He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it?  It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” — Luke 13: 18-19

About the Foundation

The history of the St. Paul’s United Methodist Foundation of Houston is more than the building of assets. It is the story of generous people empowered to build the kingdom of God through the work of the Foundation. What began as a mission to ensure that the magnificent Sanctuary building and other buildings comprising the St. Paul’s campus would endure for generations, grew to include a vision to educate children and young people, to serve marginalized neighbors in Houston, and to spread the gospel to Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 1960 when the first small seed was planted, the St. Paul’s Foundation assets have grown significantly, and St. Paul’s UMC is consistently recognized as one of the most beautiful sacred spaces in the city. Equally important, the vision and generosity of generations of faithful donors have buoyed hundreds of students who have benefited from Foundation scholarships and thousands of Houstonians in need have been touched by Foundation grants. Generations of Latin American Christians have experienced the gospel first-hand through grants to the General Board of Global Missions.

The story of the St. Paul’s Foundation brings Luke’s parable to life: no seed or gift is insignificant; and even the smallest of seeds can produce magnificent fruit.

If you would like a hard copy of the Foundation Annual Report, please email your request to foundation@stpaulshouston.org.

What We Support

Facilities, Programs and Operations | Through its permanent endowment, the Foundation helps maintain the buildings, facilities, and grounds of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. It also helps to support program costs related to music, children’s ministries, and spiritual formation. Approximately 80% of the endowment provides direct support to the church, with the balance evenly divided between grants and scholarships.

Grants | The St. Paul’s Founda­tion provides grants to a variety of organizations that assist persons in our community struggling with homelessness, hunger, grief, joblessness, and other challenges. In addition, grants support churches in Bolivia and the Caribbean. In 2023, the Foundation made 27 grants totaling over $150,000.  Learn more about grant recipients or to apply for funding.

Scholarships | St. Paul’s Foundation scholarships are available for students graduating high school or continuing their college education.
While special consideration is given to church members and youth who are active in the programs of
St. Paul’s, students who qualify for certain designated scholarships are welcome to apply.

The 2024-2025 application process has closed. Applicants will be informed of decisions by March 31, 2024.
Learn more about St. Paul’s Foundation Scholarships.

How the Foundation Works

The Foundation accepts gifts to general and designated funds, as well as gifts given as honoraria and memorials.

A major source of Foundation giving is through planned gifts. These may include annuities, remainder trusts, life insurance beneficiary gifts, qualified charitable contributions from IRAs, and bequest. Please contact the Foundation to discuss how to handle any of these giving opportunities.

Named funds require a minimum gift or pledge of $25,000 for facilities, programs, or operations; or a minimum gift or pledge of $10,000 for scholarships.

Giving to the Foundation

Gifts may be made by mail to:
St. Paul’s United Methodist Foundation of Houston, 5501 Main Street, Houston, TX 77004

If you prefer to make a gift online, please click the blue button and select “Foundation” from the drop-down menu. Your gift will go to the unrestricted general fund of the Foundation, unless you note otherwise in the memo line by designating a specific fund of your choice.

If you wish to explore putting the Foundation in your will, making a planned gift, or establishing a named fund, please contact the Foundation via foundation@stpaulshouston.org or call 713-528-0527.

Archive of annual Reports

• “Continuum” (2022)

• “Established and Enduring” (2021)

• “Thrive” (2020)

• “Seeds of Faith” (2019)

• “Here for Good” (2018)

• “Neighbors” (2017)

• “Cornerstone” (2016)

Learn More About St. Paul’s Foundation Scholarships

Students graduating high school or continuing their undergraduate education at a university or community college are encouraged to apply for St. Paul’s Foundation Scholarships. A limited number of scholarships are available for students preparing for ordained ministry.

Scholarships are available for students in specified disciplines, those attending United Methodist Schools, and students preparing for a church vocation. While special consideration is given church members and youth who are active in the programs of St. Paul’s UMC, students who
qualify for designated scholarships are welcome to apply. To learn more about available scholarships, please scroll down to see descriptions below.

The 2024-25 application process has closed. Applicants will be notified of decisions by March 31.

For more information, contact foundation@stpaulshouston.org.

Congratulations to our 2023-24 St. Paul’s Foundation scholarship recipients. 43 students received over $100,000 in awards and have plans to
attend UT Austin, Texas A&M, Lone Star College, University of Houston, Perkins School of Theology at SMU, Trinity, Hendrix College, and
other institutions. Among these students are future teachers, engineers, doctors, social workers, and church leaders.

