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Hoblitzelle Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.1M
Grant Range
$35K - $5.0M
Decision Time
2mo

Hoblitzelle Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,089,150 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 6 weeks after submission deadline
  • Grant Range: Varies by category (Median: $75,000; Maximum up to $5M for medical projects)
  • Geographic Focus: Texas, primarily Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex
  • Application Frequency: Rolling deadlines (3 cycles annually)
  • Reapplication Window: Once every 3-4 years

Contact Details

Address: 5556 Caruth Haven Lane, Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75225
Phone: (214) 373-0462
Email: info@hoblitzelle.org
Website: https://hoblitzelle.org

Pre-Application Support: The foundation strongly encourages preliminary contact before submitting formal proposals. Contact info@hoblitzelle.org or call (214) 373-0462 to discuss your project.

Overview

Established in 1942 by Karl and Esther Hoblitzelle for charitable, scientific, literacy, and educational purposes within Texas, the Hoblitzelle Foundation has approved over 3,500 grants totaling more than $276 million since inception. With approximately $132.9 million in assets, the foundation made 65 grants in 2024 totaling $7,089,150. The foundation is "committed to improving and investing in the cultural, civic, educational, medical, and environmental landscape of Texas, mostly serving areas surrounding the DFW metroplex." President and CEO Katie H. Robbins describes herself as a "relationship-driven leader and strategic thinker" who seeks investments that "uplift Dallas and its residents, address critical community needs, and strengthen the city's civic assets."

The founders believed foundations should "bring into being a project or program of great promise and worth which might fail or be long deferred" due to lack of funding elsewhere—a philosophy of "telescoping time" that remains central to the foundation's approach today.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Hoblitzelle Foundation exclusively supports capital projects of nonprofit organizations in Texas. Capital projects include building construction, acquisition, renovation, equipment, vehicles, and technology.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis across three submission cycles annually (see Application Process section below).

Seven Funding Categories with Historical Totals (Through FY2025)

CategoryCumulative InvestmentAverage GrantMaximum Grant
Medical$70,718,381$133,400$5,000,000
Education$65,931,206$93,100$1,500,000
Social Services$55,200,000 (est.)$50,300$1,000,000
Civic & Community$41,040,780$73,700$2,000,000
Arts & Culture$27,231,515$96,900$2,000,000
Disability Services$9,200,000 (est.)$34,500$250,000
Environment & Animals$6,936,674$56,900$1,000,000

Priority Areas

Capital Infrastructure Projects:

  • Building construction, acquisition, and renovation
  • HVAC systems, elevators, and facility upgrades
  • Equipment and vehicles
  • Technology and digital infrastructure

Geographic Preference: Grants primarily serve Dallas and surrounding areas. When grants are made outside this geographic preference, it is typically due to historical interest exhibited by the founder, current interest by a board member, or the large scope of impact the grant would have on that particular region of Texas.

Specific Category Focus Areas:

  • Social Services: Larger organizations focusing on meeting basic needs, alleviating poverty, and creating workforce housing
  • Education: Established institutions, schools serving underserved populations (particularly south Dallas)
  • Disability Services: Solutions of scale and programs focusing on work readiness
  • Crisis Response: Emergency funds for natural disasters and pandemic impacts

Recent Grant Examples (2024)

  • $500,000 to Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation for the Southern Gateway Deck Park
  • $400,000 to Fair Park First toward a capital campaign for the new community park
  • $250,000 to Dallas Theater Center toward capital priorities
  • $200,000 to Deep Vellum Publishing toward expansion and renovation of Deep Ellum bookstore
  • Grants to support new Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) establishment
  • Capital campaign support for Brain Research Tower for Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute
  • Renovation support for Margot Perot Center at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
  • Forest Theater restoration project support

What They Don't Fund

  • Debt retirement
  • Endowments
  • Media productions
  • Operations (rare exceptions initiated by the Foundation)
  • Programs (rare exceptions initiated by the Foundation)
  • Research (rare exceptions initiated by the Foundation)
  • Scholarships (rare exceptions initiated by the Foundation)
  • Religious purposes
  • Projects outside the State of Texas
  • Individuals

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Executive Leadership:

  • Jere W. Thompson, Jr. - Chairman
  • Michael S. Rawlings - Vice Chairman (Dallas Mayor 2011-2019)
  • Holland P. Gary - Treasurer

Board Members:

  • Rafael M. Anchía (State Representative)
  • Jeanne Whitman Bobbitt
  • Nita Prothro Clark
  • Jennifer Staubach Gates
  • Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D.
  • Catherine M. Rose
  • Lizzie H. Routman (Horchow Family legacy member)

Honorary Lifetime Directors: Linda P. Custard, John W. Dayton, Paul W. Harris, Lydia H. Novakov, Caren H. Prothro, Deedie Potter Rose, George A. Shafer, Karen L. Shuford (first female Chair in the foundation's 78-year history), William T. Solomon, Kern Wildenthal, M.D., Ph.D., J. McDonald Williams

Staff

Katie H. Robbins - President & CEO (since January 2018)
Oversees grantmaking, finances, and investments. Described as a "relationship-driven leader and strategic thinker" who seeks investments that "uplift Dallas and its residents, address critical community needs, and strengthen the city's civic assets."

