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Kleinheinz Family Foundation For The Arts And Education

Annual Giving
$9.2M

Kleinheinz Family Foundation For The Arts And Education

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,193,115 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $152 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: Data not publicly available - requires 990-PF review
  • Number of Awards: Approximately 33-38 grants annually
  • Geographic Focus: Texas only, with emphasis on Fort Worth area
  • Application Type: Accepts unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 301 Commerce Street, Suite 1900, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Alternative Address: 3320 W 7th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Phone: (682) 747-5656
EIN: 26-1631057
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) private foundation, tax-exempt since September 2008

Overview

The Kleinheinz Family Foundation For The Arts And Education was established in 2008 by John B. Kleinheinz, CEO of Kleinheinz Capital Partners, and his wife Marsha Kleinheinz, a community volunteer and SMU graduate. With total assets of $152 million and annual giving exceeding $9 million, the foundation represents one of Fort Worth's significant philanthropic resources. The foundation's mission centers on advancing arts, cultural awareness, higher education, and support for Catholic agencies and churches throughout Texas. Beyond traditional arts and education support, the Kleinheinzes have demonstrated a strong commitment to educational equity, having built over 20 public charter schools for underserved families. The foundation restricts its giving to in-state organizations, with particular emphasis on the Fort Worth metropolitan area.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Arts & Culture:

  • Museums and visual arts institutions
  • Performing arts organizations (symphony, opera, ballet, theatre)
  • Cultural awareness programs
  • Music education and foundations

Education:

  • Higher education institutions and endowed professorships
  • Charter schools serving underserved families
  • Educational access and social mobility initiatives
  • Art history and arts education programs

Catholic Agencies & Churches:

  • Catholic charitable organizations
  • Religious institutions and faith-based initiatives

Children's Services:

  • Organizations supporting children and families
  • Grief support services
  • Youth development programs

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation's giving is limited to:

  • Texas-based organizations only
  • Organizations aligned with their stated priority areas

Governance and Leadership

John B. Kleinheinz - President and Director (Compensation: $100,000)

  • CEO of Kleinheinz Capital Partners, Fort Worth
  • Stanford University Board of Trustees member (elected 2024)
  • Stanford graduate (Economics, 1984)
  • Philanthropic philosophy: "Education is the lifeblood of social mobility in this country. No society thrives without quality education at all levels."

Marsha Kleinheinz - Vice President and Director (Compensation: $100,000)

  • SMU graduate (B.B.A., 1983)
  • Extensive board service including: The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Van Cliburn Foundation (The Cliburn), Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Performing Arts of Fort Worth, Gill Children's Services, The Warm Place, Saving Hope Foundation, and North Texas Public Broadcasting
  • Philanthropic approach: "We are very impressed with [organizations] that have made great progress during their tenure. We want to support the future of [institutions] that are important to our family."

The couple has three children and numerous grandchildren and resides in Fort Worth, Texas.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts unsolicited applications from Texas-based nonprofit organizations. However, specific application procedures, forms, deadlines, and submission guidelines are not publicly advertised on a foundation website or through standard grant databases.

Organizations interested in applying should:

  1. Contact the foundation directly at (682) 747-5656
  2. Ensure alignment with the foundation's stated priority areas
  3. Be prepared to demonstrate Texas-based operations with preference for Fort Worth-area impact
  4. Note that the foundation operates as a private family foundation, which may involve more personalized review processes than institutional funders

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. As a private family foundation making 33-38 grants annually from thousands of potential applicants, applicants should expect thorough review processes.

Success Rates

With approximately 33-38 awards made annually from total giving exceeding $9 million, the foundation maintains selective grantmaking standards. Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No public information is available regarding reapplication policies or waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented giving patterns and leadership statements, the following factors appear significant:

Demonstrated Leadership and Progress: Marsha Kleinheinz has stated the family is "very impressed with [organizations] that have made great progress during their tenure," suggesting they value evidence of effective leadership and institutional advancement.

Personal Connection and Family Values: The Kleinheinzes support "the future of [institutions] that are important to our family," indicating that personal experience with or connection to an organization strengthens proposals. Their daughter's experience at SMU's Meadows School led to a $1.5 million endowed chair gift.

Educational Equity and Social Mobility: John Kleinheinz's statement that "education is the lifeblood of social mobility" reflects the foundation's commitment to expanding educational access, particularly for underserved communities. Their charter school work demonstrates this priority in action.

Fort Worth Community Connection: Marsha Kleinheinz's extensive board service across Fort Worth cultural and charitable institutions demonstrates deep community engagement. Organizations embedded in Fort Worth's civic ecosystem may benefit from this local focus.

Arts and Cultural Excellence: Support for major institutions like the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Van Cliburn Foundation, and SMU's Meadows School of the Arts indicates appreciation for artistic excellence and cultural programming.

Multi-year Impact Potential: The foundation's major gifts (e.g., $1.5 million for an endowed chair) suggest interest in sustainable, long-term institutional capacity building rather than only short-term program funding.

Catholic Faith Alignment: Support for Catholic agencies and churches represents a distinct priority area for organizations with religious affiliation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic restriction is absolute: Only Texas-based organizations are eligible, with strong preference for Fort Worth-area impact
  • Relationship matters: The foundation's giving reflects personal connections and board involvement; networking within Fort Worth's philanthropic community may increase visibility
  • Educational equity resonates: Proposals demonstrating how arts or education advance social mobility align with stated leadership values
  • Scale varies significantly: The foundation supports both major institutional gifts (multi-million dollar endowments) and annual operating support across dozens of organizations
  • Call before applying: Without published guidelines, direct contact at (682) 747-5656 is essential to understand current priorities and application procedures
  • Review the 990-PF: The foundation's Form 990-PF filings (available through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer) list all grant recipients and amounts, providing insight into funding patterns
  • Demonstrate progress and leadership: The foundation values organizations showing tangible advancement and effective governance

References

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