The Meadows Foundation Incorporated

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $27.1 million (2023)
Total Assets: $974+ million
Decision Time: 4-5 months
Grant Range: $10,000 - $100,000+ (typical)
Geographic Focus: Texas (statewide, with up to 50% in Dallas-Fort Worth)
Application Method: Rolling

Contact Details

Address: 3003 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, TX 75204

Phone: 214-826-9431 or 800-826-9431

Website: www.mfi.org

Grant Portal: bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com

Email: webgrants3003@mfi.org (grant-related inquiries)

Overview

Founded in 1951 by Algur H. Meadows and Virginia Meadows, The Meadows Foundation has grown into one of the largest private philanthropies in Texas, with assets exceeding $974 million. The foundation has disbursed over $1.4 billion to 3,800 organizations across all 254 Texas counties throughout its 75-year history. In 2023, the foundation awarded $27.1 million to 169 organizations. The foundation is a private family foundation governed by 15 board members representing four generations across seven family branches. Beyond grantmaking, the foundation operates the Meadows Conference Center, a facility serving over 53,000 people annually through free access for nonprofit, educational, and civic organizations. The foundation prioritizes five high-impact initiatives: postsecondary completion, educator preparation, water conservation, depression, and homelessness. Peter M. Miller served as President and CEO from 2020 until his announced retirement at the end of 2024.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Meadows Foundation provides grants throughout Texas in six program areas, with approximately 85% of funding dedicated to specific programs and projects, while the remainder supports capital projects and general operations.

Core Program Areas:

Arts & Culture: Supporting organizations that enable Texans to experience the arts, reflecting the founders' passion for arts' ability to illuminate and reflect communities
Civic & Public Affairs: Strengthening community leadership, civic collaboration, nonprofit capacity, and animal welfare initiatives
Education: Emphasizing early reading, instructor quality, resource access, and high expectations for students
Environment: Preserving ecological resources while addressing Texas's projected population growth to 51.5 million by 2070
Health: Promoting healthcare innovation and strengthening mental health service ecosystems across Texas
Human Services: Supporting vulnerable populations with compassionate service systems

Five High-Priority Initiatives (receive special emphasis):

Postsecondary Completion
Educator Preparation
Water Conservation
Depression
Homelessness (particularly reducing homelessness in Dallas area)

Recent Grant Examples:

VIDA (Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement): $100,000 for nursing and allied health career programs in the Rio Grande Valley (2024)
University of Houston-Victoria Nonprofit Center: $50,000 to support the Nonprofit Leadership Academy (2024)
Street to Home Initiative: Part of $30 million investment to rehouse 100+ individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in downtown Dallas (2024)

Grant Range: Typically $10,000 - $100,000, though larger grants awarded for major initiatives

Priority Areas

What They Fund:

Well-planned programs by organizations with capacity to execute
Projects with confirmed or identified co-funding from other sources
Initiatives with quantitatively measurable outcomes and potential to scale impact
Programs where foundation support is vital to success
Capital projects (limited)
Program-related investment loans (limited)

Geographic Preference: Up to 50% of funding targets Dallas-Fort Worth area; all grants must benefit Texas residents

What They Don't Fund

Individual persons or scholarships
Fundraising events or annual drives
Out-of-state travel
Single artistic performances
Unrelated conferences
Organizations not serving Texas residents

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (15 members)

Leadership:

Robert A. Meadows – Chair of the Board of Trustees
Peter M. Miller – Trustee, Director, President & CEO (retiring end of 2024/2025)
Linda Perryman Evans – Trustee & Director (Former President & CEO 1997-2019, board member since 1976, great-niece of founders)

Additional Trustees & Directors:

Mike Fernandez, Debbie Gill, George C. Lancaster, Karen Leigh Meadows, Michael Meadows, Alfreda B. Norman, George Tomas Rhodus Jr., David M. Rosenberg, Jean Silvertooth, Joel Williams III, Layton Wilson, John Broadfoot Jr.

Corporate Officers

Peter M. Miller – President & Chief Executive Officer
Paula N. Herring – Vice President of Finance & Treasurer
Meghan Parry – Vice President of Communications
Candace Barnes – Vice President of Human Resources
Laura Bowers – Corporate Secretary & Chief of Staff

Leadership Philosophy & Quotes

Peter M. Miller (outgoing CEO) reflected on his tenure: "Leading The Meadows Foundation has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together, from addressing homelessness to transforming mental health care and advancing education."

