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Andrew Delaney Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.4M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.4M

Andrew Delaney Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,417,500 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $17.27 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: Varies widely, from modest grants to $401,000
  • Average Grant: ~$59,000
  • Number of Annual Grants: 50-60 organizations
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Texas
  • Application Process: Invitation only - no public applications accepted

Contact Details

Address: 5501 Balcones Dr Ste A PMB 152, Austin, TX 78731-5043
Phone: 512-637-4168
EIN: 76-0265537

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Overview

The Andrew Delaney Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in Houston, Texas in 1988 by Andrew Delaney, a philanthropist who was deeply committed to education and community welfare. The foundation received its tax-exempt status in December 1988 and has maintained a consistent grant-making presence for over 35 years. With total assets of $17.27 million and annual giving exceeding $3.4 million, the foundation distributes funds to organizations improving the quality of life for individuals and families primarily within Texas.

The foundation's mission focuses on five key areas: nonsectarian higher education, health awareness education, community service, the arts, and animal welfare. Since the founder's death in 2007, the foundation has continued its philanthropic legacy under the leadership of Janet L. Delaney, who serves as Chairman/President. The foundation is classified as a private grantmaking foundation and operates with a selective, invitation-only approach to grant distribution.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Andrew Delaney Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with structured application cycles. Instead, it makes grants on a discretionary basis to preselected organizations across its priority funding areas. In 2024, the foundation distributed $3,417,500 across 58 awards.

Grant Size Range: The foundation has made grants ranging from smaller amounts to substantial six-figure commitments. Recent notable grants include:

  • $401,000 to Emancipet for low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary services
  • $150,000 to Hospice Austin for in-patient hospice care and in-home palliative care
  • $150,000 to Houston Museum of Natural Science for capital campaign for gem/mineral hall renovation

Average Grant: Approximately $59,000 based on 2024 giving patterns

Priority Areas

1. Animal Welfare The foundation has demonstrated strong commitment to animal welfare organizations, particularly those providing accessible veterinary services and community cat programs. Emancipet has been a significant beneficiary, receiving substantial support for spay/neuter programs and vaccination services.

2. Health Awareness Education Healthcare and hospice services feature prominently in the foundation's giving, with support for organizations providing palliative care, in-patient hospice services, and health education initiatives.

3. Nonsectarian Higher Education Reflecting founder Andrew Delaney's legacy (he endowed three chairs at Oberlin College in mathematics, creative writing, and teacher education), the foundation supports educational institutions and programs.

4. Community Service The foundation supports social service programs and community support initiatives that improve quality of life for Texas residents.

5. The Arts Cultural institutions, including museums and arts organizations, receive support for both programming and capital projects.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's invitation-only policy means they:

  • Do not accept unsolicited grant applications
  • Do not fund organizations outside their five priority areas
  • Focus primarily on Texas-based organizations or those serving Texas populations

Governance and Leadership

Janet L. Delaney serves as Chairman/President of the Andrew Delaney Foundation. In 2024, she received compensation of $123,525 for her leadership role.

The foundation operates with a small, focused structure typical of family foundations. Additional board or trustee information is not publicly available through standard nonprofit databases, though detailed officer information can be found in the foundation's annual Form 990-PF filings.

Founder's Legacy: Andrew Delaney established the foundation in Houston in 1988 and served as its President until his death in January 2007 at age 86. His commitment to education is evidenced by his endowment of three professorial chairs at Oberlin College, demonstrating the philanthropic values that continue to guide the foundation today.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

This means:

  • There is no application portal or form available
  • Unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals will not be accepted or reviewed
  • The foundation proactively identifies organizations for funding based on trustee discretion
  • Organizations cannot initiate the funding relationship

Getting on Their Radar

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with grants to preselected organizations, relationship-building strategies are limited. However, organizations working in the foundation's priority areas within Texas should:

Maintain Strong Public Presence: Organizations already making significant impact in animal welfare, health education, higher education, community service, or the arts in Texas are more likely to come to the foundation's attention through their work and reputation in the sector.

Network Within the Texas Nonprofit Community: The foundation has supported well-established Texas organizations like Emancipet, Hospice Austin, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Being connected to and recognized within these established nonprofit networks may increase visibility.

Document Impact: Even without a formal application process, maintaining strong public documentation of your organization's impact, transparency through annual reports, and visibility through third-party recognition could position you for consideration if the foundation is researching organizations in your field.

Note: These strategies do not guarantee consideration, as the foundation's selection process is entirely at trustee discretion.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications or operate on a structured decision timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, there are no success rate statistics available.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - since unsolicited applications are not accepted, there is no reapplication policy.

Application Success Factors

While there is no public application process, analysis of the foundation's grant-making patterns reveals what types of organizations and projects receive support:

Established Organizations: The foundation tends to fund established, reputable organizations with proven track records in their fields. Recipients like Hospice Austin, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Emancipet are well-known entities in the Texas nonprofit sector.

Direct Service Delivery: Grants support organizations providing direct services to beneficiaries - veterinary care, hospice services, museum programming - rather than advocacy or research-focused work.

Significant Impact Projects: Large grants ($150,000-$401,000) suggest the foundation is interested in funding substantial programs or capital projects that will make measurable differences in their communities.

Alignment with Founder's Values: The foundation's support for education (reflecting Andrew Delaney's endowment of academic chairs), healthcare, and community services aligns with the founder's documented philanthropic interests.

Texas Focus: Organizations must serve Texas communities, particularly in major metropolitan areas like Austin and Houston where the foundation has concentrated its giving.

Clear Purpose and Outcomes: Grants are designated for specific purposes - "Low-Cost Spay/Neuter and Veterinary Services," "In-Patient Hospice Care," "Capital Campaign for Gem/Mineral Hall Renovation" - indicating the foundation values clearly defined projects with tangible outcomes.

Multi-Year Relationships: Evidence suggests the foundation may maintain ongoing relationships with beneficiary organizations, as seen with Emancipet receiving support across multiple years and initiatives.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is an invitation-only funder - do not invest time in preparing unsolicited proposals as they will not be reviewed
  • The foundation makes substantial grants (average ~$59,000, with some exceeding $400,000) to approximately 50-60 Texas organizations annually
  • Focus areas are clear and consistent: animal welfare, health education, higher education, community service, and the arts
  • The foundation values established organizations with proven track records and direct service delivery models
  • Geographic focus is Texas, particularly Austin and Houston metropolitan areas
  • If your organization is selected for funding, grants may support both operational programs and capital campaigns
  • The foundation has been operating consistently for over 35 years, suggesting long-term stability and ongoing grant-making
  • Multi-year relationships may be possible for organizations that align strongly with the foundation's mission and demonstrate significant impact

References

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