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    5. Powell Foundation
    Powell Foundation logo

    Powell Foundation

    ActivePhilanthropy & Voluntarism
    Houston, TXWebsite7135237557

    About Powell Foundation

    The Powell Foundation appears to make strategic, high-dollar investments in early childhood education, funding quality early learning and provider support. Their giving is targeted — one large grant to a Houston-based organization focused on improving early learning centers and workforce quality, suggesting a preference for local, systems-level impact in the birth-to-five space.

    Focus Areas

    High-quality early childhood education in the Houston metro areaCapacity-building for early learning centers and providersWorkforce development and training for early childhood educatorsExpanding access to preschool and early learning for underserved families

    Who They Fund

    young children (early childhood)K-12 students (including underserved students)postsecondary-bound and college studentsparents, families, and caregiverseducators and early learning providers

    About Powell Foundation

    The Powell Foundation’s most distinctive recent pattern is its concentrated support for early childhood education, paired with large grants to organizations working on provider quality, parent support, and early learning systems. A $1,016,916 grant to Collaborative for Children in Houston funded quality early learning centers and providers, while a $974,456 grant to AVANCE Inc in San Antonio supported parent, family, and caregiver support. Those awards show a funder willing to make sizable bets on the birth-to-five space, rather than scattering smaller gifts across many unrelated causes. That early childhood emphasis sits alongside broader education work that reaches K-12 schools and postsecondary pathways. The foundation also backs conservation and human services, but its education grants often connect to system-building: educator development, cradle-to-career alignment, and readiness for college or career. In the recent grants list, Houston, Austin, and other Texas cities recur frequently, with out-of-state grants appearing as smaller parts of the portfolio. The Powell Foundation’s grantmaking combines operating and program support, and the scale of its awards suggests a preference for organizations with regional reach and a clear role in local education infrastructure.

    What Powell Foundation Funds

    Early childhood education is the clearest throughline. The Powell Foundation gave $400,000 to Texas Association for the Education of Young Children in Austin for high-quality early learning initiatives, and $300,000 to United Way of Greater Houston for the same broad area. It also supported data and policy work with $300,000 to William Marsh Rice University - Texas Policy Lab in Houston for early childhood development and education research and policy initiatives. The foundation also funds educator development. It awarded $802,166 to UTeach Institute co University of Texas Foundation in Austin for excellent educator initiatives, $597,621 to The University of Texas Foundation - Charles A Dana Center in Austin for the same type of work, and $300,000 to Texas Tech Foundation Inc - US PREP in Lubbock for excellent educator initiatives. Beyond education, the portfolio includes conservation and human services. Spark in Houston received $801,814 for community access to parks and urban greenspaces, and Kids' Meals Inc in Houston received $250,000 for food and housing insecurity or other stabilization and empowerment efforts.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $20.8M

    Total Assets

    $491.9M

    Total Revenue

    $49.1M

    Total Expenses

    $24.2M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $8K and $80K, with a median of $30K.

    25th Percentile

    $8K

    Median

    $30K

    75th Percentile

    $80K

    Geographic Reach

    Local23 states funded
    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters

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    © 2026 Kindora. All rights reserved.

    Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceYour privacy choicesEnvironmental footprintSystem Status
    EIN (Tax ID): 74-6104592Latest Form 990: 2026Total assets: $491.9M4 filings on recordFind their full 990 filing →
    See If You're a Fit — FreeFree account · instant fit score · similar funders
    community residents in urban/park-poor neighborhoods (access to greenspace)

    Giving Approach

    Concentrated, large-scale grantmaking: a single substantial award to a local early childhood intermediary, indicating preference for deep, strategic investments rather than many small grants.

