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The Dallas Foundation

Annual Giving
$68.9M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.1M

The Dallas Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $68.9 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Varies by grant cycle
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $50,000 (typical competitive grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Dallas County, Texas

Contact Details

Website: www.dallasfoundation.org

Phone: 214-741-9898

Email: communityimpact@dallasfoundation.org

Address: 3000 Pegasus Park Dr Ste 930, Dallas, TX 75247-6203

Grant Portal: grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=dallasfoundation

Overview

Established in 1929 as the first community foundation in Texas, The Dallas Foundation has cultivated a century-long legacy of trust and impact. The Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants since the turn of the 21st century, supporting a wide range of causes across Greater Dallas. Under the leadership of President & CEO Julie Diaz, the Foundation has experienced record-breaking growth in contributions and grantmaking. The organization's mission centers on bringing together people, ideas, and investments so individuals and families can reach their full potential. The Foundation distributes grants through donor-advised endowed funds, the Community Impact Fund (originally established in 1934), and Field of Interest Funds aligned with strategic priorities. Key focus areas include early childhood development (birth to age five) and community and economic resiliency initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Impact Fund: The Foundation's general endowment fund, awarded annually, supporting various causes including social services, education, healthcare, and the arts. Grant amounts typically range from $10,000 to $50,000.

Spring Grant Cycle: Focuses on limited interest areas including Animal Welfare, Arts & Culture, and Domestic Violence. The Foundation anticipates funding 5-10 nonprofits with one-year grants in each category. In Spring 2024, awarded over $700,000 to 26 organizations (averaging approximately $28,000 per grant).

Summer Grant Cycle: Strengthens well-being of children and families, particularly the most vulnerable. Focus areas include:

  • Critical Needs (food, clothing, emergency/transitional shelter, assistance for low-income older adults)
  • Prison Re-entry and Veterans Services

Racial Equity Fund: Recent cycle awarded $771,250 to 11 local nonprofits working in housing and neighborhood infrastructure, economic empowerment, workforce development, education, civic participation, and health.

Field of Interest Funds: Specific endowed funds supporting designated causes including arts, critical needs, animal welfare, older adults, low-income children, abused and neglected children, disabled children, blind or deaf children, and children with debilitating diseases.

Total 2023 Activity: Made 738 awards totaling $68,863,145 in grants.

Priority Areas

  • Early Childhood Development: Birth to age five programming ensuring strong and healthy starts for every child
  • Community and Economic Resiliency: Initiatives addressing Dallas's biggest issues including homelessness, food insecurity, education, and housing
  • Social Services: Programs serving Dallas County residents in various areas
  • Healthcare: Health-related initiatives and services
  • Education: Educational opportunities and support
  • Arts and Culture: Cultural programming and access
  • Basic Needs: Food security, shelter, and essential services

What They Don't Fund

  • Programs serving non-Dallas County residents (more than 50% of clients must be Dallas County residents)
  • Annual fundraising campaigns or event underwriting
  • Religious activities (though faith-based social services qualify if non-discriminatory)
  • Endowment funding
  • Individual grants
  • Start-up organizations (typically)

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO

Julie Diaz was appointed President & CEO in 2024 after serving as interim leader since May 2023. She joined the Foundation in 2019 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Diaz was named to the Dallas Business Journal's Texas 100 as one of 25 Dallas leaders poised to make significant impact in 2025.

Leadership Philosophy: Diaz identifies The Dallas Foundation's "superpower" as "understanding the current needs and how philanthropy can make a difference." She remains "committed to fostering relationships built on trust, engaging authentically with our community, and growing the charitable resources entrusted to the Foundation." She "cares deeply about the many issues facing children and families, among them basic needs, mental health, and educational opportunities for everyone" and "actively advocates for breaking down silos in community development and empowering philanthropic leaders to drive change across North Texas."

Board of Governors

Leadership Positions:

  • Lydia B. Addy (Chair): Co-founder & Vice President, The Addy Foundation
  • Elizabeth Carlock Phillips (Vice Chair): Executive Director of Phillips Foundation
  • Bridget Moreno Lopez (Secretary): Managing Partner at Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP

Governors:

  • Robert "Bobby" Bisor (Principal, First Western Capital, LLC)
  • Jaimee Eddington (Americas Regional Leader, Heidrick & Struggles)
  • Holland Gary (CFO, Carleton Companies)
  • Tim C. Hafer (EVP and CFO, Kronos Worldwide, Inc.)
  • Cynthia Yung Leano (President, The Koz Foundation)
  • Rev. Dr. Lael Melville (Co-founder and CEO, The Randolph W. and Dr. Lael C. Melville Family Foundation)
  • Trevor R. Rees-Jones (Rees-Jones Holdings)
  • Alex Rose (EVP, General Counsel & Secretary, Ashford, Inc.)
  • Susan Salka (Retired CEO, AMN Healthcare)
  • Amber Scanlan (Senior Vice President, PNC Bank)
  • Joe Schloesser (Vice President, ISN)
  • Courtney Underwood (Owner and CEO, Underwood Commercial Properties)
  • Ashley Watson (Managing Principal, Commerce House)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Dallas Foundation accepts grant applications through an online portal. Organizations must create an account or log in to access available grant opportunities.

