The Morriss Family Foundation provides targeted, event-driven support to community-based organizations responding to natural disaster recovery. Recent giving is concentrated on post–Hurricane Helene relief, emphasizing food access and rebuilding in affected communities and organizations that serve vulnerable populations. Grants are made to intermediary and local groups rather than large national charities, suggesting a preference for on-the-ground operational relief work.
The Morriss Family Foundation’s recent giving is shaped by post–Hurricane Helene recovery, with the largest grant in the file going to Centro Unido for $35,000 for post-hurricane recovery. Two other North Carolina recipients, McDowell Local Food Advisory Council and Equal Plates Project, each received $25,000 for recovery-related work, showing that the foundation backed both immediate relief and local food-system rebuilding after the storm. That same pattern appears in support for organizations serving vulnerable populations, such as Asheville Humane Society, which received $15,000 for post-hurricane recovery, and Holy Angels Residential Facility, which received $19,000 for general support. The foundation also makes smaller, repeated awards to community organizations in Texas, Colorado, and other states, with grants often landing in the $1,000 to $3,500 range. Across the recent record, the Morriss Family Foundation favors direct, local, on-the-ground organizations over large national intermediaries, and its giving includes food access, disability services, homelessness support, youth programs, and health access. It also funds individuals.
Disaster response is a central theme in the recent record. In 2025, the foundation gave $35,000 to Centro Unido for post-hurricane recovery, then followed with $25,000 to McDowell Local Food Advisory Council for post-hurricane recovery and the Foothills Food Hub. Food security appears both in emergency and ongoing forms: Harvest Regional Food Bank received $2,000 for general support, and Equal Plates Project received $25,000 for post-hurricane recovery. The foundation also funds disability and work-skills services. Texarkana Resources for the Disabled received $4,500 to support individuals with a developmental disability in general work skills, and another $12,500 went to the same organization for general support. Community-based shelter and outreach is another area, with Randy Sams' Outreach Shelter receiving $3,000 to support temporary lodging and food for people who are poor and homeless. Youth development shows up through Boy Scouts of America Caddo Area Council grants for general support and youth programs.
Typical grant size is modest: p25 is $1,000, median is $2,000, and p75 is $3,500. The recent file also shows a small set of larger disaster-response awards, but most grants cluster near the lower end of that range. The foundation makes repeat awards to some recipients across multiple years, including Holy Angels, Estes Valley Library Friends & Foundation, Boy Scouts of America Caddo Area Council, Texarkana Resources for the Disabled, and Hands on Texarkana. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships alongside event-driven relief. It is a private family foundation, and it also funds individuals. The grants shown are all programmatic support or general support, with several awards described as direct service funding or event-related support.
$489K
$8.8M
$357K
$574K
Most grants fall between $1K and $4K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$4K
About 13% of grants go to recipients in TX.
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Concentrated, small portfolio of mid-sized one-off grants focused on a single emergency event; funding goes to a few community-based grantees rather than many small donors, with repeat thematic focus on food systems and local relief.
Notable grantees: Centro Unido, Equal Plates Project, McDowell Local Food Advisory Council
The foundation gives nationally, but its grants are concentrated in Texas, which accounts for the most recipient locations in the recent file. North Carolina is also prominent, especially Marion and Asheville, where multiple Hurricane Helene recovery grants landed. Texas recipients include Texarkana, Morrisville, and Austin, while Colorado recipients include Estes Park, the headquarters city, and the nearby Estes Valley. Outside the U.S., none appear in the recent grants; the country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. The recipient map also shows awards in Louisiana, Utah, Washington, D.C., New York, Virginia, and Arkansas.
Recent grants go to community-based nonprofits working in disaster recovery, food access, disability services, homelessness response, youth programs, and health access. Examples in the record include post-hurricane recovery groups, food banks and food hub partners, disability service providers, and local shelters.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including Holy Angels, Estes Valley Library Friends & Foundation, Boy Scouts of America Caddo Area Council, Texarkana Resources for the Disabled, and Hands on Texarkana. That suggests a mix of renewed support and event-driven grants.
