Houston J And Florence A Doswell Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,026,367 (2023)
• Total Assets: $30,466,335
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $50,000 - $15,000,000 (based on recent awards)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily North Texas (Dallas, Denton, El Paso), with some support in Washington state

Contact Details

Address: 6211 W Northwest Hwy Apt 2901, Dallas, TX 75225

Phone: 214-460-7582

Website: www.doswellfoundation.org (currently unavailable)

Overview

The Houston J. and Florence A. Doswell Foundation was established in 2008 by Florence Annette Doswell, an independent businesswoman and philanthropist who made her career in the oil and gas industry. After Florence's death in 2012 at age 100, the foundation has continued her "Legacy of Thoughtful Giving" under the leadership of CEO Beverly Fricke. The foundation manages assets of over $30 million and awarded $3 million in grants across 17 organizations in 2023. The foundation focuses on education, healthcare, human services, and children's welfare, with a strong preference for organizations serving North Texas communities. Recent major grants include a historic $15 million gift to establish Texas Woman's University's Doswell School of Aeronautical Sciences and a $4 million donation to Nexus Recovery Center for a medical building.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Education: The foundation has demonstrated strong commitment to educational initiatives, particularly those benefiting women. This includes nursing education at Texas Woman's University (TWU) and the establishment of an aviation school to address underrepresentation of women in the field.

Healthcare and Recovery Services: Significant support for medical facilities, nursing programs, and substance abuse recovery centers, including medically-assisted treatment programs.

Children's Welfare: Support for organizations protecting children, including child advocacy centers, foster care programs, and post-case mentoring for youth aging out of foster care.

Women's Services: Focus on programs serving women and families, particularly those experiencing homelessness or seeking recovery services.

Human Services: Support for homeless services, food banks, and organizations serving vulnerable populations.

Recent Grant Examples

• Texas Woman's University: $15 million to establish the Doswell School of Aeronautical Sciences (2023) - the largest foundation gift in TWU history
• Texas Woman's University: $3 million for nursing programs (first major gift from the foundation)
• Nexus Recovery Center: $4 million for the Doswell Medical Building (2023)
• The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center: $900,000 for renovations to The Pavilion shelter facility (2021)
• Dallas CASA: $584,931 over four years for a post-case mentoring pilot program for youth aging out of foster care (2023)

Organizations Regularly Supported

The foundation maintains ongoing relationships with several Dallas-area organizations including:

• Texas Woman's University
• The Bridge (homeless services)
• Dallas CASA
• Dallas Children's Advocacy Center
• Hope Cottage
• Nexus Recovery Center
• The Salvation Army
• TexProtects (child abuse prevention)
• North Texas Food Bank
• Dallas Life
• Scottish Rite Hospital for Children

Geographic Focus

Primary focus on North Texas communities including Dallas, Denton, and El Paso, with additional support for organizations in Washington state (reflecting the foundation leadership's connections to that region).

Governance and Leadership

Beverly Fricke - CEO and Chairman: Beverly Fricke leads the foundation and is the widow of Kenneth Fricke, who was Florence Doswell's nephew and the executor of her estate. Kenneth served as President and CEO of the foundation from 2012 until his death in 2021. Beverly has been instrumental in developing the foundation's strategic initiatives, including proactively approaching TWU Chancellor Carine Feyten with the idea to launch a flight school at the university to honor her late husband's dream and address the underrepresentation of women in aviation. Beverly attended Linfield University and is located in the Greater Seattle Area.

Rita Mills - VP of Administration

Stephen W. Roderick - VP of Development & Secretary

Stephanie Woods - VP of Health Care Affairs

John B. Mills Jr. - Executive Financial Officer

Key officers receive $50,000 in compensation according to IRS 990 forms.

Foundation Philosophy

The foundation continues Florence Doswell's "Legacy of Thoughtful Giving." Beverly Fricke has emphasized the foundation's commitment to "compassionate care in an up-to-date facility and program, thus restoring dignity" to those they serve, particularly women and families.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Doswell Foundation does not have a public application process. Based on publicly available information, grants appear to be awarded through board discretion and pre-existing relationships with organizations. The foundation has demonstrated a pattern of multi-year commitments and building long-term relationships with grantee organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

Long-term relationship building: The foundation demonstrates a clear pattern of repeat giving to organizations they support. Examples include continued support of Texas Woman's University over many years (from initial $3 million nursing gift to the later $15 million aviation school gift) and ongoing support for organizations like The Bridge.

