Opening in 1962, the center has a long history as the fifth-oldest Foundation Center Funding Information Network partner. The TGRC began as a dream of Dr. Robert L. Sutherland, the first President of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, a grantmaking and operating foundation that is an administrative unit of The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Sutherland recognized the critical importance of providing information and facilitating open communication between tax-exempt entities seeking funds and the growing number of grantmakers, especially those in Texas.
In 2007, the Hogg Foundation and TGRC became part of the university’s Division of Campus and Community Engagement (DCCE) with the TGRC becoming a separate unit within DCCE. In 2024, the TGRC moved back to Hogg and is now located with Hogg at the Lake Austin Center.
The TGRC is part of the Candid Community and provides training and access to Candid’s Foundation Directory.Its patrons include representatives of nonprofit programs and services, educational entities, charitable organizations, faith-based programs and services, governmental entities, as well as individuals. Because of the availability of electronic information on state and federal grant opportunities, the TGRC emphasizes private sector funding options and information (i.e., private foundations and corporate foundations/direct giving programs). It has little on-site information about small business startups.