The Hildebrand Foundation makes a small number of very large gifts concentrated on higher education and local community philanthropy, primarily funding the University of Texas at Austin and the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Grants are oriented toward major campaign/capital projects and institutional program support rather than many small operational awards. The foundation’s giving signals a focus on strengthening flagship public university infrastructure and channeling community endowment capacity in the Houston area.
A $7,657,500 campaign-support grant to the University of Texas at Austin anchors the Hildebrand Foundation’s recent record and shows the scale at which it operates. The foundation pairs that kind of higher-education funding with major support for the Greater Houston Community Foundation, including a $6,530,000 general-support grant in 2025 and a $2,065,000 award in 2024. Its pattern is not broad-based small grantmaking; it concentrates on a relatively small number of large awards tied to institutions, capital campaigns, and program support. The University of Texas system appears repeatedly in the recent grants list, including support for UT Austin schools and initiatives and for the SHIFT program. The foundation also backs Houston-area institutions and endowments, alongside faith-based and community-serving organizations. Across the record provided, the Hildebrand Foundation gives mostly in Texas and works through sizeable institutional grants rather than dispersed, grassroots awards. That combination of university philanthropy, community-foundation support, and local institutional giving defines its profile more than a single program area alone.
Higher education is a central theme. In 2025, the foundation gave $1,250,000 to University of Texas at Austin - McCombs School of Business for general support, and in 2024 it awarded $1,937,750 to The University of Texas at Austin for DKR South End Zone and the SHIFT program. Capital and campaign support is another clear line of giving. The foundation granted $1,000,000 to River Oaks Baptist School for a capital campaign in 2023, and in 2025 it gave $500,000 to Hermann Park Conservancy for a capital campaign. Its faith-based and human-services grantmaking appears in awards such as $250,000 to Yellowstone Schools for general support in 2023 and $225,000 to Star of Hope Mission for general support in 2025. These grants indicate support for organizations serving children, students, and people needing basic assistance.
Typical grants cluster around mid-five figures to low-six figures, with a p25 of $10,000, a median of $25,000, and a p75 of $30,000. The recent list also includes several much larger institutional awards, so the distribution is skewed upward by campaign and program commitments. The foundation’s giving pattern is concentrated rather than fragmented: the same institutions appear across multiple years, including the Greater Houston Community Foundation, the University of Texas at Austin, Hermann Park Conservancy, and Star of Hope Mission. The foundation is headquartered in Houston and makes grants locally. It also funds individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Applications are by invitation only for its general grantmaking.
$14M
$134.4M
$24.5M
$15M
Most grants fall between $10K and $30K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$30K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Hildebrand Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 440 | $54.3M | 99.8% |
| 2 | India | 1 |
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Highly concentrated giving: very few, very large grants; repeat, multi-year/series support to a small set of institutional recipients (primarily UT Austin and Greater Houston Community Foundation).
Notable grantees: Greater Houston Community Foundation, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at Austin - McCombs School of Business
Grant activity is heavily centered in Texas, with 93% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Houston is the main recipient city, appearing alongside Bellaire and Austin. Outside Texas, the recent grants list includes awards to New Orleans, Dallas, Aspen, and Chula Vista, showing a limited but real reach beyond the immediate Houston area. The country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based: 318 grants went to U.S. recipients, and 1 grant went to India.
The foundation funds faith-based organizations serving the poor and needy, along with higher-education institutions and local community organizations. Recent grants include support for the University of Texas at Austin, the Greater Houston Community Foundation, and Star of Hope Mission.
Typical grants are relatively modest compared with the foundation’s largest awards. The distribution shows a p25 of $10,000, a median of $25,000, and a p75 of $30,000, although some recent grants reach into the millions for capital and campaign support.
No. Its general grantmaking is invitation only, and the foundation no longer reviews unsolicited requests. The active grant program language says applications are accepted by invitation only beginning November 2025.
