← Back to US Funders Directory

Scurlock Foundation

Annual Giving
$22.5M
Grant Range
$1K - $11.1M

Scurlock Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $22,477,600 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $500 - $11,100,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Texas, also Virginia and Massachusetts

Contact Details

Address: 2229 San Felipe St Ste 1400, Houston, TX 77019-5667

Note: The foundation does not maintain an active public website and does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

Overview

Founded in April 1954 by Eddy C. Scurlock, his wife Elizabeth B. Scurlock, their daughter Laura L. Scurlock Blanton, and son-in-law Jack S. Blanton, the Scurlock Foundation is a private family foundation based in Houston, Texas. With assets of approximately $14 million and annual giving of $22.5 million in 2023 (reflecting a significant one-time distribution), the foundation continues the legacy of the Scurlock and Blanton families' philanthropic commitment to Houston and beyond. The foundation operates through board discretion, making grants to preselected organizations rather than accepting unsolicited applications. The foundation has been particularly notable for its support of arts institutions, including major contributions to the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas at Austin, which bears the family name.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of directors to preselected charitable organizations.

  • Grant Range: $500 to $11,100,000, with a median grant of approximately $50,000
  • Volume: 80 grants awarded in 2023; 12 grants in 2024
  • Application Method: Invitation only; no public application process

Priority Areas

Based on the foundation's charter and recent grant-making patterns, priority areas include:

  • Arts and Culture: Particularly art museums and cultural institutions (notably the Blanton Museum of Art)
  • Education: Universities and educational institutions (University of Texas system)
  • Health and Medical Research: Healthcare institutions and medical centers (MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Harris Health System)
  • Human Services: Children's services and social service organizations
  • Religion: Christian and Protestant agencies and churches
  • Animal Protection: Organizations focused on animal welfare (Houston Zoo)
  • Recreation: Community recreation programs

What They Don't Fund

As the foundation only makes grants to preselected organizations, they effectively do not fund:

  • Unsolicited grant requests from any organization
  • Organizations outside their established relationships
  • Individual grant seekers

Governance and Leadership

The Scurlock Foundation is governed by a family board consisting of descendants of the founding families:

Key Board Members:

  • Eddy Blanton - President/Assistant Secretary (grandson of founder Eddy C. Scurlock; compensation: $75,000)
  • Jack Blanton Jr - Vice President/Assistant Secretary (grandson of founder Eddy C. Scurlock)
  • Elizabeth Blanton Wareing - Vice President/Secretary (granddaughter of founder Eddy C. Scurlock)
  • Elizabeth Blanton - Executive Director (compensation: $20,000)
  • Julie Wareing Aldrich - Board Member

The foundation represents the continuation of two prominent Houston families - the Scurlocks (founders of Scurlock Oil Company) and the Blantons. Jack S. Blanton, who married Eddy Scurlock's daughter Laura Lee, became president of Scurlock Oil Company in 1958 and was a major Houston philanthropist whose legacy includes the naming of the Blanton Museum of Art at UT Austin.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Scurlock Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has explicitly indicated that it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of directors to organizations with which the foundation has established relationships. Organizations cannot apply for funding through any public application portal or process.

Getting on Their Radar

The Scurlock Foundation operates through board member discretion and pre-existing relationships. Based on their grant-making patterns, the foundation appears to identify beneficiaries through:

  • Board Member Connections: The foundation's leadership has deep ties to Houston's civic, cultural, and philanthropic communities. Board members serve on or have connections to major Houston institutions including the Texas Medical Center, University of Texas system, and major cultural organizations.

  • Established Institutional Relationships: The foundation has long-standing relationships with major institutions, particularly:

    • University of Texas system and the Blanton Museum of Art
    • Houston-area healthcare institutions (MD Anderson, Houston Methodist, Harris Health)
    • Brookwood Community
    • Major cultural and educational institutions in Houston

  • Family Philanthropic Network: The Blanton and Scurlock families have been integral to Houston's philanthropic community for decades. Organizations that are part of the city's established charitable ecosystem and have connections to other major Houston donors may be more likely to come to the foundation's attention.

Given the foundation's invitation-only approach and family governance structure, unsolicited outreach is unlikely to be successful. Organizations seeking funding would need to have established connections to Houston's philanthropic community or board members.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation with board-directed grant-making, decisions are made on the board's timeline rather than through scheduled review cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Given that the Scurlock Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their grant-making patterns reveals the following characteristics of organizations that receive funding:

Institutional Stability: The foundation favors well-established institutions with strong governance and long track records. Recent beneficiaries include major universities, healthcare systems, and cultural institutions.

Houston Connection: While the foundation does make grants outside Texas (particularly to Virginia and Massachusetts, where family members may have connections), Houston-based organizations receive the majority of funding. The foundation's roots are deeply embedded in Houston's civic life.

Arts and Culture Priority: The foundation has shown particular commitment to arts institutions, exemplified by the $2 million contribution to the Ellsworth Kelly "Austin" project at the Blanton Museum and the Scurlock Foundation Exhibition Endowment.

Major Medical Institutions: Healthcare remains a priority area, with grants to MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, and Harris Health System reflecting the founder's original charter emphasis on health and medical research.

Education Focus: The University of Texas system, particularly UT Austin, receives significant support, reflecting the family's long-standing commitment to higher education in Texas.

Large and Small Grants: While the foundation makes some transformational gifts in the millions, they also make smaller grants ranging from $500 upward, suggesting they support both major initiatives and ongoing operations of favored organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: Do not submit unsolicited grant proposals to this foundation - they will not be considered.

  • Invitation-Only Model: The foundation operates through board discretion and pre-existing relationships with selected charitable organizations.

  • Family Foundation Structure: Now in its third generation, the foundation is governed by grandchildren of founder Eddy C. Scurlock, maintaining the family's philanthropic legacy.

  • Wide Grant Range: While grants range from $500 to $11 million, the median grant is approximately $50,000, suggesting most grants are modest with occasional transformational gifts to priority institutions.

  • Houston-Centric but Not Exclusive: Primary focus is Houston and Texas, with additional grants to Virginia and Massachusetts organizations.

  • Long-Term Institutional Relationships: The foundation maintains ongoing relationships with beneficiary organizations, as evidenced by repeated grants to institutions like UT Austin, MD Anderson, and major Houston cultural organizations.

  • Established Institutions Preferred: Grant recipients tend to be well-known, stable institutions rather than emerging nonprofits or grassroots organizations.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory