The Moody Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Moody Foundation funds across education, social services and family well-being, health and wellness, and the arts, so most mission areas have a reasonable chance of fitting, though its giving is focused on Texas with priority given to Galveston, Austin, Dallas and rural areas.
- Typical grants run from $12,000 to $300,000, with about 8 in 10 of its 895 grants falling in that range and a median of $50,000, so a modest request in that band is realistic for most applicants, though a handful of much larger grants (up to $40,000,000) show it can fund at scale too.
- Application is by online inquiry describing the organisation and project, with an estimated budget and amount requested, and the process varies by programme; applicants are encouraged to show additional funding sources and a plan for sustaining the project after Moody funding ends.
- Of its grant dollars to organisations, 63% went to organisations it had already funded in the two previous filing years, suggesting a foundation that builds ongoing relationships, so new applicants should expect this to be a longer-term relationship to cultivate rather than a one-off ask.
- It does not fund private foundations that are not private operating foundations, or political organisations, political candidates, lobbyists or related organisations, so organisations in those categories should not apply through its standard grant process.
Overview
The Moody Foundation is a US private foundation based in Galveston, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Moody Foundation invests in charitable projects that strengthen Texas communities through innovative ideas and long-term improvements. It supports education, social services and family well-being, health and wellness, and the arts, while retaining flexibility across categories to respond to community needs. It welcomes organisations of all sizes, from large institutions and universities to small community-based groups, and seeks work with deep and sustained community impact. It prefers grants for specific programmes or projects but also considers general operating and capital requests. Its giving is statewide, with a key focus on Galveston, Austin and Dallas and special attention to rural areas with less access to philanthropic funding. The Education M-Pact Fund supports education institutions and non-profit organisations whose work advances early learning and postsecondary success.
Themes
- Education
- Social services and family well-being
- Health and wellness
- Arts
Geographic Focus
Texas. Priority: Galveston; Austin; Dallas; rural areas.
What They Don't Fund
- standard/regional grant process only: Private foundations that are not private operating foundations; Political organizations, political candidates, lobbyists or related organizations
How to apply
For standard grants, eligible organisations submit an online inquiry describing their organisation and proposed project, with an estimated total budget and the amount requested.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 63% 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 895 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation prefers grants for specific programmes or projects, while considering most types of funding requests.
- Applicants are encouraged to identify additional funding sources and explain how the project will remain sustainable after Moody funding.
- For the Education M-Pact Fund, priority goes to projects serving low-income or at-risk populations, supporting evidence-based programmes, working collaboratively, and addressing a supporting focus area.
- Funded organisations and projects are generally expected to submit an annual programme report approximately 12 months after funding.
- After reviewing an inquiry or application, the grants team decides whether a meeting or site visit would benefit the process.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 26% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 63% of grant dollars went to organisations The Moody Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 367 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $70,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of Texas at Austin Department of Intercollegiate Athletics · Assistance supporting the mission & purpose of University of Texas at Austin.$30,000,0002024 tax year
- Rice University · Assistance with The Moody Center for Student Life and Opportunity$10,000,0002024 tax year
- Southern Methodist University · Assistance with funding for Moody School of Graduate & Advanced Studies.$10,000,0002024 tax year
- Moody Gardens · Assitance with Attraction and Site Improvements - Moody Gardens$7,000,0002024 tax year
- University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston · General support$5,000,0002024 tax year
- Children's Medical Center Foundation · General support$3,313,5772024 tax year
- Lubbock County Expo Center · Assistance with Lubbock County Expo Center Arena$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Galveston Island Day SchoolMoody Early Childhood Center · Assistance with Moody Early Childhood Center-the Next Steps$1,966,6662024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Elizabeth Moody — Trustee / Secretary / Treasurer / Sr VP / Grants / CCO
- Ross R Moody — Trustee / Vice Chair
- Frances A Moody-Dahlberg — Trustee / Chair / CEO / President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $135,495,452 | $106,115,981 | $2,283,185,089 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $106,548,134 | $90,155,967 | $2,546,721,051 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $145,013,039 | $121,331,301 | $4,075,782,775 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to The Moody Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (409) 797-1500
- education@moodyf.org
- granteeportal@moodyf.org
- noreply@givingdata.com
- Galveston, TX
- moodyf.org
Applying to The Moody Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (409) 797-1500
- education@moodyf.org
- granteeportal@moodyf.org
- noreply@givingdata.com
- Galveston, TX
- moodyf.org