    Funding Style

    systems change (cradle-to-career)direct service/program supportresearch, data, and policy advocacy fundingcapacity building for educators and providers

    Notable grantees: Collaborative for Children

    Topics

    high-quality early learning / early childhood developmentparent, family, and caregiver supportseducator development / excellent educator initiativesK-12 student supports and innovative school modelspostsecondary access, readiness, success, and completioncommunity conservation: access to parks, urban greenspaces, and environmental protectionbasic needs stabilization (food/housing insecurity) and emotional well-being

    How Powell Foundation Gives

    Typical grants cluster at meaningful operating scale: the 25th percentile is $7,500, the median is $30,000, and the 75th percentile is $80,000. The recent-grants list also shows several seven-figure or high-six-figure awards, indicating that the foundation mixes broad middle-market grants with larger strategic investments. The Powell Foundation is a regular funder and accepts unsolicited requests through its grant programs. Its active programs allow operating costs, agency programs, specific projects, and, in some cases, capital projects. The recent grants list includes repeated support to some organizations across 2023 and 2024, including Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, suggesting at least some recurring relationships rather than one-off gifts.

    Where Powell Foundation Makes Grants

    The Powell Foundation gives locally, with 81% of grants going to recipients in Texas. Recent awards are concentrated in Houston, Austin, and Dallas, with additional grants in San Antonio, Lubbock, Seattle, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. Texas recipients dominate the portfolio, but the presence of out-of-state organizations shows the foundation will fund select partners beyond its Houston base when they fit its focus areas. Recipient-country data show all grants in the US.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Powell Foundation

    What areas does The Powell Foundation fund most often?

    Its recent grants center on early childhood development and education, educator development, postsecondary pathways, conservation, and human services. Named awards include support for early learning centers and providers, educator initiatives, park access and urban greenspaces, and food and housing stabilization.

    What is the typical grant size?

    The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $7,500 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $80,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger six- and seven-figure grants, showing that it makes both mid-sized and major commitments.

    Does The Powell Foundation accept unsolicited requests?

    Yes. Its active grant programs state that they accept unsolicited applications, including a spring-and-fall annual grantmaking cycle that begins with a brief online pre-application.

    Where does The Powell Foundation give most often?

    Grant activity is concentrated in Texas, with 81% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Within the recent-grants list, Houston and Austin appear frequently, along with Dallas, San Antonio, and Lubbock.

    Does The Powell Foundation fund projects beyond early childhood education?

    Yes. Recent grants include conservation work such as park and greenspace access, human services such as food and housing stabilization, postsecondary readiness and completion, and educator development for public schools.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2026

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.

    Open Grant Opportunities

    Current and upcoming funding from Powell Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.

    Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: Varies

    Annual Grantmaking (Spring & Fall Cycles)

    Education (early childhood, K-12, postsecondary, cradle-to-career)ArtsConservation+1 more

    Who can apply: Organization must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity (including public charities, government organizations, and eligible supporting organizations). Work must directly benefit residents of Harris, Travis, or Walker Counties, TX (select statewide grants considered if they benefit the three counties). The Foundation does not fund individuals, endowments, scholarship funds, other private foundations, fundraising/marketing events, debt retirement or past operating deficits, candidates for political office, or organizations for primarily religious/sectarian purposes (except faith-based 501c3s for non-sectarian programming serving broad populations).

    Deadline: Pre-application deadlines each year: November 30 (for Spring cycle) and May 31 (for Fall cycle). Pre-applications accepted year-round for new organizations; current grantees notified when eligible to submit pre-application based on timing of last grant.

