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Greehey Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$8.8M
Grant Range
$1K - $25.0M
Decision Time
6mo

Greehey Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8.79 million (2023)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 6 months
  • Grant Range: Varies widely - from small items (hundreds of dollars) to multi-million dollar grants
  • Number of Awards: 203 grants (2022)
  • Geographic Focus: San Antonio and Bexar County, Texas (primarily)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.greeheyfoundation.org/

Email: admin@greeheyfoundation.org

Phone: (210) 846-4292 (urgent matters), (210) 918-2622 (general inquiries)

Mailing Address:
The Greehey Family Foundation
P.O. Box 780489
San Antonio, Texas 78278

Online Application Portal: https://greeheyfoundation.submittable.com/submit

Administrative Contact: Julie Bedell (General Inquiries)

Overview

Established in 2003, the Greehey Family Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of Bill Greehey, former chairman of the board of NuStar Energy, and his family. Since its inception, the foundation has distributed nearly one billion dollars to hundreds of causes across San Antonio and Bexar County. In 2023, the foundation awarded $8,786,915 in grants, with approximately 203 awards made in 2022. The foundation's mission focuses on four core areas: improving health and human welfare conditions, brightening the lives of sick and disadvantaged children, supporting education, and transforming the lives of the homeless. The foundation has made transformative gifts including a historic $25 million grant to UT Health Science Center for the Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute and over $44 million to Haven for Hope, San Antonio's comprehensive homeless services campus that Bill Greehey founded.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates on a biannual grant cycle with flexible funding amounts:

  • Spring Cycle: Applications due April 1
  • Fall Cycle: Applications due September 30
  • Emergency/Immediate Funding: Available at board discretion throughout the year

Grant Range: The foundation demonstrates exceptional flexibility, from small grants (such as a new stove for a grandmother raising 10 grandchildren) to multi-million dollar awards. Million-dollar grants are not uncommon.

Application Method: Rolling basis with two fixed deadlines per year; online submission required

Priority Areas

The foundation funds organizations and projects that:

  • Health and Human Welfare: Medical research, healthcare access, wellness programs
  • Children's Causes: Programs serving sick and disadvantaged children, pediatric health, child development
  • Education: Schools, educational programs, scholarships, literacy initiatives
  • Homelessness: Services to transform lives of homeless individuals, housing programs, support services

Geographic Priority: Grants are primarily awarded to agencies with programs and services in Bexar County. The foundation may consider requests from outside Bexar County if they align with funding goals.

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals or for-profit organizations (grants only to 501(c)(3) organizations)
  • Fundraising event sponsorships or teams
  • Funding must be used "to directly meet specific needs within the community"
  • Typically awards only one grant per year per organization

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is composed of Bill Greehey and family members, meeting biannually to review grant requests:

  • Bill Greehey: President and Founder
  • Louree B. Greehey: Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer

Foundation Philosophy

Bill Greehey's philanthropic philosophy guides the foundation's work. As he stated: "You are not a success until you share your success with others." He has also said, "All that we have is a gift from God, and we have the responsibility to share our success with others, and I have truly been blessed."

In reflecting on his legacy, Greehey noted: "I'm not going to be remembered for how many refineries I bought or how much money I made or how much the stockholders made, but for the difference I made in people's lives."

Bill Greehey has personally funded the foundation with over $200 million and has given hundreds of millions of dollars to charitable causes throughout his career.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Online Submission Required: All grant requests must be submitted through the foundation's online portal at https://greeheyfoundation.submittable.com/submit

No Letter of Inquiry Required: Applicants can proceed directly to full application

Application Deadlines:

  • Spring Cycle: April 1 (11:59 p.m.)
  • Fall Cycle: September 30 (11:59 p.m.)

Required Application Materials:

  • Organization's purpose, history, and proof of 501(c)(3) status
  • GuideStar Nonprofit Report (when applicable)
  • Current funder list with contribution amounts
  • Detailed project and operational budgets
  • Board of Directors roster
  • United Way support status
  • Description of problem being addressed
  • Program objectives and activity timeline
  • Explanation of alignment with foundation goals
  • Specific dollar amount requested with percentages relative to program and agency budgets
  • Brief report on how any previous grant from the foundation was used (if applicable)

Site Visits: The foundation may conduct facility tours to better understand the project, see firsthand who will be served, and assess organizational capacity.

