CFP Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- CFP Foundation makes contributions only to organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered.
- Of its grant dollars to organisations, 98% went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, which suggests its giving is relationship-led and hard to enter without an existing connection.
- Its stated priority is Texas, and its stated theme is education, so a Texas education project is the closest fit.
- Typical grants fall between $15,000 and $165,000, and half of its grants to organisations are $25,000 or less, so a modest request around its $25,000 median is the realistic size to plan for.
- Organisations with no route to an invitation should not send an unsolicited request, because the foundation says it does not accept them.
Overview
CFP Foundation is a US private foundation based in Houston, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (smu.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The CFP Foundation is described as a Houston-based charitable organisation focused primarily on Texas educational issues. Its filed grants show a wider mix of organisational recipients, including schools, universities, hospitals, museums and community-service organisations. Grants are recorded as general support rather than being tied in the filing to specified projects. The records show educational institutions and nonprofits alongside organisations in several other fields. The evidence supports education as its stated priority, while its recorded giving also reaches a range of charitable bodies. It does not state eligibility rules, application requirements or narrower thematic programmes.
Themes
- Education
Geographic Focus
Priority: Texas. (as reported in other published sources)
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 98% 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 167 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 17% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations CFP Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 59 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Saint John's School · General Support$500,0002024 tax year
- Southern Methodist University · General Support$400,0002024 tax year
- University of Texas at Austin - Texas Challenge · General Support$200,0002024 tax year
- Southern Methodist University · General Support$127,0402024 tax year
- University of Texas at Austin - Blanton Museum of Art · General Support$125,0002024 tax year
- Ex-Students Association of the University of Texas · General Support$117,0002024 tax year
- Texas Children's Hospital · General Support$100,0002024 tax year
- Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation · General Support$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Clayton M Harkness — Co-Executive Director
- Sylvie P Crum — Executive Vice President
- Gary T Crum — President / Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $5,191,245 | $4,408,000 | $75,298,436 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $4,638,438 | $4,020,205 | $83,221,622 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,220,087 | $3,394,040 | $94,478,627 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to CFP Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Houston, TX
Applying to CFP Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Houston, TX