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Whalley Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$7.5M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.0M

Whalley Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,450,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $500 - $1,001,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Houston, Texas; also Texas, Colorado, and New York

Contact Details

Address: 5 Carsey Lane, Houston, TX 77024

Note: The foundation does not provide public contact information for grant inquiries and does not maintain a website.

Overview

The Whalley Foundation Inc was established in 2008 as a private family foundation based in Houston, Texas. With total assets of approximately $18-39 million and annual distributions of $7.45 million (2024), the foundation focuses its grantmaking on education, human services, and philanthropic organizations. The foundation is led by the Whalley family and operates through trustee discretion, making grants to preselected charitable organizations primarily in the Houston area, with some reach into other Texas communities, Colorado, and New York. Since 2016, the foundation has awarded 371 individual grants totaling over $16 million, demonstrating consistent philanthropic commitment to strengthening community organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Whalley Foundation operates through discretionary grantmaking rather than formal programs. Grants are awarded throughout the year to preselected organizations with awards typically designated for general operating support or to "fund programs."

Grant Range: $500 - $1,001,000 (median grant: $25,000)

Recent Grant Activity: 89 grants awarded in 2024, 89 in 2023, 88 in 2022, and 69 in 2021.

Priority Areas

Based on 2024 grantmaking patterns, the foundation prioritizes:

  • Education: Major support for independent schools and educational institutions (largest grant: $1,001,000 to The Kinkaid School)
  • Healthcare: Pediatric healthcare and medical institutions (e.g., Texas Children's Hospital - $400,000)
  • Food Security & Basic Needs: Food banks and meal programs (Houston Food Bank, Kids Meals - each $400,000)
  • Emergency Relief: Disaster response and humanitarian services (American Red Cross - $400,000)
  • Social Services: Community-based organizations serving vulnerable populations
  • Arts & Culture: Museums, performing arts, and cultural institutions
  • Religious Organizations: Faith-based community services

Geographic Priority: Strong preference for Houston-based organizations, with approximately 70-80% of grants supporting local nonprofits.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly stated, the foundation's pattern shows:

  • No international organizations (US-focused)
  • Limited support outside their core geographic areas
  • No grants to individuals
  • No grants for political purposes

Governance and Leadership

The Whalley Foundation is governed by a family board:

  • Lawrence G. Whalley - President and Director
  • Mary Whalley - Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Director
  • Elizabeth M. Taylor - Vice President and Director

All officer positions are uncompensated, consistent with family foundation governance practices. The foundation operates with minimal overhead, directing 99.4% of expenses to charitable disbursements.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Whalley Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the board's knowledge of organizations and their alignment with the foundation's charitable interests.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Grantmaking appears to occur throughout the year rather than on a fixed schedule.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot submit applications unless invited by the trustees.

Application Success Factors

Since the Whalley Foundation operates through trustee discretion for preselected organizations, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals:

Organizations Most Likely to Receive Support:

  • Established Houston-based nonprofits with strong community track records
  • Organizations addressing education, healthcare, food security, and essential human services
  • Institutions with which the trustees may have personal connections or direct knowledge
  • Organizations that have received previous support (pattern of repeat grantees)
  • Well-governed nonprofits with clear mission alignment to foundation priorities

Grant Amount Factors:

  • Largest grants ($400,000+) go to major institutions: hospitals, established schools, and citywide service organizations
  • Mid-range grants ($25,000-$100,000) typically support established community nonprofits
  • Smaller grants ($5,000-$25,000) often go to smaller community organizations, religious institutions, and cultural groups

Repeat Support Pattern: The foundation demonstrates loyalty to organizations, with many grantees receiving support across multiple years, suggesting that once an organization is "in the portfolio," continued support is possible.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: Do not submit unsolicited proposals - the foundation does not accept them and has no staff to process them
  • Family Foundation Model: This is a private family foundation operating through trustee discretion, not an institutional funder with formal programs
  • Houston-Centric: Approximately 70-80% of grants support Houston-based organizations; very limited funding outside Texas, Colorado, and New York
  • Established Organizations Preferred: Grant recipients are predominantly well-established institutions and proven community nonprofits, not startup organizations
  • Broad Range of Grant Sizes: While the median grant is $25,000, the foundation makes both very large grants ($1 million) and smaller grants ($500-$5,000), suggesting different giving strategies for different organizational types
  • Consistent Grantmaking: With 89 grants annually and $7.45 million in distributions, the foundation maintains steady philanthropic activity
  • Focus on Direct Service: Nearly all grants are designated to "fund programs" or general operating support for direct service organizations addressing community needs

References

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