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The Sarah and Ross Perot Jr Foundation

Annual Giving
$24.2M
Grant Range
$100K - $50.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $24,166,250 (2023)
  • Grant Range: $100,000 - $50,000,000
  • Average Grant: $483,325
  • Total Assets: $10.1 million (2024)
  • Number of Grants: 45 awards (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Dallas, TX; some national/international support

Contact Details

Foundation Address: Dallas, TX

EIN: 43-1964344

Note: This foundation does not have a public website or published contact information for grant applications.

Overview

The Sarah and Ross Perot Jr Foundation was established in 2002 by billionaire Ross Perot Jr., son of the late business magnate and presidential candidate H. Ross Perot, and his wife Sarah Fullinwider Perot. The private foundation has assets of approximately $10.1 million and distributed $24.2 million in grants in 2023. The foundation serves as the philanthropic vehicle for the couple's giving toward education, arts and culture, environment, and religious organizations in Dallas and Texas at large. Their philanthropy frequently follows a trail of board memberships and personal connections, with Sarah serving as foundation president and Ross Jr. as vice president. The foundation has been particularly active in supporting educational institutions, medical research, and cultural institutions in the Dallas area, with recent major gifts including a $50 million endowment to UT Southwestern Medical Center in 2022.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formally named grant programs but makes grants across several focus areas:

  • Higher Education & Medical Research: $100,000 - $50,000,000 (major institutional support, endowments, scholarships)
  • Arts & Culture: $100,000 - $500,000 (operating support, capital campaigns)
  • K-12 Education: $100,000 - $3,000,000 (often to institutions with family connections)
  • Human Services: $50,000 - $300,000 (basic needs, community support)
  • Religious Organizations: Variable amounts (Protestant and Episcopal churches)

Application Method: No public application process; grants appear to be made through trustee discretion and existing relationships.

Priority Areas

Education

  • Private schools with family connections (St. Mark's School of Texas, Episcopal School of Dallas)
  • Higher education institutions (Southern Methodist University, Vanderbilt University, Texas Christian University)
  • Medical scientist training programs and research (UT Southwestern Medical Center - $50 million gift in 2022)

Arts & Culture

  • Performing arts centers (AT&T Performing Arts Center - approximately $300,000 annually)
  • Museums (Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas Museum of Art, Kimbell Art Museum)
  • Symphony orchestras (Dallas Symphony Association - $100,000+ gifts)

Environment

  • Conservation and wildflower preservation (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at UT Austin)
  • Environmental education initiatives

Human Services & Basic Needs

  • Food security (North Texas Food Bank)
  • Emergency services (Salvation Army)
  • Community development organizations

Patriotic & Military Causes

  • Veterans support and research
  • Military family assistance (Spirit of America)
  • Scouting programs (Summit Bechtel Reserve)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's giving patterns suggest they do not fund:

  • Organizations outside their networks and board connections
  • International development (except through select organizations)
  • Direct individual assistance
  • Organizations without established track records

Governance and Leadership

Sarah Fullinwider Perot - Trustee, President/Secretary

  • SMU alumna (B.A. in Broadcast Journalism, 1983)
  • Current trustee of Southern Methodist University, serving on Executive Boards of the Meadows School, Dedman College, and the Tower Center for Political Studies
  • Trustee of the Smithsonian Institution
  • Trustee of the National Gallery of Art
  • Member of the National Council of the White House Historical Association
  • Board member of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello
  • Former development chair of the AT&T Performing Arts Center (served during the $300 million capital campaign)
  • Recipient of TACA Silver Cup Award and nominated for Texan of the Year

Henry Ross Perot Jr. - Trustee, Vice President

  • Estimated net worth of at least $2 billion
  • Real estate developer and founder of Hillwood Development Company
  • Chairman of The Perot Group
  • Board Chair of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Trustee of Vanderbilt University
  • Alumnus of St. Mark's School of Texas
  • Son of H. Ross Perot and Margot Perot

Darcy Glen Anderson - Trustee

J Y Robb III - Trustee, Assistant Secretary

Sarah Perot has stated that their foundation "focuses on education, basic human need and patriotic philanthropy," emphasizing areas where they can make meaningful impact in their community.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not maintain a website, publish grant guidelines, or accept unsolicited applications.

Grants are made through trustee discretion and typically follow existing relationships and board connections. Much of the couple's Texas philanthropy follows a trail of their board memberships and personal affiliations with institutions where they or their family have direct involvement.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's giving patterns, organizations that have received funding typically have one or more of the following characteristics:

Board Connections: Both Sarah and Ross Jr. serve on multiple boards. Organizations where the Perots have governance roles have received substantial support, including SMU, Vanderbilt University, and the Smithsonian Institution.

Dallas Arts & Education Community: Sarah Perot's deep involvement in Dallas cultural institutions as a former development chair of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and her board service at SMU suggests that networking within Dallas arts and education circles may provide visibility.

Medical & Scientific Research: The family's long-standing relationship with UT Southwestern (over $23 million in support starting in 1987, culminating in a $50 million gift in 2022) demonstrates commitment to medical research institutions with proven track records.

Family Educational Institutions: Schools attended by family members have received multi-million dollar support (St. Mark's School of Texas received approximately $3 million; Episcopal School of Dallas also supported).

Military & Veterans Organizations: Ross Perot Jr.'s involvement with Spirit of America and veterans research initiatives suggests pathways through military support networks.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available, as there is no formal application process. Major gifts appear to be negotiated directly with institutional leadership over extended periods.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates through relationships rather than open applications, the following factors appear critical based on their funding patterns:

Established Institutional Relationships: The foundation's largest grants have gone to institutions where the Perots have longstanding involvement. UT Southwestern received $50 million in 2022 after a 35-year relationship that began with a $20 million gift in 1987. This demonstrates the foundation's preference for deepening existing commitments rather than scattering support widely.

Board Service Alignment: Organizations where Sarah or Ross Jr. serve in governance roles receive consistent support. SMU (where Sarah is a trustee) has received approximately $1 million over recent years, and Vanderbilt University (where Ross Jr. is a trustee) received an $8 million commitment for scholarships.

Dallas Geographic Connection: While the foundation makes some national and international grants, the overwhelming majority of funding stays in Dallas. The AT&T Performing Arts Center has received approximately $300,000 annually, and local institutions like the Dallas Symphony Association ($100,000), Dallas Museum of Art, and Perot Museum of Nature and Science receive regular support.

Multi-Generational Impact: The $50 million gift to UT Southwestern specifically endowed the Perot Family Scholars Medical Scientist Training Program, ensuring the family name and impact continues in perpetuity. Large gifts often support programs that create lasting institutional change.

Excellence in Mission: The foundation supports nationally recognized institutions with proven track records. Recipients include major research universities, nationally acclaimed performing arts centers, and leading cultural institutions.

Family Legacy Alignment: Major gifts often honor family members or align with the broader Perot family's philanthropic legacy. The Perot Museum was named in honor of Ross Perot Sr. and Margot Perot after a $50 million gift from the siblings. The UT Southwestern program bears the Perot Family name.

Operating and Capital Support: The foundation provides both general operating grants (AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas Symphony) and major capital/endowment gifts (UT Southwestern's $50 million endowment, Perot Museum's $50 million capital gift).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this foundation operates entirely through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships, making it inaccessible through traditional grant applications
  • Board connections are paramount - virtually all significant grants trace back to institutions where Sarah or Ross Jr. have governance roles or family connections
  • Geographic focus is Dallas-centric - while some national grants are made, Dallas organizations receive the lion's share of funding
  • Relationship cultivation takes years - the $50 million UT Southwestern gift came after 35 years of partnership; this foundation rewards long-term institutional relationships
  • Grant sizes vary dramatically - from $50,000 to $50 million, suggesting flexibility based on project scope and institutional relationship depth
  • Average grant of $483,325 indicates substantial giving - with 45 grants totaling $24.2 million in 2023, most grants are significant six-figure commitments
  • Family educational institutions receive priority - schools attended by family members (St. Mark's, SMU, Vanderbilt) receive multi-million dollar support

References

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