John Henry Dean III and Shirley Lawson Dean 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 works by invitation only, so a small charity should not send a cold application and should first look for a route to an introduction.
- Its stated purpose is general support, and its filed grants go mainly to health foundations, children's hospitals, animal rescue and protection organisations, museums, a food bank, arts, education and community charities, so a charity should check whether its work sits among these.
- Its grants have mainly gone to organisations in Texas, where it is based in Fort Worth, but no geographic focus is stated, so this is a pattern rather than a rule.
- Half of its 68 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less, and typically grants fall between $1,000 and $105,000, though the largest was about $3,500,000, so a modest request fits most of its giving.
- About 99% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, which suggests it mostly renews existing relationships, so a charity with an existing link is best placed to approach it.
Overview
John Henry Dean III and Shirley Lawson Dean 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 (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) 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 filed grant record shows support is provided as general support to charitable organisations, with the largest awards going to health foundations and children's hospitals. Other recipients include animal rescue and protection organisations, a science and history museum, a food bank, a mission, arts organisations, disaster relief, education and community charities. The record does not set out a more specific funding purpose or eligibility criteria; it shows grants to a range of organisations, predominantly in Texas. Its stated purpose in the filings is general support rather than a named sector.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Texas.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 68 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 60% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations John Henry Dean III and Shirley Lawson Dean 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 18 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Baylor Scott & White All Saints Health Foundation · General support$2,460,2002025 tax year
- Cook Childrens Medical Center · General support$2,005,0002025 tax year
- Saving Hope Animal Rescue · General support$105,0002025 tax year
- Arizona Humane Society · General support$44,1452025 tax year
- Fort Worth Delta Delta Delta Alumnae Charities · General support$10,3002025 tax year
- Childhelp · General support$10,0002025 tax year
- American Red Cross · General support$10,0002025 tax year
- Texas Health Resources Foundation · General support$5,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- David Neal — Director
- Raymond B Kelly III — Director
- Shirley Dean — Director
- John H Dean III — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $4,923,951 | $4,310,728 | $108,768,262 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $5,560,915 | $5,226,033 | $105,088,308 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $5,105,184 | $4,676,145 | $111,699,590 | Filing for 2025 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 John Henry Dean III and Shirley Lawson Dean 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 John Henry Dean III and Shirley Lawson Dean Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Fort Worth, TX