The Josephine Hughes Sterling Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on a small number of large, targeted grants in health care research and major urban park restoration. Most funding supports hospital research programs (notably pediatric bone marrow/stem cell work and neurogastroenterology) and a substantial investment in Houston’s Memorial Park Conservancy. Grants are few but sizable and often repeated to the same institutions, indicating long-term, project-focused partnerships rather than broad-based giving.
A $1 million grant to Memorial Park Conservancy for Rooted & Resilient stands out in The Josephine Hughes Sterling Foundation’s recent giving and points to a funder that makes a few large, targeted commitments rather than many small ones. The foundation’s pattern is consistent across health care research, urban park restoration, and selected education and community programs. In health care, it has backed pediatric bone marrow and stem cell work through Childrens Medical Center Foundation and supported Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation’s neurogastroenterology efforts. It has also made repeated awards to UT Southwestern Health Systems for research and clinical initiatives spanning transplant infectious disease, melanoma, hepatobiliary cancers, mitral valve disease, cutaneous lymphoma, and geriatrics care. Beyond medicine, the foundation has funded Memorial Park Conservancy, the University of Texas Law School Foundation’s Texas Law Pipeline project, and Sherman ISD Education Foundation. The grant list suggests long-term, project-specific relationships with institutions in Texas and a small number of other nonprofits, with several recipients appearing across multiple years.
Health care research is a major theme. The foundation gave $300,000 in 2025 to Childrens Medical Center Foundation for bone marrow/stem cells, after $275,000 in 2024 and $225,000 in 2023 for the same area. It also supported Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation with $220,000 in 2023 for JHSF neurogastroenterology, followed by $200,000 in both 2024 and 2025 to Houston Methodist Hospital for JHSF Neurogastroenterology. On the oncology side, UT Southwestern Health Systems received $160,000 in 2024 for melanoma research and hepatobiliary cancers, and The UT MD Anderson Cancer Center received $100,000 in 2025 for radiation therapy. Education and pipeline support appear as well: the University of Texas Law School Foundation received $100,000 in 2023 and 2024 for the Texas Law Pipeline project, and Sherman ISD Education Foundation received funding for scholarships, teacher grants, and education enrichment.
Typical grants cluster around a median of $30,000, with the 25th percentile at $20,000 and the 75th percentile at $100,000. The pattern is skewed by a few much larger awards, including seven-figure support for Memorial Park Conservancy and multiple six-figure research grants. Recurrence is common: Childrens Medical Center Foundation, Houston Methodist, UT Southwestern Health Systems, Texas Health Resources Foundation, Eastwood Ranch Foundation, Santa Fe Community Foundation, and Sherman ISD Education Foundation all appear in more than one year. The foundation reports funds individuals as true, and its grantmaking is local, with most awards staying in Texas. It does not make program-related investments.
$2.7M
$5.6M
$2.4M
$3.2M
Most grants fall between $20K and $100K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants to a small set of repeat grantees; funding is project-specific and regionally focused (Houston area), with multiple payments to the same organizations rather than many small or one-off grants.
Notable grantees: Memorial Park Conservancy, Children's Medical Center Foundation, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, with all 100 recent grants going to US organizations. Texas is the main giving state, accounting for 82% of grants. Within Texas, Houston and Dallas appear frequently through Memorial Park Conservancy, Houston Methodist, Childrens Medical Center Foundation, UT Southwestern Health Systems, and Texas Health Resources Foundation. Outside Texas, awards also went to Los Angeles, Santa Fe, and Austin, showing a Texas-centered but not exclusive footprint.
Recent grants point to health care research and clinical programs, especially bone marrow and stem cell work, neurogastroenterology, oncology research, and related hospital initiatives. The foundation also funds Memorial Park Conservancy and selected education and legal pipeline programs.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Childrens Medical Center Foundation, Houston Methodist, UT Southwestern Health Systems, Texas Health Resources Foundation, Eastwood Ranch Foundation, Santa Fe Community Foundation, and Sherman ISD Education Foundation.
The typical award is $30,000 at the median, with a 25th percentile of $20,000 and a 75th percentile of $100,000. The recent list also includes larger commitments, including a $1 million grant and several $100,000 to $300,000 awards.
Most recent grants go to Texas organizations, and 82% of grants are given to recipients in Texas. Houston and Dallas are especially common recipient cities, alongside Austin and Arlington.
