Jane And John Justin Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $5,994,500 (2023); $7,100,000 (2024)
Total Assets: $117,400,000 (2024)
Grant Range: $19,000 - $4,400,000
Average Number of Grants: 8 annually
Geographic Focus: Texas, primarily Fort Worth and surrounding areas
Application Process: No public application process - preselected organizations only

Contact Details

Address: 1300 S University Dr Ste 400, Fort Worth, TX 76107-5726

Phone: 817-335-1500

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Jane And John Justin Foundation was established as a 501(c)(3) private foundation in 1993, continuing the philanthropic legacy of Jane and John Justin, two of Fort Worth's most beloved philanthropists. Jane Justin (née Chilton) married John S. Justin Jr., grandson of H.J. Justin, founder of Justin Boots, in January 1953. Together, they became legendary figures in Fort Worth philanthropy, known for their visionary approach to community giving.

With total assets of $117.4 million and annual charitable disbursements of approximately $7.1 million (2024), the foundation operates as an investment-driven entity, generating revenue primarily through asset sales (82.6%) and dividends (15.2%). The foundation has left an enduring mark on Fort Worth through major gifts to healthcare, education, cultural institutions, and human services. Roy Topham, executive director of the foundation, describes John Justin's philanthropic approach: "John could see things down the road that others couldn't. He was a visionary." This forward-thinking philosophy continues to guide the foundation's grantmaking strategy today.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines or deadlines. All grants are made at the discretion of the board of directors to preselected charitable organizations.

Grant Range: $19,000 - $4,400,000 Typical Annual Grants: 8 awards per year

Priority Areas

Based on documented giving patterns, the foundation focuses on:

Healthcare: Major support for hospital infrastructure, specialty care facilities, cancer treatment, and in-patient medical care
Education: Higher education institutions, particularly in Fort Worth
Cultural Institutions: Museums, theaters, and community cultural facilities
Human Services: Organizations serving Fort Worth community needs
Religion: Christian organizations and faith-based initiatives

Geographic Focus: Texas, with a strong emphasis on Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Recent grants have been documented in Fort Worth, Arlington, Addison, Hemphill, and Manchaca.

Notable Funded Projects

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth: Lead gift for the Jane and John Justin Tower (a $10 million gift was announced; the tower bears their name)
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History: Support for the Jane & John Justin Foundation Omni Theater (opened December 2024), the world's first LED digital dome of its size in a museum
Cook Children's Hospital: Facilities bearing the Justin name
Texas Christian University (TCU): Facilities support

What They Don't Fund

As a foundation that only makes contributions to preselected organizations, they effectively do not fund:

Organizations outside their predetermined network
Unsolicited grant requests
Organizations outside Texas (based on documented giving patterns)

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a board of directors with minimal officer compensation ($6,000 per director in 2024), reflecting a commitment to directing resources toward charitable purposes rather than administration.

Board of Directors:

Alan Alpar, Director
E Glenn Gidel, Director
Mary Justin, Director
Joe Brown, Director
Roy Topham, Secretary/Treasurer and Executive Director

Roy Topham, as executive director, has articulated the foundation's approach to philanthropy, describing John Justin as someone who "could see things down the road that others couldn't" and was "a visionary." This philosophy of anticipatory giving—identifying emerging community needs and positioning grants for long-term impact—continues to guide the foundation's work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The foundation has explicitly indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. There is no online application portal, no grant application forms, and no published deadlines.

All grantmaking decisions are made at the discretion of the board of directors based on their strategic vision for Fort Worth's development and their existing relationships with charitable organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

The Jane And John Justin Foundation operates through established relationships with Fort Worth institutions rather than responding to unsolicited applications. Based on their documented giving pattern, the foundation has specific connections to Fort Worth's institutional landscape:

Strategic Focus Areas: The foundation's board follows guiding principles when representing Jane and John Justin's philanthropic vision to benefit the Fort Worth community. Their giving pattern shows sustained investment in major Fort Worth institutions rather than broad distribution across many organizations.

Relationship-Based Approach: With only 8 grants awarded annually from assets of $117.4 million, the foundation concentrates resources on significant, transformational gifts to organizations where they have established relationships. Recent giving has focused on healthcare infrastructure, cultural institutions like the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and educational institutions.

Board Connections: The five-member board, led by Executive Director Roy Topham, makes discretionary funding decisions. Organizations seeking to understand the foundation's priorities may benefit from examining the board members' broader civic involvement in Fort Worth, though there is no guarantee this will lead to funding opportunities.

Long-Term Institutional Partnerships: Rather than funding numerous organizations, the foundation appears to invest deeply in specific institutions over time, as evidenced by multiple named facilities (Jane and John Justin Tower at Texas Health, Jane & John Justin Foundation Omni Theater at Fort Worth Museum of Science and History).

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the preselected nature of grants and the small number of awards annually (8 grants), the foundation likely operates on its own internal timeline rather than publicized decision cycles.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Justin Legacy

Organizations that have successfully received support from the Jane And John Justin Foundation share common characteristics rooted in the couple's legacy and values:

Forward-Thinking, Transformational Projects: Roy Topham's description of John Justin as someone who "could see things down the road that others couldn't" and was "a visionary" reflects the foundation's preference for anticipatory giving—identifying emerging needs rather than simply responding to immediate crises. The foundation supported the world's first LED digital dome of its size in a museum (Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Omni Theater), demonstrating willingness to fund innovative, groundbreaking initiatives.

Fort Worth Institutional Development: The foundation's giving pattern shows deep commitment to strengthening Fort Worth's major institutions. Jane Justin "loved her city and the Western way of life, loved people and devoted her time to helping others," and this love of Fort Worth permeates the foundation's grantmaking. Recipients are typically established Fort Worth institutions with significant community impact.

Healthcare Infrastructure Priority: Healthcare represents a major funding priority, with substantial support for Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth (lead gift for the Justin Tower, plus a $10 million gift announced) and Cook Children's Hospital. The foundation appears particularly interested in capital projects that create lasting, named infrastructure.

Sustained, Strategic Investment: Rather than distributing many small grants, the foundation makes fewer, larger investments ($19,000-$4,400,000 range with only 8 annual grants). This approach aligns with their model of "perpetual commitment" and "sustained, strategic investment rather than one-time donations."

Cultural and Educational Anchors: Support for TCU and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History demonstrates commitment to cultural and educational institutions that serve as community anchors. These institutions align with the Western heritage and community values the Justins championed.

What Doesn't Work

Unsolicited applications: The foundation explicitly does not accept them
Organizations outside Fort Worth: Virtually all documented giving benefits Fort Worth institutions
New or unproven organizations: The foundation's pattern suggests preference for established institutions with track records
Small requests from the foundation's perspective: With grants ranging from $19,000-$4,400,000 and only 8 annual awards, the foundation appears focused on significant, impactful gifts rather than numerous smaller grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Access: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications, making it inaccessible through traditional grant-seeking approaches.
Preselected Network Only: All grants go to charitable organizations that have been preselected by the board of directors, based on existing relationships and strategic priorities.
Fort Worth Focus: The foundation's mission centers on benefiting the Fort Worth community, with virtually all documented giving supporting Fort Worth institutions.
Transformational Scale: With an average of only 8 grants per year and a grant range of $19,000-$4,400,000, the foundation makes significant, often transformational gifts rather than numerous smaller awards.
Healthcare and Cultural Infrastructure: Major documented support has gone to healthcare facilities (Texas Health, Cook Children's) and cultural institutions (Fort Worth Museum of Science and History), often for capital projects that create named, lasting facilities.
Visionary, Long-Term Investment: The foundation values "anticipatory giving"—identifying emerging needs and supporting forward-thinking projects that will have long-term community impact, following John Justin's philosophy of seeing "things down the road that others couldn't."
Board-Driven Decision Making: With a five-member board led by Executive Director Roy Topham, all funding decisions are made at the board's discretion based on their understanding of the Justins' philanthropic vision for Fort Worth.

References

All sources accessed December 23, 2025.