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The Elkins Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Elkins Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$17M
Granted FY2025still arriving
76
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$1.5M
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, FY2020 to 2025.

Health$23MEducation$21MArts & Culture$10MHuman Services$7.7MRecreation & Sports$3.7MYouth Development$2.4MEnvironment$2.3MFood & Nutrition$2.1MOther$0
02FY2025 · 76 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k17 grants · $419k
  • $50k–250k38 grants · $3.8M
  • $250k+21 grants · $13M
$100,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$207M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
DEPELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER$1,500,000
HARRIS HEALTH STRATEGIC FUND$1,000,000
ST JOHN'S SCHOOL$1,000,000
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE$765,000
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MCCOMBS SCHOOL$750,000
TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL$750,000
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER$750,000
FRIENDS OF PUMPKIN PARK$750,000
RIVER OAKS BAPTIST SCHOOL$600,000
RICE UNIVERSITY$500,000
THE MONARCH COMMUNITY INC$500,000
FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALL$500,000
YES PREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS$500,000
HOUSTON ZOO INC$500,000
HOUSTON PARKS BOARD$500,000
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 (FY20–25, $7.5M) land where the poverty rate runs at 16%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 97% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%FORT BEND SENIORS MEALS ON WHEELS: $30k → 8%CAMP ARANZAZU INC: $125k → 17%GALVESTON URBAN MINISTRIES: $50k → 14%INSPIRATION RANCH: $50k → 9%DELIVERFUND: $100k → 14%WONDERS & WORRIES: $100k → 10%WONDERS AND WORRIES: $25k → 10%CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER: $100k → 16%CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER: $30k → 16%CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER: $30k → 16%TODAY'S HARBOR FOR CHILDREN: $25k → 16%YMCA OF GREATER HOUSTON: $250k → 16%YMCA OF GREATER HOUSTON: $250k → 16%YMCA OF GREATER HOUSTON: $250k → 16%YMCA OF GREATER HOUSTON: $250k → 16%YMCA OF GREATER HOUSTON: $250k → 16%BAKER RIPLEY: $100k → 16%BAKER RIPLEY: $50k → 16%PRISON ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM: $40k → 16%NEIGHBORS IN ACTION: $50k → 16%DEPELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER: $1.5M → 16%DEPELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER: $750k → 16%BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS: $100k → 16%DEPELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER: $100k → 16%FAMILY HOUSTON: $25k → 16%FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN-HOUSTON: $25k → 16%REACH UNLIMITED: $40k → 16%NORTHWEST ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES: $50k → 16%PRECINCT2GETHER INC: $35k → 16%KIDS' MEALS: $500k → 16%UNITED AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING: $100k → 16%BRIDGE YEAR: $50k → 16%BRIDGEYEAR: $30k → 16%BAY AREA TURNING POINT: $40k → 16%COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS: $250k → 16%COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS: $250k → 16%COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS: $125k → 16%COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS: $125k → 16%HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER: $250k → 16%THE CENTER FOR PURSUIT: $150k → 16%THE WOMEN'S HOME: $50k → 16%THE WOMEN'S HOME: $50k → 16%CASA MATEO: $200k → 16%HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS: $125k → 16%HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS: $100k → 16%MAIN STREET MINISTRIES HOUSTON: $25k → 16%BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS: $100k → 16%THE BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS: $50k → 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.
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.

77%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$64M · 116 repeat orgs$19M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +27% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

116 repeat relationships: 46 still active in FY2025, 70 since wound down; 30 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

116
137

Total granted

$64M
$14M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+27%
0%

Still filing today

78%
66%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 72% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $4.8M went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesArts & CultureEducationHealthEnvironmentPhilanthropyOther
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

  • BC
    Baylor College of Medicine
    6× · 2020–2025 · $5.3M · revenue +47%
  • TC
    Texas Children's Hospital
    5× · 2020–2025 · $4.5M · revenue +69%
  • WM
    William Marsh Rice University
    6× · 2020–2025 · $3.4M · revenue +68%

Funded once

  • EH
    EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL
    one grant, 2023 · $1.0M
  • Houston Museum of Natural Science
    one grant, 2020 · $1.0M · revenue -10%
  • AO
    ANNUNCIATION ORTHODOX SCHOOL
    one grant, 2024 · $500k
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
Houston Local Information Initiative Inc

The Houston Local Information Initiative, Inc. provides public service journalism that reflects the civic needs of the diverse communities comprising Greater Houston.

Arts & Culture
2
Rebuilding Together Houston

Rebuilding Together Houston is the only organization in Houston and Harris County providing free home repairs to hundreds of families each year. We employ licensed contractors to restore homes to safe, livable conditions, extending each…

Housing & Shelter
3
The Heritage Society

The Heritage Society (THS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1954 whose mission is to tell the stories of the diverse history of Houston and Texas through collections, exhibits, the arts, educational programs, film, video, and other…

—
4
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…

—
5
Houston Independent School District Foundation

The HISD Foundation is dedicated to mobilizing the local community to support innovative priorities in HISD to improve outcomes for all students in the district. Our mission is to fund projects and programs of merit that fall outside of…

—
6
Houston Christian Foundation dba National Christian Foundation Houston

As the Houston affiliate of the National Christian Foundation (NCF), our mission is to serve and encourage givers to grow as faithful stewards who give wisely to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

—
7
Houston's Amazing Place Inc

Amazing Place empowers families facing the challenges of dementia and Alzheimer's and advances brain health for all. The Organization serves adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild to moderate dementia, caregiving families and…

Human Services
8
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston Inc

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston's mission is to inspire and enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

Youth Development
9
Houston Area Parkinson Society

The mission of the Houston Area Parkinson Society is to use a whole-human approach to community building, which reduces the fear and isolation associated with a Parkinson's diagnosis.

—
10
Collaborative for Children

The mission of Collaborative for Children is to meaningfully improve the quality of early childhood education and care for Greater Houston's children through those most influential in their lives.

Human Services
11
Houston MediaSource

Houston MediaSource aspires to be the community media center for the City of Houston. HMS provides public access to media platforms that promote citizen engagement, protect the right to free expression, and provide opportunities to advance…

Arts & Culture
12
Central Houston Inc

See schedule ocentral houston champions a thriving downtown by connecting influential leaders through initiatives that advance the future of business and community for all.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Greater Houston Community Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Emerging Grace Ministries Inc. 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

206 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. 206 of the 284 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
25
Early backer (in before they grew)
204/206
Grantees still filing
122/206
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER: $3,250,000 · OtherMD ANDERSON CANCER CENTERHOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL: $3,250,000 · OtherHOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITALTHE SALVATION ARMY: $2,750,000 · OtherTHE SALVATION ARMYUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MCCOMBS SCHOOL: $2,500,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MCCOMBS SCHOOLSt John's School: $2,100,000 · OtherSt John's SchoolTHE FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALL: $2,000,000 · Other+91 more: $23,281,560 · Other+91 moreBaylor College of Medicine: $5,250,000 · EducationBaylor College of Me…William Marsh Rice University: $3,400,000 · EducationWilliam Marsh Rice U…The Trustees of Princeton University: $900,000 · EducationThe Trustees of Prin…YES Prep Public Schools Inc: $750,000 · EducationUniversity of St Thomas: $600,000 · EducationJoy Development School: $500,000 · EducationWashington and Lee University: $500,000 · Education+15 more: $2,890,000 · Education+15 moreTexas Children's Hospital: $4,500,000 · HealthTexas Chil…HARRIS HEALTH STRATEGIC FUND: $1,000,000 · HealthHARRIS HEA…THE MONARCH COMMUNITY INC: $500,000 · HealthTHE MONARC…+14 more: $1,800,000 · Health+14 moreDEPELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER: $2,350,000 · Human ServicesDEPELCHIN…Young Men's Christian Association of the Greater Houston Area: $1,250,000 · Human ServicesYoung Men…COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS: $750,000 · Human ServicesCOVENANT …KIDS' MEALS INC: $500,000 · Human ServicesKIDS' MEA…THE BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS INC: $250,000 · Human ServicesHouston Area Women's Center: $250,000 · Human Services+16 more: $1,820,000 · Human Services+16 moreMenil Foundation Inc: $1,050,000 · Arts & CultureMenil Fou…Houston Museum of Natural Science: $1,000,000 · Arts & CultureHouston M…Houston Grand Opera Association Inc: $800,000 · Arts & CultureHouston G…ASIA SOCIETY TEXAS CENTER: $500,000 · Arts & CultureASIA SOCI…BATTLESHIP TEXAS FOUNDATION: $500,000 · Arts & CultureBATTLESHI…The Hobby Center Foundation: $450,000 · Arts & CultureThe Hobby…Houston Symphony Society: $275,000 · Arts & Culture+20 more: $2,048,000 · Arts & Culture+20 moreBuffalo Bayou Partnership Inc: $1,500,000 · EnvironmentHermann Park Conservancy: $500,000 · EnvironmentThe Houston Audubon Society: $500,000 · EnvironmentMemorial Park Conservancy Inc: $250,000 · EnvironmentHouston Botanic Garden: $230,000 · EnvironmentHouston Arboretum & Nature Center: $155,000 · EnvironmentPARKS AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF TEXAS: $145,000 · Environment+4 more: $360,000 · EnvironmentFriends of Pumpkin Park: $1,750,000 · Recreation & SportsCamp Aranzazu Foundation: $200,000 · Recreation & SportsSpringSpirit Inc: $150,000 · Recreation & Sports+1 more: $50,000 · Recreation & Sports
Other$39,131,560Education$14,790,000Health$7,800,000Human Services$7,170,000Arts & Culture$6,623,000Environment$3,640,000Recreation & Sports$2,150,000

Showing the 200 largest grantees by grant value.

