The Harry E. Bovay Jr. Foundation concentrates its giving in a small number of large gifts focused on youth development through Scouting and biomedical research/clinical survivorship. Its grants fund scouting infrastructure and major national Scout properties as well as university-based chemical biology research and pediatric cancer survivorship work, indicating an interest in both outdoor youth leadership and scientific/medical philanthropy.
A single $1,000,000 grant to Bovay Scout RanchSHAC in Navasota anchors the Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation’s recent giving and shows how heavily the foundation supports Scouting properties. The next-largest gift in the recent-grants list went to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico for $436,616, reinforcing a pattern of substantial support for Scout ranches and related Boy Scouts of America entities. Alongside those youth-development gifts, the foundation also funds biomedical and educational work: Texas A&M Foundation received $208,000 for the Harry E Bovay Jr. Foundation Symposium in Chemical Biology Endowment, and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital received $202,000 for the Division of Cancer Survivorship. The mix points to a funder that combines place-based Scouting support with university-linked research philanthropy and pediatric cancer survivorship funding. Recent grants also include tuition and dual-credit support for students in Alabama and Kansas, showing an additional interest in education access. Across these areas, the foundation’s giving is characterized by large, targeted awards rather than broad small-grant activity.
Youth development and Scouting are a core theme. The foundation gave $1,000,000 to Bovay Scout RanchSHAC in Navasota for general support, and $436,616 to Philmont Scout Ranch for general support. It also made smaller gifts to Boy Scouts of America entities, including $20,000 to Girl Scouts of San Jacinto and $10,000 to Jayhawk Area Council. In education access, the foundation supported college pathways through Kansas voucher funding, including $20,228 to Allen Community College and $20,154 to Washburn University. Medical and research support appears in grants such as $208,000 to Texas A&M Foundation for the Symposium in Chemical Biology Endowment and $202,000 to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital for the Division of Cancer Survivorship. The foundation also gave $25,000 to Samaritan's Purse for hurricane relief.
The recent grants show a wide spread in gift size, from six-figure awards down to four-figure educator grants. The median recent gift is about $10,000, with the 25th percentile near $5,400 and the 75th percentile around $20,000. That profile reflects a small number of very large commitments paired with many mid-sized education and Scouting awards. The foundation is a private foundation and also funds individuals, as seen in educator grants and tuition support. Recipients appear across multiple years in some program areas, especially Scouting, higher education access, and educator support, indicating recurring relationships rather than one-off gifts only. Some programs are open to unsolicited requests, while several Scouting and medical research grants are by invitation only.
$2.5M
$40M
$3.1M
$3.5M
About 16% of grants go to recipients in KS.
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Highly concentrated: few, large grants (four total) with repeat emphasis on Scouting organizations and one-time multimillion-dollar commitments to select medical and university research programs.
Notable grantees: Bovay Scout Ranch (SHAC), Philmont Scout Ranch, Texas A&M Foundation, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Grant recipients are entirely U.S.-based in the provided data. Texas and Alabama appear often, with notable gifts to Navasota, Houston, College Station, Fayette, and Livingston, plus Alabama recipients in Fayette, Vernon, Tuscaloosa, and Houlka. Kansas also shows up repeatedly through recipients in Iola, Topeka, Emporia, Manhattan, Lawrence, Hays, and Wichita. Outside those states, the recent list includes Memphis, TN; Cimarron, NM; Boone, NC; Staten Island, NY; and Rome, GA. The distribution points to a grant portfolio that is national in reach but concentrated in a handful of states and specific institutions.
Its recent grants support Scouting properties and Boy Scouts of America entities, university-linked chemical biology research, pediatric cancer survivorship work, tuition and dual-credit programs, educator grants, and occasional disaster relief. The largest recent gifts went to Scout ranches, while other significant awards supported Texas A&M Foundation and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Recent grants range from a $1,000,000 award to Bovay Scout RanchSHAC to educator grants of roughly $5,000 to $10,000. In the recent-grants set, the median gift is about $10,000, with the middle half of grants landing roughly between $5,400 and $20,000.
