Ellwood Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,675,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $160,000
• Geographic Focus: Texas (primarily Houston area) and Mississippi

Contact Details

• Phone: (713) 785-5507
• Address: P.O. Box 550049, Houston, TX 77255-0049
• Contact Person: HW Hightower Jr (Harold W. Hightower Jr.)
• Website: None available
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Ellwood Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1958 as a trust in Texas and recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1962. With total assets of approximately $42 million, the foundation distributes around $2.7 million annually in grants to nonprofit organizations. The foundation maintains a low public profile with no website or publicly available application guidelines, operating primarily through pre-existing relationships and invitation-only grants. The foundation consistently makes 66-68 grants per year to organizations primarily in Texas, with a focus on Houston-area nonprofits, and some activity in Mississippi.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not publicize specific grant programs but makes regular distributions in the range of $5,000 - $160,000 per award. Based on available data, the foundation made 66 awards in 2024.

Priority Areas

• Medical research
• Mental health
• Education
• Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
• Human services

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly disclosed

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is managed by HW Hightower Jr. (Harold W. Hightower Jr.), who serves as the primary contact person. Additional board members and trustees are not publicly disclosed. The foundation does not provide a public mission statement or strategic priorities document.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation operates without a website or published application guidelines. Grants appear to be awarded through trustee discretion to pre-selected organizations or through existing relationships. Organizations interested in funding may attempt to contact the foundation directly at (713) 785-5507.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available

Success Rates

Not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed

Application Success Factors

Due to the private nature of this foundation and lack of public information, specific success factors cannot be determined from available sources. Organizations seeking funding should note that the foundation appears to fund established organizations in Texas with a focus on medical research, mental health, and education. Building a relationship through direct contact may be necessary as the foundation does not maintain a public application process.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The foundation operates without a public application process, suggesting invitation-only or relationship-based grantmaking
• Geographic focus is primarily Houston, Texas area with some grants in Mississippi
• Consistent annual grantmaking of approximately $2.7 million across 66-68 organizations
• Grant amounts typically range from $5,000 to $160,000
• No public website or application guidelines available
• Direct phone contact may be the only way to explore funding opportunities
• Review of their 990-PF tax filings would provide the most comprehensive list of previously funded organizations

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Ellwood Foundation profile and 990-PF filings (accessed February 2025)
• IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search - EIN 746039237 (accessed February 2025)
• Instrumentl Foundation Profile (accessed February 2025)
• GrantStation Database Entry (accessed February 2025)
• Candid Foundation Directory Online (accessed February 2025)
• Cause IQ Foundation Profile (accessed February 2025)