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 budgetBaylor College of Medicine: $5,250,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetTexas Children's Hospital: $4,500,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetWilliam Marsh Rice University: $3,400,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetDEPELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER: $2,350,000 over 3y, 1.7% of budgetSt John's School: $2,100,000 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetTHE FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALL: $2,000,000 over 4y, 8.9% of budgetFriends of Pumpkin Park: $1,750,000 over 2y, 13% of budgetBuffalo Bayou Partnership Inc: $1,500,000 over 2y, 2.4% of budgetYoung Men's Christian Association of the Greater Houston Area: $1,250,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetThe Houston Food Bank: $1,250,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetMenil Foundation Inc: $1,050,000 over 3y, 2.2% of budgetHARRIS HEALTH STRATEGIC FUND: $1,000,000 over 1y, 3.4% of budgetHouston Museum of Natural Science: $1,000,000 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetThe Trustees of Princeton University: $900,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHouston Zoo Inc: $850,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetHouston Grand Opera Association Inc: $800,000 over 4y, 1.6% of budgetYES Prep Public Schools Inc: $750,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetCamp For All Foundation: $750,000 over 2y, 2.4% of budgetCOVENANT HOUSE TEXAS: $750,000 over 4y, 2.9% of budgetUniversity of St Thomas: $600,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetHouston Habitat for Humanity Inc: $600,000 over 2y, 3.2% of budgetJoy Development School: $500,000 over 5y, 1.1% of budgetASIA SOCIETY TEXAS CENTER: $500,000 over 2y, 3.0% of budgetHermann Park Conservancy: $500,000 over 5y, 0.9% of budgetKIDS' MEALS INC: $500,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetHouston Parks Board: $500,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetWashington and Lee University: $500,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetBATTLESHIP TEXAS FOUNDATION: $500,000 over 1y, 2.0% of budgetThe Houston Audubon Society: $500,000 over 1y, 9.5% of budgetThe Hobby Center Foundation: $450,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetCamp Allen Camp & Conference Center: $450,000 over 4y, 2.0% of budgetSTAR OF HOPE MISSION: $450,000 over 4y, 1.3% of budgetTHE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL DIOCESAN COUNCIL OF AUSTIN: $450,000 over 3y, 3.8% of budgetGREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $425,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetThe Brookwood Community Inc: $400,000 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetUnited Way of Greater Houston: $400,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetThe Kinkaid School Inc: $400,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetInstitute for Girls Education Inc DBA Magnolia School: $330,000 over 3y, 3.7% of budgetHOUSTON SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $302,000 over 3y, 1.3% of budgetBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS LONE STAR: $300,000 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetCombined Arms: $300,000 over 2y, 2.9% of budgetBreakthrough Houston: $300,000 over 2y, 9.4% of budgetHouston Symphony Society: $275,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetHouston Hospice: $267,500 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetMemorial Park Conservancy Inc: $250,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetHalo House Foundation: $250,000 over 1y, 7.1% of budgetTHE BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS INC: $250,000 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetHouston Area Women's Center: $250,000 over 1y, 1.4% 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 Baylor College of Medicine ↗
  • Who funds Texas Children's Hospital ↗
  • Who funds William Marsh Rice University ↗
  • Who funds DEPELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER ↗
  • Who funds St John's School ↗
  • Who funds THE FOUNDATION FOR JONES HALL ↗
  • Who funds Friends of Pumpkin Park ↗
  • Who funds Buffalo Bayou Partnership Inc ↗
  • Who funds Young Men's Christian Association of the Greater Houston Area ↗
  • Who funds The Houston Food Bank ↗
  • Who funds Menil Foundation Inc ↗
  • Who funds HARRIS HEALTH STRATEGIC FUND ↗
  • Who funds Houston Museum of Natural Science ↗
  • Who funds The Trustees of Princeton University ↗
  • Who funds Houston Zoo Inc ↗
  • Who funds Houston Grand Opera Association Inc ↗
  • Who funds YES Prep Public Schools Inc ↗
  • Who funds Camp For All Foundation ↗
  • Who funds COVENANT HOUSE TEXAS ↗
  • Who funds University of St Thomas ↗
  • Who funds Houston Habitat for Humanity Inc ↗
  • Who funds Joy Development School ↗
  • Who funds ASIA SOCIETY TEXAS CENTER ↗
  • Who funds Hermann Park Conservancy ↗
  • Who funds THE MONARCH COMMUNITY INC ↗
  • Who funds KIDS' MEALS INC ↗
  • Who funds Houston Parks Board ↗
  • Who funds Washington and Lee University ↗

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.

Albert & Ethel Herzst…The Brown Foundation …Vivian L Smith Founda…Houston Endowment IncStrake FoundationGreater Houston Commu…The William Stamps Fa…MD Anderson FoundationHarry S & Isabel C Ca…The Powell FoundationJohn P McGovern Found…Marek Family Foundati…
Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable FoundationTX150× affinity78 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Albert & Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation · The Brown Foundation Inc · Vivian L Smith Foundation · Houston Endowment Inc · Strake Foundation · Greater Houston Community Foundation · The William Stamps Farish Fund · MD Anderson Foundation · Harry S & Isabel C Cameron Foundation Sentinel Trust Company · The Powell Foundation · John P McGovern Foundation · Marek Family 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 The Elkins Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Elkins Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%10%23%40%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 11%
  • The Trustees of Princeton University: 11% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
62report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
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 284 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 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Elkins’ filings →

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