Semmes Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Semmes Foundation gives mainly to organisations in San Antonio, so this is the right geography to check before applying.
- Its funding has touched education, scientific purposes, research institutions, an art museum, an opera company, community organisations and legal aid, so a project in one of these areas has the best chance of fitting.
- For size, aim modest: half of its 26 grants were $25,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $1,150 and $1,500,000, with a median grant of $25,000.
- Be aware that all of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the previous two filings, and it says most committed funds go to areas of interest to its directors, so this looks like a relationship-led funder where new, unsolicited approaches compete for a small share of funding; it also warns that most requests cannot be funded, so keep any proposal concise rather than elaborate.
- Apply by sending a short written proposal describing the project and justifying the funding by regular mail, together with an IRS determination letter; it does not fund individuals.
Overview
Semmes Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Antonio, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation describes its purposes as charitable, scientific and educational, and says it awards grants primarily in San Antonio. It directs the majority of its committed funds to areas of interest to its directors, while also accepting unsolicited proposals about the initiatives and operations of others. Its grants have gone to educational and research institutions, an art museum, an opera company and community organisations, and have supported work including education, research and legal aid. It asks for a concise proposal that describes the project and justifies funding, and discourages elaborate proposals because most requests cannot be funded. An IRS determination letter is required.
Themes
- Education
- Scientific purposes
Geographic Focus
Priority: San Antonio.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
How to apply
Send a concise written proposal describing the project and justifying its funding by regular mail, with an IRS determination letter.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 100% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 26 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Most committed funds are in areas of interest to the directors.
- The Foundation discourages elaborate proposals because most requests cannot be funded.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 76% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Semmes Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Trinity University · Semmes school of science (education, research, endowment)$26,500,0002024 tax year
- McNay Art Museum · Event support$2,5002024 tax year
- Texas Bar Foundation · Legal aid$2,0002024 tax year
- University Of Texas San Antonio · General support$5002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Cory Albracht — Secretary-Treasurer
- William M Fisher — Director
- Patricia Semmes — Vice-President / Secretary
- Thomas R Semmes — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,491,744 | $3,101,150 | $61,026,465 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,656,839 | $5,294,650 | $64,111,264 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $27,124,067 | $26,505,000 | $44,312,273 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Semmes Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (210) 225-0887
- css-0747eb49-3311-4e59-b7b3-3887c4bf6036@mhtml.blink
- San Antonio, TX
- semmesfoundation.org
Applying to Semmes Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (210) 225-0887
- css-0747eb49-3311-4e59-b7b3-3887c4bf6036@mhtml.blink
- San Antonio, TX
- semmesfoundation.org