The Terry Foundation is a private foundation and scholarship provider headquartered in Houston, Texas. Established in 1986 by philanthropists Howard and Nancy Terry, the Foundation is the largest private scholarship provider in Texas. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation with a focus on providing scholarships and developing future leaders through higher education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$433.1M
+0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$22.5M
+15.3% YoY
Grant Count
13
-7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.7M
+24.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Terry Foundation reported a distributable amount of $24.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Terry Foundation's mission is to develop future leaders of Texas through access to education.
Vision: To create a community of educated leaders who utilize their talents to strengthen the state of Texas and impact the world.
The Foundation identifies Texas high school graduates and transfer students who demonstrate promise of future leadership distinction. Selection criteria include demonstrated history of involvement in activities, outstanding scholastic achievement, demonstrated financial need, and a well-rounded personality marked by a desire to succeed.
Core Pillars: Terry Scholars are challenged to achieve excellence in:
- Scholarship
- Leadership
- Service (to their university, the State of Texas, and the world)
- Community (building fellowship and mutual respect among scholars)
Grantmaking
The Terry Foundation provides scholarships to students attending 13 Texas public universities. Recent grant activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation focuses exclusively on Texas, providing scholarships to students at public colleges and universities throughout the state.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $431,033,653 to $433,055,126 (2023-2024)
Annual Giving: $19,486,374 (2023)
Total Revenue: $30,403,403 (2024)
Total Expenses: $28,388,044 (2024)
Employees: 13 to 43 staff members
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $433,055,126 | $431,033,653 | $440,209,331 |
| Revenue | $30,403,403 | $17,821,609 | $23,941,988 |
| Expenses | $28,388,044 | $27,462,893 | $23,641,625 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $26,308,190 | $23,792,499 | $19,466,003 |
| Net Investment Income | $27,977,716 | $10,790,855 | $18,959,804 |
| Distributable Amount | $24,164,160 | $24,626,458 | $24,502,742 |
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
68 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Texas AM University ($4,052,850), The University of Texas at Austin ($3,747,150), The University of Texas at Dallas ($2,230,950).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Houston State University Huntsville, TX | Scholarships for 1 Terry Scholar | $10,450 |
| Texas AM University College Station, TX | Scholarships for 183 Terry Scholars | $4,052,850 |
| Texas State University San Marcos, TX | Scholarships for 67 Terry Scholars | $1,506,100 |
| Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX | Scholarships for 69 Terry Scholars | $1,606,750 |
| Texas Woman's University Houston, TX | Scholarships for 53 Terry Scholars | $1,147,400 |
| The Terry Scholars Fund Houston, TX | Administrative expenses | $5,106 |
| The University of Houston Houston, TX | Scholarships for 70 Terry Scholars | $2,001,120 |
| The University of North Texas Denton, TX | Scholarships for 74 Terry Scholars | $1,809,650 |
| The University of Texas at Arlingto Arlington, TX | Scholarships for 73 Terry Scholars | $1,635,400 |
| The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX | Scholarships for 190 Terry Scholars | $3,747,150 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key executives include:
- Rhett Campbell, Chief Executive Officer
- Uyen-ngoc Le, Executive Director
- Mattin Rastgar, President
- Ed Cotham, Chief Investment Officer
- Kristin Eschbach, Chief Investment Officer
- Blair Abernathy, Chief Financial Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yvonne R Moody | President/CEO/Director | 40 | $372,536 |
| Brian G Yarbrough | Chair/Director | 1 | — |
| Blair Abernathy | CFO/VP/Treasurer/Sec | 40 | $247,999 |
| Kristin K Eschbach | CIO | 40 | $423,480 |
| Brian K Carroll | Director | 0.75 | — |
| Kathryn E Flowers | Director | 0.75 | — |
| Scott A Grass | Director | 0.75 | — |
| Brandy C Horton | Director | 0.75 | — |
| Dr Elizabeth R Keeler | Director | 0.75 | — |
| R Carter Overton III | Director | 0.75 | — |
| Kim A Pekar | Director | 0.75 | — |
| Randall B Skiles | Director | 0.75 | — |
| Bonnie R Southerland | Director | 0.75 | — |
| Jeffrey C Stichler | Director | 0.75 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation announced the selection of 2025 Terry Scholars, continuing its ongoing commitment to supporting outstanding Texas students pursuing higher education at participating public universities.
Home - The Terry Foundation : The Terry FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Terry Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The Terry Foundation's mission is to develop future leaders of Texas through access to education. **Vision:** To create a community of educated leaders who utilize their talents to strengthen the state of Texas and impact the world. The Foundation identifies Texas high school graduates and transfer students who demonstrate promise of future leadership distinction. Selection criteria include demonstrated history of involvement in activities, outstanding scholastic achievement, demon…
How do I apply for a grant from The Terry Foundation?
The Terry Foundation provides scholarships to students attending 13 Texas public universities. Recent grant activity includes: • **Federation of Texas Am University Mother Club:** $4,052,850 for scholarships for 183 Terry Scholars (2024) • **Psi Chi - University of Texas at Austin:** $3,747,150 for scholarships for 190 Terry Scholars (2024) • **University of Houston Chi Alpha:** $2,001,120 for scholarships for 70 Terry Scholars (2024) **Total giving:** $19,486,374 (2023)
Where does The Terry Foundation make grants?
The Foundation focuses exclusively on Texas, providing scholarships to students at public colleges and universities throughout the state.
What size grants does The Terry Foundation award?
In 2024, The Terry Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $22.5M — an average of about $1.7M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Terry Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Terry Foundation reported a distributable amount of $24.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Terry Foundation's EIN?
The Terry Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1551093. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Terry Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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