The Fred and Mabel R Parks Foundation is a regionally focused funder centered on Fort Bend/South Houston area community needs, with a strong emphasis on children's services, local parks/recreation, health care and medical research, and literacy/education. They fund both capital projects (buildings, park expansion) and program support—often supporting repeat local partners—while also making targeted gifts to medical research and national relief organizations. Grants skew toward direct-service nonprofits, K–higher education scholarships, and community health institutions that serve the foundation’s local population.
A recurring pattern in Fred and Mabel R Parks Foundation grantmaking is its sustained support for Fort Bend child advocacy infrastructure. In 2023, the foundation gave $125,000 to Child Advocates of Fort Bend for a multi-function building, pavilion, and parking, and it returned with additional gifts tied to the same organization’s CASA home tour and program support. That local emphasis sits alongside funding for parks, health care, literacy, and research, all within a tightly regional footprint. The foundation’s recent grants show a mix of capital, operating, scholarship, and research support. It backs community-serving institutions in Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenberg, and Houston, while also making selected grants outside Texas for scholarship endowments and biomedical research. Among the larger awards, it supported Cullinan Park Conservancy for park expansion, Texas Children’s Hospital for research program support, and Diabetes Research Institute for development of a cell supply center. The pattern is not limited to one cause area. The foundation also funds parks and green space, nursing education, hospice, meals-on-wheels, and family support programs, with many awards landing in the $25,000 to $50,000 range.
In child welfare and advocacy, the foundation backed Child Advocates of Fort Bend with both capital and operating support, including a $125,000 grant for a multi-function building, pavilion, and parking, plus gifts for program support and a CASA home tour. For parks and public space, it gave $100,000 to Cullinan Park Conservancy for park expansion. That same local orientation appears in support for community recreation and stewardship in Fort Bend and Sugar Land. Health and medical research are another clear thread. Texas Children’s Hospital received funding for research program support and for its neurological research institute, while the Diabetes Research Institute was funded for development of a cell supply center. The foundation also supports education and family services. South Texas College of Law Houston received scholarship funding, and Fort Bend Meals on Wheels received program support in 2024.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $15,000 at the 75th percentile, even though the recent grants list includes awards up to $125,000. The foundation appears to reuse partners across years: Child Advocates of Fort Bend, Access Health, Parks Youth Ranch, Oakbend Medical Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, CurePSP, and Diabetes Research Institute all appear more than once. Its giving is structured around direct grants rather than program-related investments, and it also funds individuals. The grant mix includes operating support, scholarships, capital projects, and research support.
$2.2M
$42.6M
$3.7M
$2.6M
Most grants fall between $10K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Moderately concentrated local giving: many repeat grants to core Fort Bend/Sugar Land organizations and multi-year or multi-grant commitments; mixes mid-size capital gifts (five- and six-figure) with smaller program grants, and occasionally supports national relief and specialized medical research.
Notable grantees: Child Advocates of Fort Bend, Cullinan Park Conservancy, Texas Children’s Hospital, Literacy Council of Fort Bend, Parks Youth Ranch
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly concentrated in Texas: 95% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Texas is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipients cluster in Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenberg, Houston, and Galveston. Outside Texas, the foundation’s grants in the recent list reach New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana, all through named grantees rather than broad regional initiatives.
The foundation funds child advocacy groups, parks and green space organizations, hospitals and research institutions, scholarship programs, and community services such as hospice and meals-on-wheels. Recent grants include support for capital projects, program support, scholarships, and biomedical research.
Yes. Texas is the top state by grant count, and 95% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Texas recipients include organizations in Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenberg, Houston, and Galveston.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at both the 25th percentile and median, with the 75th percentile at $15,000. Many recent grants are larger than that range, including awards of $25,000, $40,000, $50,000, $100,000, and $125,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Child Advocates of Fort Bend, Access Health, Parks Youth Ranch, Oakbend Medical Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, CurePSP, and Diabetes Research Institute.
The recent grants include scholarships for South Texas College of Law Houston, a scholarship endowment for Lehigh University Endowment, and nursing school scholarships for University of Houston at Sugar Land and University of Houston-Sugar Land.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSU FOUNDATION | BATON ROUGE, LA | $75,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CHILD ADVOCATES OF FORT BEND | ROSENBERG, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | CASA HOME TOUR |
| HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATI | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | PATIENT CARE ASSISIANT (PCA) PROGRAM |
| CUREPSP INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | PATIENT JOURNEY PROGRAM |
| LITERACY COUNCIL OF FORT BEND | SUGAR LAND, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| PARKS YOUTH RANCH | SUGAR LAND, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| DIABETES RESEARCH INSTITUTE | HOLLYWOOD, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | DEVELOPMENT OF DRI CELL SUPPLY CENTE |
| LITERACY COUNCIL OF FT BEND COUNTY | SUGAR LAND, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | READING BETWEEN THE WINES |
| THE PARKS YOUTH RANCH | SUGAR LAND, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LSU FOUNDATION | BATON ROUGE, LA | $25,000 | 2026 | EXECPTIONAL EDUCATOR SCHOLARSHIP |
| FORT BEND MEALS ON WHEELS | ROSENBERG, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE BROOKWOOD COMMUNITY | BROOKSHIRE, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LEHIGH UNIVERSITY | BETHLEHEM, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT |
| ACCESS HEALTH | RICHMOND, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION | GALVESTON, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SUGAR LAND | SUGAR LAND, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | NURSING PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BLESSED BE HOPE FOR THREE | SUGAR LAND, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CHILD ADVOCATES OF FORT BEND | ROSENBERG, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| OAKBEND MEDICAL CENTER | RICHMOND, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TEXAS CHILDRENS HOSPITAL | HOUSTON, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | NEUROLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE |
| HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LUKE 18-1 FOUNDATION | SOUTHLAKE, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | LINKS 4 LUKE |
| VOLUNTEER INTERFAITH CAREGIVERS | BELLAIRE, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CHILDRENS TRANSPLANT INITIATIVE | SPRING, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CHILD ADVOCATES OF FORT BEND | ROSENBERG, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CURE EPILEPSY | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | WINE LECTURE SERIES |
| HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | HOME FIRE RELIEF PROGRAM |
| BELONG KITCHEN | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| IMPACT A HERO | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FORT BEND FORWARD YIP | SUGAR LAND, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| THE MISSION OF YAHWEH | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FORT BEND DISCOVERY CENTER | SUGAR LAND, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CANCARE | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF SAN JACINTO COUNCIL | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FORT BEND YOUNG LIFE | SUGAR LAND, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LOVELY VILLAGE | WACO, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ALIEF EDUCATION FOUNDATION | ALIEF, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THE ARC OF FORT BEND COUNTY | SUGAR LAND, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CLEAR LAKE | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | CENTER FOR AUTISM & DEVELOPMENT |
| AISHEL HOUSE | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SIRE THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE | STAFFORD, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CULLINAN PARK CONSERVANCY | SUGAR LAND, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| OUTREACH CENTER OF WEST HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | MAMIE GEORGE CENTER SUPPORT |
LSU FOUNDATION
$75,000SCHOLARSHIPS
HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATI
$50,000PATIENT CARE ASSISIANT (PCA) PROGRAM
LITERACY COUNCIL OF FORT BEND
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
PARKS YOUTH RANCH
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
DIABETES RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$50,000DEVELOPMENT OF DRI CELL SUPPLY CENTE
LITERACY COUNCIL OF FT BEND COUNTY
$30,000READING BETWEEN THE WINES
THE PARKS YOUTH RANCH
$30,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
LSU FOUNDATION
$25,000EXECPTIONAL EDUCATOR SCHOLARSHIP
FORT BEND MEALS ON WHEELS
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
ACCESS HEALTH
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SUGAR LAND
$25,000NURSING PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS
OAKBEND MEDICAL CENTER
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
LUKE 18-1 FOUNDATION
$25,000LINKS 4 LUKE
VOLUNTEER INTERFAITH CAREGIVERS
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
$20,000WINE LECTURE SERIES
HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$20,000HOME FIRE RELIEF PROGRAM
BELONG KITCHEN
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
IMPACT A HERO
$20,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
FORT BEND FORWARD YIP
$20,000SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
THE MISSION OF YAHWEH
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
FORT BEND DISCOVERY CENTER
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
GIRL SCOUTS OF SAN JACINTO COUNCIL
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
FORT BEND YOUNG LIFE
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
LOVELY VILLAGE
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
ALIEF EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
THE ARC OF FORT BEND COUNTY
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON CLEAR LAKE
$15,000CENTER FOR AUTISM & DEVELOPMENT
AISHEL HOUSE
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CULLINAN PARK CONSERVANCY
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
OUTREACH CENTER OF WEST HOUSTON
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF
$15,000MAMIE GEORGE CENTER SUPPORT