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Chesmar Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.9M
Grant Range
Up to $1.0M00
00

Chesmar Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,883,146 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $28,773,611 (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 65 awards (2023)
  • Grant Range: Varies widely from scholarships to major grants ($900,000-$1,000,000 for education initiatives)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Texas, with focus on Greater Houston area and The Woodlands
  • Founded: 2014

Contact Details

Address: 480 Wildwood Forest Drive Suite 801, Houston, TX 77380
Phone: (281) 598-1111
Contact Person: Sarah Miller
Associated Organization: Chesmar Homes

Note: The foundation does not maintain a standalone public website; information is available through the Chesmar Homes website.

Overview

Established in 2014, the Chesmar Foundation was initially created to support higher education through scholarships for children of Chesmar Homes employees and contractors. Under the leadership of Don Klein, founder and former CEO of Chesmar Homes who serves as Chair of the Chesmar Foundation, the organization has significantly expanded its mission beyond employee scholarships to support a diverse range of local and national organizations. With total assets exceeding $28.7 million and annual giving approaching $1.9 million, the foundation has become a notable philanthropic force in the Texas region. Recent strategic initiatives include major education partnerships with Dallas College Foundation ($1 million) and San Jacinto College Foundation ($900,000), demonstrating a strong commitment to teacher education and workforce development. The foundation also supports health organizations like the Alzheimer's Association and Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), as well as community service organizations such as Isaiah 117 House, which provides temporary housing for at-risk children.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Employee Scholarship Program

  • Awarded twice annually to children of Chesmar Homes employees and contractors (those spending 50% or more of their time on Chesmar projects)
  • Considers academic achievement, leadership, outside activities, and financial need
  • Supports post-secondary education at accredited institutions
  • Application deadline: April

Major Education Initiatives

  • Chesmar Teacher Scholarship at Dallas College: $1 million commitment (2024) for aspiring teachers and students in paid work-based experiences at Texas public schools
  • Chesmar Teacher Scholarship at San Jacinto College: $900,000 commitment supporting 100 students pursuing Bachelor of Applied Science in Education
    • $450,000 for direct scholarship support (tuition, fees, course materials)
    • $450,000 for Alternative Certification Program testing support
    • Recipients must commit to teaching in local public schools for three years post-graduation
    • Targets students with financial need in Early Childhood Education programs

Community Partnership Grants

  • HomeAid Houston partnership: $300,000 construction value for Isaiah 117 House (2024)
  • Sponsorships and support for various nonprofits and community initiatives

Priority Areas

  • Education: Teacher training, scholarships, workforce development, early childhood education
  • Health & Medical Research: Alzheimer's disease, pancreatic cancer awareness and research
  • Community Services: Child welfare, foster care support, at-risk youth
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building: Support for organizations like YMCA, Lone Star College Foundation, Special Angels of The Woodlands

What They Don't Fund

  • The foundation restricts employee scholarships to children of Chesmar Homes employees and qualifying contractors only
  • As a private foundation with discretionary grantmaking, specific exclusions are not publicly documented
  • General public cannot apply for employee scholarship program

Governance and Leadership

Don Klein - Chair of Chesmar Foundation and Founder/Former CEO of Chesmar Homes

Don Klein has led both Chesmar Homes and the Chesmar Foundation with a strong commitment to community impact. His leadership philosophy connects education to long-term success, stating: "We are excited to be able to contribute to the cost of higher education for these thoughtful and deserving young people," emphasizing that education is "key to their success as well as Chesmar's."

Klein's personal connections drive the foundation's work, particularly in health causes. His support for JR White, a long-time employee diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2021, exemplifies this approach. Klein noted: "It's an honor to support them through JR's journey...JR has been a model of courage and commitment for me."

Key Staff: Sarah Miller serves as the foundation contact person.

The foundation operates as a private foundation closely aligned with Chesmar Homes' values and community relationships.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Employee Scholarships: Chesmar Homes employees and qualifying contractors (those spending 50% or more of their time on Chesmar projects) can apply for scholarships for their children. Applications are accepted with an April deadline for twice-annual scholarship awards.

