Powell Foundation Grant Program

The Powell Foundation Grant Program aims to support 501(c)(3) organizations in Texas, focusing on education, arts, conservation, and human services. They emphasize high-quality early childhood programs, K-12 education, post-secondary success, and community welfare. Eligible applicants must submit an online pre-application, with funding decisions announced in January and July. The foundation prioritizes initiatives that foster developmental support and educational access for children and families, enhancing community well-being through strategic investments.

NOTE: Organizations interested in applying for a Powell Foundation grant must first submit an online pre-application form. Organizations will be notified (via email) of the status of their pre-application by early January for the Spring cycle and by early July for the Fall cycle. The Powell Foundation will make the decision to advance, defer, or decline. If the pre-application is advanced, your organization will be invited to submit a full application via the Powell Foundation’s online Grant Portal.
Early Childhood Development & Education
The Powell Foundation seeks to ensure that all children benefit from high-quality early environments and services that foster their healthy development, foundational skill-building, school readiness, and lifelong success.
The Powell Foundation believes that all students should receive a high-quality public K-12 education through access to effective schools, curriculum, programming, and support services that ensure they graduate from high school prepared for post-secondary success.
The Powell Foundation seeks to ensure that all students are prepared for, can access, and complete a post-secondary program that leads to meaningful employment opportunities.
Aligned Cradle-to-Career Education System
The Powell Foundation supports efforts to coordinate and connect people, programs, systems, and policies and collective efforts to create a seamless and integrated educational pathway for children and youth.
The Powell Foundation works to promote vibrant communities by expanding equitable access to educational experiences in the arts and encouraging public engagement with diverse arts and culture.
The Powell Foundation seeks to foster environmental benefits for current and future generations by connecting people to nature, building environmental stewardship, and addressing critical problems in the local environment.
Human Services
The Powell Foundation seeks to foster community wellbeing by empowering children, families, and individuals with the resources and supports they need to flourish.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a grant from the Powell Foundation, the requesting organization must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable entity, as described in Section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. This includes public charities, government organizations, and eligible supporting organizations.The Powell Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in the education, the arts, conservation, and human services. Funding is focused on the Foundation’s geographic areas of interest in Harris, Travis, or Walker Counties, Texas. The Powell Foundation will consider funding requests for operating costs, agency programs, or specific projects. The Powell Foundation will consider requests for capital projects on a case-by-case basis. Please note that capital projects on average represent less than 2% of the Powell Foundation’s annual grant awards.

Ineligibility

Debt retirement or to cover past operating deficits
Candidates for political office or to influence specific legislation (lobbying)