The Whalley Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Whalley Foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so the route in is an invitation, and a grant writer should look for an introduction rather than send a cold proposal.
- Its filed grants cover a broad mix of work, including food banks, hospitals, children's and family services, schools, homelessness services, arts and cultural groups and religious bodies, and no geographic focus is stated.
- Across its filings, half of its 266 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less and the median grant was $25,000, so a modest request fits better than a large one; about 8 in 10 grants fall between $5,000 and $205,000, a typical band rather than a limit, and its largest grant was about $1,000,000.
- In its latest filing, 96% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so a group it has not funded before should expect a relationship-led process.
Overview
The Whalley Foundation is a US private foundation based in Houston, TX.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filed grants show support for a broad mix of organisations, with most of the dollars going to Texas and many named recipients based in Houston. They include food banks and meal services, hospitals and health charities, children's and family-service organisations, schools and youth organisations, homelessness and other social-service providers, arts and cultural organisations, and religious bodies. The records also include organisations based outside Texas, including national relief and health organisations. The listed purposes are usually to fund programmes, with a smaller number of project grants. The filings show recurring support across multiple recipients.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Texas and District of Columbia.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 96% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 266 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 7% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to organisations The Whalley Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 88 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $32,500 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- American Red Cross · Fund programs$400,0002025 tax year
- Kids Meals · Fund programs$400,0002025 tax year
- MD Anderson Cancer Center · Fund programs$400,0002025 tax year
- Houston Food Bank · Fund programs$400,0002025 tax year
- March of Dimes · Fund programs$355,0002025 tax year
- Ronald McDonald House Houston · Fund programs$300,0002025 tax year
- Texas Children's Hospital · Fund programs$300,0002025 tax year
- Brighter Bites · Fund programs$275,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Elizabeth M Taylor — Vice President
- Mary Whalley — Vice President
- Lawrence G Whalley — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $6,994,652 | $6,968,500 | $27,598,045 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $7,490,164 | $7,447,000 | $39,158,744 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $6,703,757 | $6,625,000 | $40,933,255 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Whalley Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Houston, TX
Applying to The Whalley Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Houston, TX