Pollock Foundation - Dallas, TX

Quick Stats

• EIN: 75-6011985
• Annual Giving: $831,000 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: $9,000 - $125,000
• Median Grant: $63,000
• Number of Grants: 13 (2023)
• Geographic Focus: Dallas, TX; Little Rock, AR; Washington, DC
• Foundation Type: Private family foundation
• Established: 1955

Contact Details

Address: 2626 Howell St Ste 830, Dallas, TX 75204-0806

Phone: (214) 871-8155

Website: No public website available

Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Pollock Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1955 in Texas, with total assets of approximately $17.3 million. The foundation is managed by two unpaid trustees, Lawrence S. Pollock III and Richard Pollock, both members of the Pollock family who have deep roots in Dallas business and philanthropy. Lawrence "Lonnie" Pollock III served as President and CEO of Pollock Company (later Pollock Orora) for 25 years before his passing in February 2025. The foundation operates as a traditional family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking, focusing its funding efforts primarily in Dallas, with additional grants made to organizations in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Washington, DC. In 2023, the foundation distributed $831,000 across 13 grants, with awards ranging from $9,000 to $125,000. The foundation does not maintain a public website or formal application process, operating instead through relationships and trustee discretion.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Pollock Foundation does not have formally structured grant programs. Instead, grants are awarded on a rolling basis at trustee discretion. Based on publicly available grant data:

• Major Grants: $100,000 - $125,000 (typically to established institutions)
• Standard Grants: $50,000 - $75,000
• Smaller Grants: $9,000 - $30,000

All grants appear to be for general operating support rather than specific projects.

Priority Areas

Based on confirmed grant recipients and trustee affiliations, the foundation supports:

Healthcare and Human Services:

• North Texas Food Bank (documented recipient - $125,000 pledge to endowment fund)
• Parkland Health Foundation ($100,000 for general operations)
• Children's Medical Center of Dallas ($100,000 for general operations)
• Visiting Nurses Association (through related foundation)

Arts and Culture:

• Dallas Museum of Art (Richard Pollock serves on the Board of Trustees)
• Dallas Symphony Orchestra (through related foundation)
• Dallas Public Library (through related foundation)

Education:

• Educational institutions in Texas and Arkansas
• Support for schools and colleges

Community Development:

• Organizations addressing poverty and hunger
• Social service organizations serving vulnerable populations

Geographic Focus

The foundation focuses its grantmaking in three specific locations:

• Dallas, Texas (primary focus)
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Washington, DC

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, based on the foundation's grantmaking pattern:

• Organizations outside their three geographic focus areas are unlikely to receive funding
• Individual requests or scholarships (foundation is classified as grantmaking to organizations only)
• International organizations
• Political campaigns or lobbying activities

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Lawrence S. "Lonnie" Pollock III (1955-2025)

• Former President and CEO of Pollock Company/Pollock Orora (25 years)
• Served as trustee without compensation
• Known for his commitment to fighting hunger in North Texas
• Established company day of service for employees to volunteer at North Texas Food Bank
• Made significant personal and foundation contributions to community organizations
• Quote from North Texas Food Bank: "Lonnie will be remembered as a dedicated hunger fighter who supported the North Texas Food Bank personally and through his role as CEO of Pollock."

Richard Pollock

• Serves as trustee without compensation
• Board member, Southwestern Medical Foundation
• Board of Trustees, Dallas Museum of Art (serving on Budget and Finance Committee as of 2024)
• Major donor to Dallas Museum of Art (contributed $134,759 to Education Endowment Funds in 2016; $76,265 in 2008)
• Brother of Lawrence S. Pollock III
• Active in Dallas civic and philanthropic circles

Both trustees are well-respected for their community involvement, volunteerism, and civic engagement in Dallas.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Pollock Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates as a traditional private family foundation where grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their philanthropic interests and existing relationships.

Key characteristics:

• No formal application forms or online portal
• No published application guidelines or deadlines
• Grants appear to be initiated by trustees rather than through competitive application processes
• Funding decisions are made on a trustee-discretion basis
• No public announcement of grant opportunities

This is consistent with many small Texas private family foundations, which are typically family-operated with decision-making taking place within family structures and established relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

While the Pollock Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations seeking potential future consideration might consider:

Building Authentic Relationships:

• Richard Pollock is active with Dallas Museum of Art, Southwestern Medical Foundation, and has demonstrated interest in healthcare and cultural institutions
• The late Lonnie Pollock was particularly passionate about fighting hunger and food insecurity in North Texas
• Both trustees have shown commitment to Dallas-based organizations serving vulnerable populations

Geographic Considerations:

• Organizations must operate in Dallas, Little Rock (AR), or Washington, DC
• Dallas organizations appear to receive the majority of grants
• Strong local reputation and established track record are essential

Areas of Known Interest:

• Based on documented giving patterns, the trustees support healthcare institutions, food security initiatives, cultural organizations (particularly art museums and symphonies), and social service organizations
• General operating support grants are preferred over project-specific funding

Note: Given that this is a small family foundation with no formal application process, unsolicited inquiries are unlikely to be productive. Organizations would benefit more from establishing connections within the Dallas philanthropic community and building awareness of their work through shared networks.

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates on a rolling grant cycle with no set deadlines. Grants are made throughout the year based on trustee decisions. There is no publicly available information about how long decisions take, as the process is informal and relationship-based.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation made 13 grants in 2023, 18 grants in 2022, and 17 grants in 2021, suggesting a small number of organizations receive funding annually.

Reapplication Policy

No public information available. Given the informal nature of the foundation's grantmaking and the fact that several organizations appear to receive recurring support (based on trustee affiliations), repeat funding is possible for organizations that have established relationships with the trustees.

Application Success Factors

While the Pollock Foundation does not have a formal application process, understanding the trustees' priorities and approach can be valuable:

Key Insights from the Trustees' Giving Patterns

Focus on Impact in Dallas: Both trustees are deeply committed to improving their local community. Lonnie Pollock's dedication to the North Texas Food Bank exemplified his hands-on approach—not only did he pledge $500,000 to their endowment through the foundation, but he also organized annual company volunteer days for employees to pack food boxes. This suggests the trustees value organizations that create tangible local impact.

General Operating Support: All documented grants are for "general operations," not specific projects. This indicates the foundation trusts organizations to use funds where most needed and may prefer to support organizational sustainability over restricted project funding.

Established Institutions: Grant recipients include major Dallas institutions like Parkland Health Foundation, Children's Medical Center of Dallas, Dallas Museum of Art, and Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The foundation appears to support established, well-known organizations with strong track records.

Arts, Healthcare, and Human Services: The documented giving pattern shows consistent support across three sectors: healthcare institutions, cultural organizations (especially arts), and human services (particularly food security and vulnerable populations).

Long-term Relationships: Richard Pollock's ongoing involvement with organizations he supports (serving on boards, making personal contributions alongside foundation grants) suggests the trustees prefer ongoing partnerships with organizations rather than one-time gifts.

Values-Driven Philanthropy: Lonnie Pollock's emphasis on "the importance of time" alongside financial giving—organizing volunteer days and personally engaging with causes—suggests the foundation values hands-on involvement and authentic commitment to mission.

Understanding the Family Foundation Model

As a private family foundation operating since 1955, the Pollock Foundation represents traditional Texas philanthropy:

• Decisions are made by family members who know their community well
• Relationships and reputation within the Dallas philanthropic community matter significantly
• The trustees bring business acumen (Lonnie as CEO of a century-old company) and civic leadership (Richard on multiple boards) to their philanthropic decision-making
• Operating without staff means a streamlined, personal approach to grantmaking

Related Foundation

Note that there is a separate but related Robert Gerard Pollock Foundation (EIN: 46-1509349) at the same address, which also makes grants in Dallas. In 2023, it awarded $730,000 across 10 grants to organizations including Dallas Museum of Art ($150,000), Dallas Symphony Orchestra ($150,000), Temple Emanu-El ($100,000), Visiting Nurses Association ($30,000), Creative Arts Center ($20,000), Planned Parenthood ($20,000), Lumin Education ($10,000), and Dallas Public Library. This related foundation has a similar focus on Dallas arts, culture, healthcare, and social services.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No formal application process: This is a trustee-directed family foundation with no public application portal, guidelines, or deadlines. Traditional grant-seeking strategies will not work here.

• Relationship-based grantmaking: Success depends on connections within Dallas philanthropic circles and establishing authentic relationships with organizations the trustees already support or serve.

• Geographic restriction: Must operate in Dallas, Little Rock, or Washington, DC, with Dallas organizations receiving the vast majority of grants.

• Established organizations preferred: Grant recipients are well-known institutions with strong track records, substantial operating budgets, and community recognition.

• General operating support: The foundation provides unrestricted funding for organizational operations rather than project-specific grants.

• Healthcare, arts, and human services focus: Documented giving shows consistent support for major healthcare institutions, cultural organizations (particularly visual arts and music), and human services addressing food insecurity and vulnerable populations.

• Values civic engagement: Both trustees serve on boards of organizations they support and demonstrate personal commitment beyond financial contributions, suggesting they value authentic partnerships and hands-on involvement.

References

1. Cause IQ - Pollock Foundation Profile. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/pollock-foundation,756011985/

2. Instrumentl - Pollock Foundation 990 Report. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/pollock-foundation

3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Pollock Foundation. Retrieved from https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/756011985

4. Candid Foundation Directory Online - Pollock Foundation Profile (POLL003). Retrieved from https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=POLL003

5. GuideStar - Pollock Foundation Profile. Retrieved from https://www.guidestar.org/profile/75-6011985

6. North Texas Food Bank. "North Texas Food Bank Remembers Lonnie Pollock." Retrieved from https://ntfb.org/blog-north-texas-food-bank-remembers-lonnie-pollock/

7. Dallas Morning News. "Lawrence Pollock Obituary (1955-2025)." Retrieved from https://obits.dallasnews.com/us/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/name/lawrence-pollock-obituary?id=57528329

8. PatronView. "Richard Pollock: List of Recent Donations." Retrieved from https://patronview.com/patrons/richard-pollock

9. Southwestern Medical Foundation. "Officers & Board of Trustees." Retrieved from https://swmedical.org/officers-board-of-trustees/

10. Grantable - Pollock Foundation Profile. Retrieved from https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/pollock-foundation-us-foundation-756011985

11. Texas Commission on the Arts. "Private Foundation Support." Retrieved from https://www.arts.texas.gov/resources/tools-for-results/fundraising-development/private-foundation-support/

12. Cause IQ - Robert Gerard Pollock Foundation Profile. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/robert-gerard-pollock-foundation,461509349/

All sources accessed February 2026.