Application Portal: grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=dallasfoundation

Letter of Inquiry Process: The Foundation accepts Letters of Inquiry (LOI) twice per year—once in spring and once in fall. Nonprofits submit LOIs for funds that best fit their organization's focus areas. For Field of Interest Funds offered in spring, applicants identify the specific fund aligned with their cause (arts, critical needs, low-income clients, animal welfare, etc.).

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must serve Dallas County residents (more than 50% of clients must be Dallas County residents; organization may be located outside the county)
  • Must be a qualified nonprofit organization
  • Must comply with non-discrimination policies in hiring and client services

Application Timing: Check the Foundation's website regularly for details on new grant cycle dates, as specific deadlines vary by grant cycle and fund type.

Decision Timeline

Timing varies by grant cycle. The Foundation distributes grants through multiple cycles throughout the year, including spring and summer competitive grant cycles, plus ongoing distributions from donor-advised and Field of Interest funds.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. However, recent data shows that in Spring 2024, 26 organizations received funding out of all applicants (specific application numbers not disclosed).

Reapplication Policy

For Successful Applicants: Organizations must wait three years after receiving a competitive grant from The Dallas Foundation before applying again. This policy ensures broader distribution of resources across the Dallas nonprofit community.

For Unsuccessful Applicants: Specific policies not publicly documented. Contact communityimpact@dallasfoundation.org for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Based on The Dallas Foundation's documented priorities and funded projects, successful applications demonstrate:

Geographic Alignment: Clear demonstration that more than 50% of clients served are Dallas County residents. This is a non-negotiable requirement for competitive grants.

Strategic Fit with Foundation Priorities: Strong alignment with early childhood development (birth to age five) or community and economic resiliency initiatives. As CEO Julie Diaz emphasizes, the Foundation focuses on "understanding the current needs and how philanthropy can make a difference" in areas like basic needs, mental health, and educational opportunities for children and families.

Collaborative Approach: Under Diaz's leadership, the Foundation has emerged as "a unifying force in Dallas philanthropy, driving collaboration among diverse stakeholders to address shared priorities." Applications that demonstrate partnerships and collaborative problem-solving align with this institutional value.

Evidence-Based Programs: The Foundation has historically supported proven models and innovative approaches, as evidenced by their 2005 investment in bringing Nurse-Family Partnership to Texas and their role in establishing the Zero-to-Five Funders Collaborative.

Service to Vulnerable Populations: Recent grant cycles explicitly prioritize programs serving "children and families—particularly those who are most vulnerable," including support for low-income older adults, prison re-entry, veterans, and populations experiencing critical needs.

Clear Outcomes and Impact: Applications should articulate specific outcomes related to Dallas's biggest community challenges, which Diaz identifies as "homelessness, food insecurity, education and housing."

Recent Examples of Funded Projects: The Foundation has supported organizations including Storey Lane Independent Living, Senior Citizens of Greater Dallas, Community Homes for Adults (CHAI), Society of St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy, The Warren Center, Early Matters Inc., and Shared Housing Center, demonstrating their commitment to basic needs, housing, early childhood, and vulnerable populations.

Non-Discrimination Commitment: The Foundation explicitly "does not knowingly award grants to organizations that discriminate in their hiring" or client services. Applications must demonstrate inclusive practices.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic Focus is Strict: Ensure more than 50% of your clients are Dallas County residents—this is an absolute requirement for competitive grants. Be prepared to document this.

  • Align with Current Strategic Priorities: Focus applications on early childhood development (birth-5) or community/economic resiliency. Explicitly connect your work to Dallas's biggest issues: homelessness, food insecurity, education, or housing.

  • Three-Year Waiting Period: If you've received a competitive grant from The Dallas Foundation, you cannot apply again for three years. Plan your funding strategy accordingly.

  • Demonstrate Collaboration: The Foundation values breaking down silos and bringing partners together. Highlight collaborative approaches and partnerships in your application.

  • Letter of Inquiry First: Most competitive grants require an LOI submission in spring or fall. Monitor the website for cycle dates and submit during the appropriate window for your focus area.

  • Know Your Fund: Field of Interest Funds are specific to certain causes. Carefully match your work to the appropriate fund rather than submitting generic applications.

  • The Foundation Values Innovation and Proven Models: Their history of supporting pilot programs (Nurse-Family Partnership) and collaborative initiatives (Zero-to-Five Funders Collaborative) shows openness to both evidence-based programs and innovative solutions to community challenges.

References

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