Who funds arts and culture in Texas
From 2022 to 2025, 1,459 foundations and charities reported 8,643 grants to 1,342 arts and culture nonprofits in Texas. The typical grant was $10,000.
The funders that paid the most of them: Communities Foundation of Texas (160), Greater Austin Performing Arts Center (136) and Houston Arts Alliance (94).
From IRS grant records. Counts nonprofits with budgets under $5,000,000.
Find the funders for your nonprofit
Free. Uses your own cause code and budget, not just the state.
The 15 funders that paid the most arts and culture nonprofits in Texas
| Funder | Nonprofits paid | Typical grant | Latest year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communities Foundation of Texas Dallas, TX | 160 | $12,414 | 2024 |
| Greater Austin Performing Arts Center Austin, TX | 136 | $51,750 | 2024 |
| Houston Arts Alliance Houston, TX | 94 | $30,293 | 2024 |
| Texas Instruments Foundation Dallas, TX | 89 | $1,000 | 2024 |
| Shell Usa Company Foundation Houston, TX | 76 | $1,000 | 2024 |
| Greater Houston Community Foundation Houston, TX | 71 | $19,750 | 2024 |
| Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Endowment Inc Dallas, TX | 56 | $7,000 | 2024 |
| Austin Community Foundation Austin, TX | 55 | $20,000 | 2024 |
| Taca Inc Dallas, TX | 53 | $15,000 | 2024 |
| Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc Charlotte, NC | 53 | $500 | 2023 |
| Rea Charitable Trust Cincinnati, OH | 39 | $20,000 | 2023 |
| Brown Foundation Inc Houston, TX | 37 | $25,000 | 2024 |
| Jpmorgan Chase Foundation New York, NY | 34 | $766 | 2024 |
| San Antonio Area Foundation San Antonio, TX | 32 | $25,000 | 2024 |
| Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Houston, TX | 29 | $20,000 | 2024 |
Recent grants
- Communities Foundation of Texas paid Documentary Arts Inc $890,000 in 2024. Purpose: This grant is designated for general support.
- Greater Austin Performing Arts Center paid Fisterra Projects $226,750 in 2024. Purpose: Promote cultural experiences and destinations that attract austin-based tourism.
- Houston Arts Alliance paid Orange Show Center for Visionary Art $102,500 in 2024. Purpose: General support.
- Texas Instruments Foundation paid Dallas Black Dance Theatre $117,000 in 2024. Purpose: Miscellaneous charitable, educational-related, scientific, cultural and arts organizations.
- Shell Usa Company Foundation paid Houston Maharashtra Mandal $16,700 in 2024. Purpose: 16700.
- Greater Houston Community Foundation paid Houston Center for Contemporary Craft $381,100 in 2024. Purpose: Arts.
Get the application written for one of these funders
- Drafted from the funder's guidelines and your documents
- Checked against every requirement before you submit
- Plus federal, state and local grants matched to you
One payment. It does not renew. The $100 counts toward your first month if you stay.
Other causes in Texas
- Who funds food banks and food pantries in Texas (395 funders)
- Who funds homeless shelters and services in Texas (280 funders)
- Who funds affordable housing in Texas (364 funders)
- Who funds animal rescue and shelters in Texas (710 funders)
- Who funds veterans in Texas (205 funders)
- Who funds youth development in Texas (1227 funders)
- Who funds youth sports and recreation in Texas (916 funders)
- Who funds K-12 education in Texas (1414 funders)
- Who funds health clinics and health care in Texas (1104 funders)
- Who funds mental health in Texas (541 funders)
- Who funds disability services in Texas (226 funders)
- Who funds domestic violence shelters and services in Texas (376 funders)
- Who funds child care and early childhood in Texas (210 funders)
- Who funds legal aid in Texas (140 funders)
- Who funds community development in Texas (798 funders)
- Who funds family and children's services in Texas (761 funders)
Arts and culture in other states
Questions people ask
Who gives the most grants to arts and culture in Texas?
By the number of nonprofits paid from 2022 to 2025, the leading funders were Communities Foundation of Texas (160), Greater Austin Performing Arts Center (136), Houston Arts Alliance (94). The count in parentheses is how many arts and culture nonprofits in Texas each one paid.
How big is a typical grant to arts and culture in Texas?
The median grant was $10,000 across 8,643 grants. Half were smaller and half were larger. Each funder's own typical grant is in the table above.
Do these funders accept applications?
Not always. IRS records show who a funder paid, not whether it takes new applicants. Open the funder's website and read its guidelines before you reach out.
Where does this data come from?
From grants reported to the IRS on Form 990 Schedule I and Form 990-PF for 2022 to 2025, matched to each recipient's IRS record. It counts arts and culture nonprofits with budgets under $5,000,000, by their IRS cause code. Donor-advised fund sponsors are left out.