Trellis Foundation
Round Rock, TX · EIN 81-4714749. Reported 136 grants totalling $20.7M to 104 organizations across tax years 2020-2023, on Form 990 Schedule I.
Does this grantmaker accept applications?
Its tax return does not say, and we will not guess. Private foundations file Form 990-PF, which asks outright whether they fund only organizations they select themselves -- 78% say yes, and that one answer is what lets the rest of this site tell you which foundations are worth approaching. Grantmaking charities like this one file a regular Form 990 instead, and the IRS never puts the question to them. Anyone claiming to know the answer from the filing is inventing it.
Three things in the filing do bear on it:
- What kind of organization it is. For Trellis Foundation, the IRS classifies it under human services rather than as a grantmaker (NTEE P20) -- it is an operating charity that also makes grants.
- How spread out its giving is. 104 distinct organizations, with 8% of the dollars going to the largest single recipient. That is genuinely spread out -- the mark of a funder making many independent decisions rather than underwriting one institution.
- How much its list changes. 12% of one year's grantees are funded again the next, across 3 year-to-year transitions. That is below the 57% median for grantmaking charities, and well below the 67% private foundations manage. A list that turns over this much is one a newcomer can realistically join.
How big are its grants?
The median reported grant is $100,000. Half of what it reported fell between $84,000 and $199,995; the smallest was $5,000 and the largest $1,000,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong organization.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by the EIN the filer reported, not by name, so an organization that was typed differently in two years appears once rather than twice.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute for Texas | Dallas, TX | $1,650,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| New York University | New York, NY | $1,000,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Citizens for Educational Excellence Inc | Corp Christi, TX | $946,644 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Texas Community College Education Initiative | Austin, TX | $842,063 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Communities Foundation of Texas | Dallas, TX | $700,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Aspen Institute Inc | Washington, DC | $599,042 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| American Association of Colleges and Universities | Washington, DC | $508,335 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Project Malestexas Education Consortium for Male Students of Color | Austin, TX | $500,606 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Stonier Scholarship Inc | Towson, MD | $500,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Amarillo College | Amarillo, TX | $444,690 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| University of Texas at Austin Charles a Dana Center | Austin, TX | $407,554 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Catalyst Education | New Orleans, LA | $400,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| National Association of College and | Washington, DC | $398,114 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Foundation Communities | Austin, TX | $347,260 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| San Antonio Education Fund | San Antonio, TX | $345,839 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Education Service Center Region I of Texas | Edinburg, TX | $300,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Temple College Foundation | Temple, TX | $292,503 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| San Jacinto Community College Foundation Pasadena Texas | Pasadena, TX | $291,550 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, TX | $273,194 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Texas Higher Education Foundation | Austin, TX | $260,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Association of Community College Trustees | Washington, DC | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Blinn College | Brenham, TX | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Greater Houston Partnershipfoundation | Houston, TX | $248,741 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Project Arriba Advanced Retraining and Redev Inc | El Paso, TX | $248,683 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Greater Waco Collective Impact Initiative | Waco, TX | $247,369 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| West Central Texas Workforce Development Board Inc | Abilene, TX | $247,077 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Unity Partners | Bryan, TX | $242,908 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| National College Attainment Network | Washington, DC | $233,800 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Education Trust Inc | Washington, DC | $226,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Waco Foundation | Waco, TX | $223,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Degree Partners | Austin, TX | $201,420 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Lone Star Justice Alliance | Austin, TX | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Npower Inc | Brooklyn, NY | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Texas Tech Foundation Inc | Lubbock, TX | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Texas Tribune Inc | Austin, TX | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Victoria College Foundation Inc | Victoria, TX | $199,995 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, TX | $199,986 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Paul Quinn College | Dallas, TX | $199,870 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Alamo Colleges Foundation Inc | San Antonio, TX | $199,755 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| College Possible | Saint Paul, MN | $199,685 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Houston-Downtown | Houston, TX | $197,996 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Austin Community College District | Austin, TX | $179,584 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Excelencia in Education Inc | Washington, DC | $171,765 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Mcallen, TX | $155,739 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Intercultural Development Research Association | San Antonio, TX | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson, TX | $147,969 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Collegiate Edu-Nation | Roscoe, TX | $125,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Grayson College | Denison, TX | $125,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Angelo State University | San Angelo, TX | $113,292 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Alliance for Higher Education in Prison | Denver, CO | $110,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries Inc | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Associated Builders & Contractors Merit Shop Training Program Inc | Corp Christi, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Breakthrough | Austin, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cameron County Education Initiative Inc | Brownsville, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Capital Investing in Development and Employment of Adults Inc | Austin, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Fort Worth | Fort Worth, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Collegecommunitycareer Inc | Richmond, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Council on Regional Economic Expansion & Educational Dev Founda | El Paso, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cumberland Youth and Family Services | Denton, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| El Paso Community Action Program Project Bravo Inc | El Paso, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| El Paso Pro Musica | El Paso, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Emerge Fellowship | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Foster Angels of Central Texas Foundation | Austin, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Genesys Works | Keller, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Houstons Capital Investing in Development & Employment of Adults | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Jeremiah Program | Minneapolis, MN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Legacy Institute for Financial Empowerment | Lufkin, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Open Campus Media Inc | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Project Quest Inc | San Antonio, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Restore Education | San Antonio, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Strada Collaborative Inc (fiscal Sponsor of Education at Work) | Indianapolis, IN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tejano Center for Community Concerns Inc | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ufcs | Richmond, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement | Mercedes, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Worksource Greater Austin Area Workforce Board | Austin, TX | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Texas Appleseed | Austin, TX | $94,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lee College Foundation Inc | Baytown, TX | $84,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Young Invincibles | Washington, DC | $84,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Center for Public Policy Priorities | Austin, TX | $80,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Texas 2036 | Austin, TX | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Todays Students Coalition | Washington, DC | $71,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| America Succeeds | Denver, CO | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Austin Black Physicians Association Inc | Austin, TX | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Black Professionals Alliance of Aus Tin | Austin, TX | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Children at Risk Inc | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Education Strategy Group | Chevy Chase, MD | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Texas After Violence Project | Austin, TX | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| E3 Alliance | Austin, TX | $48,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Jed Foundation | New York, NY | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Survive and Thrive Education | Fort Worth, TX | $29,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| American Youthworks | Austin, TX | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Community Partners | Los Angeles, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lee College District | Baytown, TX | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Temple University-of the Commonwealth System of Higher Educ | Philadelphia, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Council on Foundations Inc | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| State Business Executives | Springfield, VA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County | San Antonio, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Grantmakers for Education | Portland, OR | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Amarillo College Foundation Inc | Amarillo, TX | $6,250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Clarendon College Foundation | Clarendon, TX | $6,250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Frank Phillips College Development Corporation | Borger, TX | $6,250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| West Texas A&m University | Canyon, TX | $6,250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Austin Community College Foundation | Austin, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
25 of 104 (24%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold. Remember the $5,000 floor: an organization funded every year at $3,000 shows up here as never funded at all.
What kind of organizations it funds
By each recipient's own IRS classification, for the 79 of 104 recipients we could match to a registered organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses -- Schedule I reports the recipient's EIN, so this is a lookup rather than a name match.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants reported | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 19 | $3,974,192 | $245,159 |
| 2021 | 26 | $4,000,000 | $134,515 |
| 2022 | 41 | $3,718,850 | $100,000 |
| 2023 | 50 | $9,021,486 | $100,303 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- Form 990 arrives about a year after the year it covers, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a grantmaker winding down.
Where its money goes
74% of its giving went to organizations in Texas. Community foundations and federated funds are usually the most geographically bounded funders there are -- being outside the footprint is normally disqualifying in a way that a weak programme fit is not.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These grantmakers and private foundations gave to organizations this one also funded. Shared grantees are the strongest signal available 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 grantmaker
- Look for a published programme first. Unlike most private foundations, organizations of this kind often do run open, deadlined grant cycles with written guidelines. Its own website is the authority on that; this page is the authority on who it has actually paid.
- Check you are its size. The median reported grant is $100,000 -- and because grants under $5,000 need not be reported, it very likely writes smaller cheques than this page can see.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving concentrates in Texas.
- Read the recipient list for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer and a cheap one to get.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Trellis Foundation's own Form 990 Schedule I filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2020-2023). Nothing here is scraped, inferred or estimated.
On its most recent return it told the IRS it made grants to 49 section 501(c)(3) organizations and 1 other organizations. That is the filer's own count for one year; the totals above cover every year we hold.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 5393, Round Rock, TX, 78683.
EIN 81-4714749 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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