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Harte Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.4M
Grant Range
$70K - $0.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,401,531 (2024)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: N/A (no public application)
  • Grant Range: $70,000 - $500,000
  • Geographic Focus: Texas (primary), Maine, South Carolina, Washington DC

Contact Details

  • Phone: 210-828-1505
  • Address: 20742 Stone Oak Pkwy Ste 107, San Antonio, TX 78258
  • Website: None publicly available
  • Email: Not publicly available
  • Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications

Overview

The Harte Charitable Foundation, established in April 2003, is a private independent foundation created by the family of Edward H. "Ed" Harte (1922-2011), a prominent Texas publisher and conservationist. With assets of approximately $34 million and annual giving exceeding $1.4 million, the foundation continues the Harte family's legacy of supporting higher education and environmental conservation. Ed Harte, former publisher of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and son of newspaper magnate Houston Harte, was renowned for his environmental advocacy, including donating a 66,000-acre ranch to Big Bend National Park and establishing the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with a $46 million personal endowment. The foundation operates as an invitation-only grantmaker, supporting preselected organizations aligned with the family's historic interests in education, conservation, and ecological research.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-discretion grants only:

  • Large Grants: $300,000 - $500,000 (typically 1-2 per year for major initiatives)
  • Medium Grants: $100,000 - $250,000 (supporting established partners)
  • Smaller Grants: $70,000 - $100,000 (targeted program support)
  • All grants are made by invitation only to preselected organizations

Priority Areas

  • Higher education institutions, particularly in Texas
  • Conservation and environmental protection programs
  • Ecological and biological research initiatives
  • Science education and research programs
  • Organizations working in watershed protection and land conservation

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited applications from any organization
  • Individual requests
  • General operating expenses for organizations outside their preselected network
  • Programs outside their geographic focus areas

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by four board members, all serving without compensation:

  • Julia Harte Widdowson - President, Chair of Board, and Director (daughter of Ed Harte)
  • Christopher M. Harte - Director (son of Ed Harte)
  • David L. Sinak - Treasurer, Secretary, and Director
  • Elizabeth H. Owens - Director (daughter of Ed Harte)

The board maintains the conservation and education values established by Ed Harte, who served on the National Audubon Society board (1974-1979) and received the Audubon Medal in 2002 for his conservation work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Harte Charitable Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept or respond to unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are made through trustee discretion based on existing relationships and strategic priorities aligned with the Harte family's historic philanthropic interests.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's invitation-only status and the Harte family's deep roots in Texas conservation and education, organizations may increase visibility through:

  • Excellence in marine science and coastal ecology research, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico region where the Harte Research Institute operates
  • Partnerships with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi or other institutions where the Harte family has established connections
  • Leadership in Texas land conservation initiatives that align with Ed Harte's legacy of protecting natural lands
  • Collaboration with other conservation organizations in South Texas where the family has historic ties

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made internally by the board for preselected organizations

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept external applications

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, organizations working in aligned fields should note:

  • The foundation consistently supports a small number of organizations (5-8 grants annually), indicating deep, sustained partnerships rather than broad grantmaking
  • Average grant size of approximately $340,000 suggests preference for significant, transformative investments
  • The family's conservation legacy, particularly Ed Harte's donation of land to Big Bend National Park and establishment of the Harte Research Institute, indicates strong preference for measurable environmental impact
  • Geographic concentration in Texas, with additional support in Maine, South Carolina, and Washington DC, suggests personal or family connections drive geographic decisions
  • Multi-year patterns show consistent support to the same organizations, emphasizing relationship-based philanthropy

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Harte Charitable Foundation is strictly invitation-only with no mechanism for unsolicited applications
  • Focus areas directly reflect the Ed Harte family legacy: marine science, conservation, and higher education
  • With only 5-8 grants annually averaging $340,000, the foundation makes substantial, strategic investments
  • Geographic giving patterns suggest family connections and established relationships drive funding decisions
  • Organizations should focus on excellence in conservation and education work that might attract board attention through sector leadership
  • The foundation's connection to the Harte Research Institute and Texas A&M system may provide networking pathways
  • Board composition of family members ensures continuity with Ed Harte's environmental and educational values

References

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