The Summerlee Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2.7 million (2023 990 filing)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 2-6 months (depending on board meeting cycle)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $55,000
• Geographic Focus: Animal Protection: Americas and British Isles; Texas History: Texas only
• Total Assets: $76.4 million (2023)

Contact Details

Website: https://summerlee.org/
Email: info@summerlee.org
Phone: 214-363-9000
Address: 5556 Caruth Haven Lane, Dallas, TX 75225

Programme-Specific Contacts:

• Animal Protection Programme Director: Mitchell Fox
• Texas History Programme Director: Jessica L. Hamlin (jhamlin@summerlee.org)
• Applicants are encouraged to contact programme directors before applying

Overview

Founded in 1988 by Dallas philanthropist Annie Lee Roberts, the Summerlee Foundation is a mission-driven, proactive grantmaker with approximately $76.4 million in assets and $2.7 million in annual giving (2023). The Foundation has awarded $65 million in grants since inception. Governed by a seven-member board of animal and history experts and community leaders, Summerlee focuses exclusively on two areas: alleviating fear, pain, and suffering of animals and promoting animal protection; and researching, promoting, and documenting Texas history. The Foundation emphasises supporting underserved communities and organisations where their contributions can have an "out-sized impact." Summerlee has been recognised as the Outstanding Foundation by the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and remains actively involved in national and regional philanthropy networks including Animal Grantmakers, Exponent Philanthropy, and Philanthropy Southwest.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Animal Protection Programme: $5,000 - $30,000 (average: $10,000)

• Three funding cycles per year (February, May, September board meetings)
• Online application portal opens at designated times (typically early July for the September cycle)
• Portal closes upon reaching 150 submissions (can fill within hours)
• Important: Cat-related applications (TNR, spay/neuter, rescue, adoptions, transport, sanctuaries) are NO LONGER accepted by Summerlee. Cat funding is now administered exclusively through United Spay Alliance's Summerlee Sustainable Solutions grant programme.

Texas History Programme: $5,000 - $55,000 (average: $10,000)

• Application portal opens periodically for board consideration (typically early February for the May cycle)
• Pre-application consultation strongly recommended

Priority Areas

Animal Protection Programme:

• Dogs: Sterilisation, vaccination, and humane euthanasia programmes outside the US, particularly in Latin America and First Nations communities
• Wildlife/Carnivores: Mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and black bears through ethical research and advocacy/educational campaigns
• Marine Mammals: Marine mammal health, well-being, and anti-captivity efforts (dolphins and orcas)
• Sanctuaries: GFAS-accredited sanctuaries for hands-on animal care, emergency rescue, food, medications, and housing improvements
• Farmed Animal Welfare: Programmes addressing suffering of farmed animals
• Emergency Animal Cruelty Cases: Funding for crisis situations

Note on Cat Funding: Applications for cat-related programmes are no longer accepted directly by Summerlee Foundation. Organisations seeking cat programme funding should apply to United Spay Alliance's Summerlee Sustainable Solutions grant programme.

Geographic Focus: The Americas and British Isles, with special emphasis on underserved and challenged communities

Texas History Programme:

• Archaeology, archives, libraries, media, museums, educational institutions, preservation, publications, and scholarly research
• Strong preference for projects in underserved cultural and geographic areas of Texas
• Projects with National Register Status or Texas Historical Commission designation
• Well-qualified participants/consultants and strong community support

What They Don't Fund

Animal Protection Programme:

• Individuals
• Capital campaigns, endowments, or buildings
• Government agencies
• Organisations with large cash reserves
• Endangered species reintroduction programmes
• Land preservation
• Emergency grants
• Organisations where animal protection is not the primary purpose
• Cat-related programmes (redirected to United Spay Alliance)

Texas History Programme:

• Individuals (except independent scholars with 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor)
• Religious purposes
• Monuments and memorials
• Courthouse restoration
• Lobbying efforts
• General operating support (with rare exceptions)
• Salaries/overhead (except in special circumstances)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

• Chairman: John W. Crain
• Vice Chair: Mary Volcansek, Ph.D.
• Treasurer: Jim Bruseth, Ph.D.
• Assistant Secretary: Hon. David D. Jackson (Founding Director)
• Directors: Melanie K. Anderson, Joan Casey, Ron Tyler, Ph.D., Kimberly F. Williams

Officers:

• President and Texas History Programme Director: Jessica L. Hamlin
• Animal Protection Programme Director: Mitchell Fox
• Director of Administration: Amy J. Askari

About the President: Jessica Lee Hamlin served for eleven years as Executive Director of Shumla Archaeological Research and Education Center (a global leader in rock art research) before assuming the presidency of the Summerlee Foundation. Gary N. Smith, who served as President for ten years, transitioned to Co-Trustee with the Summerfield G. Roberts Foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Animal Protection Programme:

• Online application portal through Foundant grants management system
• Portal typically opens in early July (10:00 AM Central Time) for the September grant cycle
• Portal closes upon reaching 150 Letter of Interest submissions (can happen within several hours)
• No applications accepted by mail or email
• Review guidelines before creating account to ensure proposal alignment
• Cat programmes: Do not apply to Summerlee; apply instead to United Spay Alliance's Summerlee Sustainable Solutions programme

Texas History Programme:

• Online application portal typically opens in early February for May board consideration
• Strongly recommended: Contact Jessica Hamlin (jhamlin@summerlee.org) to discuss project before submitting Letter of Interest
• Applications submitted through Foundant online portal

General Application Guidance:

• Foundation will answer questions about funding priorities and requirements
• Will provide guidance on what they expect in proposals without sharing previous successful proposals
• Will not decline proposals for requesting too much money, but expect requests tailored to their funding history
• Research recent grant lists to understand typical funding patterns

Decision Timeline

• Board meetings held three times annually: February, May, and September
• Timeline from Letter of Interest submission to decision varies by cycle (approximately 2-6 months)
• Applicants notified of decisions after board meetings

Success Rates

• 188-190 grants awarded in 2024 from total assets of $76.4 million
• Portal closes after 150 submissions for Animal Protection Programme, suggesting highly competitive process
• One source indicates 0% of new applicants were funded, suggesting preference for organisations with existing relationships or alignment

Reapplication Policy

• Organisations must wait 18 months between receiving a Summerlee grant and applying for another
• This policy allows the Foundation to "reach more and new organisations rather than fund the same organisations year after year"
• Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent cycles

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment:

• The Foundation states it "rarely funds an organisation indefinitely" and expects applicants to understand this
• Tailor grant requests to the Foundation's funding history—review recent grant lists to understand typical amounts and project types
• For Texas History: projects in underserved geographic/cultural areas of Texas have higher priority
• For Animal Protection: focus on "the most overlooked, underfunded, and heavily exploited animals" with emphasis on "small and medium-sized lean and agile groups"

Mission Fit:

• Animal protection must be the organisation's primary purpose for Animal Protection grants
• Foundation emphasises supporting organisations where their contribution can be "utilised quickly with an out-sized impact"
• Projects should align with specific priority areas (dogs, wildlife, marine mammals, sanctuaries, farmed animals) or Texas history disciplines

Pre-Application Engagement:

• For Texas History grants, contacting the programme director before applying is strongly recommended
• Foundation staff will provide guidance on funding priorities and requirements
• "Good communication is the key to maintaining a relationship of mutual respect and trust"

Application Quality:

• Proposals should be tailored to the Foundation's funding history and priorities
• Include well-qualified participants/consultants (Texas History)
• Demonstrate strong community support (Texas History)
• Show how project serves underserved communities

Organisational Characteristics:

• Must be 501(c)(3) public charity (or governmental unit for Texas History)
• Organisations with large cash reserves are excluded
• Preference for lean, agile organisations

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

Animal Protection (FY 2024-2025):

• Project Coyote: $30,000 for "Capacity Building for Wild Carnivore Advocacy"
• Animal Place: $25,000 for "Sanctuary Self-Guided Tour Audio-Visual & Educational Signage"
• Animal Balance: $24,000 for "Galapagos Islands Humane Population Control and Disease Management Programme"
• American Wild Horse Conservation: $20,000 for "Virginia Range Humane Fertility Control Programme"
• Project Chimps: $15,000 for "Lifelong Sanctuary: Forever Care for Retired Lab Chimps"

Texas History (Recent Cycle):

• Museum of the Big Bend: $55,000 for "Yana and Marty Davis Map Research Center"
• Witte Museum: $35,000 for "Texas Preservation: From the Alamo to the Astrodome"
• University of North Texas: $35,000 for "The Texas Yawp: A Collaboratively Built, Open-Source Texas History Textbook Project"
• University of Texas at Austin: $25,000 for "Voces of the Vietnam War"
• Sugarloaf Pictures LLC: $20,000 for "Tonkawa Documentary"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Act quickly when portal opens: The Animal Protection portal closes after 150 submissions and can fill within hours—be prepared to submit immediately when it opens
• Cat programmes redirected: Do not apply to Summerlee for cat-related work; apply instead to United Spay Alliance's Summerlee Sustainable Solutions programme
• Pre-application contact is critical: Especially for Texas History grants, contact programme directors before applying to discuss your project and ensure alignment
• Study recent grants: Review their grant lists to understand typical funding amounts and project types—they expect requests tailored to their funding history
• Emphasise underserved focus: Highlight how your project serves underserved communities, overlooked animals, or underserved geographic/cultural areas of Texas
• Show outsized impact: Demonstrate how you are a "lean and agile" organisation where their grant can be "utilised quickly with an out-sized impact"
• Wait 18 months between applications: Plan your funding requests strategically given the mandatory 18-month waiting period between grants
• Be patient with competitiveness: With approximately 190 grants awarded annually and high competition (portal fills in hours), persistence may be necessary

References

1. The Summerlee Foundation Official Website: https://summerlee.org/ (Accessed January 2026)
2. "What We Fund" - The Summerlee Foundation: https://summerlee.org/what-we-fund/ (Accessed January 2026)
3. "Animal Protection Programme Overview" - The Summerlee Foundation: https://summerlee.org/animal-protection-program-overview/ (Accessed January 2026)
4. "Texas History Programme Overview" - The Summerlee Foundation: https://summerlee.org/texas-history-program-overview/ (Accessed January 2026)
5. "FAQs" - The Summerlee Foundation: https://summerlee.org/faqs/ (Accessed January 2026)
6. "How to Apply" - The Summerlee Foundation: https://summerlee.org/animal-protection-program-overview/how-to-apply/ (Accessed January 2026)
7. "Our Founder" - The Summerlee Foundation: https://summerlee.org/our-founder/ (Accessed January 2026)
8. "Officers and Directors" - The Summerlee Foundation: https://summerlee.org/officers-and-directors/ (Accessed January 2026)
9. "Animal Protection Recent Grant List" - The Summerlee Foundation: https://summerlee.org/animal-protection-program-overview/animal-protection-recent-grant-list/ (Accessed January 2026)
10. "Texas History Recent Grant List" - The Summerlee Foundation: https://summerlee.org/texas-history-program-overview/texas-history-recent-grant-list/ (Accessed January 2026)
11. Summerlee Foundation Profile - Cause IQ: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/summerlee-foundation,752252355/ (Accessed January 2026)
12. Summerlee Foundation 990 Report - Instrumentl: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/summerlee-foundation (Accessed January 2026)
13. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Summerlee Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/752252355 (Accessed January 2026)
14. "Summerlee Sustainable Solutions Grants" - United Spay Alliance: https://www.unitedspayalliance.org/summerlee-grant/ (Accessed January 2026)