For Organizational Grants: The Chesmar Foundation does not have a public application process for general grant seekers. Grants to nonprofit organizations appear to be made through trustee discretion, existing relationships, and strategic partnerships rather than through open solicitation.

Getting on Their Radar

The Chesmar Foundation's grantmaking approach centers on personal connections and community partnerships rather than formal applications. Based on documented partnerships:

Leverage Houston-area builder and business networks: The foundation has strong ties to the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA), which facilitated the Isaiah 117 House partnership. Organizations working with GHBA members or HomeAid Houston may gain visibility.

Education sector partnerships: Major recent grants went to community colleges (Dallas College, San Jacinto College) for teacher education programs. Organizations working in education, particularly teacher training and workforce development in Texas public schools, align with current priorities.

Personal connections matter: The foundation's support for PanCAN came through JR White's pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Don Klein's quote—"It's an honor to support them through JR's journey"—illustrates how personal experiences within the Chesmar Homes family influence funding decisions.

Demonstrate community impact in The Woodlands/Houston area: Recipients like Special Angels of The Woodlands and organizations serving Montgomery and Walker Counties suggest geographic preference for Greater Houston area causes.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly documented. For employee scholarships, awards are made twice annually following the April application deadline.

For organizational grants, timing varies by opportunity and relationship. Major commitments like the college partnerships appear to be negotiated directly with leadership.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. With 65 awards made in 2023 from total giving of $1,883,146, the foundation maintains an active grantmaking program, though this includes both scholarships and organizational grants.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. The foundation's employee scholarship program operates on an annual cycle, suggesting returning applicants are welcomed. For organizational grants, no specific policy is available.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's discretionary approach, successful partnerships share these characteristics:

Alignment with education mission: The largest recent grants support teacher education and student success. The San Jacinto College partnership specifically targets students pursuing teaching degrees with financial need and includes a commitment to teach in Texas public schools for three years—demonstrating the foundation values both access to education and workforce development with community benefit.

Connection to Chesmar Homes network: Projects involving HomeAid Houston, GHBA, and other builder-affiliated organizations receive support. The Isaiah 117 House project exemplifies this, with Krista Patton noting: "I cannot think of any organization who has provided more to us than HomeAid Houston through the connections they have provided to Chesmar Homes."

Personal resonance with foundation leadership: Don Klein's involvement with PanCAN followed employee JR White's pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Causes with personal connections to the Chesmar Homes family may receive consideration.

Demonstrated community impact: Recipients serve vulnerable populations (at-risk children, individuals with Alzheimer's, foster care youth) with measurable outcomes. Isaiah 117 House's facility was designed to serve approximately 500 children annually.

In-kind and collaborative approaches: The foundation values partnerships that maximize impact through shared resources. The Isaiah 117 House project saved the nonprofit 50% of construction costs through in-kind contributions coordinated by HomeAid Houston and GHBA members.

Geographic focus on Texas, particularly Greater Houston: Most documented grants serve the Houston metropolitan area, The Woodlands, and surrounding counties.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - Organizational grants are made through trustee discretion and relationship-based grantmaking rather than competitive applications
  • Leverage Houston building industry connections - Partnerships with GHBA, HomeAid Houston, and builder-affiliated networks provide pathways to foundation visibility
  • Education is the strongest current priority - Recent major grants (totaling nearly $2 million) focus on teacher education and student success in Texas public schools
  • Personal connections drive funding decisions - Leadership's relationships with employees, community partners, and causes with personal significance influence grantmaking
  • Think partnership over transactional grants - Successful projects involve collaborative approaches (like the Isaiah 117 House build) that engage multiple stakeholders and maximize community benefit
  • Geographic preference matters - Focus on The Woodlands, Greater Houston, and Texas more broadly positions organizations favorably
  • Large grants are possible - While the foundation makes many smaller awards, recent education commitments of $900,000-$1,000,000 demonstrate capacity for transformational funding to aligned partners

References

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