Give to a Scholarship Fund

For more than 30 years, various groups of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church have provided or administered scholarships for students pursuing higher education. Most of these scholarship funds were established to memorialize or honor members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, family, or loved ones. Scholarship recipients are selected annually by the Scholarship Committee.

Donations to scholarship funds may be made at any time, and new scholarship funds may be established with a minimum gift of $10,000. Scholarships are distributed only from earnings of the individual funds and the principal remains intact in perpetuity.

For more information, contact the Foundation at (713) 528-0527 or foundation@stpaulshouston.org.

Descriptions of Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded to qualified applicants, regardless of area of study or school attending. 

Kurt & Tara Arnold. Established by Kurt & Tara Arnold for the purpose of assisting students with the expense of higher education.

Alberta Baines. Established as a memorial to Dr. Alberta Baines, a prominent educator and an Assistant Superintendent in Houston ISD.

Eula Bakker Scholarship Fund. Established to provide scholarship support for deserving individuals attending institutions of higher learning.

Bates Family. Established as a memorial Emma Irwin and Stephen F. Bates, and Howard, Clyde, Stephen, and Irma Bates.

Blair Family. Established in memory of Paris Boone and Robert C. Blair, and Samuel Blair.

Ellena P. & Robert H. Dickerson. Established by Mrs. Ellena P. Dickerson in her husband’s memory.

William T. and Barbara Grisham. Established to provide assistance to students with serious financial needs. Students do not have to be members of St. Paul’s to apply.

Charles Frances Hiller. Established as a memorial to Dr. Charles Hiller.

St. Paul’s Methodist Foundation. All memorials and tributes designated for “Scholarship,” but not to a specific scholarship, are dedicated to this fund.

Jay & Renna Williamson. Established in memory of Rev. Jay Williamson and Renna Norris Williamson.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Foundation Grants

The St. Paul's Foundation makes grants to sustain and further the ministries, programs, and outreach of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. The Foundation seeks grant applications from organizations and ministries which support the needs of children, youth, and senior adults in the Houston area. Special consideration is given to those non profits and agencies that are connected to St. Paul's United Methodist Church and its members.

The Foundation requires that all grant applications be submitted through the online portal.

The Grant Application will open on March 11 and request will be due by May 3, 2024.

St. Paul's United Methodist Foundation Grant Application 2024 (charityproud.org)

Foundation Grant Recipients 2023

Those who worship at St. Paul’s regularly are familiar with the plaques on either side of the altar - “Enter to Worship” and “Depart to Serve”. The grants of the St. Paul’s United Methodist Foundation reflect these core values and further the work of those who worship at St. Paul’s and their commitment to our community and beyond. In 2023, the Foundation awarded over $153,000 to non profit organizations whose work is widespread and serves senior citizens, children, those living in poverty, the marginalized, and international communities in Latin America.

The work of the Foundation is made possible by an endowment that helps to support the maintenance and upkeep of the St. Paul’s campus (80%), along with scholarship awards (approximately 10%) and grants to organizations (approximately 10%) in our community and beyond.

Below is a snapshot of the 2023 grant awards, many of whom are familiar to the St. Paul’s community and are important non profit organizations serving our local community.

• Advocates for Immigrant Survivors to provide legal and social services, safety planning and referrals to survivors of violent crime.

• Amazing Place to help provide day programs for persons with dementia and education for their families and loved ones.

• The Beacon  to support a community education and training program for homeless clients.

• Benevolent Missions International provides ophthalmic care to under served communities in Fiji, Belize, and other areas around the world.

• Bo's Place to provide education and training programs in grief counseling for  children and families suffering loss.

• Child Advocates to support their Court Services Program, which recruits, trains and supervises volunteers who serve as guardians ad litem for children removed from homes due to abuse and neglect

• Emanuel Luz de Vida to support the Bolivian Methodist church and the longtime ministry of St. Paul’s members, Wilson and Nora Boots.

• Emergency Aid Coalition to help fund their Sack Lunch Program for homeless clients.

• FAM Houston  to support the Farm of Peace, a collaboration with Congolese women refugee farmers and the expansion of their operations in order to take their produce to market.

