For Nonprofits

How do I receive a grant from the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund?

We wanted to send a brief note to our DonorHouston Nonprofit Partners regarding the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, established by Houston’s Mayor Turner and Harris County Judge Emmett. The Fund is focused on immediate and long term relief efforts in Harris County and Houston (which may include residents in Fort Bend or Montgomery County). A fund advisory committee has been established and will ensure that there is a process to determine unmet needs in these areas.

The Greater Houston Community Foundation will oversee and administer the grant distribution process. When the grant process for the Fund has been determined, we will be sure to communicate with you. Please know that this process will take some time to set up and implement; at this time, we are unable to accept grant requests. We ask for your patience and understanding. As soon as we have more details, we will share them with you.

The distributions and grants will be made in support of the Fund’s charitable purposes: relief efforts to aid the victims of the flooding and other weather caused by Hurricane Harvey, including shelter and temporary housing needs, food and supplies, healthcare, transportation, child care, facility needs of child care and social service agencies, and other purposes approved by the advisory committee and consistent with the Fund’s charitable purposes. Because of the immense need in and around Houston, this Fund is dedicated to filling the gaps that are not met by other local and federal efforts.

How do I receive donations?

Greater Houston Community Foundation donors are able to make grant recommendations from their Donor Advised Fund through DonorXpress, GHCF’s donor portal. Our Donor Services Department processes grant recommendations weekly, and will mail grant checks to the organizations. Members of the general public can donate directly to your organization via a link or other instructions you provide in your DonorHouston profile.

What is DonorHouston?

DonorHouston is an online resource of the Greater Houston Community Foundation (GHCF), created to inform, empower, and enrich charitable giving in the greater Houston area—benefitting donors, nonprofits, and the community at large. DonorHouston furthers the cause of philanthropy in our region by promoting nonprofit transparency and putting nonprofit information at the fingertips of community members in an easy-to-use, searchable online database. DonorHouston is FREE to nonprofits, GHCF donors, and public users.

What is the Greater Houston Community Foundation?

The Greater Houston Community Foundation is dedicated to expanding philanthropic impact with our donors. We support our donors with their philanthropy in a variety of ways — including custom solutions for even their most complex needs. We can work with donors to determine the best ways to donate complex assets such as land, businesses, and other types of property. We are a convener for leading philanthropists with a variety of programs and events based on donor interest. Our team serves as ongoing advisors and provides access to knowledge resources like DonorHouston, research, and a peer network of donors with similar interests.

What is a DonorHouston profile?

DonorHouston profiles are designed so donors can give with confidence. Profiles provide participating nonprofits with a FREE online marketing and fundraising tool that includes a wealth of information about your organization. Each profile contains program descriptions, leadership and governance information, operational plans and policies, community impact, financial stability, and more.

Where does the information come from?

DonorHouston profile information is provided on a voluntary basis by area nonprofits. When a profile request is submitted, nonprofits are provided a username and password, allowing them to log in to their organization’s profile and enter information directly into the system. The DonorHouston staff reviews information before publishing anything to the site. Profiles can be updated by the nonprofit at any time, but specific required fields must be updated at least once a year to maintain “Current” status.

Does DonorHouston endorse organizations?

DonorHouston does not endorse or recommend nonprofit organizations.

What does the "Current" icon mean?

The “Current” icon indicates a nonprofit’s profile is complete and has been updated within the last year. If a nonprofit has not updated key required sections within the last year and a half, the profile is marked as “Declined to Update.”

What does the "Declined to Update" icon mean?

The "Declined to Update" icon indicates a nonprofit profile was not updated. We give organizations time to complete an annual update when the profile expires, but if the update is not complete within a year and a half of the last update, it will be marked "Declined to Update."

In order to have that icon removed, the profile must be updated.

I don't see a "Current" or "Declined to Update" icon. Why?

That's a great question! If a profile does not have the "Current" or "Declined to Update" icon, it means that profile is in progress.

Why are some nonprofits not included?

Communities of faith (churches, synagogues, mosques, etc.), public schools, and governmental organizations are not eligible to be profiled. However, PTO organizations, fundraising bodies, and some programs operated through communities of faith are eligible. If you are unsure of your organization’s eligibility, please contact us.

How do I submit changes so that they can be published by the Community Foundation?

When you have completed all the profile changes you wish to make, click the “Review and Submit” button, followed by the “Send to Foundation” button. By clicking the “Send to Foundation” button, your changes will be placed in a queue that is reviewed by DonorHouston staff. Publishing times may vary depending on the volume of profiles to be reviewed.

Can I print a DonorHouston profile?

Yes. You can visit any public nonprofit profile on DonorHouston and click the “View Printable Profile” or “View Printable Summary” buttons to create a printer-friendly pdf file of the nonprofit’s profile information. The printable profile can be saved, shared, or printed with the click of a button.

What is GuideStar.org?

DonorHouston is powered by GuideStar. GuideStar connects people and organizations with information on the programs and finances of more than 1.9 million IRS-recognized nonprofits. GuideStar serves a wide audience inside and outside the nonprofit sector, including individual donors, nonprofit leaders, grantmakers, government officials, academic researchers, and the media. GuideStar is revolutionizing philanthropy and nonprofit practice by providing information that advances transparency, enables users to make better decisions, and encourages charitable giving.