The Wortham Foundation is a Houston-centric cultural philanthropist, with most of its giving aimed at major arts institutions, museums, performing arts groups, and civic amenities that shape the city’s quality of life. It is especially strong on capital campaigns and operating support for established anchor organizations, often returning to the same grantees over multiple years. The foundation also shows a quieter but consistent interest in parks, bayou/environmental projects, and youth-serving cultural institutions like the Children’s Museum and Girl Scouts.
Concentrated, relationship-driven giving to a relatively small set of Houston-based anchor institutions, with repeat grants to core grantees and a mix of large capital gifts and operating support.
The Wortham Foundation Inc. makes very large grants for operating support, capital needs, and endowment building, with recent awards concentrated in Houston arts, culture, education, and civic institutions. In 2025, Houston Symphony Society received $1,000,000 for general operations, and Houston Grand Opera received $850,000 for general operations, signaling a strong emphasis on sustaining core nonprofit activity rather than project-only funding. The foundation’s 2023 and 2024 grants also show unusually large award sizes, with broad support described as operational, capital, and endowment grants to public charitable organizations in the United States. The grantmaking pattern points to a funder that backs established organizations with significant infrastructure needs. Recent recipients include San Jacinto Girl Scouts, the Children’s Museum, Da Camera Society, the Hobby Center, Houston Public Media Foundation, and Stages Repertory Theatre. These awards are paired with other general operating grants across the Houston nonprofit sector, plus an annual preservation grant to Galveston Historical Foundation. The result is a portfolio centered on institutional durability, facility support, and long-term financial stability for public charities.
The Wortham Foundation Inc. supports arts and culture across Houston through general operating grants to several performing arts organizations. Recent examples include $150,000 to Da Camera Society, $100,000 to Stages Repertory Theatre, and $10,000 to Diverse Works, each marked for general operations. It also funds youth and family-serving institutions. The foundation gave $250,000 to San Jacinto Girl Scouts for general operations and $175,000 to the Children’s Museum for general operations, showing support for organizations that serve children and families in the Houston area. Civic and community assets appear as another theme. Memorial Park Conservancy received $50,000 for general operations, while Galveston Historical Foundation received $40,000 for annual preservation, indicating attention to both public space and historic preservation. Media and education are present as well: Houston Public Media Foundation received $100,000, and Asia Society Asia House received $10,000, both for general operations.
$3M
$252.6M
$13.7M
$3.7M
Most grants fall between $15K and $138K, with a median of $40K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$40K
75th Percentile
$138K
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Notable grantees: Foundation for Jones Hall, Houston Symphony Society, Houston Grand Opera, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Houston Museum of Natural Science
Typical grants are extremely large: the p25 size is $11,250,000, the median is $11,540,000, and the p75 is $11,830,000. The recent record also shows a mix of two very large grants in 2023 and 2024, followed by a cluster of smaller 2025 operating awards. This pattern suggests a foundation that makes infrequent, high-dollar commitments rather than many small grants. The available data shows repeated support in successive years, including major grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Grantmaking is locally concentrated: 100% of grants in the recent sample went to recipients in Texas. Houston is the clear center of activity, with multiple awards to organizations in Houston, including arts, museums, media, and conservation groups. Galveston also appears through Galveston Historical Foundation. The top state by grant count is Texas, matching the recipient-state distribution in the data.
It supports U.S. public charitable organizations, with recent awards to arts groups, museums, youth organizations, media, conservation, and historic preservation groups. The stated purposes emphasize operational support, capital investment, endowment building, and annual preservation funding.
The grant-size distribution is very high: p25 is $11,250,000, median is $11,540,000, and p75 is $11,830,000. That points to a pattern of exceptionally large grants rather than routine small awards.
Its recent grantmaking is entirely in Texas, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Houston is the main city in the sample, and Galveston appears as well.
No. The data indicates that it funds individuals is false and makes program-related investments is false.
