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Abe & Annie Seibel Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.4M
Grant Range
$1232K - $3.4M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,426,717 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $35.2 million
  • Grant Range: $1.2 million - $3.4 million per institutional grant
  • Geographic Focus: Texas only
  • Number of Awards: 2-4 institutional grants annually
  • Foundation Type: Private foundation

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
Abe and Annie Seibel Foundation
c/o Frost Bank - Trust Department
P.O. Box 8210
Galveston, TX 77553-8210

Phone: (409) 770-5665

Location:
2201 Market Street, 3rd Floor
Galveston, TX 77550

EIN: 74-6035556

Overview

The Abe & Annie Seibel Foundation was established in 1961 to honor Abe and Annie Seibel, who were known for their philanthropy in Galveston, Texas. With total assets of approximately $35.2 million and annual giving of $5.4 million, the foundation operates two distinct programs: institutional grants for capital construction projects at Texas colleges and universities, and interest-free student loans for Texas undergraduate students. The foundation has distributed over $6 million in grants since its inception and maintains a focused mission of supporting higher education infrastructure and access across Texas. The foundation is administered by Frost Bank's Trust Department, with directors Peter B. Kessler and Marc Andrew Weiss providing governance oversight.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Institutional Capital Grants

  • Grant Range: $1.2 million - $3.4 million (based on recent awards)
  • Typical Awards: 2-4 grants annually
  • Application Method: No public application process; grants made by trustee discretion

The foundation designates funds annually to support construction of residence halls, student centers, and academic facilities at Texas colleges and universities. Recent projects include dining facilities, student housing complexes, medical student centers, and academic buildings.

Student Loan Program

  • Loan Amount: Up to $8,000 per academic year ($4,000 per semester)
  • Maximum Duration: Four years (eight semesters)
  • Interest Rate: 0% (interest-free)
  • Number Available: Approximately 800 loans annually
  • Application Deadline: February 28
  • Application Method: Request application form by phone or letter

Priority Areas

Institutional Grants:

  • Construction of student residence halls
  • Student centers and dining facilities
  • Medical education facilities
  • Academic buildings and learning centers
  • Projects that serve Texas undergraduate students

Student Loans:

  • Full-time undergraduate students at Texas four-year colleges and universities
  • Students from Texas high schools
  • Students maintaining strong academic performance

What They Don't Fund

  • Out-of-state institutions
  • Graduate or professional degree programs (for student loans)
  • Part-time students
  • Students attending non-Texas institutions
  • Operating expenses or program costs
  • Research projects
  • Individual scholarships (they provide loans, not grants, to students)

Governance and Leadership

Directors:

  • Peter B. Kessler
  • Marc Andrew Weiss

Trustee:

  • Frost Bank (Trust Department)

The foundation operates as a private foundation with administrative management provided by Frost Bank's Trust Department in Galveston. The foundation maintains connections to the Galveston community through family representatives, including Jean Rosenbaum, who has participated in foundation events and groundbreakings.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Institutional Grants:

This foundation does not have a public application process for institutional grants. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees and directors, typically to Texas colleges and universities with which the foundation has established relationships.

For Student Loans:

  1. Contact the foundation by telephone or letter to request an application form
  2. Contact information: (409) 770-5665 or write to the address above
  3. Students can request to be placed on the mailing list for upcoming academic years
  4. Complete and submit application by February 28 deadline
  5. Applications accepted beginning in September; early submission recommended due to competitive nature

Getting on Their Radar (for Institutional Grants)

The foundation has demonstrated a pattern of supporting institutions in Galveston and across Texas through repeat grants and multi-phase projects. For example:

  • Galveston College received two separate capital expansion grants, with Dr. Myles Shelton noting: "This is the second significant capital expansion grant from the Abe and Annie Seibel Foundation to Galveston College."
  • UTMB received $3 million for the Seibel Student Center at Jennie Sealy Hospital
  • Texas A&M University at Galveston received multiple grants, including $1.5 million for a Student Services Center and $2 million for the Seibel Learning Center
  • Rice University received funding for the 22,000 sq ft Abe and Annie Seibel Servery

The foundation appears to favor capital projects that will bear the Seibel name and serve undergraduate student populations. According to Karen Flowers of Galveston College, "The Seibel Foundation's lead gift on this project is a complete game-changer," suggesting the foundation prefers to make transformative, rather than incremental, investments.

