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Nelson Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Nelson 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.

$133k
Granted FY2024still arriving
31
Grants FY2024still arriving
5
States reached
$23k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Religion$170kHousing & Shelter$151kEducation$123kHuman Services$75kHealth$47kArts & Culture$37kFood & Nutrition$28kInternational$19kOther$0
02FY2024 · 31 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k28 grants · $80k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $53k
$2,400
Median grant
5
States reached
$6k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CHRISTUS FOUNDATION$23,000
CASA JUAN DIEGO$20,000
STAR OF HOPE$10,000
CATHOLIC CHARITIES$6,000
HOUSTON FOOD BANK$5,500
DOMINICAN SISTERS OF HOUSTON$5,000
PALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND$5,000
CANDLELIGHTERS$5,000
RED HOOK INITIATIVE$5,000
YELLOWSTONE ACADEMY$5,000
INNER CITY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS$5,000
MIDDLE EAST CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE$5,000
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL FOUNDATION$5,000
CASA DE ESPERANZA$5,000
OPEN DANCE PROJECT$3,700
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY21–24, $22k) land where the poverty rate runs at 18%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%RED HOOK INITIATIVE: $5k → 20%DARBY'S WARRIOR SUPPORT: $10k → 16%HEIGHTS & HILLS: $5k → 20%OPEN DOOR MISSION: $500 → 16%OPEN DOOR MISSION: $500 → 16%OPEN DOOR MISSION: $500 → 16%OPEN DOOR MISSION: $500 → 16%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

NY
MA
CT
CA
CO
AR
DC
TX
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

86%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$575k · 30 repeat orgs$93k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +34% since the first grant, against +9% for those funded once.

30 repeat relationships: 27 still active in FY2024, 3 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

30
17

Total granted

$575k
$77k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+34%
+9%

Still filing today

40%
65%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 88% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $17k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Human ServicesArts & CultureEducationHealthAnimalsInternationalOther
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.

Backed again, and grew

  • CJ
    CASA JUAN DIEGO
    5× · 2018–2024 · $100k · revenue +34%
  • ML
    MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES INC
    4× · 2018–2023 · $16k · revenue +94%
  • OD
    Open Dance Project Inc
    6× · 2018–2024 · $14k · revenue +70%

Funded once

  • SM
    ST MICHAEL SCHOOL
    one grant, 2018 · $20k
  • CF
    CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare
    one grant, 2018 · $17k · revenue +9%
  • DW
    DARBY'S WARRIOR SUPPORT
    one grant, 2022 · $10k · revenue +17%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston

Non-profit corporation providing healthcare to the homeless.

Human Services
2
Trees for Houston

Plant, protect and promote trees all over the greater Houston area.

—
3
Hospitality Apartments

The Hospitality Apartments provide no-cost lodgingexcept for cleaning fee to out of town patients living greater than 50 miles from Houston receiving care from any of the hospitals in the Houston Medical Center.

—
4
The Methodist Hospital Foundation

Mission: this organization is part of the methodist hospital, doing business as houston methodist hospital, whose mission is: to provide high quality, cost-effective health care that delivers the best value to the people we serve in a…

Health
5
Memorial Hermann Medical Group

Memorial hermann health system is a nonprofit, values-driven, community-owned health system dedicated to improving health. our vision is to create healthier communities, now and for generations to come. our values are community,…

Health
6
Healing Hands Ministries Inc

Hmm health provides quality healthcare to all its neighbors with love, compassion, and respect.

Health
7
Houston Area Community Services

Our mission is to provide high quality and caring services to promote healthy people and communities.

Health
8
Mhs Physicians of Texas

Memorial hermann health system is a nonprofit, values-driven, community-owned health system dedicated to improving health. our vision is to create healthier communities, now and for generations to come. our values are community,…

Health
9
Harris County Hospital District Foundation

The mission of the Harris County Hospital District Foundation is to enhance the broad healthcare mission of the Harris Health System by soliciting and raising funds for programs and increasing the community's awareness of the Harris Health…

Health
10
Harris County Medical Society

Our mission is to be the leading advocate for our member physicians, their patients and our community, in promoting the highest standards of ethical medical practice, access to quality medical care, medical education, research, and…

—
11
Houston Eye Associates Foundation

Houston eye associates foundation is committed to preserving and restoring sight with comprehensive eye care surgeries, medications, and ancillary services for individuals in financial hardship; and supporting education and research…

Unclassified
12
Texas Palliative Care

Texas palliative care operates to strengthen and further the goals and purpose of hospice of east texas, a texas non-profit corporation.

