Chesmar Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Chesmar Foundation, based in The Woodlands, TX, does not accept unsolicited requests and has no public application process, so a cold approach is unlikely to get a hearing; any contact should come through an existing relationship.
- Its giving centres on scholarships and general support, with recorded recipients including colleges, housing, literacy, meals and child-advocacy organisations, so your work fits best if it sits in those areas.
- Its scholarship awards are restricted to Chesmar Homes employees and subcontractor employees, so your organisation cannot apply for them.
- Most of its grants are small: half of its 167 grants to organisations were $8,000 or less, so a modest request fits, although the typical band of $2,000 to $150,000 is not a ceiling.
- Repeat giving is strong, with 68% of its grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so the foundation looks relationship-led rather than open to new applicants.
Overview
Chesmar Foundation is a US private foundation based in The Woodlands, 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 foundation’s recorded giving is centred on scholarships, with substantial general-support grants also made to organisations. Other recorded purposes include student loan forgiveness, nursing scholarships and classroom supplies. Recipients include colleges and university foundations, as well as housing, literacy, meals and child-advocacy organisations. The filing’s scholarship application information restricts those awards to Chesmar Homes employees and subcontractor employees. Grants to organisations span many states, with Texas accounting for the largest share of reported grant dollars. Scholarships are prominent both by the number of grants and by grant dollars; the remaining recorded purposes range from general support to education-related costs and supplies.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Scholarships
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Texas.
How to apply
The filing lists a scholarship application for employees and subcontractor employees; it does not describe a process for organisations seeking grants.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 68% 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 167 grants to organisations were $8,000 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: 3%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 68% of grant dollars went to organisations Chesmar Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 64 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $7,620 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- HomeAid Houston · General support$510,0002025 tax year
- Dallas College Foundation · Scholarship$445,5002025 tax year
- Lonestar College Foundation · Scholarship$418,3102025 tax year
- San Jacinto College · General support$302,6832025 tax year
- Alamo College Foundation · Scholarship$300,0002025 tax year
- New Hope Housing · General support$250,0002025 tax year
- Wharton County Junior College Foundation · Scholarship$216,3382025 tax year
- HomeAid Austin · General support$150,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Laurie Tarver — Director
- Jana Blackburn — Director
- Seth Tobey — Director
- Jeanne Toth — Director
- Donald P Klein — Director
- Janet L Klein — Director
- Donald P Klein — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $1,885,578 | $1,883,146 | $29,241,699 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,373,339 | $4,330,464 | $30,957,158 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $3,721,101 | $3,656,061 | $32,505,760 | 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 Chesmar Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (281) 598-1111
- LINDA@AFF-DEV.COM
- The Woodlands, TX
Applying to Chesmar Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (281) 598-1111
- LINDA@AFF-DEV.COM
- The Woodlands, TX