← Back to US Funders Directory

John P McGovern Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.5M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.3M

John P McGovern Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,497,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $138.4 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $500 - $300,000
  • Median Grant: $15,000
  • Number of Grants: 211 grants (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Texas, with some grants to other states

Contact Details

Address:
2211 Norfolk Street, Suite 900
Houston, TX 77098-4062

Phone:
713-524-5255
713-661-4808 (alternate)

Email:
Not publicly available

Website:
No public website

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or published grant guidelines. Direct contact by phone is recommended.

Overview

The John P McGovern Foundation was established in 1961 by Dr. John P. McGovern, a distinguished Houston allergist, immunologist, educator, and philanthropist. Dr. McGovern started the foundation with $10,000 of his own savings and grew it through successful investments in the stock market, real estate, and his medical practice into a fund worth approximately $138.4 million in assets. Following Dr. McGovern's death in 2007, his wife Kathrine G. McGovern served as President and Chair of the foundation's board for over 15 years until her passing on December 1, 2023. William C. Shrader currently serves as President. The foundation supports established nonprofit organizations that are of importance to human welfare, with special focus on children and family health education and promotion, treatment, and disease prevention. The foundation has made transformative gifts to Houston institutions, including a $75 million gift to UTHealth Medical School (2015), a $50 million gift to the Houston Zoo (2018), and a $20 million gift to establish the Kathrine G. McGovern College of Arts at the University of Houston (2017).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The John P McGovern Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Grant decisions appear to be made at the discretion of the foundation's trustees and officers. Grants are awarded across a wide range of amounts:

  • Small Grants: $500 - $15,000 (majority of grants)
  • Medium Grants: $15,000 - $100,000
  • Large Grants: $100,000 - $300,000+ (typically for established Houston institutions)

The foundation awards grants on a rolling or discretionary basis rather than through fixed application cycles.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant activity (2023), the foundation actively funds:

Health and Medical Education:

  • Medical school scholarships and fellowships (John P. McGovern Scholars at Baylor College of Medicine)
  • Health education museums and programs
  • Healthcare treatment and disease prevention programs
  • Substance abuse treatment and recovery support (The Council on Recovery: $225,000)

Children and Family Services:

  • Children's museums and educational programs (The Children's Museum: $160,000 for Free Family Nights)
  • Family health education initiatives
  • Pediatric healthcare programs

Arts and Culture:

  • Performing arts institutions (The Grand 1894 Opera House: $300,000)
  • Museums (Houston Museum of Natural Science: $188,000)
  • Arts education programs

Education:

  • Higher education institutions, particularly in Texas
  • Nursing education programs
  • Medical and health sciences education

Environmental Conservation:

  • Houston Zoo and wildlife conservation
  • Parks and green spaces (Hermann Park)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publish explicit exclusions. However, based on grant patterns:

  • The foundation primarily supports established nonprofit organizations with proven track records
  • Focus is heavily weighted toward Houston and Texas-based organizations
  • Individual grants and scholarships are only provided through institutional partnerships (e.g., university scholarship programs)

Governance and Leadership

Current Officers (2024)

William C. Shrader - President
Compensation: $15,000 annually
Succeeded Kathrine McGovern as President following her death in December 2023.

Julia Mitchell - Vice President & Secretary
Compensation: $143,681 annually
Handles administrative and governance responsibilities for the foundation.

Sheila Lewis - Treasurer
Compensation: $129,300 annually
Oversees financial management and investment oversight.

Joan Dyan Caldwell - Accountant
Compensation: $116,055 annually
Manages accounting operations and financial reporting.

Foundation History and Leadership Philosophy

Dr. John P. McGovern (1921-2007) founded the Texas Allergy Research Foundation in 1961, which was renamed the John P. McGovern Foundation in 1979. During his lifetime, Dr. McGovern held seventeen professorships, received twenty-nine honorary doctorates, authored 252 professional publications, and served as president of fifteen professional societies in medicine. He was the principal founder of the American Osler Society in 1969, reflecting his belief that the art of patient care should balance the emphasis on medical science.

Kathrine G. McGovern (1933-2023) served as President and Chair from 2007 to 2023, overseeing some of the foundation's most transformative gifts. Under her leadership, the foundation made major contributions totaling over $145 million to Houston institutions, fundamentally shaping the city's medical, cultural, and educational landscape.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The John P McGovern Foundation does not have a public application process or published grant guidelines. The foundation does not maintain a website or online application portal.

