Wolff Family Foundation
The Wolff Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas, established in November 1988. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on supporting educational, civic, religious, and health-related initiatives.
Key facts about Wolff Family Foundation
- EIN
- 76-0236381
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $726,408
- Grants made (2024)
- 29
- Average grant
- $25,049
- Median grant
- $1,010
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (12 of 29, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,799,060
- Primary geography
- Texas (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Wolff Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Wolff Family Foundation's 29 itemized 2024 grants were Texas (96%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (11 grants), Nantucket, MA (7 grants) and Washington, TX (2 grants). 48% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Civic" (5 grants).
Is Wolff Family Foundation open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 29 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 41% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 214% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 423% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Wolff Family Foundation
- How to evaluate Wolff Family Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.8M
-25.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$726K
+366.9% YoY
Grant Count
29
+11.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+318.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wolff Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $172K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
- Health care
- Civic and religious organizations
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, Massachusetts, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 29 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $1,799,060
- Total revenues: $103,381
- Total expenses: $727,428
- Investment income and dividends: $105,324
- Total liabilities: $3,440
Staffing:
- 0 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,799,060 | $2,420,773 | $2,482,173 |
| Revenue | $103,381 | $73,095 | $-86,616 |
| Expenses | $727,428 | $160,028 | $176,684 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $726,408 | $155,578 | $171,423 |
| Net Investment Income | $105,324 | $73,095 | $80,967 |
| Distributable Amount | $171,584 | $171,261 | $177,214 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
155 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include St Stephens Episcopal ($500,000), Baylor College of Medicine ($100,500), Museum of Fine Arts Houston ($44,737).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ST STEPHENS EPISCOPAL Houston, TX | ENDOWMENT TO STRENGTHEN FACULTY RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION | $500,000 |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Houston, TX | FOR PATIENT CARE ENDOWMENT FUND | $100,500 |
| MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON Houston, TX | CONTRIBUTION TOWARD ART EXHIBIT | $44,737 |
| WASHINGTON ON THE BRAZOS HISTORICAL FOUNDATION Washington, TX | FOR PRESERVATION OF STATE HISTORIC SITE | $25,000 |
| CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL Houston, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. | $10,000 |
| NANTUCKET PRESERVATION TRUST Nantucket, MA | CIVIC | $5,750 |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY Cambridge, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS. | $5,000 |
| NANTUCKET CONSERVATION FOUNDATION Nantucket, MA | CONSERVATION & MAINTENANCE OF NANTUCKET'S NATURAL AREAS AND HABITATS | $5,000 |
| ST JOHNS SCHOOL Houston, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS | $5,000 |
| TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE Hanover, NH | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS. | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| David S Wolff | President | 1 | — |
| David L Lane | VP | 1 | — |
| David V Gaffney | Secretary | 5 | — |
| Mary C Wolff | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Carolyn W Dorros | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Elizabeth W Rogers | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Richard J Braemer | Trustee | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Houston's C.T. Bauer College of Business, which is ranked #1 in the nation for undergraduate entrepreneurship programs. The center was founded in 1991 and has received significant support from the Wolff family for its educational mission.
Transformative Team for Houston: Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Family FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does Wolff Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy and grantmaking • Health care • Civic and religious organizations
How do I apply for a grant from Wolff Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $726,408 • Made 35 grants in the most recent reporting year • Typical grant awards range from $26,000 to $500,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Baylor College of Medicine: $100,500 (Patient Care Endowment Fund) • The Endowment for the Museum of Fine Arts Houston: $44,737 (Art Exhibit contribution) • Washington on the Brazos Historical Foundation: $25,000 (Preservation of State Historic Site)
Where does Wolff Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas, Massachusetts, and Virginia.
What size grants does Wolff Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Wolff Family Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $726K — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wolff Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wolff Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $172K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wolff Family Foundation's EIN?
Wolff Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0236381. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.