The Glassell Family Foundation concentrates on large, general-purpose gifts to cultural, medical/research, and faith-based educational organizations, with a clear heavy presence in the Houston area. They fund major museums and science institutions, university health and research programs, as well as religious schools, camps, and faith-affiliated community ministries, often through multi-grant relationships that indicate ongoing institutional support.
The Glassell Family Foundation Inc. shows a strong pattern of large general-purpose support for Houston-area institutions, especially museums, health science organizations, and faith-based schools and ministries. Among the largest recent awards are repeated gifts to the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, along with major support for the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. Those grants sit alongside sizable awards to Annunciation Orthodox School, Memorial Hermann Foundation, and Camp for All, showing a mix of cultural, medical, educational, and community-focused giving. The foundation’s recent portfolio also reaches beyond Houston when a grantee fits its broader interests. It gave $1,250,000 to the University of Miami - Rosenstiel School for general purpose support and $150,000 to World Wildlife Fund in Chicago. Even with those exceptions, the overall pattern is local and institution-centered, with grants often described as general purpose rather than tied to a narrow project. Recurring awards to the same organizations across multiple years point to sustained support rather than isolated gifts.
In higher education and medical research, the foundation gave $600,000 to the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston for general purpose support, and also supported the Kelsey Research Foundation with a $100,000 general-purpose grant. Those awards sit within a broader pattern of funding regional university and health science institutions. Arts and culture are another visible theme. The foundation awarded $512,500 to Houston Museum of Natural Science and $500,000 to Houston Museum of Fine Arts, both for general purpose support. Faith-based education and ministries also appear in the recent grants list. Annunciation Orthodox School received $250,000 for general purpose support, while Still Waters Cowboy Church in Carthage received $250,000. The foundation also supported Covenant House Texas in Houston with a $250,000 grant.
Typical grant size ranges from $5,625 at the 25th percentile to $52,835 at the median and $250,000 at the 75th percentile, indicating a portfolio with many mid-sized gifts and a substantial upper tier. Recent grants are often repeated to the same recipients across multiple years, including the University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Annunciation Orthodox School, and Memorial Hermann Foundation. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Grants in the data are listed as general purpose support, suggesting flexibility in use rather than project-specific restrictions.
$4.1M
$36.7M
$5.5M
$4.7M
Most grants fall between $6K and $250K, with a median of $53K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$53K
75th Percentile
$250K
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Relatively concentrated giving in a small number of large grants, with repeat multi-grant support to flagship local institutions; primarily general-purpose gifts rather than project-specific funding, and a strong geographic tilt toward Houston/Texas with occasional out-of-region university gifts.
Notable grantees: Houston Museum of Fine Arts, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Camp For All, Annunciation Orthodox School
Grantmaking is concentrated in Texas, which accounts for 87% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Houston is the main recipient city, with multiple awards to Houston-based institutions across health, culture, education, and community services. Other Texas recipients include Kingsville, Carthage, Livingston, and Pasadena. Outside Texas, grants in the recent list went to Miami, Boston, Chicago, and Nashville, all within the United States.
Recent grants show support for museums, health science institutions, faith-based schools, churches, camps, and community ministries. Examples in the data include Houston Museum of Natural Science, the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Annunciation Orthodox School, Camp for All, and Still Waters Cowboy Church.
The reported distribution centers on larger gifts: the 25th percentile is $5,625, the median is $52,835, and the 75th percentile is $250,000. Recent awards also include several grants at $500,000 to $600,000 and one at $1,250,000.
Yes. Texas is the top state by grant count, and 87% of grants go to recipients in Texas. Houston is the main recipient city, with additional Texas grants going to Kingsville, Carthage, Livingston, and Pasadena.
The recent grants are consistently labeled general purpose. That indicates the foundation often gives unrestricted or broadly usable support rather than project-specific awards.
