Turningpoint Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,126,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not disclosed
• Grant Range: Information suggests grants from approximately $30,000 - $100,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Greenwich, CT; New York, NY; and Dallas, TX; with some grants in CA and PA

Contact Details

Address: 6125 Luther Lane #244, Dallas, TX 75225-6202

Phone: 214-696-7182

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and contributes only to pre-selected organizations.

Overview

Established in 2005 in Texas, Turningpoint Foundation is a private independent family foundation with total assets of $23.1 million (2024) and annual grant distributions of approximately $1.1 million. The foundation was founded by Molly L. Byrne, a Dallas-based philanthropist, business owner, and designer who is actively involved in the Dallas arts community. The foundation's philanthropic mission centers on education and arts projects benefiting a wide range of nonprofit organizations, with a particular emphasis on women and girls. The foundation operates across multiple U.S. cities and states, reflecting the geographic connections of its leadership. Notable contributions include support for the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum and the "TurningPoint Foundation Pavilion Theater," demonstrating the foundation's commitment to significant capital projects in education and the arts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with structured application cycles. Instead, trustees exercise discretion in selecting beneficiaries based on their philanthropic interests and community connections.

Recent grants indicate funding levels typically ranging from $30,000 to $100,000, with the foundation making approximately 30-34 grants annually.

Priority Areas

• Arts and Culture: Performing arts, museums, sculpture gardens, and cultural institutions
• Education: Educational programs and capital projects
• Women and Girls: Programs specifically focused on advancing opportunities for women and girls
• Health: Disease-related programs and health initiatives
• Community Development: Urban and community development projects
• Family Services: Programs supporting families, youth, and children
• Environment: Environmental initiatives
• Housing and Homelessness: Shelter and housing support programs

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Organizations outside their established geographic areas of focus
• Unsolicited applications from organizations not already known to the trustees

Governance and Leadership

Molly L. Byrne - President and Director (Founder) Molly Byrne is a business owner, designer, and active Dallas community supporter. She was a founding member and co-creator of Seven Bridges Foundation, a public sculpture garden and museum in Greenwich, Connecticut. She serves on the board of the Dallas Museum of Art and as Director of the VNA Foundation at The Visiting Nurse Association of Texas.

Robert Byrne - Secretary and Director

Trevor Colhoun - Director

Ian Colhoun - Treasurer and Director

All trustees serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Applications are not accepted. The foundation contributes only to pre-selected organizations identified by the trustees.

Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion and the foundation's established relationships with nonprofit organizations in their areas of interest.

Getting on Their Radar

Given Molly Byrne's active involvement with the Dallas Museum of Art and her founding role with Seven Bridges Foundation in Greenwich, Connecticut, organizations operating in the Dallas arts community or the Greenwich/New York arts and culture sectors may have opportunities to connect through shared board service or community events.

The foundation's pattern of giving suggests trustees identify grantees through their personal involvement in specific geographic communities (Dallas, TX; Greenwich, CT; New York, NY) and established relationships with organizations aligned with their interests in arts, education, and women's empowerment.

Organizations should note that the foundation's focus on significant capital projects (such as the TurningPoint Foundation Pavilion Theater and support for the Smithsonian) indicates an interest in substantial, visible investments rather than general operating support.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, as grants are made at the discretion of the trustees rather than through scheduled application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals:

• Geographic Connection: Strong preference for organizations in Dallas, TX; Greenwich, CT; and New York, NY, reflecting the trustees' personal connections to these communities.

• Capital Projects: The foundation has demonstrated interest in supporting significant capital campaigns and infrastructure projects, such as the Pavilion Theater and museum facilities.

• Women and Girls Focus: Organizations serving women and girls appear to align well with the foundation's priorities, as evidenced by grants to Dallas Women's Foundation (now Texas Women's Foundation).

• Arts and Education Integration: Projects that combine arts and education, particularly those with community-wide impact, align with the foundation's stated focus on "education and arts projects benefitting a wide range of non-profit groups."

• Established Institutions: Grant recipients include well-established organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution, Trinity Trust Foundation, and major regional foundations, suggesting a preference for organizations with proven track records.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Grants are made exclusively to pre-selected organizations.

• Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: The foundation's giving appears to be driven by the trustees' personal involvement and connections in specific geographic communities.

• Geographic Focus: Organizations in Dallas, Greenwich (CT), and New York have the strongest alignment, with limited giving in California and Pennsylvania.

• Capital Campaign Potential: The foundation has shown willingness to support significant capital projects and multi-year commitments.

• Women and Girls Priority: Organizations focused on women and girls should note this as a stated priority area for the foundation.

• Arts and Education Emphasis: The foundation's primary philanthropic focus centers on education and arts projects, particularly those with broad community benefit.

• Board Connections: Molly Byrne's service on the Dallas Museum of Art board and involvement with Seven Bridges Foundation suggests potential connection points for organizations in these networks.

References

• Cause IQ - Turningpoint Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/turningpoint-foundation,203979782/. Accessed January 2026.

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Turningpoint Foundation (EIN: 20-3979782). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/203979782. Accessed January 2026.

• Candid Foundation Directory - Turningpoint Foundation. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=TURN423. Accessed January 2026.

• Grantable - TurningPoint Foundation Profile. https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/turningpoint-foundation-us-foundation-203979782. Accessed January 2026.

• Relationship Science - Molly L. Byrne Profile. https://relationshipscience.com/person/molly-l-byrne-4240808. Accessed January 2026.

• Here-4-You Consulting - Turningpoint Foundation Directory Listing. https://www.npfunds.com/cfd-directory/turningpoint-foundation/. Accessed January 2026.