Rowling Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $7.2M - $10.2M
Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
Grant Range: $1,000 - $2,850,000
Geographic Focus: Texas-centric, U.S. national

Contact Details

Website: www.rowlingfoundation.org
Address: 4001 Maple Ave, Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75219
Note: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Overview

The Rowling Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2004 by billionaire Robert B. Rowling, owner of TRT Holdings Inc. (Omni Hotels & Resorts, Gold's Gym). With assets exceeding $50 million, the foundation distributes $7-10 million annually to approximately 70 organizations. The foundation exists "first and foremost, to help proclaim the name of Jesus Christ throughout the world," focusing exclusively on Christian evangelical organizations and ministries. The foundation is deeply rooted in the Dallas faith community and maintains strong ties to organizations like Young Life, where Robert Rowling serves on the national board of trustees. The foundation operates on a trustee-directed basis with no public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs but distributes funding through trustee discretion:

Major Grants: $250,000 - $2,850,000 (for flagship partners like Young Life)
Mid-Level Support: $50,000 - $250,000 (established ministry partners)
Community Grants: $1,000 - $50,000 (local churches and smaller ministries)

Priority Areas

Youth ministry and evangelism (particularly Young Life)
Church support and Christian education
Pro-life advocacy organizations
International Christian missions
Medical research and education (select institutions with personal connections)
Local Dallas-area education initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Organizations without Christian evangelical mission alignment
Secular social service organizations (with rare exceptions)
Organizations without existing relationships to the foundation
Individual requests or scholarships
General operating support for non-ministry organizations

Governance and Leadership

Trustees (all unpaid family members):

Robert B. Rowling - Chairman/Founder, billionaire businessman and owner of TRT Holdings Inc.
Terry H. Rowling - Spouse
Carrie A. Rowling - Family member
Travis Blake Rowling - Family member

Robert Rowling has stated regarding their giving philosophy: "The Rowling Foundation exists, first and foremost, to help proclaim the name of Jesus Christ throughout the world."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. According to their website and IRS filings, they "do not accept unsolicited requests for funds" and "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations." All grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on existing relationships and strategic alignment with the foundation's Christian evangelical mission.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on grant history and foundation connections, organizations have successfully engaged the foundation through:

Young Life network - Robert Rowling serves on the national board and is their largest supporter
Dallas Christian community connections - Particularly First Baptist Dallas and Park Cities Presbyterian Church
TRT Holdings business relationships - Through Omni Hotels or Gold's Gym corporate partnerships
UT Southwestern Medical Center - Where Rowling led a $500M capital campaign
Highland Park ISD connections - Local education initiatives in their community

Application Success Factors

The foundation's grant history reveals clear patterns for organizations they support:

Strong evangelical Christian identity - Recipients consistently emphasize proclaiming Jesus Christ
Youth focus - Young Life receives nearly 30% of all grant dollars distributed
Dallas connections - 70% of grants go to Texas-based organizations
Established track record - The foundation supports the same core group of organizations annually
Leadership relationships - Personal connections to the Rowling family or their network are essential
Demonstrated impact - Organizations like Alliance Defending Freedom and East West Ministries show measurable outcomes in their mission areas

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This is an invitation-only foundation with no public application process - relationship building is essential
Christian evangelical mission alignment is non-negotiable - 90%+ of grants go to explicitly Christian organizations
Young Life connection is the strongest pathway - they receive the largest grants consistently
Dallas-area presence significantly increases likelihood of support
Multi-year repeat funding is common for aligned organizations in their portfolio
Strategic entry points include board service overlap, Dallas Christian community involvement, or business relationships with TRT Holdings
Average grant size for new relationships tends to start smaller ($10,000-$50,000) before scaling up

References

Rowling Foundation Official Website (www.rowlingfoundation.org) - Accessed January 4, 2026
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Rowling Foundation Form 990-PF filings (2022-2024) - Accessed January 4, 2026
Charity Navigator Profile - Rowling Foundation - Accessed January 4, 2026
Grantmakers.io Database - Rowling Foundation Grant History - Accessed January 4, 2026
Cause IQ Nonprofit Database - Rowling Foundation Profile - Accessed January 4, 2026
Instrumentl Foundation Directory - Rowling Foundation Analysis - Accessed January 4, 2026
Bloomberg Business Profile - Robert B. Rowling and TRT Holdings - Accessed January 4, 2026