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Fred and Mabel R Parks Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $2.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,523,500 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly documented
  • Grant Range: Average $13,365 (with major grants up to $2,000,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Houston, Texas area

Contact Details

  • Phone: 281-313-6464
  • Mailing Address: 12926 Dairy Ashford Rd, Suite 130, Sugar Land, TX 77478-3293
  • Website: None
  • Email: Not available

Overview

Founded in 1984, the Fred and Mabel R Parks Foundation is a private foundation with over $40 million in assets dedicated to supporting Houston-area nonprofits. The foundation honors the philanthropic legacy of Fred Parks (1906-2001), a Houston trial lawyer and South Texas College of Law alumnus, and his wife Mabel, a dedicated Texas Children's Hospital volunteer. In 2023, the foundation awarded $1,523,500 through approximately 114 grants to organizations focusing on education, health research, and human services. The foundation operates without a public application process, making grants through trustee discretion to carefully selected organizations that advance excellence in their respective fields and demonstrate measurable community impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes both major institutional grants and smaller community grants:

  • Major Research/Capital Grants: $200,000 - $2,000,000 (for transformational research initiatives and capital projects)
  • Community Grants: Varying amounts averaging $13,365 (for ongoing programs and operational support)
  • Application method: Direct inquiry via phone or mail (no public application process)

Priority Areas

  • Medical research (particularly diabetes and neurological disorders)
  • Education (all levels, with emphasis on legal education)
  • Children and youth services
  • Health and well-being programs
  • Mental health services
  • Hunger and food insecurity
  • Faith-based initiatives
  • Community development
  • Family support services
  • Poverty alleviation

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated; however, grants appear limited to 501(c)(3) organizations in the Greater Houston area

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by four trustees, including President James G. McClellan (Jim McClellan). In 2013, McClellan stated regarding a major research grant: "We wanted to be a major part of the cure," indicating the foundation's preference for transformational, high-impact initiatives. The board manages grant decisions through trustee discretion rather than an open application process.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on direct inquiries and existing relationships. Organizations should submit a brief letter of inquiry via phone (281-313-6464) or mail to the foundation's Sugar Land address, explaining their organization, program, and funding needs.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's grant-making patterns:

  • The foundation has strong ties to South Texas College of Law Houston, where Fred Parks was an alumnus and major donor
  • Texas Children's Hospital connections through Mabel Parks' volunteer work there
  • The foundation participates in Houston's philanthropic community and has supported Holocaust Museum Houston and Texas Heart Institute
  • President Jim McClellan has been quoted in press releases about major grants, suggesting openness to discussing transformational projects

Decision Timeline

Not publicly documented; as a private foundation making grants year-round, decisions likely occur on an ongoing basis

Success Rates

Not available due to the private nature of the grant-making process

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented

Application Success Factors

Based on documented grant patterns and trustee statements:

  • Houston-area focus is essential - all documented grants went to Greater Houston organizations
  • Demonstrate transformational impact - McClellan's quote about wanting to be "a major part of the cure" suggests preference for ambitious, measurable outcomes
  • Personal connections matter - major grants went to institutions with historical ties to the Parks family
  • Research excellence valued - the foundation has made multi-million dollar commitments to cutting-edge medical research
  • Educational improvement priority - consistent support for institutions "promoting excellence in education"
  • Community service alignment - programs serving vulnerable populations through direct services receive regular support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The foundation operates exclusively through trustee discretion with no public application process - direct inquiry is the only approach
  • Geographic restriction to Greater Houston area appears absolute based on all documented grants
  • Major transformational grants ($2M) are possible for research institutions with groundbreaking initiatives
  • Strong preference for organizations where Parks family had personal connections or volunteer involvement
  • Medical research, particularly diabetes and neurological disorders, receives significant support
  • The foundation values long-term relationships and has made multiple major gifts to the same institutions
  • With $40M in assets and consistent annual giving of $1.5M+, the foundation is a stable, reliable funder for aligned organizations

References

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