The Ellwood Foundation concentrates its giving in the Houston area, prioritizing health care and biomedical research alongside special education and disability services. Grants frequently support facility and program needs (capital and operating) for hospitals, rehabilitation and mental-health centers, and K–12 special-needs schools. The foundation gives repeatedly to a cohort of local institutions rather than widely distributing one-off gifts, signaling long-term partnerships with mission-aligned organizations.
The Ellwood Foundation’s recent grantmaking is defined by repeated, six-figure support for a small set of Houston-area institutions, especially MD Anderson Cancer Center and The Brookwood Community. Those grants point to a clear pattern: the foundation backs medical research, disability services, special education, and family support organizations with sustained, multi-year funding rather than one-time gifts. At MD Anderson Cancer Center, the foundation has supported both programs and lymphoma/myeloma research, while The Brookwood Community has received repeated facility support in multiple years. That same approach extends to other local nonprofits serving children, patients, and people with disabilities. Ronald McDonald House has received facilities support across several years, and The Center Foundation has also appeared repeatedly in the grant list. Briarwood School, Marbridge Foundation, and Strake Jesuit Learning Resource show that the foundation’s interests include special education and learning support, not only health care. The overall pattern is concentrated, local, and relationship-based, with grant amounts large enough to support facilities, research, and ongoing program operations.
In cancer and biomedical research, The Ellwood Foundation gave $160,000 to MD Anderson Cancer Center for lymphoma/myeloma research and the same amount to the university medical school’s neuroscience center. Those grants sit alongside program support for MD Anderson, showing that the foundation funds both research and broader institutional work. Its support for disability services is equally consistent. The Brookwood Community received $160,000 for facilities support in 2025, and Marbridge Foundation received $80,000 for support of programs in both 2024 and 2025. In education, Briarwood School received $90,000 in 2023 and 2024, plus $80,000 in 2025, all for special education needs. The foundation also backed Strake Jesuit Learning Resource with $75,000 for support of programs.
Typical grants cluster in the low six figures, with a p25 of $10,000, median of $30,000, and p75 of $55,000. The recent list also shows several larger awards at $160,000, $150,000, and $130,000, indicating a layered grantmaking pattern that includes both moderate and substantial support. Recipients appear across multiple years, including repeated awards to the same organizations in 2023, 2024, and 2025, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts. The foundation funds individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$2.7M
$42.1M
$5.4M
$3.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $55K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$55K
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Concentrated, repeat giving to a core set of Houston-area grantees with multiple mid-to-large grants (many in the $100k–$900k range). Funding is a mix of facility/capital support and program/operating grants rather than broad national grantmaking, indicating sustained local partnerships and capacity-building investments.
Notable grantees: MD Anderson Cancer Center, The Brookwood Community, Briarwood School, The Menninger Clinic, Ronald McDonald House
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local and centered in Texas, with 98% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Houston is the dominant city in the recent grants list, including MD Anderson Cancer Center, Ronald McDonald House, Aware Alzheimer’s Association, The Center Foundation, Briarwood School, and Strake Jesuit Learning Resource. Outside Houston, grants reached Brookshire, Manchaca, and Hockley, but the overall footprint remains concentrated in the Houston area.
Its recent grants support cancer and biomedical research, disability services, special education, behavioral health, and family support organizations. The list includes hospitals and medical centers, residential and day habilitation providers, learning-resource schools, and child- and family-focused service groups.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $55,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include several six-figure grants, including $160,000, $150,000, and $130,000 amounts.
Yes. Ninety-eight percent of its grants go to recipients in Texas, and the recent grants list is heavily concentrated in Houston. A smaller number of awards went to Brookshire, Manchaca, and Hockley.
