Don And Colletta Mcmillian Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,000,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: Texas/Houston area (based on location and historical giving)

Contact Details

• Address: 6018 Blossom St, Houston, TX 77007-5002
• Website: None available
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Don and Colletta McMillian Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1991 with assets of $31.7 million as of 2024. Named after Don F. McMillian (1925-2008), a prominent Houston automobile dealer and philanthropist, and his wife Colletta, the foundation continues their legacy of supporting Texas-based organizations. Don McMillian served as president of Don McMillian Ford with three dealership locations before retiring in 1985, and was deeply involved in Houston civic life, including serving as Lifetime Honorary Vice President of the Houston Livestock and Rodeo. The foundation made 24 grants in their most recent reporting period with charitable disbursements of $2 million annually. Managed by four family trustees from the McMillian family, the foundation operates without public visibility or a formal application process, maintaining the family's tradition of supporting education and healthcare institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation made 24 grants in the most recent reporting period with total charitable disbursements of $2,000,000. No specific grant programs or amounts are publicly detailed.

Priority Areas

Based on the founder's historical giving patterns:

• Higher education (particularly Baylor institutions and Houston Baptist University)
• Healthcare and medical research
• Texas-based organizations
• Houston-area nonprofits

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are publicly documented.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is managed by four family trustees:

• Robert R Mcmillian (Co-Trustee)
• Merideth Mcmillian Purdy (Co-Trustee)
• Don F Mcmillian Jr (Co-Trustee)
• Reid R Mcmillian (Co-Trustee)

All trustees are family members continuing the philanthropic legacy of Don and Colletta McMillian. Officer compensation is minimal ($0-$5,000 annually), indicating hands-on family management.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and initiative, typically to organizations with pre-existing relationships with the family or those continuing Don McMillian's historical philanthropic interests.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation is a member of Philanthropy Southwest, a regional network of funders, which may provide networking opportunities. Given the foundation's connection to Baylor institutions and Houston civic organizations through the founder's legacy, involvement with these institutions or related Houston philanthropic circles may provide connection opportunities.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available - decisions appear to be made at trustee discretion.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No information available.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this family foundation and absence of public guidelines, organizations most likely to receive funding would be those that:

• Align with Don McMillian's documented philanthropic interests in education and healthcare
• Have connections to Baylor institutions or Houston Baptist University (now Houston Christian University)
• Are based in or serve the Houston/Texas area
• Have existing relationships with the McMillian family or their network
• Continue work in areas where Don McMillian was personally involved (Houston Livestock and Rodeo, Texas Research and Rehabilitation)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a private family foundation with no public application process - relationship building is essential
• The foundation has substantial assets ($31.7M) and makes significant annual disbursements ($2M)
• Focus areas appear to center on education and healthcare in Texas, particularly institutions Don McMillian supported during his lifetime
• The foundation is managed entirely by family members, making personal connections crucial
• Membership in Philanthropy Southwest suggests some engagement with the broader philanthropic community
• Organizations without existing connections would need to identify pathways through the foundation's historical giving interests or Houston philanthropic networks

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Don and Colletta Mcmillian Foundation 990-PF filings (2011-2024)
• GuideStar/Candid - Organization profile for EIN 76-0364247
• CauseIQ - Don and Colletta McMillian Foundation profile
• Houston Chronicle - Don F. McMillian obituary (April 2008)
• IRS Tax Exempt Organization Database - EIN 76-0364247
• Philanthropy Southwest - Member organization listing
• Foundation Directory Online - Basic organizational data