About Lamar University Foundation
The Lamar University Foundation supports and enhances Lamar University by encouraging the commitment of personal and financial resources to further the education of Lamar University students. The foundation promotes the stewardship of donors to enhance the quality of services provided by the university to student, faculty, alumni and friends. The Lamar University Foundation manages the investments, serves as trustee of the endowment funds and other private assets contributed for the benefit of Lamar University.
Focus Areas
ScholarshipsEndowmentsStudent financial aidPlanned givingDonor stewardshipUniversity programs and colleges
Who They Fund
faculty (academic staff)students (individuals)student organizationsuniversity departments/units
Funding Style
About Lamar University Foundation
Lamar University Foundation Inc channels its grantmaking almost entirely into Lamar University, with recent awards supporting faculty, students, student organizations, and campus facilities. The largest recent grant in the record was $1,243,376 in 2023 to Lamar University, followed by major 2025 support of $898,722 for facility and equipment work and $809,611 for faculty support. That mix shows a funder that backs the university’s operating strength as well as its physical and academic infrastructure. The foundation’s role extends beyond annual grants. It manages investments and serves as trustee of endowment funds and other private assets contributed for the benefit of Lamar University. Its stated purpose is to encourage personal and financial commitments that further the education of Lamar University students, while also supporting services for students, faculty, alumni, and friends. Recent activity also points to direct student support. Grants in the record include $494,302 in 2025 for students and student organizations and $480,679 in 2024 for the same category, alongside smaller facility-related awards in earlier years. Across the available grant record, the recipient footprint remains centered on the university in Beaumont.
What Lamar University Foundation Funds
Student financial aid is a core part of the foundation’s work. Active programs include Smith-Hutson Scholars, Transfer Scholarships, Presidential and Southeast Texas Legends Scholars, Incoming Freshmen Scholarships, and Lamar University Scholarships. One listed program, Lamar University Scholarships, awards more than 2,000 scholarships annually and provides more than $20 million in assistance. The foundation also supports undergraduate research through the David J. Beck Fellowships, described as supporting advanced research projects and giving fellows full scholarships plus summer research funding. Beyond student support, the grant record includes faculty support and development. Recent awards of $869,261 in 2024 and $809,611 in 2025 were both categorized for faculty support, showing sustained attention to academic staff. Campus infrastructure is another theme, with recent facility and equipment grants among the foundation’s recorded disbursements.
How Lamar University Foundation Gives
Typical grant size is substantial: the grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $320,017, a median of $556,992, and a 75th percentile of $824,524. The recent record also shows repeated support for Lamar University across 2023, 2024, and 2025, indicating a recurring funding pattern rather than isolated awards. The foundation operates as a university foundation and manages investments and endowment assets for Lamar University. Its program pages also show some opportunities that accept unsolicited applications, including several scholarship programs.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.9M
Total Assets
$163.9M
Total Revenue
$7.2M
Total Expenses
$6.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $320K and $825K, with a median of $557K.
25th Percentile
$320K
Median
$557K
75th Percentile
$825K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Juan J Zabala
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