Yes. Scouting, higher education access, and medical research appear repeatedly in the recent-grants list. Examples include multiple grants tied to Scout properties, several Kansas voucher awards to colleges, and repeated educator grants at universities such as Wichita State University and the University of West Alabama.
Some programs accept unsolicited requests, including Community Grants, Kansas Two-Year Tuition Award, Alabama Dual Enrollment Program, Mississippi Dual Enrollment Program, Alabama Tuition Guarantee Program, and Educator Grants. Other areas, including Boy Scouts of America support and Medical Research Grants, are by invitation only.
The recent grants are all to U.S. recipients. Texas and Alabama recur often, along with Kansas. Specific recipient cities include Navasota, Houston, College Station, Fayette, and Livingston, plus Iola, Topeka, Emporia, Manhattan, Lawrence, Hays, and Wichita in Kansas.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Harry E Bovay Jr Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Requests must benefit the listed communities and address specific community needs. Grants are awarded case by case.
Deadline: October 1 annually; requests are reviewed at the November meeting.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovay Scout RanchSHAC | Navasota, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | General support |
| Philmont Scout Ranch | Cimarron, NM | $436,616 | 2025 | General support |
| Texas A&M Foundation | College Station, TX | $208,000 | 2025 | Grant - Harry E Bovay Jr. Foundation Symposium in Chemical Biology Endowment |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital | Memphis, TN | $202,000 | 2025 | Grant - Division of Cancer Survivorship |
| Bevill State Community College | Fayette, AL | $132,617 | 2025 | Tuition Guarantee Program and textbooks in Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 |
| Retina Research Foundation | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | General support |
| Samaritan's Purse | Boone, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | Donation - hurricane relief |
| Allen Community College | Iola, KS | $20,228 | 2025 | HS Dual Credit, Kansas voucher program |
| Washburn University | Topeka, KS | $20,154 | 2025 | Kansas voucher program |
| Girl Scouts of San Jacinto | Houston, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | General support |
| Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Fndation | Staten Island, NY | $17,000 | 2025 | General support |
| Itawamba Community College | Belden, MS | $15,176 | 2025 | HS Dual Credit program |
| Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS | $13,025 | 2025 | Kansas voucher program |
| West Alabama Children's Advocacy Center | Vernon, AL | $12,646 | 2025 | General support |
| Northwest Georgia Council | Rome, GA | $12,000 | 2025 | General support |
| Wichita State University | Wichita, KS | $10,375 | 2025 | Educator grant - Ann Fawl |
| Chickasaw Council | Memphis, TN | $10,005 | 2025 | General support |
| Jayhawk Area Council | Topeka, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | General support |
| Emporia State University | Emporia, KS | $10,000 | 2025 | Kansas voucher program |
| Flint Hills Technical College | Emporia, LA | $9,639 | 2025 | Kansas voucher program |
| University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS | $9,000 | 2025 | Kansas voucher program |
| Wichita State University | Wichita, KS | $8,150 | 2025 | Educator grant - Amber Gist |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | $6,711 | 2025 | Educator grant - Harleigh Kelly |
| Houlka Attendance Center | Houlka, MS | $6,630 | 2025 | General support |
| Black Warrior Council | Tuscaloosa, AL | $6,000 | 2025 | General support |
| Fort Hays State University | Hays, KS | $5,874 | 2025 | Educator grant - Dawn Hart |
| Wichita State University | Wichita, KS | $5,810 | 2025 | Educator grant - Dana Workman |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | $5,388 | 2025 | Educator grant - Kala P. Fowler |
| Mississippi State University | Mississippi State, MS | $5,000 | 2025 | Educator grant - Lindsy Moore |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | Educator grant - Cassie Carroll |
| Fort Hays State University | Hays, KS | $5,000 | 2025 | Educator grant - Emily Watts |
| Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS | $5,000 | 2025 | Educator grant - Kara Holbert |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | Educator grant - Sheree McManus |
| The Salvation Army | Alexandria, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | Grant- To Support The Mission Of The Organization |
| William Carey University | Hattiesburg, MS | $5,000 | 2025 | Educator grant - Emily Katie Johnson |
| Western Governors University | Salt Lake City, UT | $5,000 | 2025 | Educator grant - Nicolette Morgan |
| Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | Educator grant - Ashley Swanson |
| Friends of the Children - Central Oregon | Bend, OR | $5,000 | 2025 | General support |
| Mississippi College | Jackson, MS | $5,000 | 2025 | Educator grant - Allene Pannell |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | $5,000 | 2025 | Educator grant - Jordan Ives |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS | $5,000 | 2025 | Educator grant - Charles Uhiren |
| Christar International Inc | Richardson, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | General support |
| University of North Alabama | Florence, AL | $4,995 | 2025 | Educator grant - Erin Walker |
| Emporia State University | Emporia, KS | $4,724 | 2025 | Educator grant - Jordyn Schwinn |
| University of North Alabama | Florence, AL | $4,700 | 2025 | Educator grant - Laurel Gunter |
| University of North Alabama | Florence, AL | $4,700 | 2025 | Educator grant - Mami Tucker |
| Fort Hays State University | Hays, KS | $4,075 | 2025 | Educator grant - Tyler Buche |
| Emporia State University | Emporia, KS | $3,987 | 2025 | Educator grant - Jess Lewis |
| Emporia State University | Emporia, KS | $3,984 | 2025 | Educator grant - Weston Gloss |
| Fort Hays State University | Hays, KS | $3,516 | 2025 | Educator grant - Amber Thompson |
Bovay Scout RanchSHAC
$1,000,000General support
Philmont Scout Ranch
$436,616General support
Grant - Harry E Bovay Jr. Foundation Symposium in Chemical Biology Endowment
Bevill State Community College
$132,617Tuition Guarantee Program and textbooks in Spring 2024 and Fall 2024
General support
Allen Community College
$20,228HS Dual Credit, Kansas voucher program
Washburn University
$20,154Kansas voucher program
Girl Scouts of San Jacinto
$20,000General support
Itawamba Community College
$15,176HS Dual Credit program
Kansas State University
$13,025Kansas voucher program
West Alabama Children's Advocacy Center
$12,646General support
Northwest Georgia Council
$12,000General support
Wichita State University
$10,375Educator grant - Ann Fawl
Chickasaw Council
$10,005General support
Jayhawk Area Council
$10,000General support
Emporia State University
$10,000Kansas voucher program
Flint Hills Technical College
$9,639Kansas voucher program
University of Kansas
$9,000Kansas voucher program
Wichita State University
$8,150Educator grant - Amber Gist
University of West Alabama
$6,711Educator grant - Harleigh Kelly
Houlka Attendance Center
$6,630General support
Black Warrior Council
$6,000General support
Wichita State University
$5,810Educator grant - Dana Workman
University of West Alabama
$5,388Educator grant - Kala P. Fowler
Mississippi State University
$5,000Educator grant - Lindsy Moore
University of West Alabama
$5,000Educator grant - Cassie Carroll
Kansas State University
$5,000Educator grant - Kara Holbert
University of West Alabama
$5,000Educator grant - Sheree McManus
The Salvation Army
$5,000Grant- To Support The Mission Of The Organization
William Carey University
$5,000Educator grant - Emily Katie Johnson
Northwest Missouri State University
$5,000Educator grant - Ashley Swanson
University of West Alabama
$5,000Educator grant - Jordan Ives
University of Southern Mississippi
$5,000Educator grant - Charles Uhiren
University of North Alabama
$4,995Educator grant - Erin Walker
Emporia State University
$4,724Educator grant - Jordyn Schwinn
University of North Alabama
$4,700Educator grant - Laurel Gunter
University of North Alabama
$4,700Educator grant - Mami Tucker
Emporia State University
$3,987Educator grant - Jess Lewis
Emporia State University
$3,984Educator grant - Weston Gloss
