The Effie and Wofford Cain Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Effie and Wofford Cain Foundation, based in Austin, Texas, supports scientific, medical and educational institutions, and also funds education and the arts in Texas, including student scholarships, teaching awards and grants to Texas-based charities.
- Its geographic focus is given as a priority on Texas, so nonprofits working there fit best, and its grant rows also show support for universities, academic medical research, churches and food pantries.
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and funds by invitation only, so grant writers should look for ways to build a relationship rather than sending a cold proposal.
- Most grants are modest: about eight in ten of its 168 grants fall between $3,000 and $77,000, with a median of $15,000, so a request in that range is realistic, though it has made one much larger grant of $4,100,000.
- Giving looks relationship-led rather than open competition, since 88% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the two previous filings; the foundation makes grants only to organisations, not to individuals.
Overview
The EFFIE AND WOFFORD CAIN Foundation is a US private foundation based in Austin, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (utelementary.org, tshaonline.org, law.utexas.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation was established to support scientific, medical and educational institutions. Its giving also supports education and the arts in Texas, including student scholarships and teaching awards, and grants to Texas-based charities. It has provided funds for universities and academic medical research, with its grant rows also showing support for churches and food pantries. The foundation makes grants to organisations rather than individuals: its filing says that no grants are made to or for the benefit of individuals. It does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Themes
- Scientific institutions
- Medical institutions
- Educational institutions
- Arts
Geographic Focus
Priority: Texas. (as reported in other published sources)
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 88% 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 168 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
4 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 75% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations The Effie and Wofford Cain Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 58 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $15,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of Texas at Austin · Clinical research and endowment$2,600,0002024 tax year
- University of Texas at Austin · Facilities construction$1,600,0002024 tax year
- University of Texas at Austin · General support$462,0002024 tax year
- Trinity Valley Community College Foundation · Facilities construction$300,0002024 tax year
- Texans for Greater Mental Health · General support$100,0002024 tax year
- Salvation Army of Greater Austin · General support$77,0002024 tax year
- Americans for Ibogaine · General support$75,0002024 tax year
- Sonic Guild · General support$65,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Mary Bratz — Business Manager, Assistant Secretary
- Cindy Matula — Executive Director, Secretary, Treasurer
- F Wofford Denius — President, Director of Legal
- Charmaine D McGill — VP, Director of Grant Administration
- John C Cain — VP, Director of Real Estate
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $7,119,261 | $5,521,500 | $130,787,965 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $7,119,076 | $5,178,279 | $153,298,578 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $7,680,658 | $6,027,910 | $167,551,896 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to The Effie and Wofford Cain Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (512) 346-7490
- Austin, TX
- cainfoundation.org
Applying to The Effie and Wofford Cain Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (512) 346-7490
- Austin, TX
- cainfoundation.org