It gives most often in Texas, and 93% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Houston is the most visible recipient city in the recent grants list, with additional Texas recipients in Austin and Bellaire.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, in addition to organizations. Its grantmaking profile also shows no program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| $5K |
0.2% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Of Texas At Austin | Austin, TX | $8,650,501 | 2026 | Capital campaign |
| Hermann Park Conservancy | Houston, TX | $500,000 | 2026 | Capital campaign |
| University Of St Thomas | Houston, TX | $350,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Star Of Hope Mission | Houston, TX | $225,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Greater Houston Community Foundation | Houston, TX | $200,000 | 2026 | General support |
| YWAM San DiegoBaja | Chula Vista, CA | $196,664 | 2026 | General support |
| Workfaith Connection | Houston, TX | $150,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Episcopal High School | Bellaire, TX | $142,500 | 2026 | Program support |
| Franciscan Friars Of Hebbronville Inc | Hebbronville, TX | $140,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Houston Police Foundation | Houston, TX | $118,500 | 2026 | General support |
| Eyes On Me | Katy, TX | $112,500 | 2026 | General support |
| Family Legacy | Irving, TX | $106,912 | 2026 | Program support |
| St Mary's Catholic Center Texas A&M | College Station, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| Edify | Boston, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | Capital campaign |
| Southern Dominican Province USA | New Orleans, LA | $100,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Serenity Retreat | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Fellowship Of Christian Athletes | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| River Oaks Baptist School | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | General support |
| St Dominic Village | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| National Medal Of Honor Museum Foundation | Arlington, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| Co-Cathedral Of The Sacred Heart | Houston, TX | $83,332 | 2026 | Capital campaign |
| Care Net Pregnancy Center Of Houston | Houston, TX | $75,000 | 2026 | Capital campaign |
| Diocese Of Laredo | Laredo, TX | $75,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| Holy Family Parish Of GalvestonBolivar | Galveston, TX | $66,664 | 2026 | General support |
| Brookwood Community | Brookshire, TX | $60,000 | 2026 | Capital campaign |
| Faith In Practice | Houston, TX | $60,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Catholic Relief Services | Baltimore, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| Catholic Charities | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | General support |
| St Augustine High School | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Houston Coalition For Life | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Cypress Assistance Ministries | Cypress, TX | $35,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Galveston Urban Ministries | Galveston, TX | $35,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Main St Ministries | Houston, TX | $35,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| Santa Rosa De Lima Church | Houston, TX | $33,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| Humble Area Assistance Ministries | Humble, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church | Houston, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Gracewood | Houston, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | General support |
| The Beacon | Houston, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | General support |
| The Source | Austin, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| Memorial Assistance Ministries | Houston, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Greater Houston | Dallas, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Amazing Place | Houston, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | Capital campaign |
| St Austin Catholic School | Austin, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| International Justice Mission | Washington Dc, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Lifehouse Of Houston | Houston, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| Christian Renewal Center | Dickinson, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| East West Ministries International | Plano, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | Capital campaign |
| West Houston Assistance Ministries Inc | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Champion Institute | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | General support |
| Miracle Farm Inc | Brenham, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | General support |
University Of Texas At Austin
$8,650,501Capital campaign
YWAM San DiegoBaja
$196,664General support
Episcopal High School
$142,500Program support
Franciscan Friars Of Hebbronville Inc
$140,000General support
Family Legacy
$106,912Program support
St Mary's Catholic Center Texas A&M
$100,000Program support
Southern Dominican Province USA
$100,000General support
Serenity Retreat
$100,000General support
Fellowship Of Christian Athletes
$100,000Program support
River Oaks Baptist School
$100,000General support
National Medal Of Honor Museum Foundation
$100,000Program support
Co-Cathedral Of The Sacred Heart
$83,332Capital campaign
Care Net Pregnancy Center Of Houston
$75,000Capital campaign
Diocese Of Laredo
$75,000Program support
Holy Family Parish Of GalvestonBolivar
$66,664General support
Catholic Relief Services
$50,000Program support
Catholic Charities
$50,000General support
St Augustine High School
$50,000General support
Houston Coalition For Life
$50,000General support
Main St Ministries
$35,000Program support
Santa Rosa De Lima Church
$33,000Program support
Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church
$30,000General support
The Beacon
$30,000General support
Big Brothers Big Sisters Greater Houston
$30,000General support
Amazing Place
$30,000Capital campaign
St Austin Catholic School
$30,000Program support
International Justice Mission
$30,000General support
Christian Renewal Center
$25,000Program support
East West Ministries International
$25,000Capital campaign
Champion Institute
$25,000General support
Miracle Farm Inc
$25,000General support