About

The Cockrell Family Fund* was created in 1998 through a gift from The Cockrell Foundation, serving as a second channel for Cockrell family members to engage in philanthropic giving.  
The Cockrell Family Fund is guided by an Advisory Committee that upholds  the philanthropic principles of the Cockrell family and observes the geographic focus on the Greater Houston Area set forth by The Cockrell Foundation.

The Cockrell Foundation (“Foundation”) traces its roots to 1957, when it was founded as a charitable trust by Dula Dashiell Cockrell. In 1966, her son and daughter-in-law, Ernest Cockrell Jr. and Virginia Harris Cockrell, transformed the trust into a corporate charitable foundation. Since then, the Foundation has built a strong legacy of supporting nonprofit organizations, primarily in the Houston area, with a focus on higher education, healthcare, medical research, youth initiatives, and cultural institutions.

As the Cockrell family expanded across generations, the Foundation’s board recognized the value of creating a complementary fund that would allow broader family participation, including members outside the direct line of descent. In response, the Cockrell Family Fund was established to extend the family’s philanthropic reach while maintaining alignment with the Foundation’s core values.

*The Cockrell Family Fund is a donor-advised fund established at the Greater Houston Community Foundation (GHCF), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity.  In accordance with IRS regulations, GHCF retains exclusive legal control over all assets contributed to the Cockrell Family Fund.   

**To learn more about The Cockrell Foundation and its legacy of giving, please visit cockrellfoundation.org