The Zeller Charitable Foundation concentrates its support locally in San Antonio, giving sizable gifts to higher-education institutions and health/biomedical research organizations, alongside selective support for cultural institutions and urban public-space projects. Their largest grants go to St. Mary’s University and The University of Texas Health Science Center, indicating a priority for advancing regional education and medical research capacity while also backing arts and civic-improvement initiatives.
The Roger L and Laura D Zeller Charitable Foundation’s largest recent gifts go to St. Mary’s University and The University of Texas Health Science Center, a clear signal that the funder prioritizes San Antonio institutions that build higher-education and medical-research capacity. Across the recent grant list, that pattern repeats in support for Texas Biomed Research Institute and several other local organizations tied to health science, culture, and civic life. The foundation’s giving is highly concentrated in San Antonio. Its recent awards show a mix of larger institutional grants and smaller charitably designated gifts, with recipients spanning universities, research centers, museums, a zoological society, and community institutions. St. Mary’s University received $127,500 in 2024 and $111,000 in 2025, while The University of Texas Health Science Center received $103,500 in 2023, $88,500 in 2024, and $28,974 in 2025. That repeated support suggests multi-year relationships with core local grantees rather than one-off awards.
Higher education is a central theme. St. Mary’s University received $127,500 in 2024 and $111,000 in 2025, while Saint Mary’s Hall received $23,500 in 2023 and $5,000 in 2024. Those awards point to sustained support for San Antonio education institutions. Health and biomedical research is another visible area. The University of Texas Health Science Center was awarded $103,500 in 2023, $88,500 in 2024, and $28,974 in 2025. Texas Biomed Research Institute also received $29,462 in 2024 and $5,750 in 2023, reinforcing the foundation’s interest in health science capacity. Civic and cultural organizations also appear regularly. Hemisfair Conservency received $25,000 in 2024, San Antonio Museum of Art received $27,500 in 2023 and $3,000 in 2025, and The DoSeum received $19,720 in 2023 and $5,000 in 2024.
Typical grant size is $200 at the 25th percentile, $1,500 at the median, and $5,688 at the 75th percentile, though the recent list includes much larger institutional awards. The pattern is not one-off philanthropy: the same organizations appear across multiple years, including St. Mary’s University, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio Zoological Society, Ballet San Antonio, and First Presbyterian Church. The foundation funds individuals: false, and it makes program-related investments: false. The grant records shown are charitable grants rather than an open application program.
$144K
$771K
$316K
$182K
Most grants fall between $200 and $6K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$200
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$6K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated, relatively large grants focused on a small number of local institutions; repeat funding to core grantees (multiple grants to St. Mary’s and UT Health). Few total grants but significant dollar amounts per recipient.
Notable grantees: St. Mary’s University, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Texas Biomed Research Institute, San Antonio Museum of Art, Hemisfair Conservancy
Giving is overwhelmingly local. Texas accounts for 73% of grants, and the recipient country distribution is entirely US-based. The city pattern centers on San Antonio, with the recent grants list showing recipients such as St. Mary’s University, Hemisfair Conservency, and the San Antonio Museum of Art. The geographic footprint is therefore regional rather than national, with awards landing almost entirely in the foundation’s own metro area.
The recent grants point to San Antonio higher-education institutions, health and biomedical research organizations, and cultural or civic institutions. Examples include universities, health science centers, museums, a zoological society, and public-space organizations.
Very concentrated: 73% of grants go to recipients in Texas, and every grant in the recipient-country distribution is in the US. The recent grants list is dominated by San Antonio organizations.
The typical grant distribution is small-to-moderate, with a 25th percentile of $200, a median of $1,500, and a 75th percentile of $5,688. The recent list also includes larger awards for core institutions.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including St. Mary’s University, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio Zoological Society, Ballet San Antonio, First Presbyterian Church, and The DoSeum.
No program-related investments are listed, and the foundation does not fund individuals. Its activity in the data is charitable grantmaking to organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $63,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| ST MARY'S UNIVERSITY | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $25,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| SAN ANTONIO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| TEXAS BIOMED RESEARCH INSTITUTE | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $13,600 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $4,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| TEXAS BIOMEDICAL FORUM | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $3,250 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| SAINT MARY'S HALL | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $2,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| BALLET SAN ANTONIO | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $2,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| UT HEALTH BIGGS INSTITUTE | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| BRISCO WESTERN ART MUSEUM | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $590 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| MANHATTAN INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $250 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| ST MARY'S UNIVERSITY | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $111,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $28,974 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SAN ANTONIO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CHARITY BALL ASSOCIATION | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $5,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BALLET SAN ANTONIO | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TEXAS BIOMEDICAL FORUM | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $3,520 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $3,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MAJESTIC EMPIRE FOUNDATION | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SAINT MARY'S HALL | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TEXAS BIOMED RESEARCH INSTITUTE | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY | SEGUIN, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| JUDICAIL WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| OLD SAINT JOE CEMETARY | WICHITA, KS | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MANHATTAN INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| OUR LADY OF REFUGE CATHOLIC CHURCH | EAGLE PASS, TX | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $250 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES | CHARLOTTE, NC | $200 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FRIENDS OF THE EARTH | MERRIFIELD, VA | $100 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BRISCO WESTERN ART MUSEUM | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $90 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ST MARY'S UNIVERSITY | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $127,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $88,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| TEXAS BIOMED RESEARCH INSTITUTE | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $29,462 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HEMISFAIR CONSERVENCY | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| SAN ANTONIO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| BALLET SAN ANTONIO | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE DOSEUM | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| SAINT MARY'S HALL | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| BRISCO WESTERN ART MUSEUM | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $2,625 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| MCNAY ART MUSEUM | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,667 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CHARITY BALL ASSOCIATION | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE LAND INSTITUTE | SALINAS, KS | $350 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION OF LATINO LEADERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $200 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
$63,500CHARITABLE
ST MARY'S UNIVERSITY
$25,500CHARITABLE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$5,000CHARITABLE
CHARITABLE
TEXAS BIOMEDICAL FORUM
$3,250CHARITABLE
BALLET SAN ANTONIO
$2,500CHARITABLE
SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART
$1,000CHARITABLE
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
$1,000CHARITABLE
UT HEALTH BIGGS INSTITUTE
$1,000CHARITABLE
BRISCO WESTERN ART MUSEUM
$590CHARITABLE
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
$28,974CHARITABLE
CHARITY BALL ASSOCIATION
$10,000CHARITABLE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$5,500CHARITABLE
BALLET SAN ANTONIO
$5,000CHARITABLE
TEXAS BIOMEDICAL FORUM
$3,520CHARITABLE
MAJESTIC EMPIRE FOUNDATION
$2,500CHARITABLE
SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART
$1,500CHARITABLE
TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY
$1,000CHARITABLE
JUDICAIL WATCH
$1,000CHARITABLE
OLD SAINT JOE CEMETARY
$1,000CHARITABLE
OUR LADY OF REFUGE CATHOLIC CHURCH
$500CHARITABLE
INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES
$200CHARITABLE
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
$100CHARITABLE
BRISCO WESTERN ART MUSEUM
$90CHARITABLE
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
$88,500CHARITABLE
BALLET SAN ANTONIO
$10,000CHARITABLE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$5,000CHARITABLE
BRISCO WESTERN ART MUSEUM
$2,625CHARITABLE
SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART
$1,500CHARITABLE
CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION OF LATINO LEADERS
$200CHARITABLE