The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation

SAN ANTONIO, TX EIN: 74-2730275

The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation is a private family foundation based in San Antonio, Texas. Established in 1994, the foundation received its IRS tax-exempt ruling in March 1996. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and focuses its philanthropic efforts on wildlife conservation, zoological organizations, and environmental initiatives.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$5.1M

+1.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$474K

-5.7% YoY

Grant Count

33

-2.9% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$14K

-2.8% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary purpose is giving to support wildlife and zoological organizations and programs. Based on recent financial filings, the foundation's funding priorities include:

  • Wildlife grants
  • Wildlife health grants
  • Renewable energy grants
  • Community and school garden grants
  • Environmental education grants
  • Education
  • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
  • Human services

Grantmaking

The foundation distributes grants primarily to organizations working in wildlife conservation and related environmental causes.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation directs its grantmaking primarily to organizations in Texas, Florida, and the District of Columbia.

Grant Distribution by State

15states
+7 more states

Cities

ArlingtonAustinAustnBoerneBoiseBronxCalaisChattanoogaChicagoDallasDania BeachDcDripping SpringsEssexGrand JunctionHaileyHomesteadKingsvilleLos AngelesMiami

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Filing (2024):

  • Total assets: $5,143,745
  • Total giving: $474,028
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$356K$712K$1M$1M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$5,143,745$5,055,732$5,270,700
Revenue$644,238$371,532$502,635
Expenses$556,224$586,501$608,504
Qualifying Distributions$475,420$503,884$521,083
Net Investment Income$526,891$257,369$424,632
Distributable Amount$507,368$474,028$502,554

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$130K$260K$390K$520K29 grants202032 grants202134 grants202234 grants202333 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

SAN ANTONIO ZOO$40KPEREGRINE FUND INC$40KSPECIAL FORCES CHARITABL…$40KAustin Hatcher Foundation$31KTEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE…$30KCAESAR KLEBURG WILDLIFE …$25KNATIONAL FISH AND WILDLI…$25KTexas Wildlife Association$25KWILDLIFE CONSERVATION SO…$20KWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC$20K

Grant Size Distribution

162 grants across all recorded years

158<$50K4$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Karen Hixon is a conservationist and philanthropist who co-founded the Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation. She has served on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, volunteered on the boards of the Nature Conservancy in Texas and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, served as a Texas advisory member for the Environmental Defense Fund, and held the position of docent chair of the San Antonio Zoological Society.

George C. "Tim" Hixon (1941–2022) was a prominent local businessman, conservationist, philanthropist, and champion of education. He served as commissioner for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department from 1989 to 1995 and as chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation from 1995 to 2002. Tim and Karen Hixon were instrumental in the creation of Government Canyon State Natural Area, a 12,000-acre protected area in Northwest San Antonio that preserves part of the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
KAREN J HIXONDIRECTOR
JACK J SPECTORDIRECTOR
KATHRYN N SANCOSEC/DIRECTOR
BRYAN S HIXONVP/DIRECTOR
GEORGE S HIXONVP/DIRECTOR

Contact Information

Address: 711 Broadway Street, Suite 250 San Antonio, TX 78215-1841

Telephone: 210-225-3053

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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