Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable
Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. It provides funds to charitable organizations to assist with religious, educational, and other charitable needs.
Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable at a glance
In short: Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable gave $175K across 48 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Tennessee. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $175,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 48
- -2.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,646
- +2.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $2,717,625
- -0.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (8 of 48, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation selects charitable organizations in advance and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5617 Hillsboro Road, Nashville, TN 37215
Phone: (615) 719-1636
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Preston Taylor Ministries ($40K). Together the top 10 received $129K.
Grant Size Distribution
197 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 197 grants of 197 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee and 3% to recipients in Kentucky. The listed 2025 grants also show awards to organizations in Nashville and Bowling Green.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 48 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 48 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $419; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $250 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $144K (2022) to $175K (2025). In 2025 it made 48 grants totaling $175K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Preston Taylor Ministries Nashville, TN | To Support Ministry | $40,000 |
| Oasis Center Nashville, TN | To Support Charity | $20,000 |
| Harpeth Hall School Nashville, TN | To Support Education | $14,000 |
| Nashville Food Project Nashville, TN | To Support Charity | $10,000 |
| Nashville Tree Foundation Nashville, TN | To Support Conservation | $10,000 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN Nashville, TN | To Support Charity | $10,000 |
| Cumberland Heights Nashville, TN | To Support Charity | $7,500 |
| Westminster Home Connection Nashville, TN | To Support Charity | $7,500 |
| YWCA of Middle Tennessee Nashville, TN | To Support Charity | $5,250 |
| The Legion Fund (Community Fdn of South Central KY) Bowling Green, KY | To Support Charity | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable?
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 | $2,717,625 | $191,185 | $212,893 | $175,000 | 48 | $175,000 | $160,988 | $180,637 |
| 2024 | $2,739,333 | $170,752 | $213,833 | $175,000 | 49 | $175,000 | $136,108 | $164,369 |
| 2023 | $2,782,414 | $114,031 | $191,915 | $157,750 | 41 | $157,750 | $83,468 | $156,960 |
| 2022 | $2,860,298 | $37,573 | $178,107 | $144,000 | 34 | $144,000 | $30,163 | $159,275 |
| 2021 | $3,000,832 | $225,927 | $186,555 | $144,475 | 25 | $144,475 | $202,420 | $162,219 |
| 2020 | $2,961,460 | $383,717 | $180,346 | $150,250 | 19 | — | $370,880 | $136,200 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable reported a distributable amount of $181K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it provides funds to charitable organizations for religious, educational, and other charitable needs. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations working in youth mentoring and education, food assistance, conservation, and housing accessibility.
Grantees describe their work in their own terms: Preston Taylor Ministries provides mentoring and after-school programming for at-risk youth; Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee says its mission is to nourish and empower people; and Nashville Tree Foundation works to preserve and enhance Nashville’s urban forests. Westminster Home Connection describes its vision as helping older adults and people with disabilities age in place safely and with dignity.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 48 grants totaling $175,000. Grants ranged from $100 to $40,000, with a median of $1,000. Notable recipients included Preston Taylor Ministries ($40,000), Oasis Center ($20,000), Harpeth Hall School ($14,000), Nashville Food Project ($10,000), Nashville Tree Foundation ($10,000), and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee ($10,000).
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Britton Nielsen as president; Noni Nielsen and Britt N Anderson as board members; and Marguerite N Orndorff as secretary.
Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable is led by Britton Nielsen, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Britton Nielsen
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Britt N. Anderson
Board
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marguerite N. Orndorff
Secretary
Board → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Noni Nielsen
Board
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: C. Norris Nielsen (2020) — Secretary
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.
Frequently asked questions about Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable
How much does Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable give each year?
Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable gave $175K across 48 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $175K across 49 grants.
What is Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable's typical grant size?
Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $3,646, across 48 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable that year got $419 on average.
Where does Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable give grants?
Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable gives mostly in Tennessee: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (39 grants) and Antioch, TN (2 grants).
Does Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 48 grants with a stated purpose on Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Charity" (41 grants) and "To Support Conservation" (3 grants).
Who are Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable's largest grantees?
Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable's largest 2025 grantees include Preston Taylor Ministries ($40,000), Oasis Center ($20,000) and Harpeth Hall School ($14,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable?
Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $175K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $181K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable fund?
The foundation states that it provides funds to charitable organizations for religious, educational, and other charitable needs. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations working in youth mentoring and education, food assistance, conservation, and housing accessibility. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable?
The foundation selects charitable organizations in advance and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable's EIN?
Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4173585. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 16, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/thomas-and-mamie-houser-charitable-morg_2ca54ad2b9c944f8ac30c350f3277aee
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_454173585_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Thomas \& Mamie Houser Charitable funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/thomas-and-mamie-houser-charitable-morg_2ca54ad2b9c944f8ac30c350f3277aee},
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 Thomas & Mamie Houser Charitable'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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