Yes. The recent grants show repeated awards across multiple years to several organizations, including MD Anderson Cancer Center, The Brookwood Community, Ronald McDonald House, The Center Foundation, Briarwood School, Marbridge Foundation, Aware Alzheimer’s Association, and Strake Jesuit Learning Resource.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, alongside its grants to organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $160,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $160,000 | 2025 | LYMPHOMA/MYELOMA RESEARCH |
| THE BROOKWOOD COMMUNITY | BROOKSHIRE, TX | $160,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF FACILITIES |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $130,000 | 2025 | NEUROSCIENCE CENTER |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF FACILITIES |
| THE CENTER FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $90,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| BRIARWOOD SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $80,000 | 2025 | SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS |
| MARBRIDGE FOUNDATION | MANCHACA, TX | $80,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| STRAKE JESUIT LEARNING RESOURCE | HOUSTON, TX | $75,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| HUB HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $75,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAM |
| AWARE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | HOUSTON, TX | $75,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| BOYS GIRLS COUNTRY | HOCKLEY, TX | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| TIRR FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $60,000 | 2025 | REHABILITATION & RESEARCH |
| HOSPICE AT TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $60,000 | 2025 | FACILITY FOR TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES |
| HOUSTON AREA PARKINSON SOCIETY | HOUSTON, TX | $60,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| CHILD ADVOCATES | HOUSTON, TX | $60,000 | 2025 | ADVOCATE THROUGH COURTS FOR ABUSED CHILDREN. |
| YELLOWSTONE ACADEMY | HOUSTON, TX | $55,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY | FT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | UPGRADE PRE-MEDICAL PROGRAM |
| GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| PATHWAYS FOR LITTLE FEET | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| THE MENNINGER CLINIC | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATING EXPENSES |
| THE RISE SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT PROGRAMS |
| CASA DE ESPERANZA | HOUSTON, TX | $45,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| BO'S PLACE | HOUSTON, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| AMAZING PLACE | HOUSTON, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| CAMP ALLEN | NAVASOTA, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| NEUHAUS EDUCATION CENTER | BELLAIRE, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | CHILDREN WITH SEVERE READING DISABILITIES |
| ACCESS HEALTH | RICHMOND, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| ARCHWAY ACADEMY | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| THE WILL ERWIN HEADACHE RESEARCH FO | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT RESEARCH |
| THE PARISH SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| TEXAS HEART INSTITUTE | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | CARDIOLOGY RESEARCH |
| SMALL STEPS NURTURING CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL OF | UNIVERSITY, MS | $30,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF WILLIE PRICE LAB |
| SPRING SPIRIT | HOUSTON, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| GATEWAY ACADEMY | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAM |
| THE JOY SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| HOLLY HALL | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | HOME FOR AGED AND INFIRMED |
| OPEN DOOR MISSION | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY CENTER |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| BELONG KITCHEN | HOUSTON, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| CAMP FOR ALL | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGORAMS |
| BLUE BIRD CIRCLE | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH FOR PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY |
| NICK FINNEGAN COUNSE CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| HOPE HEALING CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| ODYSSEY HOUSE | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS - TEXAS | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT PROGRAMS |
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$160,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$160,000LYMPHOMA/MYELOMA RESEARCH
THE BROOKWOOD COMMUNITY
$160,000SUPPORT OF FACILITIES
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL SCHOOL
$130,000NEUROSCIENCE CENTER
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE
$100,000SUPPORT OF FACILITIES
THE CENTER FOUNDATION
$90,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
BRIARWOOD SCHOOL
$80,000SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS
MARBRIDGE FOUNDATION
$80,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
STRAKE JESUIT LEARNING RESOURCE
$75,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
HUB HOUSTON
$75,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAM
AWARE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
$75,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
BOYS GIRLS COUNTRY
$70,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
TIRR FOUNDATION
$60,000REHABILITATION & RESEARCH
HOSPICE AT TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER
$60,000FACILITY FOR TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES
HOUSTON AREA PARKINSON SOCIETY
$60,000RESEARCH
CHILD ADVOCATES
$60,000ADVOCATE THROUGH COURTS FOR ABUSED CHILDREN.
YELLOWSTONE ACADEMY
$55,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
$50,000UPGRADE PRE-MEDICAL PROGRAM
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF HOUSTON
$50,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
PATHWAYS FOR LITTLE FEET
$50,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
THE MENNINGER CLINIC
$50,000OPERATING EXPENSES
THE RISE SCHOOL
$50,000SUPPORT PROGRAMS
CASA DE ESPERANZA
$45,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
BO'S PLACE
$40,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
AMAZING PLACE
$40,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
CAMP ALLEN
$35,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
NEUHAUS EDUCATION CENTER
$35,000CHILDREN WITH SEVERE READING DISABILITIES
ACCESS HEALTH
$35,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
ARCHWAY ACADEMY
$30,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
THE WILL ERWIN HEADACHE RESEARCH FO
$30,000SUPPORT RESEARCH
THE PARISH SCHOOL
$30,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
TEXAS HEART INSTITUTE
$30,000CARDIOLOGY RESEARCH
SMALL STEPS NURTURING CENTER
$30,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$30,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER
$30,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL OF
$30,000SUPPORT OF WILLIE PRICE LAB
SPRING SPIRIT
$25,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
GATEWAY ACADEMY
$20,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER
$20,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAM
THE JOY SCHOOL
$20,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
HOLLY HALL
$20,000HOME FOR AGED AND INFIRMED
OPEN DOOR MISSION
$20,000SUPPORT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY CENTER
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$20,000CANCER RESEARCH
BELONG KITCHEN
$20,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
CAMP FOR ALL
$15,000SUPPORT OF PROGORAMS
BLUE BIRD CIRCLE
$15,000RESEARCH FOR PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY
NICK FINNEGAN COUNSE CENTER
$15,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
HOPE HEALING CENTER
$15,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
ODYSSEY HOUSE
$10,000SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS
SPECIAL OLYMPICS - TEXAS
$10,000SUPPORT PROGRAMS