The Cullen Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Cullen Foundation funds education, healthcare, public service and cultural arts work in Texas, with priority given to the Greater Houston area, so fit matters most if your work sits in one of those themes and that geography.
- Typical grants to organisations run from $60,000 to $1,000,000, with a median of $175,000, so a request in that band is realistic, though the largest grant made was $6,000,000.
- Around 60% of grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the two preceding filings, so this looks like a relationship-led funder where sustained contact matters; a first approach should be a Letter of Intent, since this is treated as an inquiry rather than an application, with a full application only following an invitation.
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and any specific deadline is given only once an organisation is invited.
- Businesses and individuals are not funded, so neither should approach the foundation; others considering a request should bear in mind its stated preference against general operating support, fund-raising events such as galas, organisations that themselves re-grant to others, activities solely promoting a specific religion or denomination, and purchases of uniforms, equipment or trips for school-related or amateur sports groups.
Overview
The Cullen 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 its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Cullen Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life through sustained investment in high-performing education, healthcare, public service and arts organisations. It supports charitable activities in cultural arts, education, health care and public service, focusing on initiatives that impact the Greater Houston area; its giving in Texas is primarily in the greater Houston area. Eligible applicants include qualifying 501(c)(3) public charities, governmental organisations and eligible supporting organisations. It favours projects clearly advancing its mission: organisations without an invitation may begin with a Letter of Intent, while full applications follow an invitation.
Themes
- Education
- Healthcare
- Public service
- Cultural arts
Geographic Focus
Texas. Priority: Greater Houston area.
What They Don't Fund
- Businesses
- Individuals
How to apply
Organisations without an invitation may submit a Letter of Intent aligned with the Foundation’s mission; this is an inquiry, not an application. After information sharing, the Foundation may invite an organisation to submit a full application by email. The Board reviews applications on a rolling basis, and invited applicants are given any specific deadline.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 60% 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 104 grants to organisations were $175,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation seeks work that clearly advances its mission.
- It aims to increase access to opportunities for the underserved.
- It seeks ways to effect change at scale.
- It values critical thinking, an eagerness to improve and innovative approaches.
- It values being a catalyst and collaborative community partner, contributing time, thought leadership and grant dollars.
- The Board prefers not to consider general operational support to an organisation’s budget.
- The Board prefers not to consider galas, testimonials and various other types of fund-raising events.
- The Board prefers not to consider organisations that in turn make grants to others.
- The Board prefers not to consider activities whose sole purpose is the promotion or support of a specific religion, denomination or church.
- The Board prefers not to consider purchases of uniforms, equipment or trips for school-related organisations or amateur sports teams.
- The Board prefers not to consider an organisation’s application more than once every twelve months, measured from the last grant payment or decline.
- The Board prefers not to consider an organisation’s application until twelve months after all payments of its multi-year grant have been made.
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, 60% of grant dollars went to organisations The Cullen Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 33 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $250k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Baylor College of Medicine · Baylor College of Medicines Health Sciences Tower$3,000,0002024 tax year
- University of Houston System · Centennial Project: Transforming Houston's Campus - Centennial Plaza Naming$2,500,0002024 tax year
- Armand Bayou Nature Center · Upper Armand Bayou Protection Project$1,500,0002024 tax year
- Harris Health Strategic Fund · Investing in a Healthier Houston - A Campaign for Harris Health$1,000,0002024 tax year
- DePelchin Children's Center · Toward Transitioning Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Region 6 to Community Based Care$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Houston Habitat for Humanity · Robins Landing Housing Development: Phase 1B$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Good Reason Houston · HISD Supports for External Engagement$1,000,0002024 tax year
- BridgeYear · BridgeYear 3-Year Growth and Innovation Fund$750,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Peggy Reid — CAO / Controller
- Laura Chapman — COO / VP Investments
- Scott W Wise — President / CEO / CIO
- Nina Zilkha — Director
- Marvin E Odum — Director
- Isaac Arnold III — Director
- Meredith T Cullen — Secretary / Director
- Carla Knobloch — Vice Chairman / Director
- Wilhelmina E Robertson — Chairman / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $21,727,506 | $17,900,000 | $351,795,965 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $20,696,530 | $17,160,000 | $389,933,515 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $22,207,659 | $17,910,000 | $411,613,837 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Cullen Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (713) 651-8837
- grants@cullenfdn.org
- Houston, TX
- cullenfdn.org
Applying to The Cullen Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (713) 651-8837
- grants@cullenfdn.org
- Houston, TX
- cullenfdn.org