Yes. The recent grants list includes repeated awards across multiple years and within the same year to organizations such as the University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Annunciation Orthodox School, and Memorial Hermann Foundation.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI - ROSENSTIEL SCHOOL | MIAMI, FL | $1,250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| University of Texas Health Science Center | Houston, TX | $600,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| University of Texas Health Science Center | Houston, TX | $600,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science | HOUSTON, TX | $512,500 | 2025 | general purpose |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science | HOUSTON, TX | $510,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| HOUSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS | houston, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| HOUSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS | houston, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| CAMP FOR ALL | Houston, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| Memorial Hermann Foundation | Houston, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| Memorial Hermann Foundation | Houston, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| CAMP FOR ALL | Houston, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| Annunciation Orthodox School | Houston, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| BENEATH THE WAVES INC | BOSTON, MA | $212,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| CAMP CHO-YEN | LIVINGSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| YES PREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| CAMP CHO-YEN | LIVINGSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| YES PREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| MISSION LAZARUS | NASHVILLE, TN | $60,944 | 2025 | general purpose |
| MISSION LAZARUS | NASHVILLE, TN | $60,944 | 2025 | general purpose |
| THE JOY SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOUSTON BOTANIC GARDEN | HOUSTON, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| AMAZING PLACE | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| Houston Food Bank | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SERVICES | NAVASOTA, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| The Pasadena ISD Educational Foundation | Pasadena, TX | $7,500 | 2025 | general purpose |
| The Pasadena ISD Educational Foundation | Pasadena, TX | $7,500 | 2025 | general purpose |
| SOUTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH | PASADENA, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNDUE MEDICAL DEBT | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| GALVESTON COUNTY FOOD BANK | TEXAS CITY, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| EVERYBODY'S PLACE | BACLIFF, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| PASADENA COMMUNITY MINISTRIES | PASADENA, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| CAMP ARANZAZU | ROCKPORT, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| HOUSTON FOOD BANK | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| HAWAI'I COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $5,000 | 2025 | general purpose |
| HCPAAA | Houston, TX | $1,800 | 2025 | general purpose |
| FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF HEBBRONVILLE | HEBBRONVILLE, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| miscellaneous-pass through | NA, TX | $329 | 2025 | general purpose |
| miscellaneous-pass through | NA, TX | $287 | 2025 | general purpose |
| University of Texas Health Science Center | Houston, TX | $600,000 | 2023 | general purpose |
| HOUSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS | houston, TX | $500,000 | 2023 | general purpose |
| Texas A&M-Kingsville Foundation | Kingsville, TX | $300,000 | 2023 | general purpose |
| Memorial Hermann Foundation | Houston, TX | $250,000 | 2023 | general purpose |
| Annunciation Orthodox School | Houston, TX | $250,000 | 2023 | general purpose |
| Still Waters Cowboy Church | Carthage, TX | $250,000 | 2023 | general purpose |
| The Covenant House Texas | Houston, TX | $250,000 | 2023 | general purpose |
| Kelsey Research Foundation | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2023 | general purpose |
| Project Joy & Hope | Pasadena, TX | $55,670 | 2023 | general purpose |
| Asia Society Texas Center | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 2023 | general purpose |
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI - ROSENSTIEL SCHOOL
$1,250,000GENERAL PURPOSE
University of Texas Health Science Center
$600,000general purpose
University of Texas Health Science Center
$600,000general purpose
Houston Museum of Natural Science
$512,500general purpose
Houston Museum of Natural Science
$510,000general purpose
HOUSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
$500,000general purpose
HOUSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
$500,000general purpose
CAMP FOR ALL
$250,000general purpose
CAMP FOR ALL
$250,000general purpose
Annunciation Orthodox School
$250,000general purpose
CAMP CHO-YEN
$100,000general purpose
CAMP CHO-YEN
$100,000general purpose
HOUSTON BOTANIC GARDEN
$25,000general purpose
AMAZING PLACE
$25,000general purpose
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SERVICES
$10,000general purpose
The Pasadena ISD Educational Foundation
$7,500general purpose
The Pasadena ISD Educational Foundation
$7,500general purpose
SOUTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
UNDUE MEDICAL DEBT
$5,000general purpose
EVERYBODY'S PLACE
$5,000general purpose
PASADENA COMMUNITY MINISTRIES
$5,000general purpose
HCPAAA
$1,800general purpose
FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF HEBBRONVILLE
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
miscellaneous-pass through
$329general purpose
miscellaneous-pass through
$287general purpose
University of Texas Health Science Center
$600,000general purpose
HOUSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
$500,000general purpose
Texas A&M-Kingsville Foundation
$300,000general purpose
Annunciation Orthodox School
$250,000general purpose
Still Waters Cowboy Church
$250,000general purpose
The Covenant House Texas
$250,000general purpose
Project Joy & Hope
$55,670general purpose