History

CBCF 9 About Us 9 History

History:

Forty years ago, the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, together with community leaders Cecil Burney, Pat Eisenhauer and Dick Sells launched a public foundation to promote and encourage philanthropy in the Coastal Bend. With an initial donation of $150,000 from the Paul and Mary Haas Foundation and borrowed office space at the Chamber of Commerce, the Coastal Bend Community Foundation was established in 1981.

Today, the Coastal Bend Community Foundation is one of approximately 900 community foundations in the United States. Its charitable impact has been profound, but it does not accomplish this work alone. Through the generosity of its donors and the foresight of the Foundation’s founders and directors, the Coastal Bend Community Foundation has grown assets to over $108 million while awarding over $141 million in grants and scholarships through 2021.

The Foundation serves the Coastal Bend counties of Aransas, Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio through its 307 funds. The Coastal Bend Community Foundation invites anyone who is interested in meeting the charitable needs of this area to partner to “improve the quality of life” in the Coastal Bend.

MISSION AND VISION

The Mission of the Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the Coastal Bend by building community endowment and addressing social, educational, environmental, and cultural needs through the awarding of grants and scholarships.

The Foundation’s Vision is to provide the Coastal Bend with:

  • Efficient gift options to meet donors’ charitable wishes
  • Effective grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to students
  • Ethical leadership to promote and enhance area philanthropy

Grants

Scholarships

CB Day of Giving

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