The Zierk Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to organisations it has preselected, so a cold application will not be accepted; the sensible first step is to build a relationship or seek an introduction before writing anything.
- The filings show that 94% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so this is a relationship-led funder where existing recipients dominate.
- Half of its 39 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fell between $5,000 and $300,000, so a modest request sits within the typical range, though its largest grant was $4,100,000.
- Its grant record is led by children's education, so organisations working in that area have the clearest fit; no geographic focus is stated, though its grants have mainly been in Texas and California.
- Organisations that have not been preselected should not send an unsolicited request to this foundation.
Overview
The Zierk Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Dallas, 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 foundation’s primary activity is to support other organisations qualifying for exemption under section 501(c)(3), with trustees choosing recipients based on their knowledge of each organisation’s activities. Its grant record is led by children’s education. Recipients include schools and other education bodies, churches, universities, a food bank, and community organisations. Other recorded purposes include creating jobs for people facing barriers, teaching golf to young people, supporting hungry children, seniors and families, and supporting medical education, research and patient care.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Children’s education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Texas and California.
How to apply
It gives only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 94% 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 39 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Trustees choose organisations based on their knowledge of the organisations’ activities.
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 79% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to organisations The Zierk Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 13 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Saint Mark's School of Texas · To support the children education.$2,100,0002024 tax year
- Christ the King Catholic Church · To support the church.$200,0002024 tax year
- Southwestern Medical Foundation · To support medical education, medical research, and patient care in the north texas community.$100,0002024 tax year
- Hoover Institution · To support the university.$100,0002024 tax year
- Monterey Peninsula Foundation · To support the community.$55,0002024 tax year
- North Texas Food Bank · To support hungry children, seniors, and families.$50,0002024 tax year
- United to Learn · To support the school and community.$50,0002024 tax year
- Crystal Charity Ball · To support children's charities in dallas county.$10,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- David K Zierk — President & Treasurer
- Dawn M Zierk — Vice President & Secretary
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $4,759,101 | $4,685,000 | $36,553,873 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,015,351 | $2,990,000 | $40,612,223 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,715,483 | $2,697,500 | $41,800,801 | 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 Zierk Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Dallas, TX
Applying to The Zierk Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Dallas, TX