The Kayser Foundation
Houston, TX · EIN 74-6050591. Reported 113 grants totalling $902,750 to 82 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Kayser Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,500 and $9,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $200,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MD Anderson Cancer Center | Houston, TX | $282,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Children's Fund Inc | Houston, TX | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Make-a-Wish Foundation | Stafford, TX | $30,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Memorial Hermann Foundation | Houston, TX | $23,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Astros Foundation | Houston, TX | $21,250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Refuel Cares Foundation Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (lls) 1ST Annual Refue | Rye Brook, NY | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Texas Children's Hospital | Houston, TX | $18,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Society for the Performing Arts | Houston, TX | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Cenikor Foundation | Houston, TX | $17,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Greater Houston Partnership Foundation | Houston, TX | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Houston Arboretum & Nature Center | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| MD Anderson Cancer Center 80TH Anniversary | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ut MD Anderson Cancer (living Legend Virtual Benefit) | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Will Erwin Headache Research Foundation | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Child Advocates Inc | Houston, TX | $11,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Assoc | Houston, TX | $11,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Agape Development | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Chance for Hope Foundation | Pearland, TX | $10,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Meals on Wheels | Conroe, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| North Texas Public Broadcasting | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Performing Arts Houston | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Society for the Performing Arts Proposal | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Tex Protects | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Theatre Under the Stars( Tuts Gala) | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Trinity Conservancy Park | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Houston - Law Foundation | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Texas Law School Foundation | Austin, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Law Rocks Inc | Sherman Oaks, CA | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| American Heart Association | Houston, TX | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Memorial Hermann Annual Fund Raising Benefit | Houston, TX | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Society for the Performing Arts (2021-2022 Season) | Houston, TX | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation | Alexandria, VA | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Gatehouse | Grapevine, TX | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Living Bank | Houston, TX | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Houston Texans Foundation | Houston, TX | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Arms Seeds of Hope | Houston, TX | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Houston Maritime Center & Museum | Houston, TX | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Houston Maritime Museum | Houston, TX | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Houston Maritime Museum (2021 Gala) | Houston, TX | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Astros Foundation - Diamond Dreams Gala | Houston, TX | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Covenant House Texas | Houston, TX | $5,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Inspire Women | Houston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Literacy Now | Houston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mission Centers of Houston | Houston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pathways for Little Feet | Houston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Texas Children's Hospital (derricks & Diamonds) | Houston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Bryan Museum | Galveston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Children's Fund Inc - 2021 Gala | Houston, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| UNCF - Mayor's Masked Ball | Dallas, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Children's Fund Inc - 2022 Gala | Houston, TX | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Medical Bridges Inc - One People One World Gala | Houston, TX | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Assoc - Scholarship Award Program | Houston, TX | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Search Homeless Services | Houston, TX | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Small Steps Nurturing Center | Houston, TX | $3,250 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jcc Houston Irvine Kaplan Children's Scholarship Fund | Houston, TX | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Baftx British American Foundation of Texas | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bigbrothers Big Sisters | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Buffalo Bayou Partnership | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cancare (29TH Annual Hope Luncheon) | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends of West University Parks | West University Place, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Helping Hands Ministries | Tallulah Falls, GA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hispanic Bar Association of Houston | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Houston Audubon | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Houston Tri Delta Philanthropies Inc | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rice University | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Spring Spirit | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Heritage Society | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ut Health | Houston, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Forge for Families | Houston, TX | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Peggy B Smith Endowment (teen Health Clinic) | Bellaire, TX | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Anti-Defamation League | Houston, TX | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sons of the American Revolution | Houston, TX | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| South Asian Bar Association of Houston | Houston, TX | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Parish School | Houston, TX | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tulsa Community Foundation | Tulsa, OK | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Somos Latina Lawyers | Houston, TX | $1,250 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Houston Food Bank | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lanier PTO (for Baseballsoftball Backstop) | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lucille's 1913 | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Houston - College of Business | Houston, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
19 of 82 (23%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 48%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- MD Anderson Cancer Center
SUPPORT OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST RESPECTED CENTERS DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO CANCER PATIENT CARE, RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PREVENTION. - Astros Foundation
SUPPORT OF A FOUNDATION THAT PROVIDES YOUTH SPORTS, EDUCATION AND EFFORTS TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS. (OFFICIAL CHARITY OF HOUSTON ASTROS MLB TEAM) - Children's Fund Inc
SUPPORT OF A 100% VOLUNTEER BASED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO HELPING EARLY STAGE CHARTIES FULFILL THEIR MISSION TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES TO DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN. - Greater Houston Partnership Foundation
SUPPORT OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT STRIVES TO MAKE HOUSTON ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE WORK AND BUILD A BUSINESS. - Ut MD Anderson Cancer (living Legend Virtual Benefit)
SUPPORT OF A VIRTUAL EVENT THAT HELPS TO RAISE CRITICAL FUNDS FOR BLOOD CANCER RESEARCH AT MD ANDERSON. - MD Anderson Cancer Center 80TH Anniversary
SUPPORT OF AN EVENT FOR ONE OF THE WORLDS RESPECTED CENTERS THAT IS DEVOTED TO CANCER PATIENT CARE, RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PREVENTION
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 52 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28 | $159,500 | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 24 | $340,750 | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 25 | $204,000 | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 36 | $198,500 | $4,500 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 96% of this one's giving went to organizations in Texas. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $5,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Texas.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Kayser Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 600 Travis Street 2800, Houston, TX, 77002. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 74-6050591 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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