Yes. The foundation is marked as funding individuals, alongside grants to organizations. The recent grants list, however, shows awards primarily to institutions and nonprofits.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Park Conservancy | Houston, TX | $782,500 | 2026 | Rooted & Resilient |
| Childrens Medical Center Foundation | Dallas, TX | $300,000 | 2026 | Bone marrow regeneration |
| The UT MD Anderson Cancer Center | Houston, TX | $200,000 | 2026 | Cutaneous lymphoma/Radiation oncology |
| UT Southwestern Health Systems | Dallas, TX | $165,000 | 2026 | Hepatobiliary Cancers/Targeting CD47 |
| Houston Methodist Hospital | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | JHSF Neurogastroenterology |
| Eastwood Ranch Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | Lifesaving Operations Rescue center |
| Texas Health Resources Foundation | Dallas, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | Mobile Health Program |
| New Mexico Community Trust | Albuquerque, NM | $75,000 | 2026 | Las Campanas Community Fund Scholarships |
| Sherman ISD Education Foundation | Sherman, TX | $65,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| UT Southwestern Health Systems | Dallas, TX | $60,500 | 2026 | Ultra Sound/Heart Disease |
| Sanger Education Foundation Inc | Sanger, TX | $45,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| Gainesville ISD Education Foundation | Gainesville, TX | $45,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| Krum ISD Education Foundation | Krum, TX | $40,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| Aubrey Education Foundation | Aubrey, TX | $35,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| UT Southwestern Health Systems | Dallas, TX | $35,000 | 2026 | Cutaneous lymphoma w Sezary Syndrome |
| Lake Cities Education Foundation | Lake Dallas, TX | $35,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| UT Southwestern Health Systems | Dallas, TX | $33,000 | 2026 | Hepatocellular carcinoma |
| Callisburg ISD Education Foundation | Callisburg, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| New Mexico Wildlife Center | Espanola, NM | $30,000 | 2026 | Veterinary Care & Wildlife Rehabilitation |
| InSync Exotics Inc | Wylie, TX | $26,000 | 2026 | Operations, food, medicines, workshop |
| Gigi's Playhouse | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | Diamond sponsorship |
| UT Southwestern Health Systems | Dallas, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | Med Student Aging Res/Educ Program |
| Era Education Foundation | Era, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| UT Southwestern Health Systems | Dallas, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia |
| Wylie ISD Education Fdn | Wylie, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | Teacher grants |
| Forestburg ISD Education Foundation | Forestburg, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| Dallas Symphony Assn Inc | Dallas, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | Young Strings |
| Valley View Education Fdn | Valley View, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| Frank Buck Zoological Society | Gainesville, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | The Preserve |
| Pilot Point ISD Educational Foundation | Pilot Point, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| Whiteboro Education Fdn | Whitesboro, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| House of Eli | Sherman, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | Navigating Beyond System Boundaries |
| Friends of Down Syndrome | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | Student Scholarship fund |
| Saint Jo ISD Edcuation Foundation | Saint Jo, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | Scholarships & teacher grants |
| Fairview Baptist Church | Sherman, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | School Partnership/Kitchen |
| UT Southwestern Health Systems | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | Skin Cancer w Mohs Surgery |
| Special Olympics Texas Inc | San Antonio, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | Cypress Champions Athlete Delegation |
| UT Southwestern Health Systems | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | CAIRS Corneal Inlay Research |
| Post Oak Fellowship | Sherman, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | General operations, Home Run Ranch program |
| UT Southwestern Health Systems | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | Pulmonary Fellowship Trainee Ultrasound |
| UT Southwestern Health Systems | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | Transplant ID fellowship |
| YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas | Dallas, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | Tuition Assistance/Ashford Rise |
| Bells ISD Education Foundation | Bells, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | Teacher grants |
| National Young Mens Service League | Sherman, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | Life Skills Program |
| Easy Street Animal Shelter | Saint Jo, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | General Operations |
| Jewish Community Center | Dallas, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | Pilates room - Reformer equipment |
| Bruce Wood Dance | Dallas, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | General operating |
| POLAR Rescue | Argyle, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | General operations/Medical |
| Take Me Home Pet Rescue | Richardson, TX | $3,000 | 2026 | Veterinary Care for Rescued Pets |
| Memorial Park Conservancy | Houston, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Rooted & Resilient |
The UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
$200,000Cutaneous lymphoma/Radiation oncology
Houston Methodist Hospital
$100,000JHSF Neurogastroenterology
Lifesaving Operations Rescue center
Texas Health Resources Foundation
$100,000Mobile Health Program
New Mexico Community Trust
$75,000Las Campanas Community Fund Scholarships
Sherman ISD Education Foundation
$65,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Sanger Education Foundation Inc
$45,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Gainesville ISD Education Foundation
$45,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Krum ISD Education Foundation
$40,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Aubrey Education Foundation
$35,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Lake Cities Education Foundation
$35,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Callisburg ISD Education Foundation
$30,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Gigi's Playhouse
$25,000Diamond sponsorship
Era Education Foundation
$25,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Wylie ISD Education Fdn
$25,000Teacher grants
Forestburg ISD Education Foundation
$25,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Valley View Education Fdn
$20,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Frank Buck Zoological Society
$20,000The Preserve
Pilot Point ISD Educational Foundation
$20,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Whiteboro Education Fdn
$15,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Friends of Down Syndrome
$15,000Student Scholarship fund
Saint Jo ISD Edcuation Foundation
$15,000Scholarships & teacher grants
Fairview Baptist Church
$10,000School Partnership/Kitchen
Post Oak Fellowship
$10,000General operations, Home Run Ranch program
Bells ISD Education Foundation
$5,000Teacher grants
National Young Mens Service League
$5,000Life Skills Program
Easy Street Animal Shelter
$5,000General Operations
Jewish Community Center
$5,000Pilates room - Reformer equipment
POLAR Rescue
$5,000General operations/Medical
Take Me Home Pet Rescue
$3,000Veterinary Care for Rescued Pets