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Dian Graves Owen Foundation

Annual Giving
$22.9M
Grant Range
$3K - $4.0M

Dian Graves Owen Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $22,945,087 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Varies (average grant: $130,370)
  • Geographic Focus: National (focus on Texas, particularly Abilene)
  • Total Assets: $178.8 million (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 400 Pine St, Suite 1000, Abilene, TX 79601
Phone: (325) 677-1367
Grants Administrator: Jane Varner Beard
Website: No public website

Note: The foundation does not appear to have a website or public application portal.

Overview

The Dian Graves Owen Foundation was established in 1996 and granted charitable status in February 1998. Based in Abilene, Texas, the foundation operates as an independent private grantmaking foundation with assets totaling $178.8 million and annual giving of approximately $22.9 million (2023). The foundation was created following the 1997 merger of Owen Healthcare, Inc. with Cardinal Healthcare, with Mansefeldt Investment Corporation managing its investments. Led by founder Dian Graves Owen Stai as Chairman and Treasurer, and Tucker S. Bridwell as President, the foundation gives primarily for the arts, education, health, and human services. While it has deep roots in the Abilene community, the foundation supports organizations across the United States, including major cities like New York, Chicago, and Dallas, as well as smaller Texas communities such as Buffalo Gap and Rising Star. The foundation made 176 grants in 2023, with an average grant size of $130,370.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with defined parameters. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees and leadership. Recent major grants indicate significant support for:

  • Education: Major grants to McMurry University ($1 million+), including leadership support for the Walter F. and Virginia Johnson School of Business endowment campaign
  • Community Development: Abilene Heritage Square ($4 million) for the transformation of the historic Abilene High School building
  • Community Foundations: Community Foundation of Abilene ($3 million)
  • Youth Development: Stone Owl Scholars scholarships ($3,000 per student for participants in the 9-week Stone Owl Academy program)
  • Social Services: United Way Foundation of Abilene ($200,000 in 2023)

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on four primary areas:

  • Arts: Support for arts organizations and cultural initiatives
  • Education: University endowments, scholarship programs, educational facilities
  • Health: Healthcare-related organizations and initiatives
  • Human Services: Social service organizations, disaster relief (support for Big Country VOAD), community development

Geographic Preferences

While the foundation supports organizations nationally, there is a strong emphasis on the Abilene, Texas area and the "Big Country" region. The foundation also funds projects in major metropolitan areas across multiple states, including Texas, California, and New York.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private foundation operating primarily through trustee discretion, funding priorities are determined by the foundation's leadership.

Governance and Leadership

Dian Graves Owen Stai - Chairman and Treasurer
Founder and philanthropist Dian Graves Stai (born 1940) is an Abilene native who co-founded Owen Healthcare, Inc. with her first husband, Jean H. Owen. After her husband died in a plane crash in 1979, she took over as chairman despite financial troubles and family pressure to sell, successfully turning the company around. Following the 1997 merger with Cardinal Healthcare, she created both Mansefeldt Investment Corporation and the Dian Graves Owen Foundation. Inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1996, Stai has directed over $180 million to diverse recipients in Abilene and across the country. On her philanthropic philosophy, she states: "There is no greater joy than passing time, thoughts, prayers, help — and yes, monetary gifts — to others."

Tucker S. Bridwell - President (Compensation: $475,000 annually)
Bridwell has served as president of Mansefeldt Investment Corporation and the Dian Graves Owen Foundation since September 1997, managing investments for both entities. A 1973 and 1974 graduate of Southern Methodist University, he is a major supporter of educational institutions personally and through the foundation. He and his wife Gina L. Bridwell have made significant personal philanthropic contributions, including a $15 million gift to SMU's Cox School of Business.

Jane Varner Beard - Grants Administrator
Beard oversees the foundation's annual grantmaking efforts across the Big Country region. A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (1974-1977), she was named Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas in 1986. She transitioned from law to philanthropic work and has been instrumental in driving initiatives that have profoundly impacted the Abilene community. She received an honorary doctorate from Hardin-Simmons University and spoke at their 2024 Convocation.

Staff: The foundation employs 5 people.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Dian Graves Owen Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not maintain a website, online application portal, or publicly available application guidelines. As a private foundation, grants appear to be made through trustee discretion, invitation, and pre-existing relationships with organizations.

Given the foundation's significant involvement in the Abilene community and documented grants to major institutions, grantmaking decisions are likely made based on:

  • Initiatives identified by the foundation's leadership and board
  • Long-standing relationships with organizations in priority areas
  • Community needs identified through the foundation's local connections
  • Strategic partnerships with other Abilene-area foundations

Organizations seeking support should note that the foundation has a Grants Administrator (Jane Varner Beard) who oversees grantmaking activities, suggesting some level of formal grant review process, even if not publicly advertised.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly documented. Given the foundation's assets and annual giving ($22.9 million distributed in 176 grants in 2023), grants are likely approved on an ongoing basis rather than in fixed cycles.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation made 176 grants in 2023, 186 in 2022, and 154 in 2021, indicating consistent grantmaking activity.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available due to the absence of a formal public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's private nature and discretionary grantmaking approach, the following factors appear significant based on documented grants:

Alignment with Abilene Community Priorities
Major documented grants show strong support for transformational projects in Abilene, such as the $4 million to Abilene Heritage Square for converting the historic Abilene High School into a multipurpose community facility, and multi-million dollar support for McMurry University's business school endowment. Organizations serving the Abilene and Big Country region appear to receive priority consideration.

Focus on Four Core Areas
All documented grants align with the foundation's stated priorities of arts, education, health, and human services. Educational institutions, particularly those creating endowments or capital improvements, have received significant support.

Capacity for Large-Scale Impact
With an average grant size of $130,370 and documented grants ranging from $3,000 scholarships to multi-million dollar institutional gifts, the foundation supports both individual student opportunities and transformational institutional projects. Major grants appear reserved for projects with long-term community impact.

Collaborative Approach
The foundation has partnered with other Abilene organizations, including the Community Foundation of Abilene ($3 million grant) and Big Country VOAD (disaster relief coalition), suggesting value placed on collaborative community efforts.

Relationship-Based Grantmaking
Foundation leadership, particularly Dian Graves Stai and Tucker Bridwell, have personal connections to funded institutions. Stai has spoken at McMurry University events, and the foundation's leadership has deep roots in Abilene's civic and philanthropic community.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - This foundation operates through trustee discretion, relationships, and invitation. Traditional grant applications are not accepted through a public portal.

  • Strong geographic focus on Abilene, Texas - While the foundation supports organizations nationally, transformational grants appear concentrated in the Abilene and Big Country region where the foundation has deep community ties.

  • Average grant of $130,370 with wide range - The foundation makes both smaller grants ($3,000 scholarships) and multi-million dollar transformational gifts ($4 million to Heritage Square, $1 million+ to McMurry University).

  • Four core funding areas - Arts, education, health, and human services are the documented priority areas. Educational endowments and capital projects have received significant support.

  • Relationship-driven philanthropy - Foundation leadership's personal involvement in funded organizations (speaking engagements, board service, community partnerships) suggests relationships matter significantly.

  • Focus on transformational community impact - Major grants support projects that create lasting community assets (Heritage Square transformation, university endowments) rather than short-term program support.

  • Contact the Grants Administrator - Organizations interested in the foundation's support should consider reaching out to Jane Varner Beard, Grants Administrator, at the Abilene office (325-677-1367) to inquire about potential alignment with foundation priorities.

References

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