Grant decisions appear to be made through trustee discretion, with funding directed to organizations with which the foundation has pre-existing relationships or knowledge. The foundation particularly supports established nonprofit organizations in the Houston area and throughout Texas.

Getting on Their Radar

Direct Contact Approach:
Since the foundation awards grants without a formal application process, organizations should consider reaching out directly by phone (713-524-5255) to inquire whether the foundation would be interested in learning more about their work. Given the foundation's focused interest areas, organizations working in health education, children's programs, medical research, arts and culture, or environmental conservation in Texas may have the strongest alignment.

Houston Connection:
The foundation has historically demonstrated strong loyalty to Houston institutions and organizations. Having an established presence in Houston or serving Houston communities appears to be an advantage, as evidenced by major gifts to UTHealth, Houston Zoo, University of Houston, Hermann Park, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and other Houston-based organizations.

Established Organizations:
The foundation's stated mission emphasizes supporting "established nonprofit organizations." Organizations with proven track records, strong governance, and demonstrated impact are more likely to align with the foundation's approach.

Decision Timeline

No information is publicly available regarding typical timeframes for grant decisions. Given the discretionary nature of grantmaking, timelines likely vary depending on grant size and complexity.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. With 211 grants awarded in 2023 and no public application process, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

No information is available regarding reapplication policies. Organizations that have received funding in the past appear on the foundation's recent grant lists, suggesting that repeat funding is possible for organizations with ongoing relationships with the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Since the John P McGovern Foundation does not have a formal application process, traditional success factors do not apply. However, based on analysis of recent grant recipients and the foundation's history, the following factors appear important:

Strong Houston Connection

The vast majority of grants go to Houston-based organizations or programs serving Houston communities. Major transformative gifts have gone to institutions with deep Houston roots: UTHealth Medical School, University of Houston, Houston Zoo, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Hermann Park institutions.

Alignment with Founder's Legacy

Organizations working in areas that Dr. John P. McGovern championed—medical education, allergy and immunology research, humanistic medicine, health education, and the intersection of medical science with the humanities—appear particularly well-positioned. The foundation has continued the McGovern Scholars program at Baylor College of Medicine and supports the John P McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science.

Established Track Record

The foundation explicitly states it supports "established nonprofit organizations." Organizations with proven programs, strong governance structures, and demonstrated community impact align with this emphasis. Start-ups or newer organizations may face challenges unless they have strong connections to foundation leadership or board members.

Health and Education Focus

While the foundation supports diverse causes including arts and environmental conservation, its core mission centers on "children and family health education and promotion, treatment and disease prevention." Organizations whose work connects to these themes—even indirectly—may have stronger alignment.

Institutional Relationships

Many grant recipients appear to be organizations with long-standing relationships with the foundation. The Council on Recovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and similar organizations receive regular support. Building relationships over time through smaller grants or other connections may be important.

Major Gift Capacity

The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make transformative gifts of $20 million to $75 million to institutions aligned with its mission. Organizations seeking major gifts for capital campaigns, endowments, or program expansion should be aware that the foundation has capacity and history of making such investments—but only to a select group of established Houston institutions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No formal application process exists - this is a relationship-driven foundation where grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than competitive application cycles
  • Houston focus is paramount - the foundation demonstrates strong preference for Houston-based organizations or programs serving Houston communities
  • Health and education alignment is critical - while the foundation supports arts, culture, and conservation, its core mission centers on health education, disease prevention, and children/family programs
  • Established organizations preferred - the foundation explicitly seeks to support established nonprofits with proven track records rather than start-up ventures
  • Major gift potential exists - the foundation has capacity for transformative gifts ($20M-$75M) for the right institutional partners, as evidenced by recent major gifts to UTHealth, University of Houston, and Houston Zoo
  • Direct phone contact recommended - without a website or formal process, calling the foundation office (713-524-5255) is the most appropriate way to explore potential alignment
  • Legacy matters - organizations connected to Dr. McGovern's legacy in medicine, medical humanities, or the Osler Society's humanistic approach to healthcare may have natural affinity with foundation priorities

References

← Back to US Funders Directory