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William Stamps Farish Fund

Annual Giving
$15.6M

William Stamps Farish Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $15,594,938 (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 151 (2023)
  • Average Grant: $103,278
  • Assets: $103,254,014 (as of May 2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, and New York (primarily Houston, TX area)
  • Established: 1951

Contact Details

Address: 1100 Louisiana St., Suite 2200, Houston, TX 77002-5245

Phone: (713) 757-7313

Application Method: Written proposal submission

No public website available

Overview

The William Stamps Farish Fund is a Houston-based private foundation established in 1951 to continue the philanthropic legacy of the Farish family, whose wealth originated from the oil industry. William Stamps Farish himself was a legendary figure in the oil industry, playing a key role in founding Humble Oil & Refining Co. (later Exxon Company, U.S.A.) in 1917. The foundation has grown to manage assets exceeding $103 million and distributes approximately $15.6 million annually to nonprofit organizations.

The Fund's stated mission is to "provide meaningful support to organizations of all sizes offering Social Service, Education and Health programs that alleviate suffering and promote the success of underserved populations." While based in Houston, the foundation's geographic reach extends across five states. Since 2021, the foundation has been led by Executive Director Carolyn Watson, who brought extensive philanthropic experience from her work at the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, where she deployed nearly $40 million in grants across Texas cities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The William Stamps Farish Fund operates as a traditional private foundation with proposal-based grantmaking across three core areas:

Primary Focus Areas:

  • Education: Basic education programs with emphasis on underserved populations
  • Health: Basic medical research and health programs
  • Social Services: Programs that alleviate suffering and promote success for underserved communities
  • Faith-Based Programs: Support for faith-based organizations delivering services

Grant Size: Average grant of $103,278 based on 151 grants awarded in 2023. The foundation has shown consistent grantmaking with slight increases year over year (141 awards in 2021, 144 in 2022, 151 in 2023).

Priority Areas

The foundation prioritizes support for:

  • Basic education initiatives
  • Basic medical research
  • Organizations serving underserved populations
  • Community-based programs in social services, education, and health
  • Faith-based service organizations

Secondary Interest Areas (based on giving patterns):

  • Animals
  • Arts and Culture
  • Children and Youth
  • Community Development
  • Disaster Relief
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Health and Well Being

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Restrictions:

  • No support for political organizations
  • No grants to individuals
  • No grants for annual campaigns
  • No grants for deficit financing
  • No grants for operating budgets
  • No grants for exchange programs
  • No grants for consulting services
  • No grants for endowment funds
  • No loans

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by family members and professional advisors:

  • W.S. Farish - President
  • Laura Farish Chadwick - Vice President
  • Cornelia Gerry Corbett - Vice President
  • Larry L. Shryock - Treasurer
  • Caroline P. Rotan - Secretary
  • Leann Starns - Assistant Secretary

Executive Leadership

Carolyn Watson, Executive Director (joined May 2021)

Carolyn Watson leads the foundation's strategic direction in alignment with its mission to support underserved populations. She brings significant philanthropic experience, having previously served as Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at JPMorgan Chase, where she directed the JPMorgan Chase Foundation's philanthropic investments for Austin, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio, deploying nearly $40 million in grants to organizations providing workforce training, small business support, financial health, and neighborhood revitalization programs.

Watson holds a Master of Public Affairs degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Management from Stanford's Graduate School of Business.

Mission Statement: According to Watson, the Fund seeks to "provide meaningful support to organizations of all sizes offering Social Service, Education and Health programs that alleviate suffering and promote the success of underserved populations."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The William Stamps Farish Fund accepts written proposals submitted to their Houston office. The initial approach is to submit a proposal to the foundation at:

William Stamps Farish Fund
1100 Louisiana St., Suite 2200
Houston, TX 77002-5245
Phone: (713) 757-7313

Application Format: Written proposal (specific format requirements not publicly available; contact the foundation directly for detailed application guidelines)

Application Schedule: The foundation does not appear to have published application deadlines, suggesting they may review proposals on a rolling basis.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. Given the foundation's consistent annual grantmaking (151 grants in 2023), they appear to review and approve grants throughout the year.

Success Rates

While exact success rates are not published, the foundation awarded 151 grants in 2023, an increase from 144 in 2022 and 141 in 2021, demonstrating consistent and slightly growing grantmaking activity.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Organizations should contact the foundation directly regarding reapplication guidelines.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's mission, restrictions, and giving patterns, organizations should consider the following when developing proposals:

Alignment with Core Mission: The foundation explicitly focuses on supporting "underserved populations" through Social Service, Education, and Health programs that "alleviate suffering and promote success." Proposals should clearly demonstrate how they serve underserved communities and create meaningful impact.

Geographic Considerations: While the foundation's footprint includes Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, and New York, giving is "primarily in Houston, TX." Organizations in the Houston area appear to have the strongest chance of success, though the foundation does support work in the other four states.

Program Focus Over Overhead: The foundation explicitly does not fund operating budgets, annual campaigns, or deficit financing. Successful applications likely focus on specific programs and projects rather than general operating support.

Organizations of All Sizes: Executive Director Carolyn Watson's statement emphasizes support for "organizations of all sizes," suggesting the foundation is open to supporting both small grassroots organizations and larger established nonprofits.

Basic Education and Medical Research: The foundation's stated focus on "basic education and basic medical research" suggests a preference for fundamental, foundational work rather than highly specialized or advanced programs.

Faith-Based Programs Welcome: Unlike some foundations, the Farish Fund explicitly supports faith-based programs, making it an accessible funder for religious organizations delivering social services, education, or health programs.

Clear Project Outcomes: Given the foundation's emphasis on programs that "alleviate suffering and promote success," proposals should articulate clear, measurable outcomes related to reducing suffering or advancing success for underserved populations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on underserved populations: The foundation's mission explicitly centers on serving underserved communities—make this connection clear and prominent in your proposal
  • Geographic fit matters: Houston-area organizations appear to have the strongest alignment, though the foundation does fund in five states (Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, New York)
  • Program-specific funding: Don't request operating support, annual campaign funds, or deficit financing; focus on specific programs and projects
  • Faith-based organizations welcome: This foundation explicitly supports faith-based programs, making it a good prospect for religious organizations
  • Submit written proposals: Contact the foundation at (713) 757-7313 for specific application guidelines before submitting
  • Organizations of all sizes: Both small and large organizations are encouraged to apply—don't self-select out based on organizational size
  • Average grant around $103,000: Use this as a rough benchmark for request amounts, though actual grants likely vary based on project scope

References

Information accessed December 2025

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