The grant-size distribution is small and fairly tight: p25 is $1,000, the median is $2,000, and p75 is $3,500. A few disaster-recovery awards are larger, including $35,000 and $25,000 grants.
Texas is the top state by grant count, followed by a strong cluster in North Carolina tied to Hurricane Helene recovery. Colorado recipients also appear, including organizations in Estes Park and the Estes Valley.
Yes. The foundation is marked as funding individuals, alongside its grants to nonprofit organizations and community groups.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YMCA OF THE ROCKIES | ESTES PARK, CO | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOLY ANGELS RESIDENTIAL FACILITY | SHREVEPORT, LA | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ESTES VALLEY LIBRARY FRIENDS & FOUNDATION | ESTES PARK, CO | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PBS FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT OF PBS FOUNDATION |
| SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SOUTH POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY-TEXARKANA | TEXARKANA, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEXARKANA RESOURCES FOR THE DISABLED | TEXARKANA, AR | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NPR | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACLU FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $17,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH CLEAN ENERGY | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $17,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CROSSROADS MINISRY OF ESTES PARK | ESTES PARK, CO | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ESTES PARK SALUD FOUNDATION | ESTES PARK, CO | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | NEW YORK, NY | $12,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $11,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACOEL FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ESTES PARK EDUCATION FOUNDATION | ESTES PARK, CO | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOUTHERN UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $7,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $7,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KUER | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WUNC | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALL FOR LUNCH | CUMMING, GA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FARMER FOODSHARE | DURHAM, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KUNC | GREELEY, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NC JUSTICE CENTER | RALEIGH, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PBS UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOODBANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC | RALEIGH, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PORCH DURHAM | DURHAM, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TRIANGLE ULTIMATE | MORRISVILLE, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STEWARDSHIP UTAH FOUNDATION | SOUTH SALT LAKE, UT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS | DENVER, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NC HOUSING COALITION | DURHAM, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WASATCH ADVOCATES FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SPY HOP PRODUCTIONS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RIRIE WOODBURY DANCE FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NOVA CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH FOUNDATION CENTER | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| REPERTORY DANCE THEATRE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EQUALITY UTAH FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $2,139 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIVE PUBLIC MEDIA | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ELECTRONICS PRIVACY INFORMATION CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,700 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH GEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP | LANDER, WY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTRO UNIDO | MARION, NC | $35,000 | 2025 | POST HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY |
| MCDOWELL LOCAL FOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL | MARION, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | POST HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY - FOOTHILLS FOOD HUB |
| EQUAL PLATES PROJECT | ASHEVILLE, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | POST HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY |
| HOLY ANGELS RESIDENTIAL FACILITY | SHREVEPORT, LA | $19,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY | ASHEVILLE, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | POST HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY |
YMCA OF THE ROCKIES
$35,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ESTES VALLEY LIBRARY FRIENDS & FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT
TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY-TEXARKANA
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TEXARKANA RESOURCES FOR THE DISABLED
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ACLU FOUNDATION
$17,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH CLEAN ENERGY
$17,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ESTES PARK SALUD FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$12,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ACOEL FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ESTES PARK EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
KUER
$6,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WUNC
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ALL FOR LUNCH
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FARMER FOODSHARE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NC JUSTICE CENTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PBS UTAH
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PORCH DURHAM
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TRIANGLE ULTIMATE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NC HOUSING COALITION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WASATCH ADVOCATES FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
$4,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RIRIE WOODBURY DANCE FOUNDATION
$4,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NOVA CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
$4,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH FOUNDATION CENTER
$4,000GENERAL SUPPORT
REPERTORY DANCE THEATRE
$4,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIVE PUBLIC MEDIA
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GLENDALE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
$1,700GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH GEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CENTRO UNIDO
$35,000POST HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY
MCDOWELL LOCAL FOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL
$25,000POST HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY - FOOTHILLS FOOD HUB
EQUAL PLATES PROJECT
$25,000POST HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY