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The Cullen Foundation

The Cullen Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Several months
  • Grant Range: Not specified
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Houston, Texas

Contact Details

Website: https://www.cullenfdn.org
Email: Grants@cullenfdn.org
Address: 2727 Allen Parkway, Suite 1050, Houston, TX 77019
Phone: Not publicly listed

Overview

The Cullen Foundation was established in 1947 by Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen, initially funded through oil and gas property interests. Over its 75-year history, the foundation has distributed more than $600 million in grants, including $44 million to establish three specialized trusts in the 1970s: the Cullen Trust for Health Care, Cullen Trust for Higher Education, and Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts. Today, the foundation focuses on improving the quality of life in Houston through sustained investments in high-performing education, healthcare, public service, and arts organizations. The foundation transitioned from oil and gas interests to a portfolio of marketable securities and other investments in 2000.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

  • Cultural Arts: Supporting arts organizations in the Houston area
  • Education: Funding educational institutions and programs
  • Healthcare: Supporting healthcare organizations and initiatives
  • Public Service: Backing public service programs that benefit the Houston community

What They Don't Fund

  • General operational support
  • Fundraising events
  • Religious-specific activities
  • Organizations that make grants to others
  • School uniforms or equipment
  • Amateur sports team expenses
  • Businesses or individuals
  • Loans

Governance and Leadership

The foundation continues to be governed by Cullen family members who serve as Foundation Directors, maintaining active involvement in continuing the founders' philanthropic legacy. Specific board member names and staff details are not publicly available on their website.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Cullen Foundation accepts online applications only through their website. Organizations must:

  • Be a 501(c)(3) organization, public charity, governmental organization, or supporting organization
  • Serve the Greater Houston area
  • Submit applications online
  • Wait at least 12 months between applications

Applications are accepted year-round with no fixed deadlines.

Decision Timeline

The foundation states that the review process takes "several months" from submission to decision. They advise applicants to plan ahead given the lengthy review timeline.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations can reapply once every 12 months. Organizations currently receiving a multi-year grant from the foundation are not eligible to apply for additional funding until that grant period is complete.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's guidelines, successful applications should:

  • Clearly demonstrate alignment with one of the four priority areas
  • Show direct service to the Greater Houston community
  • Review and align with the foundation's mission and guiding principles
  • Ensure complete eligibility before applying
  • Avoid requesting support for general operations or fundraising events
  • Plan well in advance given the lengthy review timeline

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Cullen Foundation has a narrow geographic focus on Greater Houston - ensure your organization directly serves this area
  • Applications are online-only with year-round acceptance, allowing flexibility in submission timing
  • The foundation does not fund general operations, focusing instead on specific programs and initiatives
  • With a review process of several months, submit applications well before funding is needed
  • Organizations can only apply once per year, so make each application count
  • The foundation has deep roots in Houston with 75+ years of giving and continues to be family-governed
  • No public information is available about typical grant sizes, success rates, or specific decision criteria beyond basic eligibility

References

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