    View & apply

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    Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    Precinct4ForwardHouston, TX$1,500,0002026Conservation: Connecting People to Nature
    Boys & Girls Club of Walker CountyHuntsville, TX$1,262,2952026Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success
    The Holdsworth CenterAustin, TX$981,1642026Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent Educators
    BridgeYearHouston, TX$949,8152026Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success
    The Bridgespan GroupBoston, MA$838,1752026Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems
    Catalyst Education DBA Catalyst ExchangeNew Orleans, LA$700,0002026Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems
    United Way for Greater AustinAustin, TX$655,7292026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators
    University of Houston FoundationHouston, TX$399,0002026Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success
    Education FirstSeattle, WA$372,3132026Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems
    40 SchoolsNew Orleans, LA$370,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector
    AVANCE IncSan Antonio, TX$365,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: Supportive Caregivers
    Arts Connect HoustonHouston, TX$350,0002026Arts: Student Education Programs
    Trust for Learning a project of New Venture FundWashington, DC$350,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector
    Creative ActionAustin, TX$350,0002026Arts: Student Education Programs
    National Association for Family Child CareWashington, DC$350,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators
    Austin 2030 Network co Social Good Fund IncAustin, TX$308,0002026Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success
    United Way of Greater HoustonHouston, TX$300,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators
    The Trail ConservancyAustin, TX$300,0002026Conservation: Connecting People to Nature
    Bonterra Jumpstart FundOakland CA, CA$260,0002026Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems
    The Bridgespan GroupBoston, MA$252,4632026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector
    Environmental Defense Fund IncorporatedNew York, NY$200,0002026Conservation: Conservation/ Environmental Education
    Rice University School Literacy & CultureHouston, TX$200,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators
    Breakthrough Central TexasAustin, TX$200,0002026Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success
    EMERGEHouston, TX$200,0002026Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success
    Austin Childrens Museum DBA ThinkeryAustin, TX$200,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators
    Philanthropy Advocates co Waco FoundationWaco, TX$200,0002026Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems
    Summer House InstitutePhiladelphia, PA$200,0002026Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent Educators
    Improving Education IncBaltimore, MD$191,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: Supportive Caregivers
    Huntsville Independent School DistrictHuntsville, TX$151,0002026Quality Public K-12 Schools: Student Supports
    ConnectiveHouston, TX$150,0002026Human Services: Stabilization and Empowerment
    Austin Public Education Foundation DBA Austin Ed FundAustin, TX$150,0002026Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent Educators
    Good Reason HoustonHouston, TX$150,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector
    Young Audiences Inc of HoustonHouston, TX$150,0002026Arts: Student Education Programs
    Collaborative for ChildrenHouston, TX$150,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators
    Hermann Park ConservancyHouston, TX$150,0002026Conservation: Connecting People to Nature
    Memorial Park Conservancy IncHouston, TX$150,0002026Conservation: Connecting People to Nature
    E3 AllianceAustin, TX$150,0002026Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems
    Children At Risk IncHouston, TX$150,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector
    The Bridgespan GroupBoston, MA$140,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector
    Genaustin DBA Girls Empowerment NetworkAustin, TX$128,0002026Human Services: Emotional Wellbeing
    Mainspring SchoolsAustin, TX$125,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators
    Family HoustonHouston, TX$125,0002026Human Services: Emotional Wellbeing
    Communities In Schools of Central TexasAustin, TX$100,0002026Quality Public K-12 Schools: Student Supports
    Teach for America Inc DBA Teach For America - AustinAustin, TX$100,0002026Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent Educators
    reMINDHouston, TX$100,0002026Human Services: Emotional Wellbeing
    BakerRipleyHouston, TX$100,0002026Human Services: Stabilization and Empowerment
    KIPP Texas Public SchoolsHouston, TX$100,0002026Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators
    Trees For HoustonHouston, TX$100,0002026Conservation: Environmental Protection
    Urban Harvest IncHouston, TX$100,0002026Human Services: Stabilization and Empowerment
    Writers in the SchoolsHouston, TX$100,0002026Arts: Student Education Programs

    Precinct4Forward

    $1,500,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Conservation: Connecting People to Nature

    Boys & Girls Club of Walker County

    $1,262,295
    Huntsville, TX2026

    Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success

    The Holdsworth Center

    $981,164
    Austin, TX2026

    Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent Educators

    BridgeYear

    $949,815
    Houston, TX2026

    Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success

    The Bridgespan Group

    $838,175
    Boston, MA2026

    Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems

    Catalyst Education DBA Catalyst Exchange
    $700,000
    New Orleans, LA2026

    Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems

    United Way for Greater Austin

    $655,729
    Austin, TX2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators

    University of Houston Foundation

    $399,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success

    Education First

    $372,313
    Seattle, WA2026

    Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems

    40 Schools

    $370,000
    New Orleans, LA2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector

    AVANCE Inc

    $365,000
    San Antonio, TX2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: Supportive Caregivers

    Arts Connect Houston

    $350,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Arts: Student Education Programs

    Trust for Learning a project of New Venture Fund

    $350,000
    Washington, DC2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector

    Creative Action

    $350,000
    Austin, TX2026

    Arts: Student Education Programs

    National Association for Family Child Care

    $350,000
    Washington, DC2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators

    Austin 2030 Network co Social Good Fund Inc

    $308,000
    Austin, TX2026

    Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success

    United Way of Greater Houston

    $300,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators

    The Trail Conservancy

    $300,000
    Austin, TX2026

    Conservation: Connecting People to Nature

    Bonterra Jumpstart Fund

    $260,000
    Oakland CA, CA2026

    Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems

    The Bridgespan Group

    $252,463
    Boston, MA2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector

    Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated

    $200,000
    New York, NY2026

    Conservation: Conservation/ Environmental Education

    Rice University School Literacy & Culture

    $200,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators

    Breakthrough Central Texas

    $200,000
    Austin, TX2026

    Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success

    EMERGE

    $200,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Post-Secondary Pathways: Post-Secondary Access and Success

    Austin Childrens Museum DBA Thinkery

    $200,000
    Austin, TX2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators

    Philanthropy Advocates co Waco Foundation

    $200,000
    Waco, TX2026

    Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems

    Summer House Institute

    $200,000
    Philadelphia, PA2026

    Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent Educators

    Improving Education Inc

    $191,000
    Baltimore, MD2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: Supportive Caregivers

    Huntsville Independent School District

    $151,000
    Huntsville, TX2026

    Quality Public K-12 Schools: Student Supports

    Connective

    $150,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Human Services: Stabilization and Empowerment

    Austin Public Education Foundation DBA Austin Ed Fund

    $150,000
    Austin, TX2026

    Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent Educators

    Good Reason Houston

    $150,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector

    Young Audiences Inc of Houston

    $150,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Arts: Student Education Programs

    Collaborative for Children

    $150,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators

    Hermann Park Conservancy

    $150,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Conservation: Connecting People to Nature

    Memorial Park Conservancy Inc

    $150,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Conservation: Connecting People to Nature

    E3 Alliance

    $150,000
    Austin, TX2026

    Aligned Cradle to Career Education System: Effective Tools, Policies, and Systems

    Children At Risk Inc

    $150,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector

    The Bridgespan Group

    $140,000
    Boston, MA2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Capacity Sector

    Genaustin DBA Girls Empowerment Network

    $128,000
    Austin, TX2026

    Human Services: Emotional Wellbeing

    Mainspring Schools

    $125,000
    Austin, TX2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators

    Family Houston

    $125,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Human Services: Emotional Wellbeing

    Communities In Schools of Central Texas

    $100,000
    Austin, TX2026

    Quality Public K-12 Schools: Student Supports

    Teach for America Inc DBA Teach For America - Austin

    $100,000
    Austin, TX2026

    Quality Public K-12 Schools: Excellent Educators

    reMIND

    $100,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Human Services: Emotional Wellbeing

    BakerRipley

    $100,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Human Services: Stabilization and Empowerment

    KIPP Texas Public Schools

    $100,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Early Childhood Development and Education: High-Quality Providers and Educators

    Trees For Houston

    $100,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Conservation: Environmental Protection

    Urban Harvest Inc

    $100,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Human Services: Stabilization and Empowerment

    Writers in the Schools

    $100,000
    Houston, TX2026

    Arts: Student Education Programs