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Philecology Foundation

Annual Giving
$13.0M
Grant Range
Up to $30.0M00
00

Philecology Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13,020,587 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Grant Range: Variable (multi-million dollar commitments documented)
  • Geographic Focus: National (USA), with emphasis on environmental and scientific research
  • Total Assets: $185.5 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 201 Main St Ste 2300, Fort Worth, TX 76102-3137
Phone: 817-390-8400
EIN: 20-8987808

Note: This is a private independent foundation with no publicly available website or email for grant inquiries. Contact via phone for initial inquiries only.

Overview

The Philecology Foundation was established in 2007 by Edward P. Bass, a Fort Worth businessman, financier, philanthropist, and environmentalist. Bass previously created the Philecology Trust in 1986 to fund selected nonprofit ecological interests. With total assets of $185.5 million as of 2024, the foundation distributed $13,020,587 in grants during its most recent fiscal year, making seven awards. The foundation operates as a private independent foundation and represents Bass's longstanding commitment to environmental research, conservation, and scientific education. Bass, who is vice chairman of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas and director emeritus of World Wildlife Fund, approaches conservation "most effective when approached as an enterprise," reflecting his strategic, impact-focused philanthropic philosophy. The foundation's most significant and sustained commitment has been to the University of Arizona's Biosphere 2 facility, which Bass originally financed and built in the 1980s.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Philecology Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Instead, grants are made at the discretion of the foundation's leadership, primarily Edward P. Bass as President and founding trustee.

Recent Grant Activity:

  • 2024: 7 awards totaling $13,020,587
  • 2023: 2 awards
  • 2022: 2 awards

Priority Areas

Based on documented giving patterns, the foundation focuses on:

Environmental Research and Science

  • Major sustained support for Biosphere 2 at University of Arizona, focusing on environmental change research, natural resource management, water conservation, energy security, and crop growth research
  • Scientific facilities and research infrastructure
  • Biospheric and ecological research programs

Conservation and Environmental Protection

  • Wildlife conservation organizations (World Wildlife Fund)
  • Botanical research and gardens (New York Botanical Garden, Botanical Research Institute of Texas)
  • Land conservation and habitat protection
  • Fragile ecosystem protection

Environmental Education

  • Environmental education initiatives
  • Public science education through research facilities
  • Scientific training programs

Organizations Previously Supported:

  • University of Arizona (Biosphere 2 operations and research)
  • World Wildlife Fund
  • New York Botanical Garden
  • Jane Goodall Institute
  • National Environmental Education and Training Foundation
  • Yale University (Edward Bass has donated over $200 million to his alma mater, including $160 million in 2018 for the Peabody Museum of Natural History)

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation with no public application process, the foundation does not publish exclusions. However, based on giving patterns:

  • No evidence of support for organizations outside environmental science, conservation, and related education
  • Focus appears limited to established institutions rather than grassroots organizations
  • No indication of international grants (focus on US-based organizations)

Governance and Leadership

Edward P. Bass - President and Founding Trustee

Edward Bass is a committed environmentalist with long-time interest in the sciences. His involvement includes:

  • Vice Chairman, Botanical Research Institute of Texas
  • Director Emeritus, World Wildlife Fund
  • Founding Trustee, Philecology Trust (1986)
  • Original financier and founder of Biosphere 2 project (1984-1991)

Bass owns tens of thousands of acres of land in Kansas Flint Hills, maintained for conservation purposes, with intentions to donate much of it to the Nature Conservancy.

Quote from Bass: He feels conservation is "most effective when approached as an enterprise."

Officers receive no reported compensation from the foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Philecology Foundation operates as a private independent foundation making grants at the discretion of its trustees, primarily Edward P. Bass. There is no online application portal, no published application deadlines, and no application guidelines available.

Grants appear to be made to organizations with which Edward Bass has established relationships or longstanding commitments, particularly in environmental science and conservation.

Getting on Their Radar

IMPORTANT: Based on available information, the Philecology Foundation operates through trustee discretion and existing relationships. Edward Bass's documented approach suggests:

Connection Points:

  • World Wildlife Fund: Bass serves as director emeritus and has supported WWF. Organizations already working with WWF may have potential indirect connections.
  • Botanical Research Institute of Texas: Bass serves as vice chairman. Organizations in the botanical research community may encounter Bass through this network.
  • University of Arizona/Biosphere 2: Organizations collaborating with or complementing Biosphere 2's research in environmental change, water conservation, or ecosystem management may align with Bass's interests.

Bass's Known Interests:

  • Bass has been involved with the Jane Goodall Institute, suggesting interest in wildlife research with prominent scientific leadership
  • His commitment to Biosphere 2 demonstrates support for long-term, enterprise-scale environmental research infrastructure
  • His land conservation work in Kansas Flint Hills and relationship with Nature Conservancy indicates support for practical land stewardship

Approach Considerations: Given Bass's philosophy that conservation is "most effective when approached as an enterprise," organizations might consider:

  • Demonstrating enterprise-scale impact potential
  • Presenting long-term, sustainable research or conservation models
  • Connecting through established environmental networks where Bass is active

Direct unsolicited proposals are unlikely to be successful given the foundation's private, relationship-driven approach.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion rather than through scheduled review cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process means no measurable application-to-award ratio.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's private nature and lack of public application process, the following factors appear important based on documented giving:

Alignment with Bass's Core Interests:

  • Environmental research with scientific rigor (exemplified by decades-long Biosphere 2 commitment)
  • Conservation approached as an "enterprise" - sustainable, scalable, long-term impact
  • Scientific education and public engagement with environmental issues
  • Botanical research and wildlife conservation
  • Infrastructure for environmental science

Relationship and Credibility:

  • Established institutional reputation (University of Arizona, Yale, WWF, New York Botanical Garden)
  • Connection to Bass's existing network of environmental organizations
  • Scientific credibility and research excellence

Scale and Long-term Vision:

  • Major multi-million dollar commitments documented (Biosphere 2: $30M in 2007, $20M in 2011, $30M in 2017)
  • Support for ongoing operations and endowment, not just one-time projects
  • Infrastructure investments that enable sustained research

Biosphere 2 as Model: Biosphere 2 represents the foundation's signature investment and reveals priorities:

  • Addresses critical issues: environmental change, natural resources, water conservation, energy security
  • Combines research with public education
  • Long-term operational commitment rather than project-based funding
  • Enterprise-scale facility with measurable scientific output

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This is not a foundation to approach through standard grant applications. Unsolicited proposals are unlikely to receive consideration.

  • Relationship-driven grantmaking: All documented grants flow from Edward Bass's personal interests, networks, and long-term commitments in environmental science and conservation.

  • Major, sustained commitments preferred: The foundation has made multiple multi-million dollar commitments to Biosphere 2 over 17+ years, suggesting preference for significant, ongoing partnerships over small or one-time grants.

  • "Enterprise" approach matters: Bass's philosophy that conservation works best "when approached as an enterprise" suggests he values sustainable, scalable, infrastructure-oriented solutions over short-term projects.

  • Scientific rigor essential: All documented beneficiaries are established scientific or conservation institutions with strong research credentials.

  • Network connections critical: Organizations already working with WWF, Nature Conservancy, or major botanical/environmental research institutions may have better prospects for indirect connections.

  • Alternative funding sources recommended: Given the private, discretionary nature of this foundation, organizations seeking environmental or conservation funding should focus efforts on foundations with public application processes unless they have direct connections to Edward Bass or his established network.

References

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