The purpose of the Junior League of Houston Foundation is to sustain, expand and initiate League-designated Community Program and the Junior League of Houston building in perpetuity. The Junior League of Houston, Inc. mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.
A single $2,005,990 grant to DePelchin Children's Center in 2024 stands out in The Junior League of Houston Inc.'s recent record and shows how the foundation uses large, project-specific support for Houston organizations. The pattern behind that award is consistent: the Junior League backs external projects and community assistance work tied to children’s education, family basic needs, and children’s and women’s health and well-being. Its grant list also shows repeated support for Houston nonprofits serving families and children, including Kids’ Meals and Ronald McDonald House of Houston Inc., both funded in multiple years. The foundation’s stated purpose is to sustain, expand, and initiate League-designated Community Program work and the Junior League of Houston building in perpetuity, and that purpose appears in the way it directs grants toward restricted community needs rather than broad operating support. The recent grant record is heavily concentrated in Houston-based organizations, with awards that support direct service, emergency help, and external project funding. Leadership is listed under Mary Lee H Wilkens.
Children’s education appears in grants that support Houston service organizations working with families. In 2025, The Junior League of Houston Inc. gave $61,117 to Kids’ Meals for external project support, following $66,431 in 2023 and $54,390 in 2024. Family basic needs also show up in support for BEAR-BE A Resource CPS Kids, which received $51,265 in 2024, $51,153 in 2023, and $50,000 in 2025. Health-related giving includes $47,736 in 2024 to Texas Children's Hospital and $34,861 in 2025 to Baylor College of Medicine Teen Health Clinic. For community capacity and local assistance, the foundation awarded $20,000 in 2023 to The Children's Assessment Center Foundation under community assistance.
Typical grant size sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $34,031 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes one very large project grant, alongside many smaller awards in the $20,000 to $60,000 range. Recipients recur across years, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time transactions: Kids’ Meals, Ronald McDonald House of Houston Inc., BEAR-BE A Resource CPS Kids, Texas Children's Hospital, and Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos each appear more than once. The foundation is classified as a Regular Funder, funds individuals is false, and it does not make program-related investments. Active programs are listed for Community Assistance Grants and Emergency / Contingency Grants, and both do not accept unsolicited applications.
$798K
$25M
$11.4M
$7M
Most grants fall between $10K and $34K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$34K
Mary Lee H Wilkens
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Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in Texas. Ninety-seven percent of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the recent grant list is entirely U.S.-based. Houston is the clear center of activity: the named recipients in the recent grants table are all in Houston, including DePelchin Children's Center, Kids’ Meals, Ronald McDonald House of Houston Inc., BEAR-BE A Resource CPS Kids, Texas Children's Hospital, and Houston Area Women's Center. The recipient country distribution shows 88 grants in the United States.
Its listed focus areas are children’s education, family basic needs, children and women’s health and well-being, community assistance and emergency grants, and building preservation and capital purchases. The active grant programs also point to community support and emergency or contingency support in Houston.
No. Both active grant programs listed for the foundation, Community Assistance Grants and Emergency / Contingency Grants, are marked as not accepting unsolicited applications.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $34,031 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes much larger project awards, including a $2,005,990 grant in 2024.
Yes. The geographic scope is local, and 97% of grants are given to recipients in Texas. The recent grants table shows Houston recipients across the board, so the foundation’s giving is heavily centered in its metropolitan area.
Yes. Several recipients recur across multiple years, including Kids’ Meals, Ronald McDonald House of Houston Inc., BEAR-BE A Resource CPS Kids, Texas Children's Hospital, Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos, Baylor College of Medicine Teen Health Clinic, Star of Hope, and Houston Area Women's Center.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Junior League of Houston that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Tax-exempt agencies with emergency or short-term needs.
Deadline: Applications for emergency funds can be submitted on an ongoing basis.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Habitat for Humanity Inc | Houston, TX | $72,500 | 2026 | External project support |
| Kids' Meals | Houston, TX | $70,199 | 2026 | External project support |
| Ronald McDonald House of Houston Inc | Houston, TX | $64,934 | 2026 | External project support |
| BEAR-BE A Resource CPS Kids | Houston, TX | $51,000 | 2026 | External project support |
| Texas Children's Hospital | Houston, TX | $48,735 | 2026 | External project support |
| Children's Museum of Houston | Houston, TX | $40,057 | 2026 | External project support |
| Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos | Houston, TX | $38,172 | 2026 | External project support |
| Star of Hope | Houston, TX | $32,855 | 2026 | External project support |
| Child Advocates Inc | Houston, TX | $30,653 | 2026 | External project support |
| Texas Children's Hospital | Houston, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | External project support |
| Epilepsy Foundation of Texas | Houston, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| Houston Area Women's Center | Houston, TX | $19,455 | 2026 | External project support |
| Baylor College of Medicine Teen Health Clinic | Houston, TX | $19,218 | 2026 | External project support |
| The Westview School Inc | Houston, TX | $18,477 | 2026 | External project support |
| AIDS Foundation Houston Inc | Houston, TX | $15,147 | 2026 | External project support |
| Intertwined | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| Epiphany Community Health Outreach Services | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| Collaborative for Children | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| SIRE Inc | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| New Life Tabernacle Church of God in Christ Inc | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| Mikey's Place | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| Bo's Place | Houston, TX | $10,455 | 2026 | External project support |
| Camp for All Foundation | Houston, TX | $10,120 | 2026 | External project support |
| Center for the Missing dba Texas Center for the Missing | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| Undies for Everyone | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| Mission Squash of Houston | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| San Francisco Nativity Academy | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| Small Places | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| Bayou City Blessings In A Backpack | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| Girls on the Run Greater Houston | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| Operation Pathways | Washington DC, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| BIG Love Cancer Care Services | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | Community assistance |
| DePelchin Children's Center | Houston, TX | $8,290 | 2026 | External project support |
| Books Between Kids Inc | Houston, TX | $7,000 | 2026 | External project support |
| Dress for Success Houston | Houston, TX | $7,000 | 2026 | External project support |
| Chinquapin Preparatory School | Highlands, TX | $6,676 | 2026 | External project support |
| The Museum of Fine Arts Houston | Houston, TX | $6,600 | 2026 | External project support |
| Kids' Meals | Houston, TX | $61,117 | 2025 | External project support |
| Ronald McDonald House of Houston Inc | Houston, TX | $59,837 | 2025 | External project support |
| BEAR-BE A Resource CPS Kids | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | External project support |
| Children's Museum of Houston | Houston, TX | $44,315 | 2025 | External project support |
| Texas Children's Hospital | Houston, TX | $39,478 | 2025 | External project support |
| Baylor College of Medicine Teen Health Clinic | Houston, TX | $34,861 | 2025 | External project support |
| Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos | Houston, TX | $34,675 | 2025 | External project support |
| Houston Area Women's Center | Houston, TX | $25,321 | 2025 | External project support |
| Star of Hope | Houston, TX | $24,391 | 2025 | External project support |
| Texas Children's Hospital | Houston, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | External project support |
| Chinquapin Preparatory School | Highlands, TX | $17,649 | 2025 | External project support |
| The Westview School Inc | Houston, TX | $15,825 | 2025 | External project support |
| Spring Branch Community Health Center | Katy, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | Community assistance |
Epilepsy Foundation of Texas
$20,000Community assistance
Intertwined
$15,000Community assistance
New Life Tabernacle Church of God in Christ Inc
$15,000Community assistance
Mikey's Place
$15,000Community assistance
Center for the Missing dba Texas Center for the Missing
$10,000Community assistance
Girls on the Run Greater Houston
$10,000Community assistance
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston
$6,600External project support