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Greater Houston Community Foundation

EIN 23-7160400 · Houston, TX

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (GHCF) IS EXPANDING PHILANTHROPIC IMPACT BY CONNECTING DONORS TO THE CAUSES THEY CARE ABOUT, PROVIDING EXCELLENT STEWARDSHIP OF ASSETS ENTRUSTED TO US, AND CONVENING RESOURCES TO ADDRESS IMPORTANT COMMUNITY NEEDS. THROUGH DONOR ADVISED FUNDS, FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS, DESIGNATED FUNDS, GIVING CIRCLES, SCHOLARSHIP AND OTHER FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS, GHCF MAKES GRANTS TO OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. DONORS TO THESE FUNDS ARE PROVIDED WITH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO PHILANTHROPY AND COMMUNITY NEEDS. A DATABASE OF NONPROFITS IS MAINTAINED FOR THE BENEFIT OF GHCF DONORS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. GHCF HAS PROVIDED A NEUTRAL PLATFORM FROM WHICH TO FACILITATE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$293.3 million
Spending
$267.8 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
47.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
54
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$791,256, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 47.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (8)
  1. $59.5 million spent. PUBLIC BENEFIT:DISBURSED GRANTS TO 616 ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT AND DISBURSED AWARDS TO 1,136 INDIVIDUALS FOR DISASTER RELIEF.
  2. $38.9 million spent. HUMAN SERVICES:DISBURSED GRANTS TO 1,110 ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS SERVING COMMUNITY NEEDS.
  3. $72.7 million spent. EDUCATIONAL:DISBURSED GRANTS TO 799 ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND CURRICULUMS AND DISBURSED AWARDS TO 267 EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS.
  4. $22.3 million spent. HEALTH:DISBURSED GRANTS TO SUPPORT MEDICAL RESEARCH, COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS IN 381 HOSPITALS AND OTHER MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
  5. $19.8 million spent. RELIGION:DISBURSED GRANTS TO 615 ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.
  6. $16.1 million spent. ENVIRONMENTAL:DISBURSED GRANTS TO 347 ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS AND PROJECTS.
  7. $14.7 million spent. ARTS:DISBURSED GRANTS TO 341 ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT ART PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS TO 1 INDIVIDUAL.
  8. $15.4 million spent. INTERNATIONAL:DISBURSED GRANTS TO 105 ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2017.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.