Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust

Mission

To support charities that work with children and persons who must overcome physical and mental challenges in Midland County, Texas.

Annual application deadlines

February 15: Organization names beginning with letters A - L

If you are an organization with a legal name beginning with letters A through L, please submit your application between January 1 and February 15 to be considered at our Spring grant meeting. Applications submitted outside of January 1 to February 15 will not be considered.

August 15: Organization names beginning with letters M – Z

If you are an organization with a legal name beginning with letters M through Z, please submit your application between July 1 and August 15 to be considered at our Fall grant meeting. Applications submitted outside of July 1 to August 15 will not be considered.

Program areas

Education
Health
Human services

Program limitations

There are no program limitations; however, the foundation has a practice of primarily supporting organizations that work with children and persons who must overcome physical and mental challenges.

States served

Texas

Geographic limitations

There are no geographic limitations; however, the Trust has a practice of primarily supporting organizations within Midland County, Texas.

Trustees

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

The Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust awards grants exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes. The trust primarily supports organizations located in Midland County, Texas that work with children and persons who must overcome physical and mental challenges.

Requirements

• To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Limitations

• Organizations are limited to one application every 12 months and must be submitted only during their respective application period.
• Each application is limited to a single project or program.

Average giving

Average grant size: $10,000 to $30,000
Average number of grants per year: 60
Average total giving per year: $1,500,000

Annual application period and deadlines

February 15: Organization names beginning with letters A - L

If you are an organization with a legal name beginning with letters A through L, please submit your application between January 1 and February 15 to be considered at our Spring grant meeting. Applications submitted outside of January 1 to February 15 will not be considered.

August 15: Organization names beginning with letters M – Z

If you are an organization with a legal name beginning with letters M through Z, please submit your application between July 1 and August 15 to be considered at our Fall grant meeting. Applications submitted outside of July 1 to August 15 will not be considered.

Communications

Applicants will receive an automated email confirming their submission. Grant decisions are generally communicated by June for applications received by the February 15 deadline, and by December for applications received by the August 15 deadline.

Required agreements and reports

A progress report must be submitted within 6 months after receiving funds.

About the Foundation

Mrs. Greathouse was born in 1908 in Graford, Texas, in Palo Pinto County. She was one of five children, having three sisters and one brother. Her father was an attorney and her mother a housewife. She went to school in Tahoka, Texas, and in the late 1920’s, met the love of her life, Barney R. Greathouse. They married in September of 1929 and moved to Midland, Texas in December of 1929. In 1933 they bought the inventory of a failed drug store and opened their own in downtown Midland. In 1955 they moved from downtown to The Village. Helen worked beside her husband, doing much of the purchasing for the business, for over 37 years. They sold to Walgreen’s in 1970, and Barney passed away in 1973. They traveled all over the world and at one time had fished in every free country in the world. Helen always liked to brag that she caught more than Barney and could also outhunt him!

In later years, Helen became much involved with M.A.R.C. and the CPC Center, as well as Manor Park. She was a caring, giving individual and had an especially warm spot for any and all children (or adults) with any physical or mental handicap or challenge. Helen gave personally to these causes and to her church, First United Methodist, in Midland. In 1997, Helen created the Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust, which was to become the foundation and source of her leaving her legacy by giving back to the community she truly loved. Helen passed away in 2001, but her legacy is only beginning.