The record shows grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, including both very large awards and a set of 2025 general operating grants. That indicates continued activity across multiple years, with repeated support to public charities rather than a single one-off year.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOUSTON SYMPHONY SOCIETY | HOUSTON, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOUSTON GRAND OPERA | HOUSTON, TX | $850,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SAN JACINTO GIRL SCOUTS | HOUSTON, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | HOUSTON, TX | $175,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DA CAMERA SOCIETY | HOUSTON, TX | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOBBY CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| STAGES REPERTORY THEATRE | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY | HOUSTON, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION | GALVESTON, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL PRESERVATION |
| SPARK | HOUSTON, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HEALTH MUSEUM | HOUSTON, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ARMAND BAYOU | HOUSTON, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CLASSICAL THEATRE COMPANY | HOUSTON, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOUSTON MASTERWORKS CHORUS | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DIVERSE WORKS | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ASIA SOCIETY ASIA HOUSE | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOUSTON BOYCHOIR INC | HOUSTON, TX | $7,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOUSTON CHORAL SOCIETY | HOUSTON, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALL | HOUSTON, TX | $2,000,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL |
| HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE | HOUSTON, TX | $1,000,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL |
| HOUSTON SYMPHONY SOCIETY | HOUSTON, TX | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP | HOUSTON, TX | $1,000,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL |
| HOUSTON ZOO | HOUSTON, TX | $1,000,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL |
| HOUSTON GRAND OPERA | HOUSTON, TX | $850,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WILLOW WATERHOLE GREENS | HOUSTON, TX | $500,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL |
| ALLEY THEATRE | HOUSTON, TX | $500,000 | 2023 | A CHRISTMAS CAROL |
| HOUSTON BALLET | HOUSTON, TX | $400,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CULLINAN PARK CONSERVANCY | SUGAR LAND, TX | $250,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL |
| WESTCHASE DISTRICT | HOUSTON, TX | $250,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL |
| HOUSTON FIRE MUSEUM | HOUSTON, TX | $200,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL |
| THEATRE UNDER THE STARS | HOUSTON, TX | $175,000 | 2023 | COVID RELIEF |
| THEATRE UNDER THE STARS | HOUSTON, TX | $175,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DA CAMERA SOCIETY | HOUSTON, TX | $150,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ALLEY THEATRE | HOUSTON, TX | $150,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | HOUSTON, TX | $150,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | HOUSTON, TX | $150,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MENIL FOUNDATION INC | HOUSTON, TX | $150,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE BRYAN MUSEUM | GALVESTON, TX | $125,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LONE STAR FLIGHT MUSEUM | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL |
| HOUSTON PUBLIC MEDIA FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LAWNDALE ART CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL |
| ARMAND BAYOU | HOUSTON, TX | $100,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL |
| STAGES REPERTORY THEATRE | HOUSTON, TX | $90,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOUSTON BOTANIC GARDEN | HOUSTON, TX | $75,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL |
| CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM | HOUSTON, TX | $70,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TREES FOR HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $65,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS - HOUSTON | HOUSTON, TX | $60,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOUSTON CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY CRAFT | HOUSTON, TX | $55,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
HOUSTON SYMPHONY SOCIETY
$1,000,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA
$850,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
SAN JACINTO GIRL SCOUTS
$250,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DA CAMERA SOCIETY
$150,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
HOBBY CENTER
$100,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
HEALTH MUSEUM
$40,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ARMAND BAYOU
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CLASSICAL THEATRE COMPANY
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
HOUSTON MASTERWORKS CHORUS
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ASIA SOCIETY ASIA HOUSE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
HOUSTON BOYCHOIR INC
$7,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
HOUSTON CHORAL SOCIETY
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALL
$2,000,000CAPITAL
HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE
$1,000,000CAPITAL
HOUSTON SYMPHONY SOCIETY
$1,000,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA
$850,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
WILLOW WATERHOLE GREENS
$500,000CAPITAL
HOUSTON BALLET
$400,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CULLINAN PARK CONSERVANCY
$250,000CAPITAL
WESTCHASE DISTRICT
$250,000CAPITAL
HOUSTON FIRE MUSEUM
$200,000CAPITAL
DA CAMERA SOCIETY
$150,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$150,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
MENIL FOUNDATION INC
$150,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE BRYAN MUSEUM
$125,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
LAWNDALE ART CENTER
$100,000CAPITAL
ARMAND BAYOU
$100,000CAPITAL
STAGES REPERTORY THEATRE
$90,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM
$70,000GENERAL OPERATIONS