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Phillips Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.1M
Grant Range
$0K - $1.3M

Phillips Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,115,786 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $85.7 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $250 - $1,277,000
  • Number of Grants: 40 awards (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Texas, with some grants to Virginia and Louisiana
  • Median Grant Size: $26,000

Contact Details

Address: 9651 Katy Fwy Ste 525, Houston, TX 77024-1598

Note: The foundation does not have a public website or published contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Phillips Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in October 2001 and based in Houston, Texas. With total assets of $85.7 million and annual giving exceeding $5 million, the foundation has experienced significant growth since its inception. The foundation is family-run, with leadership provided by President Donald M. Phillips, Secretary Liane M. Phillips, and Directors Connor L. Phillips and Callie M. Phillips. The foundation primarily supports organizations in the areas of education, human services, and general charitable purposes. The foundation has demonstrated consistent philanthropic activity, making approximately 40-47 grants annually in recent years. All board members serve without compensation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than structured grant programs. Grants are awarded based on board discretion to preselected organizations.

  • Grant Range: $250 - $1,277,000
  • Median Award: $26,000
  • Application Method: Invitation only / preselected organizations

Priority Areas

Based on recent giving patterns and IRS filings, the foundation supports:

  • Education: Educational institutions and educational support programs
  • Healthcare: Health-related organizations and medical foundations
  • Religious Organizations: Church-based programs and faith-based initiatives
  • Human Services: Social service organizations and community support programs
  • General Charitable Purposes: Unrestricted support to charitable organizations

Geographic Focus

  • Primary: Texas (Houston area and statewide)
  • Secondary: Louisiana, Virginia
  • Approach: Primarily local/regional with select out-of-state grants

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has indicated it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, effectively limiting grants to organizations already known to the trustees.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

  • Donald M. Phillips - President
  • Liane M. Phillips - Secretary
  • Connor L. Phillips - Director
  • Callie M. Phillips - Director

All officers and directors serve without compensation and dedicate approximately one hour per week to foundation governance. The foundation operates as a family foundation with all decision-making authority resting with the Phillips family members.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of directors to organizations with which the trustees have existing relationships or knowledge.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Decisions are made by the board on an ongoing basis throughout the year as evidenced by the 40+ grants distributed annually.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the Phillips Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional success factors do not apply. Organizations receive funding through:

  • Pre-existing relationships with foundation trustees
  • Trustee discretion based on the foundation's charitable interests
  • Board knowledge of organizations' work and impact

Recent Recipients (based on available data) have included:

  • Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church (religious/community)
  • Memorial Hermann Foundation (healthcare)
  • LSU Foundation (education)
  • Work Faith Connection (human services)
  • Covenant House (human services)

The foundation appears to favor:

  • Organizations in the Houston area
  • Established institutions with track records
  • A mix of large and small grants, with flexibility in grant sizing
  • Unrestricted operating support rather than project-specific funding

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests
  • Invitation-only grantmaking: Grants are made to organizations preselected by the trustees
  • Family foundation structure: All decisions rest with the Phillips family members who serve as trustees
  • Broad charitable interests: The foundation supports education, healthcare, human services, and religious organizations
  • Geographic focus: Strong preference for Texas-based organizations, particularly in the Houston area
  • Flexible grant sizing: Awards range from $250 to over $1 million, with a median around $26,000
  • Consistent giving: The foundation maintains steady grantmaking activity of 40-47 awards annually

References

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