The Deason Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation says it contributes only to organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests, and no public application route is stated, so a cold proposal is unlikely to be considered.
- If your work falls within its stated areas of Christian agencies and churches, education, medical research, or criminal justice and free-enterprise reform, the realistic route is an introduction through someone who already knows the foundation.
- The filing shows that 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in an earlier filing, so it leans heavily towards existing relationships.
- Half of its grants to organisations were $35,000 or less, so a request near that figure is a sensible reference point, though the largest grant was about $1,000,000.
- No geographic focus is stated, and the filing shows grants mainly in Texas, Virginia and Illinois, but that pattern is not a rule about who may apply.
Overview
The Deason Foundation is a US private foundation based in Dallas, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (smu.edu, earthx.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its giving as supporting Christian agencies and churches, education and medical research. It also works with charities and political organisations to pass legislation intended to empower people in poverty through criminal justice reform, education reform and free-enterprise programmes. The filing's grant purposes mostly say general support, and recipients include universities, policy institutes and other public charities. Its published descriptions therefore cover faith-based work, learning, medical research and policy reform, in partnership with charities and political organisations.
Themes
- Christian agencies and churches
- Education
- Medical research
- Criminal justice reform
- Free enterprise
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Texas, Virginia and Illinois.
How to apply
The foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; no public application route is stated.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 99% 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 46 grants to organisations were $35,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 35% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to organisations The Deason Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 33% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 17 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Southern Methodist University · General support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Stand Together Foundation · General support$900,0002024 tax year
- Turning Point USA · General support$290,0002024 tax year
- National Medal of Honor Museum · General support$250,0002024 tax year
- America First Policy Institute · General support$100,0002024 tax year
- Ut Southwestern · General support$100,0002024 tax year
- Blexit Foundation · General support$80,0002024 tax year
- SM Wright Foundation · General support$25,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Nick Foster — Vice President And Secretary
- Scott Letier — Advisory Employee
- Douglas Deason — Vice President
- Darwin Deason — President And Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,030,007 | $2,825,000 | $55,040,907 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,086,697 | $2,930,000 | $72,823,954 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,991,791 | $2,842,500 | $42,610,692 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to The Deason Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Dallas, TX
Applying to The Deason Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Dallas, TX