The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc
The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its stated activity is providing grants for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes.
The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc gave $2.0M across 57 grants in 2025 (avg $34K), mostly in Texas. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,955,000
- +10.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 57
- +3.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,298
- +6.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $25,554,687
- +5.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (11 of 57, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing says applications are in letter form and directs applicants to contact The Northern Trust Company. It states that there are no deadlines and no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: The Northern Trust Company
Mailing address: 1801 Post Oak Blvd Suite 500, Houston, TX 77056
Phone: (713) 336-6100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
267 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 227 grants of 267 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 10% to recipients in New Mexico, and 1% each to recipients in Wisconsin and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 57 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 36% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2020) to $2.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 57 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Dallas, TX | For General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| St Stephen's Episcopal School Houston, TX | To Support the Annual Fund | $250,000 |
| Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Santa Fe, NM | To support the abiquiu garden project and fund a new visitor bench and studio | $200,000 |
| Houston Botanic Garden Houston, TX | For General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| Chinati Foundation Marfa, TX | For General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast Houston, TX | For General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Harris Health Strategic Fund Bellaire, TX | For General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science Houston, TX | To support the cockrell butterfly center and renovation of the pollinator garden | $50,000 |
| Zilker 351 Austin, TX | For General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Museum of Fine Arts Houston (Mfah) Houston, TX | To Support Education Programs at Bayou Bend | $35,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $25,554,687 | $3,831,743 | $2,478,166 | $1,955,000 | 57 | $2,027,988 | $2,578,214 | $1,938,750 |
| 2024 | $24,199,273 | $3,421,448 | $2,267,404 | $1,770,000 | 55 | $1,835,980 | $2,242,000 | $1,771,881 |
| 2023 | $23,042,823 | $1,486,412 | $1,827,190 | $1,439,000 | 55 | $1,514,123 | $399,713 | $1,518,990 |
| 2022 | $23,383,601 | $1,314,474 | $1,833,431 | $1,439,500 | 48 | $1,512,886 | $217,768 | $1,503,325 |
| 2021 | $23,902,558 | $2,793,017 | $1,950,955 | $1,442,500 | 52 | $1,519,376 | $1,579,439 | $1,689,885 |
| 2020 | $23,069,431 | $4,747,203 | $1,709,552 | $1,272,500 | 45 | — | $1,905,705 | $1,366,891 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that grantmaking for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes is its only activity. Its 2025 grants included support for health services, gardens and environmental conservation, museums and arts organizations, education, and community initiatives. These are areas reflected in the grants listed, not stated as a comprehensive set of the foundation’s priorities.
The grantees describe their work in their own terms. Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas says it provides primary and reproductive healthcare, science-based education, and advocacy for reproductive justice in Texas. Houston Botanic Garden describes its mission as enriching life through discovery, education, and conservation of plants and the natural environment. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum says it celebrates the artist’s art, life, and independent spirit, while the Chinati Foundation describes its mission as preserving Donald Judd’s vision for a unique museum. Good Reason Houston says it works to grow and sustain great schools while advocating for families and communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 57 grants totaling $1,955,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $250,000, with a median of $10,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $250,000 to Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas for general operating support and $250,000 to St. Stephen’s Episcopal School for its annual fund. The foundation also gave $200,000 each to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum for its Abiquiú Garden project and a new visitor bench and studio, and to Houston Botanic Garden for general operating support. The Chinati Foundation received $150,000 for general operating support, and Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast received $100,000 for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Duncan E. Osborne, Elizabeth B. Osborne, George Peterkin, and John Peterkin as trustees. The Northern Trust Company is listed as secretary/treasurer.
The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Duncan E. Osborne
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$16K (2020) → $16K (2025)
Elizabeth B. Osborne
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$16K (2020) → $16K (2025)
George Peterkin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2025)
John Peterkin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$16K (2020) → $16K (2025)
The Northern Trust Company
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$119K (2020) → $306K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Legacy Trust Company - Houston (2020–2021) — Secretary & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $306K, to The Northern Trust Company (Sec/Treas). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc
How much does The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc give each year?
The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc gave $2.0M across 57 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 55 grants.
What is The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $34,298, across 57 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc that year got $21K on average.
Where does The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc give grants?
The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc gives mostly in Texas: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Mexico (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (35 grants), Austin, TX (9 grants) and Bellaire, TX (2 grants).
Does The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 65% of The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (37 of 57) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas ($250,000), St Stephen's Episcopal School ($250,000) and Georgia O'Keeffe Museum ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc?
The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc reported $25.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation states that grantmaking for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes is its only activity. Its 2025 grants included support for health services, gardens and environmental conservation, museums and arts organizations, education, and community initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc?
The filing says applications are in letter form and directs applicants to contact The Northern Trust Company. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0285765. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-susan-vaughan-foundation-inc-morg_10add3d839ba47aebc0dd37219fa9af7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760285765_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-susan-vaughan-foundation-inc-morg_10add3d839ba47aebc0dd37219fa9af7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Susan Vaughan Foundation Inc'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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