The Don & Colletta McMillian Foundation concentrates large, unrestricted gifts to a small set of Houston-area institutions, with a clear emphasis on medical care and research alongside support for faith-based and independent education. Grants tend to be general-purpose or directed to programmatic centers (notably cardiovascular care and rehabilitation), and the foundation makes repeat, multi-year-sized awards to familiar nonprofits in the Houston region.
The Don & Colletta Mcmillian Foundation’s most visible pattern is repeated support for Houston medical institutions, especially the DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center at Houston Methodist Hospital. The largest recent grant in the data is $364,000 to that center in 2025, followed by major awards to The Tirr Foundation and Baylor College of Medicine. That mix shows a funder that backs both patient care and clinical research, with general-purpose support appearing alongside more directed institutional gifts. The foundation’s recent giving also reaches beyond medicine into education and community institutions in Houston. Houston Christian University and Holly Hall School each received $219,000 in 2025, and both also appear among the larger 2024 awards. Those repeat awards suggest a steady relationship with a small circle of grantees rather than broad, transactional grantmaking. Across the recent grants list, the foundation’s role is that of a regional institutional supporter, with a clear preference for established nonprofits and academic or medical organizations that can absorb sizable unrestricted or program-directed funding.
Medical and research institutions make up the center of the foundation’s grantmaking. Houston Methodist Hospital received $364,000 in 2025 for the DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, while Baylor College of Medicine received $200,000 in 2024 for general purpose-genetic research and $219,000 in 2025 for general purpose. That pairing points to support for both care delivery and research infrastructure. Rehabilitation is another recurring theme. The Tirr Foundation received $229,000 in 2025 for general purpose, after a $200,000 award in 2024, indicating continued support for rehabilitation services and related programs. The foundation also funds education. Houston Christian University and Holly Hall School each received $219,000 in 2025, with both also appearing among the larger 2024 grants. Outside Houston, the University of New Mexico Foundation received $55,000 in 2025 and $40,000 in 2024, showing that the foundation’s education and institutional support extends beyond Texas on a smaller scale.
Typical awards cluster in the mid-five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and the 75th percentile is $20,000. The recent-grants list also shows larger institutional awards above that range, especially to long-time recipients. Houston Methodist Hospital, The Tirr Foundation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Christian University, and Holly Hall School each appear in multiple years, which points to recurring support rather than one-off gifts. The foundation appears to be a private family foundation making direct institutional grants; it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$2M
$31.7M
$2.7M
$2.4M
Most grants fall between $10K and $20K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a small set of repeat grantees in the Houston area; many gifts are general-purpose or earmarked for specific clinical centers rather than numerous small awards.
Notable grantees: The TIRR Foundation, Houston Methodist Hospital / DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Christian University, Holly Hall School
Giving is heavily concentrated in Texas, with 69% of grants to recipients in the HQ state and Texas also the top state by grant count. Houston dominates the list, including awards to Houston Methodist Hospital, The Tirr Foundation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Christian University, Holly Hall School, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Habitat for Humanity, and Memorial Assistance Ministries. Outside Texas, the most visible cluster is in New Mexico, where Albuquerque recipients include the University of New Mexico Foundation, Ronald McDonald House NM, Road Runner Food Bank Inc, Meals on Wheels Albuquerque, and New Mexico PBS KNMD. Smaller counts also reach Waco, Round Rock, Glidden, and Memphis.
The foundation gives mainly to hospitals, medical research institutions, rehabilitation organizations, faith-based higher education, and independent schools. Recent grants include Houston Methodist Hospital for the DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Baylor College of Medicine for genetic research, The Tirr Foundation for general purpose, Houston Christian University for general purpose, and Holly Hall School for general purpose.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Houston Methodist Hospital, The Tirr Foundation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Christian University, and Holly Hall School. The repeated awards suggest ongoing institutional relationships rather than isolated gifts.
The foundation’s typical grant size is modest relative to its largest awards: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and the 75th percentile is $20,000. The recent-grants list also includes larger awards such as $364,000 to Houston Methodist Hospital and $229,000 to The Tirr Foundation.
