The Philecology Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Philecology Foundation, based in Fort Worth, TX, makes grants only to organisations it has preselected, and the filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is the wrong route.
- Its filings show support for museums, botanical gardens, music organisations, a university and a bat-conservation group, so judge fit against that record, as no geographic focus is stated.
- Because 86% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, an introduction is likely to count for more than an unprompted pitch.
- Its grants are large: about 8 in 10 of its 17 grants fall between $100,000 and $9,100,000, with a median of $815,000 and a largest grant of $13,000,000, so a small request would sit well below what it usually gives.
- That band is typical, not a limit on what the foundation might fund.
Overview
The Philecology Foundation is a US private foundation based in Fort Worth, TX.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filings show organisational grants to a multipurpose arena and an event-facilities organisation, museums and botanical gardens, music education and performance organisations, a university, and a bat-conservation organisation. Recorded purposes include general contributions and an endowment, support for a jazz academy and music innovation, artwork acquisition, an endowed scholarship and a bat-conservation project. Most recorded grant dollars went to organisations in Texas, while the returns also record grants to organisations in other states. Contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations, and unsolicited requests are not accepted.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Texas and Arkansas.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 17 grants to organisations were $815,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 53% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations The Philecology Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 8 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $608k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth · General$13,000,0002024 tax year
- Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art · Endowment fund$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth · Contribution-interest forgiven$1,725,4132024 tax year
- Jazz Aspen Snowmass · Jazz aspen snowmass academy$815,0002024 tax year
- William A Farnsworth Library and Art Museum · Gift for acquisition of artwork$400,0002024 tax year
- New York Botanical Garden · Branching out campaign$250,0002024 tax year
- Cliburn · General$125,0002024 tax year
- University of Miami Frost School of Music · Jazz aspen snowmass academy summer program$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Dee Steer — Secretary
- Gary W Reese — VP, Assistant Treasurer
- Thomas W White — VP, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary
- Paul B Rietema — Director
- Sasha C Bass — Director
- Edward P Bass — President, Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,493,074 | $1,745,688 | $474,931,738 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $13,930,296 | $13,020,587 | $525,339,674 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $19,225,734 | $18,415,413 | $564,482,192 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Philecology Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Fort Worth, TX
Applying to The Philecology Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Fort Worth, TX