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Texas · Private foundation

Don a Sanders Family Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$254k
Granted FY2024(still arriving)
38
Grants FY2024
34
Organizations funded FY2023
41%
First-time grantees FY2023
Read the full brief
Median grant, FY2024
$5,000
Largest grant, FY2024
$39,410
Organizations funded a year
28 to 48
FY2017 to FY2023
States reached, FY2024
4
Total assets, FY2024
$51k
Applications
Preselected organizations only
Per its most recent filing; check its own site

How open it is to new grantees

In FY2023, 41% of the organizations Don a Sanders Family Foundation funded were first-time grantees, receiving 34% of its grant dollars.

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 66% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $94k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’18’19’20’21’22’23
AnimalsHuman ServicesPhilanthropyHealthEducationRecreation & SportsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.
The numbers by year
Fiscal yearOrganizations fundedTo those organizationsFirst-time grantees
FY2024still arriving37$249k30%
FY202334$276k41%
FY202243$1.4M47%
FY202128$343k36%
FY202031$264k29%
FY201941$707k46%
FY201848$371k60%
FY201745$393kn/a
93% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$1.4MAnimals$959kPublic Safety & Disaster$376kHuman Services$215kArts & Culture$204kHealth$197kPhilanthropy$153kYouth Development$120kOther$0

Where its grants go

Grant dollars by states, across the years we hold.

Which US states its grants reach

WA
MI
NY
MA
CA
UT
CO
NC
OK
LA
MS
AL
TX
FL

Top grantees

Largest recipients by total granted, FY2017 to FY2024, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.

GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
The Kinkaid School Inc$933,50041%
Houston Police Foundation$320,72983%
Rescued Pets Movement Inc$272,25754%
Houston BARC Foundation$260,000259%
Houston Petset$137,00053%
Sam Houston State University$133,8006n/a
Nolan Ryan Foundation$130,35086%
Houston Texans Foundation$112,00071%
Best Friends Animal Society$96,00020%
Friends for Life$82,70041%
Show all 85 grantees
All grantees of Don a Sanders Family Foundation by total granted
GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
The Kinkaid School Inc$933,50041%
Houston Police Foundation$320,72983%
Rescued Pets Movement Inc$272,25754%
Houston BARC Foundation$260,000259%
Houston Petset$137,00053%
Sam Houston State University$133,8006n/a
Nolan Ryan Foundation$130,35086%
Houston Texans Foundation$112,00071%
Best Friends Animal Society$96,00020%
Friends for Life$82,70041%
East Texas Angel Network Inc$46,00081%
Heartgift Foundation$45,00041%
K-9 Angels Rescue$38,60016%
Harmon Family Foundation (Fka the Claude Harmon Foundation)$35,500618%
The Sunshine Kids Foundation$30,50030%
Astros Foundation$30,0002n/a
Todays Harbor for Children$25,00050%
Citizens For Animal Protection Inc$25,00020%
Star of Hope Mission$20,00010%
Houston Botanic Garden$17,50040%
The Brookwood Community Inc$17,50080%
Houston Pets Alive$15,00021%
The Roger Clemens Foundation$15,00023%
Pathways for Little Feet$15,00031%
Freedom Service Dogs Inc$13,00020%
Assist the Officer Inc$11,52521%
George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts Inc$11,15033%
Houston Humane Society$10,96120%
South Texas Persian Rescue$10,0001n/a
Unity for the Animals Inc$10,000122%
Communities in Schools of Houston Inc$10,00010%
All Hands and Hearts Smart Response Inc$10,00010%
Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals$10,00020%
Advantage Adoptions Inc$10,0002n/a
Pararescue Foundation$10,00021%
K9s4cops Inc$10,00011%
Texas Humane Legislation Network Inc$10,00013%
Sports Authority Foundation$9,00020%
Men of Distinction of Greater Houston$7,50012%
Wards Foundation$7,00021%
Buffalo Bayou Partnership Inc$6,00010%
Belong Bakery$5,00011%
Young Men's Christian Association of the Greater Houston Area$5,00010%
Child Advocates Inc$5,00010%
Discovery Green Conservancy$5,00010%
Discovery Programs$5,00012%
Friends of the Children Incorporated$5,00014%
Second Baptist School Foundation Inc$5,00010%
Justice Forward$5,00011%
American Heart Association Inc$5,00010%
Mr October Foundation for Kids$5,00011%
Baylor University$5,00010%
Educational Broadcasting Foundation$5,00010%
Glasstire$5,00011%
Small Steps Nurturing Center$5,00010%
Cheyanna's Champions 4 Children$5,00011%
HSPVA Friends$5,00010%
Houston Symphony Society$5,00020%
The Louisiana Museum Foundation$5,00010%
The Country Playhouse$5,00010%
Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue Inc$5,00012%
Emancipet Inc$5,00010%
Fur a Pawsitive Future Inc$5,0001n/a
Breakthrough T1d$4,00040%
Houston Center for Photography Inc$3,0001n/a
Art League of Houston$3,00010%
Sharks Swim Club$2,50011%
Adopt a Cat Inc$2,5001n/a
Friends of McGill University Inc$2,50010%
William Marsh Rice University$2,50010%
The Council on Recovery$2,50010%
Baseball for Babies$2,500114%
Episcopal High School$2,1801n/a
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Inc$2,00010%
Dell Children's Foundation$1,00010%
Cypress Community Assistance Ministries$1,00010%
The Montrose Center$1,00010%
City Parks Foundation Inc$1,00010%
Lawndale Art & Performance Center$1,0001n/a
Memorial Hermann Foundation$1,00010%
Adopt a Golden Birmingham Inc$1,00011%
Matt Musil All Star Golf Classic Inc$1,00011%
The Farrah Fawcett Foundation$1,00010%
Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston Inc$1,00010%
Grace Christian Academy Inc$1,0001n/a

What it could do for these grantees

Plus 72 recipients with no EIN on record ($826k), not named here.

Where it is load-bearing

Don a Sanders Family Foundation supplied at least a quarter of the budget for 1 of its grantees at some point. The chart plots its 75 largest grantees; load-bearing ones sit top left.

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetThe Kinkaid School Inc: $933,500 over 4y, 0.8% of budgetHouston Police Foundation: $320,729 over 8y, 2.6% of budgetRescued Pets Movement Inc: $272,257 over 5y, 4.1% of budgetHouston BARC Foundation: $260,000 over 2y, 59% of budgetHouston Petset: $137,000 over 5y, 2.5% of budgetNolan Ryan Foundation: $130,350 over 8y, 6.0% of budgetHouston Texans Foundation: $112,000 over 7y, 1.2% of budgetBest Friends Animal Society: $96,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetFriends for Life: $82,700 over 4y, 1.5% of budgetEast Texas Angel Network Inc: $46,000 over 8y, 1.4% of budgetHeartgift Foundation: $45,000 over 4y, 0.8% of budgetK-9 Angels Rescue: $38,600 over 1y, 5.9% of budgetHarmon Family Foundation (Fka the Claude Harmon Foundation): $35,500 over 6y, 18% of budgetThe Sunshine Kids Foundation: $30,500 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetTodays Harbor for Children: $25,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetCitizens For Animal Protection Inc: $25,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetStar of Hope Mission: $20,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHouston Botanic Garden: $17,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetThe Brookwood Community Inc: $17,500 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetHouston Pets Alive: $15,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetThe Roger Clemens Foundation: $15,000 over 2y, 3.3% of budgetPathways for Little Feet: $15,000 over 3y, 1.0% of budgetFreedom Service Dogs Inc: $13,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetAssist the Officer Inc: $11,525 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetGeorge Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts Inc: $11,150 over 3y, 3.0% of budgetHouston Humane Society: $10,961 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUnity for the Animals Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 22% of budgetCommunities in Schools of Houston Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAll Hands and Hearts Smart Response Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHouston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPararescue Foundation: $10,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetK9s4cops Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetTexas Humane Legislation Network Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 2.8% of budgetSports Authority Foundation: $9,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetMen of Distinction of Greater Houston: $7,500 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetWards Foundation: $7,000 over 2y, 1.2% of budgetBuffalo Bayou Partnership Inc: $6,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBelong Bakery: $5,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetYoung Men's Christian Association of the Greater Houston Area: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetChild Advocates Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetDiscovery Green Conservancy: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetDiscovery Programs: $5,000 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetFriends of the Children Incorporated: $5,000 over 1y, 3.9% of budgetSecond Baptist School Foundation Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetJustice Forward: $5,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMr October Foundation for Kids: $5,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetBaylor University: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget

Tap a dot to name the grantee.

How this is measured
Share of budget is the funder’s grant in a year over the grantee’s total revenue that year, at its highest across the years we hold; revenue is from all sources. Only grantees confirmed against their own filings, whose grants do not exceed their revenue, are plotted: the largest 75.

Nonprofits that may fit its grantmaking

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Greater Houston Community FoundationTX45.9× affinity31 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Greater Houston Community Foundation · Shell USA Company Foundation · The Brown Foundation Inc · Houston Endowment Inc · Houston Petset · Baker Hughes Foundation · Strake Foundation · Dan L Duncan Foundation · John P McGovern Foundation · The Methodist Hospital · Mechia Foundation · Houston Arts Alliance

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Compare Don a Sanders Family Foundation with peer funders

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Don a Sanders Family Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Don a Sanders Family Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

About Don a Sanders Family Foundation

How much does Don a Sanders Family Foundation give?
Don a Sanders Family Foundation reported 38 grants totaling $253,960 in its FY2024 IRS filing. It funded between 28 and 48 organizations a year over FY2017 to FY2023.
What does Don a Sanders Family Foundation fund?
By grant dollars over FY2017 to FY2024, its largest causes are Education (34%), Animals (24%), Public Safety & Disaster (9%).
Who are Don a Sanders Family Foundation's largest grantees?
By total granted over FY2017 to FY2024: The Kinkaid School Inc ($934k), Houston Police Foundation ($321k), Rescued Pets Movement Inc ($272k).
Does Don a Sanders Family Foundation fund new organizations?
In FY2023, 41% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
Does Don a Sanders Family Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Its most recent filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and does not take unsolicited requests. Check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.
Which funders back the same organizations as Don a Sanders Family Foundation?
Its strongest co-funders, measured against what their size predicts, include Greater Houston Community Foundation, Shell USA Company Foundation, The Brown Foundation Inc.
Where is Don a Sanders Family Foundation based?
Don a Sanders Family Foundation is based in TX.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 158 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

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