About Houston Marathon Foundation
To support the advancement of running as an element of a balanced, healthy lifestyle in the Houston community and nationally.
Focus Areas
Youth running programs and after-school fitnessHealth & wellness initiativesRunning event safety and accessibilityElite athlete developmentScholarships for student-athletesCommunity running infrastructure
Who They Fund
community-based nonprofits/charitieslocal community groups (challenge winners)general community beneficiaries
Funding Style
corporate philanthropyaward/competitive grant (charity challenge)
About Houston Marathon Foundation
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.
What Houston Marathon Foundation Funds
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.
How Houston Marathon Foundation Gives
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.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$350K
Total Assets
$444K
Total Revenue
$417K
Total Expenses
$271K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $10K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$10K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Townes Pressler
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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