adults, and families challenged by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Bumi Sehat Foundation International describes its mission as supporting midwifery in underserved areas. Life Project 4 Youth says it assists the social and professional integration of excluded and vulnerable young people ages 14–24.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $699,312. Grants ranged from $5,454 to $120,796, with a median grant of $30,000.
Notable 2024 grants included $120,796 to Fondation de France for the Search Project; $110,030 to Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques for the Global Institute for Feminist Transformation; $76,537 to La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde for general support; $66,930 to Kifissia Children’s Library for general support and construction of a database to preserve educational programming; and $53,890 to Ocean Foundation for the Fondation Tara Ocean Project. Other listed grants included $30,000 to EPIC Foundation for Common Justice, $30,000 to OMPRAKASH for the Child’s Dream Foundation scholarship fund and children’s medical fund, and $30,000 to The Periwinkle Foundation for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Catherine Coste as president and director; Mathilde Coste as senior vice president and director; Bertrand Coste and Stephane Coste as vice presidents and directors; Molly K Wurzer as secretary-treasurer; and Denise M Stoner as assistant secretary-treasurer, starting December 6, 2024.
The Search Foundation is led by Catherine Coste, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Catherine Coste
President & Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bertrand Coste
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mathilde Coste
Senior Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephane Coste
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Molly K. Wurzer
Secretary-Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise M. Stoner
Assistant Secretary-Treas-Starting
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/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.
Frequently asked questions about The Search Foundation
How much does The Search Foundation give each year?
The Search Foundation gave $699K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $523K across 15 grants.
What is The Search Foundation's typical grant size?
The Search Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $41,136, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Search Foundation that year got $26K on average.
Where does The Search Foundation give grants?
The Search Foundation's top state is New York, with 11% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was District of Columbia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants).
Does The Search Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 47% of The Search Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Search Foundation's largest grantees?
The Search Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include La Petite Bibliotheque Ronde ($125,776 across 2 grants), Fondation De France ($120,796) and Fondation Nationale Des Sciences Politiques ($110,030), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Search Foundation?
The Search Foundation reported $10.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $699K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $549K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Search Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for a feminist transformation institute, children’s libraries, a project related to the Tara Ocean Foundation, and organizations receiving general support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Search Foundation?
The foundation 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 Search Foundation's EIN?
The Search Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0520202. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Search 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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Search Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-search-foundation-morg_f9f819b1a6624dd0bb8bd3dd28384039
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760520202_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Search Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-search-foundation-morg_f9f819b1a6624dd0bb8bd3dd28384039},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Search 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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