Decision Timeline

Review Process: Approximately 6 months from submission to decision

Board Meetings: The Board of Directors meets biannually (spring and fall) to consider grant requests, though emergency funding can be granted at any time based on board discretion.

Event Sponsorships: For sponsorship requests falling outside standard grant applications, allow 60 days for consideration.

Post-Award: If funded, grantees must obtain foundation approval before publicly announcing the grant and provide documentation demonstrating funds were used as intended and outcomes were achieved.

Success Rates

With 203 awards made in 2022 and annual giving of approximately $8-10 million, the foundation maintains an active grantmaking program. While specific acceptance rates are not publicly disclosed, the foundation's statement that "The Foundation's decision does not reflect on the value of the project, but is rather our attempt to meet our funding criteria and to balance resources" indicates a thoughtful but selective process.

Reapplication Policy

  • Grant recipients must re-apply each year
  • The foundation typically awards an agency only one grant per year
  • Organizations that have received grants in the past should include a brief report explaining how the most recent grant was used

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Mission

The foundation emphasizes that funding must be used "to directly meet specific needs within the community." Successful applications clearly demonstrate how they align with one or more of the foundation's four core areas: health and human welfare, children's causes, education, and homelessness.

Bexar County Connection

While the foundation may consider requests from outside Bexar County, priority is given to organizations serving San Antonio and Bexar County residents. Clearly articulate the local impact.

Comprehensive Financial Information

The foundation requires detailed budgetary information including:

  • How the requested amount relates to both program and agency budgets (percentages)
  • Current funder list with specific contribution amounts
  • Demonstrates financial stability and good stewardship

Clear Outcomes and Accountability

Applications should include:

  • Specific, measurable program objectives
  • Activity timeline
  • Plan for demonstrating how funds will be used as intended
  • Expected outcomes that can be documented

Previous Grant Performance

If your organization has received funding before, the foundation explicitly asks for a brief report on how the previous grant was used. Strong stewardship of past grants significantly strengthens future applications.

Servant Leadership Model

Given Bill Greehey's promotion of "servant leadership" and his emphasis on making a difference in people's lives, applications that demonstrate how the organization serves its beneficiaries (rather than simply providing services) may resonate strongly with the foundation's values.

Recent Grantees

The foundation has supported a diverse range of organizations including:

Education: Alamo Heights High School PTO, Butler Community College, Junior Achievement of South Texas, KIPP Aspire Academy, McMurry University, San Antonio Academy, St. Edward's University, St. Mary's University

Human Services: Galveston County Food Bank, Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries, House of Neighborly Service, Inner City Development, Madonna Neighborhood Center

Youth and Children: Any Baby Can, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio, Boysville, Brighton Center

Health: Cancer Center Council, Down Syndrome Association of South Texas, HeartGift San Antonio, Project MEND, UT Health Science Center (Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute)

Homelessness: Haven for Hope (over $44 million in total support from Bill Greehey personally)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Wide grant range flexibility: Don't self-select out based on project size - the foundation funds everything from small equipment needs to multi-million dollar initiatives
  • Mission alignment is critical: Ensure your request clearly addresses health/human welfare, children's causes, education, or homelessness
  • Local impact matters: Strong preference for Bexar County organizations; clearly demonstrate San Antonio community benefit
  • Be specific about needs: The foundation wants to fund projects that "directly meet specific needs within the community" - avoid general operating requests
  • Past performance counts: If you've received funding before, demonstrate excellent stewardship through your required progress report
  • Six-month timeline: Plan ahead and apply well in advance of when you need funds
  • One grant per year: Focus your request on your most important need, as you typically won't receive multiple grants in a year
  • Values-driven decision making: The foundation's leadership emphasizes making a difference in people's lives and sharing success with others - frame your request around transformative impact

References

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