Broker Check

Foundations, Nonprofits & Institutions

Webster, TX  |  Greater Houston  |  DFW Metroplex  |  College Station, TX

Investment advisor for foundations
& nonprofits

Burrows Capital Advisors serves nonprofit organizations, private foundations, endowments, and charitable trusts across Greater Houston and Texas — providing disciplined investment management, investment policy development, and fiduciary governance support tailored to your mission and your board’s obligations.

Schedule a Consultation
Organization types we serve across Greater Houston and Texas
Private Foundations Community Foundations Family Foundations Nonprofit Endowments Charitable Remainder Trusts Donor-Advised Funds Religious Organizations Healthcare Foundations Educational Foundations Arts & Cultural Organizations Social Service Organizations Animal Welfare Organizations Environmental Nonprofits Veterans’ Organizations Community Development Organizations Investment Committees ...and more
Who We Serve

Financial guidance for Houston nonprofits,
foundations & investment committees

Burrows Capital Advisors is a fee-based independent wealth management firm headquartered in Webster, TX, providing investment management, investment policy development, and fiduciary oversight to nonprofit organizations, private foundations, and endowments across Greater Houston and Texas. We serve as a trusted investment advisor or outsourced investment resource to boards and investment committees that need institutional-quality financial guidance without the complexity and cost of a large institutional manager.

Greater Houston is home to more than 2,900 private foundations with combined assets exceeding $31 billion — from major endowments like the Moody Foundation, the Houston Endowment, the Greater Houston Community Foundation, and the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, to hundreds of smaller family foundations, church endowments, school foundations, healthcare foundations, and community nonprofits that serve the Bay Area Houston, Clear Lake, League City, Pearland, Pasadena, and Webster communities.

Many of these organizations — particularly smaller and mid-sized foundations — lack the internal investment expertise to manage their portfolios responsibly, develop sound spending policies, or meet their board’s fiduciary obligations without outside guidance. Burrows Capital Advisors fills that gap: providing the same caliber of investment management and governance support that large foundations receive, scaled for the needs and budget of a smaller or mid-sized nonprofit.

2,900+
Private foundations in the Greater Houston metro area
$31B
Combined assets held by Houston-area private foundations
30+
Years of investment experience serving Texas institutions and families
100%
Independent, fee-based, fiduciary — no proprietary products
The Challenges You Face

What we hear from Houston nonprofit
boards & investment committees

Nonprofit boards and investment committees face a distinct set of investment and governance challenges that most general financial advisors are not equipped to address. Here is what we see most often.

01
The board has fiduciary responsibility but no investment expertise
Nonprofit board members accept a legal fiduciary duty to manage the organization’s assets prudently — often without having investment backgrounds themselves. Without a qualified investment advisor on their side, boards are exposed to personal liability and organizational risk. Burrows Capital Advisors provides the investment expertise and governance framework that boards need to fulfill their fiduciary duty with confidence.
02
No written investment policy statement
An Investment Policy Statement (IPS) is the foundational governance document for any nonprofit endowment or foundation portfolio — defining investment objectives, asset allocation guidelines, spending policy, risk tolerance, and rebalancing procedures. Many Houston-area nonprofits are managing significant assets without one, exposing their boards to fiduciary risk and making consistent portfolio management nearly impossible.
03
Spending policy is not aligned with long-term sustainability
Spending too much draws down the endowment and threatens the organization’s long-term viability. Spending too little may not serve the mission effectively or satisfy IRS requirements for private foundations (typically a 5% minimum distribution). Getting the spending rate right — and building a policy that balances current mission needs against long-term portfolio preservation — requires deliberate analysis that Burrows Capital can provide.
04
The portfolio is underperforming or improperly allocated
Many nonprofit portfolios in the Houston area were put together piecemeal — a CD here, a mutual fund there, leftover from a prior advisor relationship — without a coherent asset allocation strategy tied to the organization’s spending needs and time horizon. We provide a comprehensive portfolio review and a disciplined investment strategy built around your mission, not a generic model.
05
Board turnover disrupts investment continuity
When investment decisions are driven by individual board members rather than documented policies and a consistent advisor relationship, turnover creates disruption, inconsistency, and risk. A professional investment advisor provides continuity across board transitions — ensuring the portfolio strategy and governance framework survive changes in leadership.
06
Reporting & transparency expectations are growing
Donors, grantors, and regulators increasingly expect clear, consistent, and professional reporting on nonprofit investment portfolios — performance reporting, asset allocation disclosure, and evidence that the board is fulfilling its fiduciary obligations. Burrows Capital provides the reporting infrastructure to meet these expectations and build donor confidence.
How We Help

Investment advisory services for
Houston-area foundations & nonprofits

Burrows Capital Advisors provides a comprehensive suite of investment management and governance services specifically structured for nonprofit organizations, foundations, and endowments. We work directly with your board or investment committee as a trusted advisor and investment partner.

01
Investment Policy Statement (IPS) development
Developing or updating your organization’s Investment Policy Statement — the foundational governance document that defines investment objectives, asset allocation targets and ranges, spending policy, rebalancing procedures, and performance benchmarks. A well-crafted IPS is the most important step any nonprofit board can take to fulfill its fiduciary obligations.
02
Endowment & foundation portfolio management
Discretionary or advisory investment management for nonprofit endowments and foundation portfolios — with asset allocation, manager selection, portfolio construction, and ongoing monitoring aligned to your IPS, your spending policy, and your mission. We apply the same institutional-quality investment discipline to nonprofit portfolios that we provide to our individual and family clients.
03
Spending policy analysis & development
Analyzing your organization’s spending rate against long-term portfolio projections to ensure the endowment remains sustainable while funding your mission effectively. For private foundations, ensuring compliance with the IRS 5% minimum distribution requirement. For community foundations and donor-advised funds, developing spending policies that balance grantmaking impact with long-term asset preservation.
04
Fiduciary governance support for nonprofit boards
Helping nonprofit boards and investment committees understand and fulfill their fiduciary obligations under the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) — providing investment education, documentation, and a governance framework that protects board members and serves the organization.
05
Investment committee meeting support
Attending investment committee meetings to present portfolio performance, market commentary, and recommended actions — giving your committee the information it needs to fulfill its oversight responsibilities without requiring individual members to have investment expertise. Providing written quarterly reports for board minutes and regulatory documentation.
06
Charitable planning & gift acceptance
Advising nonprofit organizations and their donors on charitable gift structures — including charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, donor-advised funds, and gifting of appreciated securities. Coordinating with the Greater Houston Community Foundation and other Houston-area philanthropic partners where beneficial.
07
Family foundation services
Comprehensive investment management and governance support for Houston-area family foundations — from initial setup and IPS development to ongoing portfolio management, grantmaking strategy, multigenerational succession planning, and family governance. Helping families structure and sustain their philanthropic legacy across generations.

Your mission deserves a plan.

Whether you serve on the board of a Houston-area foundation, lead a nonprofit endowment, or are establishing a new family foundation — we can help you build the investment framework your organization needs.

The first conversation is free, and we will tell you honestly whether our services are the right fit for your organization’s size and needs.

Schedule a Consultation

Webster, TX  ·  Heath, TX
College Station, TX
No obligation · No pitch

What You Receive

What a Burrows Capital relationship
delivers to your organization

Every nonprofit engagement includes a structured set of deliverables designed to meet your board’s fiduciary obligations, improve portfolio performance, and give your organization the investment infrastructure to focus on what matters: your mission.

IPS
Written Investment Policy Statement
A board-approved document defining your investment objectives, asset allocation policy, spending rate, risk guidelines, and performance benchmarks — the foundation of sound fiduciary governance.
Q
Quarterly Performance Reports
Clear, professional investment performance reports suitable for board minutes, donor reporting, and regulatory documentation — presented at your investment committee meetings or delivered in writing.
AA
Strategic Asset Allocation
A disciplined, diversified portfolio built around your organization’s spending needs, time horizon, and risk tolerance — not a generic model portfolio designed for individual investors.
SP
Spending Policy Analysis
Long-term modeling of your endowment’s sustainability at various spending rates — helping your board make informed decisions about grantmaking levels and asset preservation.
FG
Fiduciary Governance Framework
Documentation, meeting support, and board education to help your investment committee fulfill its UPMIFA obligations and protect individual board members from fiduciary liability.
AC
Advisor Coordination
Coordinating with your CPA, legal counsel, and the Greater Houston Community Foundation or other philanthropic partners to ensure your investment strategy is fully aligned with your organizational and tax planning objectives.
Common Questions

Frequently asked questions from
Houston nonprofit boards & foundations

Does Burrows Capital Advisors work with nonprofits and foundations in Houston?
Yes. Burrows Capital Advisors is headquartered at 224 Sandhill St, Webster, TX 77598, and provides investment management, investment policy development, and fiduciary governance support to nonprofit organizations, private foundations, endowments, and investment committees across Greater Houston and Texas.
What is an Investment Policy Statement and does my nonprofit need one?
An Investment Policy Statement (IPS) is a board-approved governance document that defines your nonprofit’s investment objectives, acceptable asset classes, target allocation, risk parameters, spending policy, and rebalancing procedures. Under the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA), which governs nonprofit investment in Texas, a written IPS is considered a best practice — and the absence of one is a significant fiduciary risk for board members. Burrows Capital Advisors helps Houston-area nonprofits develop, implement, and maintain investment policy statements appropriate for their size and mission.
What is the fiduciary duty of a nonprofit board member in Texas?
Under Texas law and UPMIFA, nonprofit board members are required to manage institutional funds with the care, skill, and caution that a prudent investor would use — considering the organization’s mission, spending needs, and investment horizon. This includes diversifying investments, considering total return, and documenting investment decisions. Board members can be personally liable for breaches of fiduciary duty. Burrows Capital Advisors provides the investment expertise and governance support that helps Houston nonprofit boards fulfill these obligations confidently.
How should a private foundation in Houston determine its spending rate?
Private foundations in Texas are required to distribute at least 5% of their net investment assets annually to avoid excise taxes. Beyond that minimum, the appropriate spending rate depends on the foundation’s long-term goals: preserving the endowment in perpetuity typically calls for a spending rate of 4–5% (depending on projected investment returns), while a foundation with a defined spend-down timeline may support higher distributions. Burrows Capital Advisors provides long-term spending policy analysis to help Houston-area foundation boards make these decisions with a clear view of the long-term implications.
What size of foundation or nonprofit endowment does Burrows Capital work with?
Burrows Capital Advisors works with nonprofit organizations and foundations of varying sizes across Greater Houston and Texas. We are particularly well-suited to serve small and mid-sized foundations and nonprofits — those with endowments or investment portfolios typically ranging from $500,000 to $25 million — that need institutional-quality investment management and governance support but do not require the complexity or minimum investment thresholds of the largest institutional managers. The best way to find out if we are the right fit for your organization is a brief introductory conversation.
How does Burrows Capital charge for nonprofit investment management services?
Burrows Capital Advisors is a fee-based practice. Investment management fees for nonprofit clients are typically structured as a percentage of assets under management, disclosed in full before engagement. We are affiliated with Cetera Advisors as our broker-dealer; all compensation is disclosed in our Form ADV. The first consultation is always free.
Can Burrows Capital help our Houston nonprofit establish a family foundation?
Yes. Burrows Capital Advisors works with Houston-area families on the establishment and ongoing management of family foundations — including investment policy development, portfolio management, spending policy, multigenerational governance, and coordination with the Greater Houston Community Foundation and legal counsel. Whether you are establishing a new family foundation or improving the investment governance of an existing one, we can help.

Your mission is what matters.
Let’s build the plan to protect it.

A 30-minute conversation with a Burrows Capital advisor costs nothing. We will give you an honest assessment of whether our services are the right fit for your organization — and if we’re not, we’ll tell you.

Schedule a Consultation

Webster, TX  ·  Heath, TX  ·  College Station, TX  ·  (832) 835-1950  ·  Team@burrowscap.com

This material is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Nonprofit organizations, foundations, and boards should consult their own legal, tax, and financial professionals regarding their specific circumstances, including fiduciary duties and applicable regulations.

Foundations, endowments, and nonprofit organizations are subject to specific legal, fiduciary, and governance requirements. References to investment policy statements (IPS), spending policies, or governance practices are general in nature and may not apply to all organizations. No representation is made that the strategies discussed are suitable for any particular organization.