The P. J. Moran Foundation was originally established in 1984 as the W. T. Moran Foundation. It was named in honor of P. J. Moran's grandfather, William T. Moran, a Texas oilman and philanthropist. When Louise J. Moran, W. T. Moran’s wife, established the W. T. and Louise J. Moran Foundation in 1997, confusion arose over the name because it was hard to distinguish the two foundations from one another. In 2004, the W.T. Moran Foundation’s name was officially changed to the P. J. Moran Foundation. Today, the P. J. Moran Foundation and W.T. and Louise J. Moran Foundation support many of the same charities and often work together.
Growing up, P. J. Moran’s grandparents and his mother, Anna Ottley Moran, taught him the importance of helping others. The P. J. Moran Foundation continues their efforts in their memory. The Foundation has had the help of many other family members and friends such as W. T. Moran III, Marion and Bruce Franke, Deborah Higbee, Genevieve Moran, Anna Moran, Robert Parsley, Sr., Emil Nakfoor, Robert Mullins, Rod Koenig, Allan Yogerst, Bill Sunday, Randall Evans and the employees of Moran Resources Company LP who have given their time, efforts and advice to develop and to build it.
The Moran Family has been committed to community giving with a focus on supporting Catholic education in Houston and the state of Texas for more than 80 years. Numerous scholarship funds are sponsored by the Foundation with a preference for Houston area students of exceptional merit that are in need of financial assistance to further their education. The Foundation provides grants for clinics, schools, hospitals and other 501 (c) 3 entities.