The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation is a Houston-focused private foundation that prioritizes local human services with a strong emphasis on Jewish communal institutions, child- and family-serving organizations, and disability-support providers. Their grants are largely general/financial support and tend to reinforce a small set of recurring, locally based organizations rather than broad national initiatives. The foundation funds both education (notably a Jewish day school) and direct-service nonprofits that serve children, families, and people with disabilities in the Houston area.
Concentrated, Houston-centric giving with a few large gifts (e.g., one six-figure grant) alongside several mid-size recurring grants; multiple repeat grantees indicate multi-year or ongoing support, and most grants are unrestricted/financial support.
The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation’s giving shows a clear preference for Houston institutions that provide direct human services, with especially strong support for Jewish communal organizations, child and family services, and disability-related care. One of the largest recent grants went to Emery Weiner School for $100,000 in 2025, signaling the foundation’s willingness to make sizable gifts to local education and community-serving organizations. Other recurring support has gone to Jewish Family Service of Houston, which received $50,000 in 2023, and to organizations such as Child Builders and The Lighthouse of Houston, which each appear multiple times in the recent grants list. The grant records also include support for Houston-area groups working in child advocacy, family assistance, and rehabilitation or residential services for people with disabilities. Most awards are listed as financial support-charitable, suggesting flexible operating-style help rather than restricted project funding. The pattern is local, relationship-based, and centered on nonprofits serving vulnerable populations in the Houston area.
A major theme is Jewish community support. The foundation gave $50,000 to Jewish Family Service of Houston for financial support-charitable, and it also made repeated grants to Evelyn Rubenstein Jcc in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Education is another visible area: Emery Weiner School received $100,000 in 2025, the largest grant in the recent list. Child and family services appear throughout the record. Child Advocates Inc received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Child Builders was funded in each of those same years. The foundation also supported Depelchin Childrens Center with $10,000 in 2023. Disability and vision-related services are another recurring focus. Vita-living Inc received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and The Lighthouse of Houston also appears across multiple years. Center for Pursuit received support in 2023, 2024, and 2025 as well.
The typical grant size is tightly clustered around $10,000, with a lower quartile of $6,000 and both the median and upper quartile at $10,000. That points to a consistent mid-small grant pattern, with occasional larger awards such as the $100,000 grant in 2025. The foundation’s recent list also shows repeat support across multiple years for several recipients, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. The grants are framed as financial support-charitable, aligning with flexible charitable support. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$218K
$5.1M
$316K
$238K
Most grants fall between $6K and $10K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Notable grantees: Emery Weiner School, Jewish Family Service of Houston, The Lighthouse of Houston, Child Builders, VITA-Living Inc
Giving is overwhelmingly local to Texas: 73% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state, and Texas is also the top state by grant count. Houston dominates the recipient map, with many grants to organizations in Houston itself and one to Richmond, TX. Outside Texas, the recent grants list includes recipients in New York, NY; Washington, DC; Oakland, CA; and one international grant to a U.S.-based global relief fund.
The recent grants list centers on Houston nonprofits serving Jewish communal life, children and families, and people with disabilities. Examples include Jewish Family Service of Houston, Child Advocates Inc, Vita-living Inc, and The Lighthouse of Houston. The foundation’s grants are mostly described as financial support-charitable.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Child Builders in 2023, 2024, and 2025; The Lighthouse of Houston in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Vita-living Inc in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Center for Pursuit in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The foundation’s grants are usually around $10,000. The reported distribution is p25 of $6,000, a median of $10,000, and p75 of $10,000, with some larger awards such as $100,000 and $50,000 in the recent list.
Texas receives 73% of the grants, and Houston is the dominant recipient city. The recent grants list also includes recipients in Richmond, TX; New York, NY; Washington, DC; and Oakland, CA.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMERY WEINER SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| VITA-LIVING INC | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| CHILD BUILDERS | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| THE LIGHTHOUSE OF HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| SECOND SERVINGS | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| CENTER FOR PURSUIT | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JCC | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| CHILD ADVOCATES INC | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| JB GOLDBERG B'NAI B'RITH TOWERS | HOUSTON, TX | $7,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| NEUHAUS EDUCATION CENTER | BELLAIRE, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER ORCHESTRA | HOUSTON, TX | $4,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| CAMP ARANZAZU | ROCKPORT, TX | $2,000 | 2025 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| CHILD BUILDERS | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| THE LIGHTHOUSE OF HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| VITA-LIVING INC | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| CHILD ADVOCATES INC | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JCC | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| CENTER FOR PURSUIT | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| JB GOLDBERG B'NAI B'RITH TOWERS | HOUSTON, TX | $6,000 | 2024 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| NEUHAUS EDUCATION CENTER | BELLAIRE, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| CHILD BUILDERS | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| HOUSTON-GALVESTON INSTITUTE | RICHMOND, TX | $15,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| THE LIGHTHOUSE OF HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| GLOBALGIVING FORWARD FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| CHILD ADVOCATES INC | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| VITA-LIVING INC | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| DEPELCHIN CHILDRENS CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| CENTER FOR PURSUIT | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| MEDECINS SANS FRONTIER | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JCC | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| GIVE WELL | OAKLAND, CA | $8,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| LITERACY TEXAS | COLLEYVILLE, TX | $8,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| HOUSTON EYE ASSOCIATES FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $7,500 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| AVODAH | NEW YORK, NY | $7,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| GLOBAL FUND FOR WOMEN | ATLANTA, GA | $7,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| REFUGEE PROTECTION INTERNATIONAL | BELMONT, MA | $7,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| TECHNOSERVE | ARLINGTON, VA | $7,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| OCEAN CONSERVANCY | WASHINGTON, DC | $6,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| JB GOLDBERG B'NAI B'RITH TOWERS | HOUSTON, TX | $6,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| GIFFORDS LAW CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| COMP-U-DOPT | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| CAMP ARANZAZU | ROCKPORT, TX | $5,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| NEUHAUS EDUCATION CENTER | BELLAIRE, TX | $5,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| ALCU | HOUSTON, TX | $2,100 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
| ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000 | 2023 | FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE |
EMERY WEINER SCHOOL
$100,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
CHILD BUILDERS
$15,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
THE LIGHTHOUSE OF HOUSTON
$15,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
SECOND SERVINGS
$10,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
JB GOLDBERG B'NAI B'RITH TOWERS
$7,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER ORCHESTRA
$4,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
CHILD BUILDERS
$15,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
THE LIGHTHOUSE OF HOUSTON
$15,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
JB GOLDBERG B'NAI B'RITH TOWERS
$6,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
CHILD BUILDERS
$15,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
HOUSTON-GALVESTON INSTITUTE
$15,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
GLOBALGIVING FORWARD FUND
$10,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
LITERACY TEXAS
$8,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
HOUSTON EYE ASSOCIATES FOUNDATION
$7,500FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
AVODAH
$7,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
GLOBAL FUND FOR WOMEN
$7,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
REFUGEE PROTECTION INTERNATIONAL
$7,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
TECHNOSERVE
$7,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
JB GOLDBERG B'NAI B'RITH TOWERS
$6,000FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE
ALCU
$2,100FINANCIAL SUPPORT-CHARITABLE