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Star of Hope Mission; the most unlike its peers is The Trans-Mississippi Golf Association. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

27 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 27 of the 51 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
27/27
Grantees still filing
14/27
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CHRISTUS FOUNDATION: $110,005 · OtherCHRISTUS FOUNDATIONCATHOLIC CHARITIES INC: $42,000 · OtherCATHOLIC CHARITIES INCST MICHAELS CATHOLIC CHURCH: $30,000 · OtherST MICHAELS CATHOLIC CHURCHINNER CITY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS: $25,000 · OtherINNER CITY CATHOLIC SCHOOLSDOMINICAN SISTERS OF HOUSTON: $20,000 · OtherST MICHAEL SCHOOL: $20,000 · OtherST AGNES ACADEMY: $20,000 · OtherCASA DE ESPERANZA: $15,000 · OtherCANDLELIGHTERS: $15,000 · Other+26 more: $112,830 · Other+26 moreCASA JUAN DIEGO: $100,000 · Human ServicesCASA JUAN DIEGODARBY'S WARRIOR SUPPORT: $10,000 · Human ServicesDARBY'S WARRIOR SUPP…HEIGHTS & HILLS INC: $5,000 · Human ServicesRED HOOK INITIATIVE: $5,000 · Human Services+1 more: $2,000 · Human ServicesSTAR OF HOPE MISSION: $51,000 · Housing & ShelterYELLOWSTONE ACADEMY INC DBA YELLOWSTONE SCHOOLS: $15,000 · EducationNAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 · EducationThe Brookwood Community Inc: $1,000 · EducationCHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare: $17,250 · HealthSHATTERPROOF A NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $5,000 · HealthOpen Dance Project Inc: $14,400 · Arts & CultureFRACTURED ATLAS INC: $5,000 · Arts & CultureADMIRAL NIMITZ FOUNDATION: $1,000 · Arts & CultureJohn P McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science: $1,000 · Arts & CultureMOBILE LOAVES & FISHES INC: $16,000 · Religion
Other$409,835Human Services$122,000Housing & Shelter$51,000Education$26,000Health$22,250Arts & Culture$21,400Religion$16,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetCASA JUAN DIEGO: $100,000 over 5y, 0.7% of budgetSTAR OF HOPE MISSION: $51,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetCATHOLIC CHARITIES INC: $42,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetCHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare: $17,250 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMOBILE LOAVES & FISHES INC: $16,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetYELLOWSTONE ACADEMY INC DBA YELLOWSTONE SCHOOLS: $15,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetOpen Dance Project Inc: $14,400 over 6y, 0.7% of budgetThe Houston Food Bank: $11,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetNAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetDARBY'S WARRIOR SUPPORT: $10,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetHEIGHTS & HILLS INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRED HOOK INITIATIVE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFRACTURED ATLAS INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMIDDLE EAST CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEXTRASPECIALTEAS INC: $5,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetSHATTERPROOF A NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOpen Door Mission: $2,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetTHETA CHARITY EVENTS INC: $1,500 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetTHE WILL ERWIN HEADACHE RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetThe Brookwood Community Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI GOLF ASSOCIATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetADMIRAL NIMITZ FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetJohn P McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHumane Society Of Southeast Texas: $500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBIRTHRIGHT OF BEAUMONT: $500 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetHABITAT FOR HORSES INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds CASA JUAN DIEGO ↗
  • Who funds STAR OF HOPE MISSION ↗
  • Who funds CATHOLIC CHARITIES INC ↗
  • Who funds CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare ↗
  • Who funds MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES INC ↗
  • Who funds YELLOWSTONE ACADEMY INC DBA YELLOWSTONE SCHOOLS ↗
  • Who funds Open Dance Project Inc ↗
  • Who funds The Houston Food Bank ↗
  • Who funds NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds DARBY'S WARRIOR SUPPORT ↗
  • Who funds HEIGHTS & HILLS INC ↗
  • Who funds PALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND ↗
  • Who funds RED HOOK INITIATIVE ↗
  • Who funds FRACTURED ATLAS INC ↗
  • Who funds MIDDLE EAST CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE ↗
  • Who funds EXTRASPECIALTEAS INC ↗
  • Who funds SHATTERPROOF A NONPROFIT CORPORATION ↗
  • Who funds Open Door Mission ↗
  • Who funds THETA CHARITY EVENTS INC ↗
  • Who funds THE WILL ERWIN HEADACHE RESEARCH FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds The Brookwood Community Inc ↗

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 Commu…The Brown Foundation …Strake FoundationJohn P McGovern Found…Shell USA Company Fou…Albert & Ethel Herzst…Harry S & Isabel C Ca…Mechia FoundationMarek Family Foundati…National Philanthropi…Gs Donor Advised Phil…American Endowment Fo…
Greater Houston Community FoundationTX24.4× affinity11 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Greater Houston Community Foundation · The Brown Foundation Inc · Strake Foundation · John P McGovern Foundation · Shell USA Company Foundation · Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation · Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation Sentinel Trust Company · Mechia Foundation · Marek Family Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · American Endowment Foundation

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.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Nelson Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Nelson Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%23%45%68%90%share of the org’s income from government →median 83%
  • Extraspecialteas Inc: 83% of income from government
  • Shatterproof a Nonprofit Corporation: 2% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
9report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
1rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–90%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

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 51 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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More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home