The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund concentrates on Texas-centered youth development and education, with heavy support for K–16 schools, vocational/agricultural programming, literacy initiatives, and children’s services. Their portfolio also includes notable investments in cultural institutions (Houston Symphony, Opera, Ballet), animal welfare, and health/science training—reflecting the Rodeo’s civic and agricultural heritage while prioritizing programs that serve Houston-area youth and students. Grants are often repeated to the same organizations and aimed at program or graduate assistance rather than capital campaigns.
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund’s recent giving is defined by repeated support for Texas education programs, especially graduate assistance and Houston-area student services. Schreiner University appears at the top of the recent-grants list with awards of $230,000 in 2024 and $221,000 in 2025, while Texas Tech University received $93,600 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025 for graduate assistance. Those recurring awards point to a funder that uses multi-year commitments rather than isolated gifts. The foundation also backs local institutions serving children and youth, including $150,000 to Children’s Museum of Houston in 2023 and $120,000 to Cristo Rey Jesuit College Prep School in both 2024 and 2025. Smaller but repeated grants to Small Steps Nurturing Center, Neuhaus Education Center, and Texas Hearing Institute show that the portfolio includes early education, literacy-related support, and health-oriented services alongside college funding. Across the grant list, the pattern is steady Texas-centered support for schools, student aid, and youth-serving organizations. The funder’s work reflects an educational mission shaped by the Rodeo’s civic and agricultural ties, with grants aimed at program delivery and graduate support rather than a narrow single-cause strategy.
In graduate education, the foundation gave $100,800 in 2025 to Texas A&M Foundation for graduate assistance, and $93,600 to Texas Tech University in 2024 and 2025 for the same purpose. The recent grants also include $86,000 to Texas A&M Foundation in 2023 and 2024, reinforcing that higher-education support is not a one-time pattern. For K–12 and college-prep work, Cristo Rey Jesuit College Prep School received $100,000 in 2023 and $120,000 in both 2024 and 2025. Houston’s early childhood and literacy ecosystem also appears in the list through $100,000 gifts to Neuhaus Education Center in 2023 and 2024, plus $120,000 in 2025 to Small Steps Nurturing Center. The portfolio further includes youth cultural education and enrichment. Children’s Museum of Houston received $150,000 in 2023, showing that the foundation’s education-related giving extends beyond classrooms into child-focused public learning spaces.
$3.7M
$125.2M
$28.2M
$19.6M
Most grants fall between $25K and $54K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$54K
CHRIS BOLEMAN
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Moderately large, recurring grants distributed across many organizations with frequent repeat funding (many grantees receiving multiple grants); favors program and scholarship support over one-off capital gifts, with a strong geographic concentration in Houston and statewide Texas beneficiaries.
Notable grantees: Schreiner University, Texas FFA Association, Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Houston Grand Opera, Houston SPCA
Typical grant size sits around $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $54,450 at the 75th percentile, but the recent-grants list also shows many larger program gifts in the six-figure range. The pattern is clearly recurring: Schreiner University, Cristo Rey Jesuit College Prep School, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M Foundation, Small Steps Nurturing Center, and others appear in multiple years. The foundation is not an individual-giving vehicle and does not make program-related investments. Its grants are institutional, with a strong tilt toward ongoing support for schools, student aid, and operating programs rather than one-off awards.
Giving is concentrated entirely in Texas: 100% of grants in the available data go to recipients in TX, and Texas is also the top state by grant count. Recent grants land in Houston, Kerrville, College Station, Bellaire, San Antonio, and Lubbock. The strongest city-level presence is Houston, where multiple recipients appear across education, children’s services, and health-related institutions. Outside Houston, the list still stays local to Texas, with repeated support for universities and statewide education groups.
The recent grants show a strong emphasis on Texas education and youth development. Recipients include universities such as Schreiner University, Texas Tech University, and Texas A&M Foundation; Houston schools like Cristo Rey Jesuit College Prep School; and child-focused organizations such as Small Steps Nurturing Center and Children’s Museum of Houston.
Recurring support is a clear pattern. Schreiner University appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Texas Tech University appears in all three years for graduate assistance; and Cristo Rey Jesuit College Prep School, Texas A&M Foundation, Small Steps Nurturing Center, and Texas Hearing Institute also show repeat awards across multiple years.
The typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $54,450 at the 75th percentile. The recent-grants list also includes larger awards such as $230,000 to Schreiner University and $150,000 to Children’s Museum of Houston.
Its giving is entirely Texas-based in the available data: 100% of grants go to recipients in TX. Recent recipient cities include Houston, Kerrville, College Station, Bellaire, San Antonio, and Lubbock.
Yes. Graduate assistance is a visible part of the portfolio, including $100,800 to Texas A&M Foundation in 2025 for graduate assistance, $93,600 to Texas Tech University in 2024 and 2025, and $86,000 to Texas A&M Foundation in 2023 and 2024.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHREINER UNIVERSITY | KERRVILLE, TX | $230,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER | KILN, MS | $200,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON- DOWNTOWN | HOUSTON, TX | $125,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| CRISTO REY JESUIT COLLEGE | HOUSTON, TX | $120,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| TEXAS 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION | CLG STATION, TX | $109,500 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| TEXAS A&M FOUNDATION | COLLEGE STN, TX | $100,800 | 2026 | GRADUATE ASSISTANCE |
| TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION INC | NEW BRAUNFELS, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| NEUHAUS EDUCATION CENTER | BELLAIRE, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| SMALL STEPS NURTURING CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY | LUBBOCK, TX | $88,000 | 2026 | GRADUATE ASSISTANCE |
| TEXAS HEARING INSTITUTE | CLG STATION, TX | $75,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| YELLOWSTONE SCHOOLS | HOUSTON, TX | $75,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CTR | HOUSTON, TX | $72,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| HOUSTON SPCA | HOUSTON, TX | $72,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY - KINGSVILLE | KINGSVILLE, TX | $70,400 | 2026 | GRADUATE ASSISTANCE |
| BROOKWOOD COMMUNITY | BROOKSHIRE, TX | $68,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE | HOUSTON, TX | $60,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| PRAIRIE VIEW A & M UNIVERSITY | PRAIRIE VIEW, TX | $60,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| HOUSTON POLICE FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $57,142 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| TEXAS FFA ASSOCIATION | AUSTIN, TX | $55,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| BARBARA BUSH HOUSTON LITERACY FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $54,900 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| HEART | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| HOUSTON BOTANIC GARDEN | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| BOOKS BETWEEN KIDS | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTER INC | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| HOUSTON REVISION | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| HOUSTON BALLET FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| BEAR BE A RESOURCE FOR CPS KIDS | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| CHINQUAPIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL | HIGHLANDS, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| THE RISE SCH OF HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| HOUSTON GRAND OPERA | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| HOUSTON SYMPHONY | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| STEPHEN F AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY | NACOGDOCHES, TX | $48,000 | 2026 | GRADUATE ASSISTANCE |
| TEXAS TECH FOUNDATION | LUBBOCK, TX | $46,032 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY | STEPHENVILLE, TX | $43,200 | 2026 | GRADUATE ASSISTANCE |
| SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY | HUNTSVILLE, TX | $40,500 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL RODEO ASSOCIATION | CENTER, TX | $40,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY | HUNTSVILLE, TX | $37,200 | 2026 | GRADUATE ASSISTANCE |
| GLASSELL SCHOOL OF ART | HOUSTON, TX | $36,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| THE COUNCIL ON RECOVERY | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| THE ALLEY THEATRE | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| YMCA OF GREATER HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS LONE STAR | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| MIRACLE FARM | BRENHAM, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| BOYS AND GIRLS COUNTRY OF HOUSTON INC | HOCKLEY, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF SAN JACINTO | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
| TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $26,000 | 2026 | GRANTS |
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON- DOWNTOWN
$125,000GRANTS
CRISTO REY JESUIT COLLEGE
$120,000GRANTS
GRADUATE ASSISTANCE
TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION INC
$100,000GRANTS
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
$88,000GRADUATE ASSISTANCE
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY - KINGSVILLE
$70,400GRADUATE ASSISTANCE
PRAIRIE VIEW A & M UNIVERSITY
$60,000GRANTS
TEXAS FFA ASSOCIATION
$55,000GRANTS
HEART
$50,000GRANTS
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA
$50,000GRANTS
HOUSTON SYMPHONY
$50,000GRANTS
STEPHEN F AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
$48,000GRADUATE ASSISTANCE
TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY
$43,200GRADUATE ASSISTANCE
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
$40,500GRANTS
TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL RODEO ASSOCIATION
$40,000GRANTS
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
$37,200GRADUATE ASSISTANCE
MIRACLE FARM
$30,000GRANTS
GIRL SCOUTS OF SAN JACINTO
$30,000GRANTS