Amie Karnes - Operations Manager (since July 2024)
Manages administrative functions, grant applications, databases, and board coordination.

Leadership Philosophy

According to President Katie Robbins: "Mr. and Mrs. Hoblitzelle wanted Dallas to be a great city and that means having quality and excellence across all areas – medical, social services, education, and the arts."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Pre-Application Contact: The foundation strongly encourages all applicants to contact them before submitting an application. Reach out to info@hoblitzelle.org or call (214) 373-0462 to discuss your potential grant opportunity.

Submission System: Applications are submitted through an online grants management portal at grantinterface.com.

  • Returning applicants: Contact the foundation for login credentials
  • New applicants: Create an account to begin
  • Support resources: Tutorial videos and documentation available through the grant administrator

Required Documentation (Submit Before Applying)

  1. IRS tax-exemption letter
  2. Most recent Form 990
  3. Latest audited financial statements
  4. Board of Directors list
  5. Three-year donor/foundation support documentation

Decision Timeline

The foundation reviews proposals three times annually:

Submission WindowDecision Announced
February 15 – April 15May
June 15 – August 15September
October 15 – December 15January

Decision Timeframe: Decisions arrive approximately 6 weeks after the grant request deadline.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose success rates or what percentage of applications are approved. However, recent award statistics show:

  • 2024: 65 awards
  • 2023: 67 awards
  • 2022: 70 awards
  • 2021: 96 awards

Reapplication Policy

Critical Restriction: Grants are typically not made to an organization more than once every three to four years.

Waiting Period: Organizations must wait a full year between submission attempts, even if the previous application was unsuccessful.

Reporting Requirements

Grant recipients must email info@hoblitzelle.org to report progress on matching conditions or submit grant reports.

Application Success Factors

The "Telescoping Time" Philosophy

Founder Karl Hoblitzelle articulated a vision that remains central to the foundation's grantmaking today: "A foundation may bring or help bring into being a project or program of great promise and worth which might fail or be long deferred because of lack of financial support from other sources."

What This Means for Applicants: The foundation values projects that accelerate important community work that might otherwise be delayed indefinitely. Emphasize how your capital project will enable your organization to expand impact sooner rather than later.

Geographic Alignment

While the foundation will fund projects across Texas, Dallas/Fort Worth area organizations have a significant advantage. When funding outside the primary geographic area, successful projects typically demonstrate:

  • Connection to founder's historical interests
  • Current board member interest
  • Exceptionally large scope of regional impact

Capital Project Specificity

The foundation's focus on capital projects is strict. Successful applications:

  • Clearly articulate tangible capital needs (building, equipment, technology, vehicles)
  • Avoid requesting operational or programmatic support
  • Demonstrate how the capital investment will have lasting impact
  • Include specific project costs and timelines

Category-Specific Priorities

  • Social Services: Favor larger organizations addressing basic needs, poverty alleviation, and workforce housing
  • Education: Established institutions receive priority; schools serving underserved communities (particularly south Dallas) are strongly favored
  • Disability Services: Projects demonstrating scale and work readiness components stand out
  • Medical: Highest average and maximum grants suggest major institutional projects are competitive

Pre-Application Contact is Essential

The foundation explicitly encourages preliminary contact. Organizations that engage with foundation staff before applying can:

  • Confirm project alignment with current priorities
  • Receive guidance on application strengths/weaknesses
  • Build relationships that inform decision-making
  • Avoid wasting time on misaligned requests

Demonstrated Community Need

Given the foundation's emphasis on "critical community needs" and "strengthening civic assets," successful applications clearly articulate:

  • Specific community problem being addressed
  • Why this capital investment is the solution
  • How the project fits into broader community development
  • Evidence of community support and demand

Financial Stability and Organizational Capacity

Required documentation (Form 990, audited financials, three-year donor history) suggests the foundation seeks:

  • Organizations with demonstrated financial management
  • Diverse funding sources beyond single foundation dependence
  • Track record of completing capital projects
  • Strong governance (Board of Directors list required)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Contact them first: The foundation explicitly encourages pre-application contact. Use this opportunity to discuss project fit and receive guidance before investing time in a full application.

  • Capital projects only: This is non-negotiable. Your request must be for tangible capital needs (building, equipment, technology, vehicles)—not operations, programs, research, or endowment.

  • Dallas area advantage: While all Texas nonprofits are eligible, Dallas/Fort Worth organizations receive priority. If you're outside the metroplex, demonstrate exceptional regional impact or board interest.

  • Emphasize "telescoping time": Frame your capital project as something that will accelerate important work that would otherwise be delayed or impossible without this support.

  • Plan for the long term: With only one grant every 3-4 years allowed, this needs to be a significant capital investment. Make it count.

  • Understand the submission windows: With only three decision cycles per year and 6-week decision timeframes, plan your application timeline carefully.

  • Build financial credibility: Strong Form 990s, audited financials, and diverse donor history signal organizational capacity to successfully complete capital projects.

  • Be category-strategic: Understand where your organization fits in the seven funding categories and tailor your application to category-specific priorities (e.g., work readiness for disability services, serving underserved communities for education).

References

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