• Fund for Latin America to support the Global Mission Fund of the UMC in Latin American

• Fundacion Reynosa Vida Nueva provides a Christ-centered, private education to elementary age children in the city of Reynosa, in Tamaulipas, Mexico.

• The H.E.A.R.T. Program to create opportunities for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach their potential by providing access to training, education, and housing.

• Holly Hall to help cover the cost of care for residents with limited financial resources.

• Project Curate/Iconoclast  to provide in-school academic support and social/emotional learning using creative writing and expand a sense of self and social awareness for vulnerable, at-risk students struggling from the impact of COVID.

• The Landing to support a youth advocacy program offering crisis response, case management, emotional support and family resources to trafficked children and youth.

• L.I.F.E. Houston to help eradicate infant food insecurity by providing access to formula and baby food, and offering caretaker education about infant nutrition.

• Meals on Wheels/Interfaith Ministries to help provide meals for seniors living in poverty.

• Main Street Ministries to provide financial, emotional, social and spiritual resources to newly arrived Spanish-speaking immigrants.

• Neighbors in Action to help fund a faith-based after-school program in Port Houston, one of Houston’s most impoverished neighborhoods.

• The Restoration Team to support a home repair ministry by providing funds to purchase supplies needed to repair and stabilize homes, particularly following natural disasters.

• reVision Houston to fund the Keeping Kids in School initiative, a case-management program in three local schools with high numbers of at-risk students caught up in the juvenile justice system.

• SEARCH  to support the House of Tiny Treasures, a daycare program for homeless children that provides quality pre-school education.

• Texas Hearing Institute/Melinda Webb School to support a specialized school that teaches listening and spoken language skills to children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

• UM Army to support the efforts of youth involved in home repair for the elderly, disabled and those living in poverty in Texas and Louisiana.

• Wesley Community Center to fund a Youth Summer Learning Program focused on three area schools and aimed at lessening the impact of summer learning loss for students in K-6th grades.

• Wellsprings Village to support a transitional residence program for women who were formerly homeless or abused and help them transition to independent living.

GIFTS OF ALL SIZES

The Cornerstone Society provides a vehicle for all St. Paul’s members to participate in maintaining our beautiful church campus and to support the most vulnerable in our city. It is another way that the St. Paul’s Community reflects the message of signs located above our sanctuary doors. “Enter to Worship - Depart to Serve”.

Each year, funds contributed by members of the Cornerstone Society are distributed in two ways:

• 50% is directed to the Building and Facilities Fund of the St. Paul’s Foundation.

• 50% is granted to non-profit agencies selected by members of the Cornerstone Society.

Since its founding in 2020, 175 St. Paul’s families have contributed almost $150,000 through membership in the Cornerstone Society, resulting in $75,000, added to the Building and Facilities Fund of the Foundation and $75,000 distributed to Houston nonprofits. Organizations that have benefited from the Cornerstone grants have included House of Tiny Treasures, Meals on Wheels, Justice for ALL, FAM Houston, Neighbors in Action and The Landing.

YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE CORNERSTONE SOCIETY

We invite you to join us as members of the Cornerstone Society and support the work of the St Paul’s Foundation with an annual gift of $100 for each individual in your home, or $300 for your family.

TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CORNERSTONE SOCIETY 

Click the button below and select “Foundation – Cornerstone” from the drop-down menu of the online pay portal. Please provide any special instructions in the “notes” section, or contact Johanna Wolfe at jtwolfe@stpaulshouston.org with questions. 

Contact the Foundation

Johanna Wolfe, Executive Director

Elisabet Cruz, Ministry Associate to St. Paul’s United Methodist Foundation 

Foundation@stpaulshouston.org

(713)528-0527

St. Paul’s United Methodist Foundation of Houston

Board of Directors 2024 

Directors:

Arlene Wells, Chair, Bob Brown, Treasurer, Mindi Riseden, Vice-Chair, Laura Morris, Secretary

Leah Barton, Kyle Frazier, *John Hawkins, *Fred Hofheinz, Linda Klemm, Tom Mays III, Rev. Jeff McDonald, Senior Pastor, Heather Powers,*Jim Walzel, John Watkins,*Beth Wiggins

Advisory Members:

Ashlee Ross, Church Council Chair, Ben Wells, Finance Chair, Jimmy Principe, Trustees Chair

 Ex Officio Members:

Veronica Pearce, St. Paul’s UMC CFO, Johanna Wolfe, Executive Director

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