The Hood-Barrow Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $700,000 (2024)
• Total Assets: $17,844,984
• Grant Range: $500 - $50,000
• Number of Awards: 38 awards (2024), 28 awards (2023), 22 awards (2022)
• Geographic Focus: Texas (primary), Colorado, California, plus Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, Wyoming
• Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation

Contact Details

Address: 1800 Augusta Dr #212, Houston, TX 77057

Note: This is a private family foundation that does not maintain a public website or published contact information. As with most private family foundations, they likely operate by invitation or through pre-existing relationships rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Hood-Barrow Foundation is a private family foundation established in Houston, Texas, with origins tracing to the philanthropy of Janice Hood Barrow and Thomas D. Barrow. With total assets of approximately $17.8 million, the foundation distributed $700,000 in grants during 2024 across 38 awards, demonstrating consistent and growing philanthropic activity from previous years. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services, with a geographic emphasis on Texas while also supporting organizations in Colorado, California, and five other states. As a private family foundation currently governed by Theodore H. Barrow (Director), Kenneth T. Barrow (Vice President/Director), and Barbara B. McCelvey (Director), the foundation continues the legacy of its founders, who were deeply committed to Houston's arts and cultural community, particularly through longtime support of the Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera. The foundation's approach reflects traditional family foundation values of supporting established institutions and causes aligned with the family's philanthropic interests.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Hood-Barrow Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific application cycles. Instead, as a private family foundation, it makes grants based on trustee discretion and the foundation's ongoing relationships with supported organizations.

Grant Size Range: $500 - $50,000 Average Number of Awards: 30-40 grants annually Annual Distribution: Approximately $700,000

Priority Areas

Based on IRS filings and confirmed grant recipients, the foundation supports:

• Arts & Culture: Confirmed supporter of Houston Symphony; legacy of support for Houston Grand Opera and other performing arts organizations
• Education: One of three primary focus areas per IRS classification
• Human Services: Organizations providing direct community services
• Philanthropy & Grantmaking: Support for other philanthropic initiatives and infrastructure

Geographic Focus

Primary: Texas (Houston area) Secondary: Colorado, California Additional States: Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, Wyoming

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation with preselected grantees, information about explicit exclusions is not publicly available. However, typical exclusions for foundations of this type include:

• Individuals
• Organizations outside their geographic focus areas
• Organizations without 501(c)(3) status

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Theodore H. Barrow - Director

• Son of founders Janice Hood Barrow and Thomas D. Barrow

Kenneth T. Barrow - Vice President/Director

• Son of founders Janice Hood Barrow and Thomas D. Barrow
• Associated with Thomson-Barrow Corporation

Barbara B. McCelvey - Director

• Daughter of founders (née Barbara Barrow, married to Patrick McCelvey)
• Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors, Grand Teton Music Festival
• Associated with Thomson-Barrow Corporation

Founder Legacy

The foundation honors the legacy of Janice Hood Barrow (1928-2022) and Thomas D. Barrow. Janice served a two-year term as President of the Houston Symphony Society and was honored as a Lifetime Trustee. The Houston Symphony named its Classical subscription concerts the "Janice H. and Thomas D. Barrow Classical" series in recognition of their significant support. Thomas Barrow had extensive civic involvement, serving as a former Trustee of Stanford University, New York Philharmonic Society, American Museum of Natural History, Geological Society of America Foundation, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, among other organizations. Their shared love of music and commitment to Houston's cultural community shaped the foundation's ongoing support for arts organizations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Like approximately 71% of private family foundations in the United States, the Hood-Barrow Foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants appear to be made based on:

• Trustee discretion and family philanthropic interests
• Ongoing relationships with established organizations
• Organizations aligned with the founders' legacy interests (particularly arts, education, and human services)

Getting on Their Radar

While the Hood-Barrow Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations seeking to connect with the foundation might consider:

• Board connections: Research whether your organization's board members, major donors, or advisors have relationships with the Barrow family or foundation trustees. Private foundations often make funding decisions through trusted personal and professional networks.