Board-initiated grants: Foundation leadership takes a proactive approach to identifying funding opportunities. Beverly Fricke personally approached TWU Chancellor Carine Feyten with the aviation school concept, demonstrating that major initiatives sometimes originate from within the foundation rather than from applicant proposals.

Alignment with founder's legacy: Florence Doswell developed a deep appreciation for nursing during her husband's illness, which led to her substantial support for nursing education. Organizations whose missions align with causes that held personal significance to Florence Doswell may resonate with the foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Based on the foundation's approach, major grants appear to involve significant relationship development and strategic planning rather than following fixed annual cycles.

Application Success Factors

Mission Alignment

The foundation demonstrates particularly strong support for:

• Women-focused programs: Both the aviation school and nursing programs specifically aim to increase women's representation in underrepresented fields
• Dignity and compassion: Beverly Fricke's stated commitment to "restoring dignity" suggests programs that treat beneficiaries with respect and compassion are valued
• Facility improvements: Several major grants support building and renovation projects that improve service delivery infrastructure (Nexus medical building, The Bridge Pavilion renovations)
• North Texas impact: Geographic proximity to Dallas appears important, though the foundation maintains some connections to Washington state

Organizational Characteristics

Successful grantees tend to be:

• Established organizations with track records in their fields
• Organizations serving vulnerable populations (homeless individuals, women in recovery, children in foster care)
• Programs addressing systemic issues with long-term solutions
• Organizations that can articulate how funding will create lasting impact

Relationship-Based Grantmaking

The foundation operates through:

• Long-term partnerships rather than one-time grants
• Multi-year commitments (Dallas CASA received four years of funding)
• Deep engagement with organizational missions and leadership
• Strategic initiatives developed in collaboration with grantees

Strategic Vision

The aviation school gift demonstrates the foundation values:

• Addressing underrepresentation and access barriers
• Creating pathways to high-paying careers
• Programs with regional economic impact
• Innovative approaches to systemic problems

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this foundation operates through trustee discretion and established relationships with organizations they identify and vet
• Focus on building long-term relationships with foundation leadership if your organization serves North Texas communities in education, healthcare, children's welfare, or services for women
• Alignment with Florence Doswell's legacy matters - causes related to nursing, oil and gas industry connections, and support for vulnerable populations may resonate
• Geographic preference is strong for Dallas-area organizations, though some grants go to other Texas cities and Washington state
• Large-scale, transformational projects receive consideration - recent grants range from $500,000 to $15 million for significant facility improvements and program launches
• Women-centered missions receive particular attention - programs addressing underrepresentation of women or serving women and families are priority areas
• Infrastructure and capacity building are valued - multiple grants support facilities, equipment, and program expansion rather than only operating support
• Foundation leadership may initiate contact with organizations that align with their strategic vision, as demonstrated by Beverly Fricke's proactive approach to TWU

References

• Cause IQ. (2024). "Houston J and Florence A Doswell Foundation." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/houston-j-and-florence-a-doswell-foundation,262767135/
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. (2024). "Houston J And Florence A Doswell Foundation - Form 990 Returns." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/262767135
• Nexus Family Recovery Center. (2023). "Doswell Foundation Donates $4 Million to Nexus Recovery Center for Medical Building." https://nexusrecovery.org/doswell-foundation-donates-4-million-for-medical-building/
• Texas Woman's University. (2023). "Record gift to support new aviation program." https://twu.edu/news/2023/record-gift-to-support-new-aviation-program/
• Dallas Innovates. (2023). "TWU Aeronautics Takes Flight with 'Historic' Doswell Gift, Aims to Soar in Training Pilots." https://dallasinnovates.com/twu-aeronautics-takes-flight-with-historic-doswell-gift-aims-to-soar-in-training-pilots/
• The Bridge. (2021). "The Doswell Foundation Provides a Life-Changing Gift to The Bridge." https://www.bridgehrc.org/the-doswell-foundation-provides-a-life-changing-gift-to-the-bridge/
• Dallas Morning News. (2012). "Florence Doswell, who became philanthropist after career in oil and gas, dies at 100." https://www.dallasnews.com/news/obituaries/2012/11/07/florence-doswell-who-became-philanthropist-after-career-in-oil-and-gas-dies-at-100/
• North Dallas Gazette. (2023). "Doswell Foundation funds new mentoring program at Dallas CASA." https://northdallasgazette.com/2023/01/25/doswell-foundation-funds-new-mentoring-program-at-dallas-casa/
• Dallas Morning News. (2023). "Texas Woman's University flies high with $15 million gift to launch an aviation school." https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2023/05/16/texas-womans-university-flies-high-with-15-million-gift-to-launch-an-aviation-school/

All sources accessed January 2026.