The Susman Foundation is a private foundation established in 1998 and based in Houston, Texas. Formerly known as the Susman Family Foundation, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with limited staffing. The foundation focuses on grantmaking in the arts, education, and human services sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.7M
-8.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$366K
+22.6% YoY
Grant Count
22
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-38.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to promote the visual art of the African diaspora, support appreciation of unrecognized artists, and increase public access to art through best practices in public relations.
Beyond its core arts focus, the foundation also makes grants in the following areas:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Youth Education
- Health Services
- Mentoring
- History
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected/invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation checks a box on its tax filings indicating it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations."
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
amount: $20,140 (for general support grants)
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Susman Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds projects in Texas, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $2,667,522
- Total revenues: $97,475
- Total expenses: $377,877
- Total giving: $366,000
The foundation maintains a relatively modest asset base and operates with minimal paid staff, relying on volunteer leadership.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,667,522 | $2,917,306 | $3,047,107 |
| Revenue | $97,475 | $180,908 | $68,714 |
| Expenses | $377,877 | $311,056 | $313,475 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $366,000 | $298,610 | $302,542 |
| Net Investment Income | $91,072 | $173,176 | $59,059 |
| Distributable Amount | $134,544 | $143,288 | $160,811 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ellen Susman – President (1 hour per week, unpaid)
- Harry Susman – Vice President/Secretary (unpaid)
- Stacy Kuhn – Vice President/Treasurer (unpaid)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELLEN SUSMAN | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| HARRY SUSMAN | VP/SECRETARY | — | — |
| STACY KUHN | VP/ TREASURER | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
William Z Hayes Foundation
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$629K
Grants
4
Total Given
$28K
Tr Uw Jane James Cook Item 19
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$861K
Grants
11
Total Given
$41K
Forsyth Fbo Leonard Wood Memorial
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$320K
Grants
1
Total Given
$18K
Teas Foundation
AMARILLO, TX
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
3
Total Given
$138K
Harold D Miller Endowment Fund
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$890K
Grants
1
Total Given
$44K
Amarillo Business Foundation
AMARILLO, TX
Assets
$4.2M
Grants
13
Total Given
$222K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Susman Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities