To support the advancement of running as an element of a balanced, healthy lifestyle in the Houston community and nationally.
The Houston Marathon Foundation ties its grantmaking to running as a tool for youth development, community health, and elite athlete support. One of its clearest program signatures is We Run Houston, a 12- to 20-week after-school running club that includes race entries, tech shirts, transportation support, coaching stipends, and shoes for students training for the half marathon. The foundation also backs a separate scholarship path for student-athletes and provides support for elite distance running programs and development teams. Recent grants show a strong local pattern, with many awards directed to Houston-area nonprofits and community groups. The foundation’s community support includes donations to organizations such as Friends for Life, The Faris Foundation, and Steel Magnolia Moms through challenge and community-commitment programs. Other awards go to running-related and health-focused nonprofits that serve children, families, and people with disabilities. Across its portfolio, the Houston Marathon Foundation uses running-related programs, event-linked giving, and community support to connect athletic participation with broader neighborhood benefit.
Youth running and after-school fitness are central to the Houston Marathon Foundation’s work. Through We Run Houston, it supports a 12- to 20-week after-school running club model that supplies race entries, shirts, transportation, coaching stipends, and shoes for students training for the half marathon. Health and wellness also appear across its community giving. The foundation awarded $10,000 to The American Heart Association, $10,000 to Houston Area Parkinson's Society, and $10,000 to the Alzheimer's Association Houston & Southwest Texas, all in Houston. Its support for community-based organizations includes grants to Bel Inizio and West Houston Assistance Ministries, reflecting a mix of running access, community health, and local capacity support. Elite distance running is another distinct lane, with support for national and regional development teams.
Typical grants cluster at $10,000, with the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles all at $10,000. The recent grant list also includes $25,000 awards, showing some higher-value support alongside the standard level. The foundation’s giving is local in scope, and 100% of grants in the provided recipient distribution go to Texas-based recipients. The pattern is mainly recurring program and community support rather than one-time individual aid; the foundation funds organizations, teams, and school-linked programs, not individuals. Houston Marathon Foundation also operates at least one application-based scholarship program, the Houston Marathon Foundation Scholarship, which accepts unsolicited applications.
$350K
$444K
$417K
$271K
Most grants fall between $10K and $10K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$10K
Townes Pressler
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Grantmaking is concentrated in Texas, especially Houston and the Greater Houston region. Houston recipients appear repeatedly, including The American Heart Association, Bo's Place, and Houston SPCA, while nearby cities such as Sugar Land, Bellaire, and Pearland also show up in the recent grant list. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 23 grants and 100% in the United States. The foundation’s local emphasis is consistent with its community-oriented programming and Houston-area scholarship and youth running support.
It funds organizations tied to running, youth fitness, health and wellness, event safety and accessibility, scholarships, and elite distance running. The active program list includes after-school running clubs, local running and youth initiatives, and support for elite distance running teams and development programs.
The typical recent grant is $10,000. The provided grant-size distribution shows p25, median, and p75 all at $10,000, indicating a strong concentration at that level.
Its giving is local and the recipient distribution is entirely Texas-based in the provided data, with 100% of grants going to recipients in Texas. Recent awards include organizations in Houston, Sugar Land, Bellaire, and Pearland.
Yes. The Houston Marathon Foundation Scholarship provides $2,500 per year for four years, or $20,000 total, to high-achieving high school seniors who show leadership, generosity, volunteer spirit, love of running, community involvement, and strong academic performance.
At least one program does: the Houston Marathon Foundation Scholarship accepts unsolicited applications. Several other active programs listed for after-school running clubs, local running initiatives, and elite distance running support do not accept unsolicited requests.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Houston Marathon Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Schools host an after-school running club in affiliation with the Houston Marathon Foundation; students must be in good standing and participate in the program's training requirements.
Deadline: Registration for the 2026-27 We Run Houston program is now open; no closing date stated.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Faris Foundation | Sugar Land, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Chevron Charity Challenge Winner |
| Houston Area Parkinson's Society | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Chevron Charity Challenge Winner |
| Friends for Life | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Steel Magnolia Moms | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Chevron Charity Challenge Winner |
| Houston Haven Ministry | Bellaire, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Chevron Charity Challenge Winner |
| The Arbor School | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Chevron Charity Challenge Winner |
| The HEART Program | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Team Catapult | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Avondale House | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| The Arbor School | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Bel Inizio | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Houston Haven Ministry | Bellaire, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Sunshine Kids Foundation | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Dress for Success | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Counseling Connections for Change Inc | Pearland, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| 3A Bereavement Foundation | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Houston Area Parkinson's Society | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| West Houston Assistance Ministries | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Child Advocates | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Alzheimer's Association Houston & Southwest Texas | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Ronald McDonald House | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| The Children's Assessment Center Foundation | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Houston SPCA | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Sole Loved Shoes Inc | Sugar Land, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| The American Heart Association | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Bo's Place | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation |
| Friends For Life | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | Aramco Americas Runner's Choice Award |
| The Arbor School | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | RFAR Chevron Charity Challenge Award |
| Houston Haven Ministry | Bellaire, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | RFAR Chevron Charity Challenge Award |
| Addi's Faith Foundation | Kingwood, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | RFAR Chevron Charity Challenge Award |
| Steel Magnolia Moms | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2023 | Chevron Charity winner |
| Lving Water International | Stafford, TX | $25,000 | 2023 | Aramco Charity winner |
| A Children's House for the Soul | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2023 | Chevron Charity winner |
| Friends for Life | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2023 | Chevron Charity winner |
The Faris Foundation
$25,000Chevron Charity Challenge Winner
Steel Magnolia Moms
$25,000Chevron Charity Challenge Winner
Houston Haven Ministry
$25,000Chevron Charity Challenge Winner
Chevron Charity Challenge Winner
The HEART Program
$10,000Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation
Team Catapult
$10,000Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation
Bel Inizio
$10,000Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation
Houston Haven Ministry
$10,000Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation
Counseling Connections for Change Inc
$10,000Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation
3A Bereavement Foundation
$10,000Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation
Alzheimer's Association Houston & Southwest Texas
$10,000Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation
Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation
Sole Loved Shoes Inc
$10,000Aramco Commitment to the Community Donation
Friends For Life
$25,000Aramco Americas Runner's Choice Award
Houston Haven Ministry
$25,000RFAR Chevron Charity Challenge Award
Addi's Faith Foundation
$25,000RFAR Chevron Charity Challenge Award
Steel Magnolia Moms
$25,000Chevron Charity winner
A Children's House for the Soul
$25,000Chevron Charity winner
Friends for Life
$25,000Chevron Charity winner