Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The filing says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold proposal is unlikely to get a hearing; the realistic first step is to reach it through someone who already knows it.
- Its stated themes are cultural, civic, higher education, healthcare and religious organisations, so a group working in those areas fits its stated interests.
- Its stated priority is Texas, as reported in other published sources, though its grants also reach California, New York and Massachusetts, and about 8 in 10 grants fall between $5,000 and $350,000, with a median of $25,000 and half of grants at $25,000 or less, so a modest request is most in line with its record, although its largest grant was $3,000,000.
- The filing reports that 90% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so most of its giving goes to existing grantees, and a first approach should be framed with that in mind.
Overview
Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao Foundation is a US private foundation based in Houston, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (international.ucla.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation says it furthers cultural, civic and higher education institutions, and that its work has reached universities throughout Texas. A profile of the family foundation also describes contributions to healthcare, educational, religious and cultural organisations. Its grant record includes universities and colleges, hospitals, food banks and relief organisations, museums, performing arts bodies, and civic and community organisations. The filings describe many grants as programme or project support or general operating support. Taken together, the sources show a broad range of institutional and charitable giving rather than a single recipient type; the foundation's public eligibility criteria and a route for unsolicited applicants are not established by the available material.
Themes
- Cultural institutions
- Civic institutions
- Higher education institutions
- Healthcare organisations
- Religious organisations
Geographic Focus
Priority: Texas. (as reported in other published sources) From its grants, not stated by the foundation: California; New York; Massachusetts.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 90% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 503 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 6%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 11% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to organisations Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 169 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Texas Children's Hospital · Program/project support$3,000,0002024 tax year
- International Buddhist Progress Society · Program/project support$3,000,0002024 tax year
- Wellesley College · Program/project support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Direct Relief · General operating support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Houston Museum of Natural Science · Program/project support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- World Central Kitchen · General operating support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Houston Food Bank · Program/project support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Asia Society Texas Center · Program/project support$1,000,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Dorothy Jenkins — President
- James Chao — Vice President & Treasurer
- Albert Chao — Vice President & Secretary
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $25,999,033 | $23,534,985 | $27,154,724 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $27,070,714 | $26,679,122 | $30,127,719 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $29,462,717 | $28,783,770 | $33,591,335 | Filing for 2024 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 Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao 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 Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Houston, TX