← Back to US Funders Directory

The Morris Foundation

Annual Giving
$9.3M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,328,872 (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: $93,529
  • Total Assets: $240.5 million
  • Number of Grants: 102 grants annually
  • Geographic Focus: Fort Worth, Texas (primarily Tarrant County)
  • Founded: 1986

Contact Details

Address: 3100 West 7th Street, Suite 245, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Phone: (817) 363-2000

Email: tmf@tmffw.com

Website: www.themorrisfoundation-fw.com

Overview

The Morris Foundation was established in 1986 by Jack B. and Linda C. Morris with an initial $20 million in assets following the sale of Jack's company, MPI Industries, to Leggett & Platt. Jack Morris, who had to leave school in the eighth grade during the Depression, revolutionized the carpet padding industry with his patented bonding material and held about 90 patents. Linda Morris was a former schoolteacher who sought out assignments in lower-income schools. Together, they formed the foundation with a clear vision: to benefit Fort Worth's most vulnerable people in the community where they lived, loved, and worked. The foundation has grown significantly since its inception, with assets reaching $90 million after Jack's death in 2004 and $179 million by 2018. Today, The Morris Foundation makes strategic investments that link education, healthcare, and social service systems across Fort Worth, supporting approximately 100 nonprofit agencies annually. The foundation prioritizes agencies that produce measurable outcomes and have lasting impact in the community. It is currently led by President and CEO Elizabeth R. Brands, Ed.D., who joined the foundation in 2016 as Head of Education Giving and was appointed CEO in 2022.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The Morris Foundation focuses on three interconnected domains:

  • Education: Supporting educational opportunities and programs that improve educational outcomes for Fort Worth residents
  • Healthcare: Funding health associations and programs that improve healthcare access and outcomes
  • Social Services: Supporting child development and welfare, social service agencies serving vulnerable populations, and programs that address systemic challenges

The foundation emphasizes comprehensive interventions, following Jack Morris's model that "comprehensive interventions and solutions are the only way to lasting change." They prioritize projects that accelerate improvement across their primary domains and bridge organizations that can offer one another mutual benefits.

What They Don't Fund

The Morris Foundation does not award grants to:

  • Individuals
  • International organizations
  • Capital programs
  • Political organizations
  • Scholarship programs

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Dr. Laura Anne Liles - Trustee (Jack Morris's daughter-in-law)
  • Michelle Morris Piotrowski - Trustee (Jack Morris's daughter)

Executive Leadership:

  • Elizabeth R. Brands, Ed.D. - President & CEO (appointed 2022)
    • Former teacher
    • Led state-wide Reading Partners program in Oklahoma
    • Joined The Morris Foundation in 2016 as Head of Education Giving
    • Helped found and lead Read Fort Worth
    • Holds Master's and Doctorate degrees in Education

Staff:

  • Kaitlin Guthrow - Director of Partnerships
  • Claire Armstrong - Executive Operations Manager

The trustees praised Brands as "a leader who listens, evaluates, and then acts" who "exemplifies the empathy and respect" of the foundation's founders.

Quote from Elizabeth Brands: "I am honored to carry forth the legacy and vision that Jack and Linda Morris had... listening, learning and committing to the ideal that prosperity is achievable for all."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Morris Foundation accepts applications from qualified organizations. Interested applicants should contact the foundation directly to discuss potential funding opportunities.

Contact for Applications: tmf@tmffw.com or (817) 363-2000

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity or qualified public entity
  • Must be classified as a public charity under section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Must demonstrate direct impact on improving education, healthcare, or social service outcomes for clients in Fort Worth
  • Must be prepared to develop and share metrics measuring program effectiveness

Decision Timeline

The foundation made 102 grants in 2023 and 101 grants in 2021, but only 1 grant in 2022, suggesting the foundation may operate on varying cycles or strategic periods for grant distribution. Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Contact the foundation directly for current application cycles and timelines.

Application Success Factors

The Morris Foundation prioritizes organizations that demonstrate:

  1. Measurable Outcomes and Impact: The foundation's priority is funding agencies that produce measurable outcomes and have lasting impact. Organizations must be prepared to develop and share metrics measuring program effectiveness.

  2. Systems-Level Thinking: The foundation seeks to fund projects that link education, healthcare, and social service systems across Fort Worth, and organizations that can offer mutual benefits to one another.

  3. Focus on Fort Worth's Most Vulnerable: Programs must demonstrate direct impact on improving outcomes for vulnerable populations in Fort Worth.

  4. Mission-Focused Operations: According to CEO Elizabeth Brands, "We really try to make sure that our processes enable those agencies... to do more of their work better rather than hindering them in paperwork and processes that distract and take away from them living out their missions."

  5. Comprehensive Interventions: The foundation follows Jack Morris's philosophy that "comprehensive interventions and solutions are the only way to lasting change," prioritizing programs that address root causes rather than symptoms.

Insights from Leadership:

Elizabeth Brands emphasizes a listening-first approach: The foundation values partnerships with nonprofits and understands the importance of funding: "We never underestimate the importance of those dollars that we send out through our grant checks, because they literally pay for the people and the programs at the 100 nonprofit agencies that we give money to on an annual basis."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation demonstrated flexibility: "We expedited the internal processes on our end. We tried to make some of the pieces of the process shorter and quicker for agencies who were applying," showing their commitment to supporting grantees during challenging times.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic focus is critical: Your organization must demonstrate direct impact on Fort Worth residents, particularly in education, healthcare, or social services
  • Emphasize systems-level change: The foundation values comprehensive interventions and organizations that link different systems together
  • Prepare to measure and share outcomes: Data-driven approaches and willingness to develop effectiveness metrics are essential
  • Target vulnerable populations: Align your mission with serving Fort Worth's most vulnerable people
  • Keep applications focused: The foundation values simplicity and doesn't want paperwork to distract from your mission
  • Build on founder values: Emphasize resilience, perseverance, hard work, and determination in your narrative
  • Contact before applying: Reach out to tmf@tmffw.com or call (817) 363-2000 to discuss your project before submitting a formal application

References

← Back to US Funders Directory