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The Addy Foundation

Annual Giving
$13.2M
Grant Range
$0K - $2.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13.2M (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $104 - $2.5M
  • Median Grant: $74K
  • Geographic Focus: North Texas region (primarily Dallas)
  • Total Assets: $93.4M

Contact Details

Address: 3232 McKinney Ave Ste 1500, Dallas, TX 75204-7402

Phone: 214-303-4947

Email: BLeal@AddyFoundation.org

Website: addyfoundation.org

Overview

The Addy Foundation was established in 2015 by Bill and Lydia Addy to serve as a legacy foundation that would continue their long history of philanthropy and volunteerism in North Texas beyond their lifetime. With $93.4 million in assets, the foundation distributed $13.2 million through 76 grants in 2023, representing a significant increase from $7.8 million in 2021. The foundation's mission is "to provide timely, meaningful support to organizations fostering innovative and proven solutions that best serve those in need." Their strategic approach emphasizes holistic community investment across five key areas: civic and community engagement, culture, education, health, and social services. Recent major gifts include a $15 million commitment to KERA (announced November 2025, with the new headquarters to be named after the foundation) and a $5 million gift to The Loop Dallas Plaza (October 2024).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Addy Foundation operates through an invitation-only grant portal, primarily serving organizations in the North Texas region. Grants are distributed across five strategic investment areas with no fixed deadlines or publicly available application cycles.

Grant Range: $104 - $2.5 million (median: $74,000)

Priority Areas

1. Civic and Community Engagement

  • Community education and volunteerism
  • Community growth and revitalization
  • Public spaces and infrastructure (e.g., The Loop Dallas Plaza - $5M)

2. Culture

  • Arts accessibility and cultural enrichment
  • Operational support for cultural institutions
  • Cultural studies and programming
  • Public media (e.g., KERA - $15M commitment for new headquarters)

3. Education

  • Early childhood education
  • Primary and secondary education
  • Special needs education
  • Workforce entry programs
  • Higher education (e.g., SMU Simmons School - $3.5M)

4. Health

  • Mental health services
  • Family planning and reproductive health (e.g., Parkland Health - $600K)
  • Medical resources and access

5. Social Services

  • Food insecurity
  • Digital divide
  • Shelter access
  • Senior well-being
  • Affordable housing (e.g., Builders of Hope CDC - $125K)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly list specific exclusions. As an invitation-only funder focused on North Texas, they do not accept unsolicited applications from organizations outside their identified areas of interest or geographic focus.

Governance and Leadership

Founders:

  • William M. Addy - Co-founder & Vice President (Princeton '82)
  • Lydia B. Addy - Co-founder & Vice President

The Addys have a long history of philanthropy both locally and nationally. Bill Addy founded ISN Software in 2001 (the same year multiple sources indicate foundation activities began, though formal establishment was 2015). The couple has made significant gifts to Princeton University, including naming Addy Hall and establishing multiple endowed funds. According to Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber '83: "Bill and Lydia Addy embrace service and philanthropy, both in their local community and at Princeton." Bill Addy serves as a KERA board member and co-chair of its Capital Campaign Committee. Lydia B. Addy currently serves as Chair of The Dallas Foundation's Board of Governors (a separate organization).

Key Staff:

  • Benjamin (Ben) Leal - President & Treasurer (joined 2020)
  • Sarah Scholl - Secretary

Ben Leal brings experience in community development and nonprofit management to his role leading the foundation's day-to-day operations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Addy Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded by invitation only through a private grant portal. The foundation operates through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships to identify organizations aligned with their strategic priorities in North Texas.

Organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications. Instead, grants appear to be initiated by the foundation's leadership and trustees based on their strategic interests, community needs assessment, and established relationships within the North Texas nonprofit sector.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's documented grant-making patterns, organizations that receive funding typically have one or more of the following connections:

  • Leadership Connections: Bill Addy serves on the KERA board and co-chairs its Capital Campaign Committee. Organizations where founders or trustees have board involvement may have stronger pathways to consideration.

  • Strategic Community Initiatives: The foundation has shown particular interest in major civic infrastructure projects like The Loop Dallas and KERA's new headquarters - transformational initiatives that align with multiple priority areas.

  • Established North Texas Organizations: Grant recipients are consistently well-established organizations with track records in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including institutions like Trinity Park Conservancy, Dallas Leadership Foundation, Fair Park First, and Parkland Health.

  • Philanthropy Southwest Network: The Addy Foundation maintains membership with Philanthropy Southwest, an association of philanthropic organizations. Connections through this network may provide visibility.

Contact President Ben Leal at BLeal@AddyFoundation.org with brief introductory information about your organization if you believe there is strong alignment with their stated mission and priority areas.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, the foundation operates on its own schedule based on trustee meetings and strategic planning cycles rather than fixed application deadlines.

Success Rates

Success rates are not available. With 76 grants awarded from an invitation-only pool in 2023, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - as the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, there is no formal reapplication process for declined proposals.

Application Success Factors

Since the Addy Foundation operates by invitation only, understanding their funding patterns and priorities is essential for organizations hoping to be considered:

Foundation's Mission Alignment: The foundation's stated mission focuses on "innovative and proven solutions" - suggesting they value both cutting-edge approaches and demonstrated track records. Organizations should be able to articulate both innovation and evidence of effectiveness.

Scale of Impact: Recent major grants suggest the foundation is comfortable making transformational investments in significant community infrastructure and institutional capacity. Their largest gifts ($15M to KERA, $5M to The Loop Dallas, $3.5M to SMU, $2.5M to Princeton) support major capital projects and institutional growth rather than purely programmatic grants.

Recent Grant Recipients as Models:

  • KERA ($15M, 2025): Long-term relationship with board involvement; addresses multiple priorities (education, culture, community engagement); capital project with lasting community benefit
  • The Loop Dallas ($5M, 2024): Civic infrastructure connecting communities; public space accessible to all; alignment with community revitalization priority
  • SMU Simmons School ($3.5M): Education focus; data-driven approach through Center on Research and Evaluation; workforce development implications
  • Trinity Park Conservancy ($1M, 2023): Public space stewardship; civic engagement; cultural enrichment
  • Parkland Health ($600K): Family planning services; addressing critical health access needs; established institutional partner
  • Dallas Leadership Foundation ($550K): Community development; civic engagement; leadership in North Texas nonprofit sector

Multi-Priority Alignment: Many successful recipients address multiple priority areas simultaneously. KERA combines culture, education, and civic engagement. The Loop Dallas addresses civic engagement, health (trail usage), and culture (public space). Look for ways your work intersects multiple foundation priorities.

Geographic Commitment: All grant recipients demonstrate deep roots and ongoing commitment to North Texas, particularly the Dallas area. The foundation prioritizes local impact above all.

Institutional Credibility: Recipients tend to be well-established organizations with strong governance, proven track records, and significant community presence. New or emerging organizations may face higher barriers to consideration.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only grantmaking: You cannot submit an unsolicited proposal; focus on relationship-building and raising organizational visibility within North Texas philanthropy circles
  • Significant scale: With grants ranging to $15M and a median of $74K, the foundation makes both transformational investments and mid-sized capacity grants
  • Multi-year relationships: Major recipients like KERA show evidence of long-term partnership rather than one-time grants
  • Board connections matter: Bill Addy's board service at KERA preceded their major gift; trustee relationships appear significant
  • North Texas focused: Geographic restriction is firm; all funding stays within the region
  • Holistic community impact: The foundation values projects that address multiple community needs across their five priority areas
  • Infrastructure and capacity: Recent patterns show strong interest in capital projects, organizational capacity, and institutional growth alongside programmatic work

References

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