Cockrell Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Cockrell Foundation prioritises organisations based in the Greater Houston Area and gives in Texas, so work there in education, health, culture or community is the clearest fit.
- Half of its grants to organisations across the recent filings were $20,000 or less, and its median grant was $20,000, so a request around that size is realistic.
- Most grants fall between $1,500 and $2,150,000, but its largest grant was about $4,350,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
- Applications are online only, and the filing directs applicants to the Foundation's website for what to include, so read that before writing.
- The filing gives no deadlines and says the Foundation accepts applications, but in its latest filing 99% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded earlier, so a first approach should be carefully targeted and may benefit from building a relationship first.
Overview
Cockrell Foundation is a US private foundation based in Houston, 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 giving as thoughtful, strategic support intended to create lasting, positive change. It prioritises organisations based in the Greater Houston Area and initiatives at the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. Contributions are focused on a group of charitable partners aligned with its mission and its founders’ donor intent. Its grant-history categories are education, health, culture and community. The Foundation’s vision is to strengthen the organisations it supports so they can fulfil their missions, transform lives and serve society; it seeks to extend their influence across Texas, the nation and the world.
Themes
- Education
- Health
- Culture
- Community
Geographic Focus
Texas. Priority: Greater Houston Area.
How to apply
Organisations submit online grant applications only; the filing directs applicants to the Foundation’s website for the specific information to include.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 99% 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 70 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It prioritises organisations based in the Greater Houston Area and initiatives at the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin.
- Its contributions focus on charitable partners aligned with its mission and the founders’ donor intent.
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 38% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Cockrell Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 18 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of Texas Foundation · Support Cockrell Endowments scholarships and professorships$4,016,1632024 tax year
- MD Anderson Cancer Center · Support the Virginia Harris Cockrell Presidential Initiative Fund Endowment$3,193,2322024 tax year
- Methodist Hospital Foundation · Support the Virginia and Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Permanently Restricted Endowment$1,693,2322024 tax year
- Houston Museum of Natural Science · Support the Virginia and Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Permanently Restricted Endowment$1,683,2322024 tax year
- Kids' Meals · General support$30,0002024 tax year
- University of Texas Foundation · Support the Cockrell Scholars Dinner$23,7642024 tax year
- Grace Bible Church · General support$20,0002024 tax year
- Hermann Park Conservancy · Support art installation and education programs with HMNS$20,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Margaret N Baker — Secretary
- Tracy K Payne — Treasurer / Director
- Sherrie J Reinhackel — Vice President / Director
- Ronald T Nixon — Director
- J Webb Jennings III — Director
- W McComb Dunwoody — Director
- Frederick W Brazelton — Director
- Stephanie Cockrell — Executive Director
- Janet S Cockrell — Director
- Ernest D Cockrell — Director
- David A Cockrell — Director
- Ernest H Cockrell — President / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $14,650,843 | $11,491,352 | $208,482,711 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $13,060,173 | $10,517,833 | $233,577,618 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $13,286,079 | $10,808,776 | $248,596,124 | 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 Cockrell Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (713) 209-7500
- info@cockrellfoundation.org
- Houston, TX
- cockrellfoundation.org
Applying to Cockrell Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (713) 209-7500
- info@cockrellfoundation.org
- Houston, TX
- cockrellfoundation.org