Texas is the top state by grant count, and 69% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Houston is the main city in the recent grants, but the foundation also gives to recipients in Waco, Round Rock, Glidden, Memphis, and Albuquerque.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL | HOUSTON, TX | $364,000 | 2025 | DEBAKEY HEART VASCULAR CENTER |
| THE TIRR FOUNDATION THE TIRR FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $229,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOLLY HALL SCHOOL HOLLY HALL SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $219,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOUSTON CHRISTAIN UNIVERSITY HOUSTON CHRISTAIN UNIVERSITY | HOUSTON, TX | $219,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICENE BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICENE | HOUSTON, TX | $219,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO FDT UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO FDT | ALBURGUERQUE, NM | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BAYLOR UNIVERSITY-WACO BAYLOR UNIVERSITY-WACO | WACO, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| 100 CLUB OF HOUSTON 100 CLUB OF HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $48,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GLIDDEN BAPTIST CHURCH GLIDDEN BAPTIST CHURCH | GLIDDEN, TX | $45,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHILDREN AT HEART MINISTRIES CHLIDREN AT HEART MINISTRIES | ROUND ROCK, TX | $41,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | HOUSTON, TX | $29,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ST JUDES RESEARCH HOSPITAL ST JUDES RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPIS, TN | $26,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MEMORIAL ASISTANCE MINISTRIES MEMORIAL ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES | HOUDTPM, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NM RONALD MCDONAL HOUSE NM | ABURBUERQUE, NM | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW MEXICO PBS KNMD NEW MEXICO PBS KNMD | ALBURGUERQUE, NM | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| JOY JUNCTION JOY JUNCTIOIN | ALBURQUERQUE, NM | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MEALS ON WHEELS ALBURQUERQUE MEALS ON WHEELS ALBURQUERQUE | ALBURQUERQUE, NM | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ROAD RUNNER FOOD BANK INC ROAD RUNNER FOOD BANK INC | ALBURQUERQUE, NM | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RICE UNIVERSITY-BAKER INSTITUTE RICE UNIVERSITY-BAKER INSTITUTE | HOUSTON, TX | $19,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSSE |
| MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | AUSTIN, TX | $19,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOUSTONN FOOD BANK HOUSTON FOOD BANK | HOUSTON, TX | $19,000 | 2025 | GEMERAL PURPOSE |
| BLOCKWOOD COMMUNITY BLACKWOOD COMMUNITY | BROOKSHIRE, TX | $19,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE AMAZING PLACE THE AMAZING PLACE | HOUSTON, TX | $19,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CARE PARTNERS CARE PARTNERS | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB CHAMPION VALLEY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB CHAMPION VALLEY | WEIMAR, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOUSTON CHRISTAIN HIGH SCHOOL HOUSTON CHRISTAIN HIGH SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOLY SPIRIT EPISCOPAL SCHOOL HOLY SPIRIT EPISCOPAL SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE FRY SCHOOL THE FRY SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ANIMAL HUMANE NEW MEXICO ANIMAL HUMANE NEW MEXICO | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PUROSE |
| BLESSING IN A BACKPACK BLESSING IN A BACK PACK | LOUISVILLE, KY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WATER MELLON MOUNTAIN RANCH WATER MELLON MOUNTAIN RANCH | RIO RANCHO, NM | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PAW AND STRIPES PAW AND STRIPES | ALBURQUERQUE, NM | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPSOE |
| BARRETT FOUNDATION BARRETT FOUNDATION | ALBURQUERQUE, NM | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ARCA FOUNDATAION ARCA FOUNDATON | ALBURQERQUE, NM | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW MEXICO WILDERNESS ALLIANCE NEW MEXICO WILDERNESS ALLIANCE | ALBURGUERQUE, NM | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WORK TEXAS TRAINING CENTER WORK TEXAS TRAINING CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CITIZENS FOR ANIMAL PROTECTION CITIZENS FOR ANIMAL PROTECTION | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| EXPLORA EXPLORA | ALBURQUERQUE, NM | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NABOR HOUSE COMMUNITY NABOR HOUSE COMMUNITY | HOUSTON, TX | $6,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SOUTHERN OUTDOOR DREAMS SOUTHERN OUTDOOR DREAMS | ANGLETON, TX | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| B E BLESSED B E BLESSED | SPRING, TX | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH | HOUSTON, TX | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE FDT TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE FDT | DALLAS, TX | $6,000 | 2025 | GNERAL PURPOSE |
| COLUMBUS CHRISTAIN WOMEN ORG COLUMBUS CHRISTAIN WOMEN OG | NEW ULM, TX | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE TIRR FOUNDATION THE TIRR FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOUSTON CHRISTAIN UNIVERSITY HOUSTON CHRISTAIN UNIVERSITY | HOUSTON, TX | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED | HOUSSTON, TX | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE-GENETIC RESERCH |
| HOUSTON METHODISST HOSPITAL FDT HOUSTON METHODIST FDT | HOUSTON, TX | $200,000 | 2024 | DEBAKEY HEART & VASCULAR CENTER |
| HOLLY HALL SCHOOL HOLLY HALL SCHOOL | HOLUSTON, TX | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL
$364,000DEBAKEY HEART VASCULAR CENTER
THE TIRR FOUNDATION THE TIRR FOUNDATION
$229,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HOLLY HALL SCHOOL HOLLY HALL SCHOOL
$219,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HOUSTON CHRISTAIN UNIVERSITY HOUSTON CHRISTAIN UNIVERSITY
$219,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICENE BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICENE
$219,000GENERAL PURPOSE
UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO FDT UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO FDT
$55,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY-WACO BAYLOR UNIVERSITY-WACO
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
100 CLUB OF HOUSTON 100 CLUB OF HOUSTON
$48,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GLIDDEN BAPTIST CHURCH GLIDDEN BAPTIST CHURCH
$45,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CHILDREN AT HEART MINISTRIES CHLIDREN AT HEART MINISTRIES
$41,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$29,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ST JUDES RESEARCH HOSPITAL ST JUDES RESEARCH HOSPITAL
$26,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MEMORIAL ASISTANCE MINISTRIES MEMORIAL ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NM RONALD MCDONAL HOUSE NM
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NEW MEXICO PBS KNMD NEW MEXICO PBS KNMD
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSE
JOY JUNCTION JOY JUNCTIOIN
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MEALS ON WHEELS ALBURQUERQUE MEALS ON WHEELS ALBURQUERQUE
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ROAD RUNNER FOOD BANK INC ROAD RUNNER FOOD BANK INC
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSE
RICE UNIVERSITY-BAKER INSTITUTE RICE UNIVERSITY-BAKER INSTITUTE
$19,500GENERAL PURPOSSE
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$19,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HOUSTONN FOOD BANK HOUSTON FOOD BANK
$19,000GEMERAL PURPOSE
BLOCKWOOD COMMUNITY BLACKWOOD COMMUNITY
$19,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE AMAZING PLACE THE AMAZING PLACE
$19,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CARE PARTNERS CARE PARTNERS
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB CHAMPION VALLEY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB CHAMPION VALLEY
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HOUSTON CHRISTAIN HIGH SCHOOL HOUSTON CHRISTAIN HIGH SCHOOL
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HOLY SPIRIT EPISCOPAL SCHOOL HOLY SPIRIT EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE FRY SCHOOL THE FRY SCHOOL
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ANIMAL HUMANE NEW MEXICO ANIMAL HUMANE NEW MEXICO
$15,000GENERAL PUROSE
BLESSING IN A BACKPACK BLESSING IN A BACK PACK
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WATER MELLON MOUNTAIN RANCH WATER MELLON MOUNTAIN RANCH
$12,500GENERAL PURPOSE
PAW AND STRIPES PAW AND STRIPES
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$10,000GENERAL PURPSOE
BARRETT FOUNDATION BARRETT FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ARCA FOUNDATAION ARCA FOUNDATON
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GENERAL PURPOSE
WORK TEXAS TRAINING CENTER WORK TEXAS TRAINING CENTER
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
EXPLORA EXPLORA
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NABOR HOUSE COMMUNITY NABOR HOUSE COMMUNITY
$6,500GENERAL PURPOSE
SOUTHERN OUTDOOR DREAMS SOUTHERN OUTDOOR DREAMS
$6,000GENERAL PURPOSE
B E BLESSED B E BLESSED
$6,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH
$6,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE FDT TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE FDT
$6,000GNERAL PURPOSE
COLUMBUS CHRISTAIN WOMEN ORG COLUMBUS CHRISTAIN WOMEN OG
$2,500GENERAL PURPOSE
THE TIRR FOUNDATION THE TIRR FOUNDATION
$200,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HOUSTON CHRISTAIN UNIVERSITY HOUSTON CHRISTAIN UNIVERSITY
$200,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MED
$200,000GENERAL PURPOSE-GENETIC RESERCH
HOUSTON METHODISST HOSPITAL FDT HOUSTON METHODIST FDT
$200,000DEBAKEY HEART & VASCULAR CENTER
HOLLY HALL SCHOOL HOLLY HALL SCHOOL
$200,000GENERAL PURPOSE