The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation
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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $507K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Filing (2024):
- Total assets: $5,143,745
- Total giving: $474,028
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
162 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include San Antonio Zoo ($40,000), Peregrine Fund Inc ($40,000), Special Forces Charitable Trust ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION INC WASHINGTON, DC | OPERATING FUND | $10,000 |
| BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL AUSTIN, TX | BRACKEN BAT CAVE | $10,000 |
| BONEFISH TARPON TRUST Miami, FL | OPERATING FUND | $10,000 |
| CAESAR KLEBURG WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE KINGSVILLE, TX | OPERATING FUND | $25,000 |
| EVERGLADES FOUNDATION HOMESTEAD, FL | OPERATING FUND | $10,000 |
| HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE Austn, TX | OPERATING FUND | $5,000 |
| MITCHELL LAKE AUDUBON CENTER SAN ANTONIO, TX | OPERATING FUND | $10,000 |
| NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | OPERATING FUND | $25,000 |
| SAN ANTONIO ZOO SAN ANTONIO, TX | OPERATING FUND | $40,000 |
| TEXAS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE SAN ANTONIO, TX | OPERATING FUND | $10,000 |
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
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN J HIXON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JACK J SPECTOR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| KATHRYN N SANCO | SEC/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| BRYAN S HIXON | VP/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| GEORGE S HIXON | VP/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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation fund?
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
How do I apply for a grant from The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $5,143,745 • Total annual giving: $474,028 • Typical grant awards: $2,500–$50,000 The foundation distributes grants primarily to organizations working in wildlife conservation and related environmental causes.
Where does The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation make grants?
The foundation directs its grantmaking primarily to organizations in Texas, Florida, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation award?
In 2024, The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $474K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $507K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation's EIN?
The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2730275. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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