Jean Rosenbaum, a family member, has attended foundation events such as the groundbreaking for Galveston College's student residences, indicating ongoing family involvement in the foundation's work.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed for institutional grants. The foundation makes 2-4 institutional grants per year based on IRS Form 990 filings from 2022-2024.

For student loans, decisions are made after the February 28 deadline, with notifications typically sent in time for fall semester planning.

Success Rates

Specific success rates for institutional grants are not available, as there is no public application process. The foundation made 2-4 institutional awards annually in recent years (2022: 3 awards; 2023: 2 awards; 2024: 2 awards).

For student loans, approximately 800 loans are available annually. Success rates are competitive but not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

For institutional grants, there is no formal reapplication process. However, the foundation has demonstrated willingness to make multiple grants to the same institution over time (e.g., Galveston College, Texas A&M Galveston).

For student loans, students may reapply annually for up to four years of funding, subject to maintaining a 3.0 GPA and full-time enrollment status.

Application Success Factors

For Institutional Grants

Based on the foundation's grant history, successful projects share these characteristics:

Geographic Focus: All documented grants have supported Texas institutions, with a notable concentration in Galveston and the Gulf Coast region. The foundation appears to have particular interest in supporting institutions in their home community.

Project Type: Capital construction projects that create named facilities, particularly:

  • Student housing and residence halls (Galveston College: $2.1 million for Abe and Annie Seibel Foundation Student Residences)
  • Student centers and dining facilities (Rice University: Abe and Annie Seibel Servery; UTMB: $3 million for Seibel Student Center)
  • Learning centers (Texas A&M Galveston: $2 million for Seibel Learning Center)
  • Academic facilities that directly serve students

Transformative Impact: The foundation prefers "game-changing" projects that significantly expand institutional capacity. For example, the Galveston College student residences house approximately 80 students and enabled the college to double its student housing capacity.

Undergraduate Focus: Projects must primarily serve undergraduate student populations, consistent with the foundation's overall mission.

Naming Opportunities: All identified major grants resulted in facilities bearing the Seibel name, suggesting this is an important factor for the foundation.

Multi-Phase Relationships: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to support institutions with multiple grants over time, suggesting that successful grantees who maintain relationships and demonstrate good stewardship may receive additional support for subsequent projects.

For Student Loans

Academic Excellence: Students must demonstrate strong academic performance:

  • Top 10% of high school class, OR
  • Minimum 1100 SAT or 23 ACT score
  • Maintain 3.0 GPA in college

Early Application: The foundation advises students to "prepare your application from as early as September and submit it as early as possible to have a better chance of an award."

Texas Connections: Students must be U.S. citizens, Texas residents, and graduates of Texas high schools attending accredited Texas colleges and universities.

Full-Time Enrollment: Students must maintain full-time status throughout their undergraduate degree program.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists for institutional grants; the foundation awards grants at trustee discretion to Texas colleges and universities
  • Focus on capital construction projects that create student-serving facilities with naming opportunities for the foundation
  • Geographic preference for Galveston and Gulf Coast institutions, though grants extend statewide across Texas
  • Transformative scale is important—grants typically range from $1.2 million to $3.4 million and aim to be "game-changers" for institutions
  • Relationship-based giving—the foundation has made multiple grants to the same institutions over time, suggesting the importance of stewardship and ongoing engagement
  • Undergraduate focus—all projects must primarily serve undergraduate student populations
  • Limited annual capacity—the foundation makes only 2-4 institutional grants per year, making competition extremely selective

References

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