← Back to US Funders Directory

Dan L. Duncan Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$40.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $10.8M

Dan L. Duncan Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $40.5 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $690.7 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $10,800,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Houston, Texas, with emphasis on statewide institutions
  • Application Process: No unsolicited applications accepted

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 4735, Houston, TX 77210
Phone: (713) 381-6593
Website: None
Note: The foundation maintains a low profile and does not have a public website

Overview

Established in 2004 in memory of Dan L. Duncan, co-founder, chairman, and majority shareholder of Enterprise Products Partners, the Dan L. Duncan Family Foundation is one of Houston's most significant philanthropic institutions. With assets of $690.7 million and annual giving of approximately $40.5 million, the foundation continues the legacy of its founder, who was widely recognized as one of the greatest philanthropists in Texas history. The foundation is led by Randa Duncan Williams, Duncan's daughter and non-executive chairman of Enterprise Products Partners, who serves as president. The foundation distributed 65 grants in 2023, focusing on health and human services, education and youth development, arts and culture, and environmental conservation, with a strong emphasis on Houston-area organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-initiated grantmaking rather than structured programs. Major grants have included:

  • $35 million to University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (2008) - established the Dan Duncan Family Institute for Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment
  • $10 million to Children's Learning Institute at UTHealth Houston - created the Dan L. Duncan Children's Neurodevelopmental Clinic
  • Seven-figure gifts to Houston Museum of Natural Science, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and Houston Zoo

Grant amounts range from $5,000 for smaller community initiatives to over $10 million for major institutional partnerships.

Priority Areas

Health and Human Services (Primary Focus)

  • Children's developmental services and neurodevelopmental care
  • Medical research institutions, particularly cancer prevention
  • Healthcare access for underserved populations
  • Personal connection: The foundation's health priorities reflect Randa Duncan Williams' son receiving assistance at the Children's Learning Institute for dyslexia

Education and Youth Development

  • KIPP Houston and charter school networks
  • Youth development organizations like Boys and Girls Harbor
  • Educational institutions throughout Texas
  • Early childhood development and literacy programs

Arts and Culture

  • Houston Museum of Natural Science
  • Theatre Under the Stars
  • The Menil Collection (through Menil Foundation)
  • Performing arts organizations

Environment and Conservation

  • Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
  • Houston Zoo
  • Conservation initiatives

Community Development

  • Greater Houston Community Foundation
  • Various Houston-area community causes

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, the foundation's giving history suggests limited support for:

  • Organizations outside Texas
  • International programs
  • Individual scholarships
  • Political or advocacy organizations

Governance and Leadership

President and Chair: Randa Duncan Williams

  • Daughter of Dan L. Duncan
  • Non-executive chairman of Enterprise Products Partners
  • Holds B.A. in political science and economics from Rice University and J.D. from University of Houston Law Center
  • Also serves as trustee of The Alkek and Williams Foundation

Vice Presidents:

  • Dannine Gale Duncan
  • Milane Duncan Frantz
  • Scott D Duncan

Board Structure: The foundation is managed by family members who inherited Dan L. Duncan's fortune and continue his philanthropic vision. Each of Duncan's four children is now a billionaire and involved in various philanthropic endeavors.

Founder's Legacy: Dan L. Duncan (1933-2010) was a self-made billionaire who built Enterprise Products Partners from $10,000 and two propane delivery trucks into one of the nation's largest midstream energy companies. During his lifetime, he donated over $300 million to Texas institutions, including $135 million to Baylor College of Medicine, $75 million to Texas Children's Hospital, and $35 million to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He received the Petrochemical Heritage Award in 2007 in recognition of his philanthropic work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and operates exclusively through trustee-initiated grants or established relationships with organizations.

Grants are awarded based on:

  • Board member discretion and family interests
  • Existing relationships with institutions
  • Strategic priorities identified by foundation leadership
  • Personal connections to causes (such as the family's experience with children's learning challenges)

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are initiated by trustees rather than awarded through a competitive application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications. The foundation made 65 grants in 2023, all through trustee-initiated processes.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no public application process for initial or subsequent grant requests.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, understanding their grantmaking patterns reveals key priorities:

Established Institutional Relationships: The foundation favors well-established Houston institutions with proven track records, particularly in healthcare and education. Major recipients like M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, UTHealth Houston, and Baylor College of Medicine demonstrate a preference for leading institutions.

Houston-Centric Focus: Nearly all grants support Houston-area organizations or statewide Texas institutions. Geographic proximity to the foundation's base appears critical.

Personal Connection to Mission: The foundation's support for the Children's Learning Institute stems from Randa Duncan Williams' son receiving assistance there for dyslexia. This demonstrates that personal family experiences influence funding decisions.

Preventive and Developmental Approach: The foundation's largest healthcare gift focused on cancer prevention rather than treatment, which they noted was "an often under-funded area of oncology." Their education grants emphasize early childhood development and neurodevelopmental services.

Underserved Populations: Multiple grants include components serving medically underserved communities, suggesting alignment with equity and access priorities.

Large-Scale Impact: The foundation makes substantial grants designed to create lasting institutional change, such as establishing named institutes and clinics rather than supporting general operating expenses.

Multidisciplinary Approach: Their M.D. Anderson grant specifically supported interdisciplinary research combining "epidemiology, behavioral science, biochemistry, and molecular biology," indicating appreciation for comprehensive approaches.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Direct Path: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications; relationship building with board members or becoming known to the Houston philanthropic community would be necessary to receive consideration
  • Think Big: The foundation makes substantial seven- and eight-figure grants to create transformational change rather than incremental improvements
  • Houston First: Focus almost exclusively on Houston-area impact with some support for broader Texas institutions; out-of-state organizations are unlikely candidates
  • Health and Kids: The strongest alignment exists for organizations working at the intersection of children's health, development, and education, particularly serving underserved populations
  • Prevention Over Treatment: The foundation's emphasis on cancer prevention and developmental services suggests interest in upstream interventions
  • Institutional Credibility: Major academic medical centers and established cultural institutions receive the largest grants; newer or smaller organizations may find it difficult to gain attention
  • Family Legacy: Understanding Dan L. Duncan's values - self-made success through hard work, commitment to medical research, and Houston civic pride - may provide insight into future funding directions

References

← Back to US Funders Directory