• Houston Symphony and arts community: Given the family's deep involvement with Houston Symphony (where Janice Barrow was a Lifetime Trustee and the foundation is a recognized institutional partner), organizations connected to Houston's performing arts ecosystem may have better visibility with the foundation.

• Geographic alignment: Organizations based in Houston or with strong Houston connections appear most likely to receive support, though the foundation also funds in Colorado and California where family members may have connections.

• Shared institutional relationships: The Barrow family has been involved with numerous prestigious institutions (Stanford University, New York Philharmonic Society, American Museum of Natural History, among others). Organizations with connections to these institutions might find common ground.

Important Note: Approaching private family foundations without an invitation can be counterproductive. Focus instead on excellent work in your community, building your organization's reputation, and cultivating relationships within the philanthropic ecosystem where foundation trustees operate.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made by trustee discretion throughout the year rather than through a formal application cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. The foundation appears to maintain ongoing relationships with a portfolio of supported organizations, with 30-40 grants made annually from what is likely a stable group of grantees.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since the Hood-Barrow Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, organizations that have received support appear to share these characteristics:

Alignment with Founder Values:

• Strong connection to arts and culture, particularly music and performing arts
• Based in or serving Houston, Texas
• Established, reputable organizations with track records of excellence
• Focus on education, human services, or philanthropic infrastructure

Institutional Profile:

• Recognized, established nonprofits rather than newer organizations
• Organizations likely to be known within Houston's philanthropic and civic community
• Institutions where personal relationships and trust have been built over time

Legacy Continuation: Organizations that continue the philanthropic legacy of Janice Hood Barrow and Thomas D. Barrow appear most likely to receive support. The family's documented interests included:

• Classical music and symphony orchestras
• Opera and performing arts
• Medical and scientific institutions
• Educational institutions (particularly at higher education level)
• Environmental and scientific research organizations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not accepting applications: This foundation makes grants by trustee discretion to preselected organizations and does not have a public application process. Do not submit unsolicited proposals.

• Family foundation operations: With three family members serving as trustees, decisions reflect the family's philanthropic values and ongoing commitment to causes championed by the founders, Janice Hood Barrow and Thomas D. Barrow.

• Arts and culture emphasis: While funding priorities include education and human services, the foundation's strongest documented connection is to Houston's performing arts community, particularly Houston Symphony.

• Houston-centric with geographic expansion: Primary focus on Houston organizations, with secondary support in Colorado and California, likely reflecting family connections in those states.

• Relationship-driven grantmaking: Success comes from being part of the foundation's existing portfolio or having meaningful connections to the trustees, family network, or institutions they support.

• Modest grant sizes: With grants ranging from $500 to $50,000 and approximately 35 awards annually, this foundation provides modest, strategic support rather than transformational funding.

• Multi-generational continuity: The foundation is now operated by the second generation (the founders' children), suggesting long-term stability and continuation of established giving patterns.

References

• Instrumentl 990 Report: Hood Barrow Foundation. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-hood-barrow-foundation (Accessed January 24, 2026)

• Houston Symphony Foundation & Government Partners. https://houstonsymphony.org/give/institutional-partners/foundation-government-partners/ (Accessed January 24, 2026)

• Houston Symphony Philanthropy in Action 2023-24 Season Impact Report. https://houstonsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PhilanthropyInAction_HoustonSymphony_2024.pdf (Accessed January 24, 2026)

• Janice Hood Barrow Obituary, Dignity Memorial. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/janice-barrow-11068985 (Accessed January 24, 2026)

• Thomas Barrow Obituary, Dignity Memorial. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/houston-tx/thomas-barrow-4537472 (Accessed January 24, 2026)

• Memorial: Thomas D. Barrow, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin. https://www.jsg.utexas.edu/news/2011/01/memorial-thomas-d-barrow/ (Accessed January 24, 2026)

• Candid: "How often do foundations accept unsolicited requests for funds?" https://candid.org/blogs/do-foundations-accept-unsolicited-requests-for-funds-from-nonprofits/ (Accessed January 24, 2026)

• Barbara McCelvey LinkedIn Profile. https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-mccelvey-5328241b2/ (Accessed January 24, 2026)