In his exit interview, Miller advised his successor: "Listen. The temptation when you're coming into any new job is to talk so people know how smart you are. Don't make any decisions early, because everyone is viewing you as the 'yes' person. Listen, learn, and don't do anything big early. Lastly, figure out what problem you're solving when you're deciding."

On bringing business discipline to philanthropy, Miller noted: "Whether it's how we do performance reviews or merit-based compensation, it's a business. My revenues are the portfolio, but it's so much more meaningful."

The foundation emphasizes that "Al and Virginia Meadows entrusted the Foundation's governance to family members and public-spirited advisors to share their joy of giving," with this responsibility spanning four generations across seven family branches united in benefiting Texas residents.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application System: Online portal at bbgm-apply.yourcausegrants.com (new portal) or apply.yourcausegrants.com/apply/ for saved applications

Process:

Create account during login (first-time applicants)
Complete online application (progress saves automatically)
Immediate email acknowledgment upon submission
Assigned program officer serves as main contact throughout process
Staff may request additional information as needed

Letter of Intent: Not required or encouraged; submit complete proposal

Pre-Application Support: Staff encourages calling with questions and may schedule meetings to discuss projects before full application submission

Eligibility

Qualified 501(c)(3) public charities or public entities serving Texas residents
Organization headquarters need not be in Texas, but programs must benefit Texas
No grants to for-profit organizations or individuals

Decision Timeline

Submission Timing: Apply at least 4-5 months before funding is needed
Review Period: Typically 4-5 months from submission to decision
Board Meetings: January, April, June, September, November
Notification: Within two weeks of board decision

Success Rates

Specific success rate data not publicly disclosed. The foundation awarded 169 grants in 2023 from applications received throughout the year.

Reapplication Policy

Frequency Limit: One proposal per organization every 12 months
After Decline: May resubmit 12 months from previous submission date (not decision date)
Most Common Decline Reason: Cannot fund every qualified request due to resource limitations

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Priorities

The board prioritizes programs and projects that align with their six program areas and five high-priority initiatives (postsecondary completion, educator preparation, water conservation, depression, homelessness). Applications should demonstrate clear connection to these focus areas.

Essential Elements for Strong Applications

The foundation explicitly states successful proposals should demonstrate:

Well-Planned Programs: Projects designed by organizations with proven capacity to execute
Leveraged Funding: Secured or clearly identified financial support from other sources (they want to be part of a funding mix, not sole supporter)
Measurable Outcomes: Quantitatively measurable results with potential to scale impact
Vital Support: Foundation funding is critical to project success (not supplementary)

Strategic Considerations

Geographic Focus: While statewide grantmaking occurs across all 254 Texas counties, up to 50% of giving targets Dallas-Fort Worth. Organizations in or serving this region should highlight this alignment.

Grant Type Preference: Programs and projects account for 85% of total giving. Capital and general operating support is available but less common. Frame requests around specific program outcomes rather than operational needs when possible.

Funding Partnership: The foundation values co-funding and collaborative approaches. Applications should demonstrate existing or potential funding partnerships and avoid appearing as the sole funding source.

Pre-Application Engagement: Unlike some foundations, Meadows encourages questions and may meet with applicants before submission. This suggests they value relationship-building and thorough preparation.

Process Insights

Submit well in advance (4-5 months before funding needed)
Ensure Texas benefit is clear and explicit
Search their previous grants database to understand typical funding patterns in your area
Consider multi-year project design with measurable milestones
Don't submit letters of intent—go directly to full application

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Texas-Only Focus: Absolute requirement that grants benefit Texas residents; up to 50% of funding goes to Dallas-Fort Worth area, making geographic alignment particularly valuable for DFW organizations
Priority Initiative Alignment: Applications addressing the five high-priority initiatives (postsecondary completion, educator preparation, water conservation, depression, homelessness) receive special emphasis—clearly connect your work to these if relevant
Demonstrate Partnership Funding: The foundation expects applicants to have secured or identified other funding sources; position their support as vital but part of a broader funding strategy, not the sole source
Measurable Outcomes Are Essential: Applications must contain "quantitatively measurable outcomes with potential to scale impact"—use specific metrics and demonstrate how success can extend beyond your immediate program
Programs Over Operations: With 85% of funding going to specific programs/projects versus general operations or capital, frame requests around programmatic outcomes with clear deliverables rather than organizational sustainability
Rolling Applications with Board Timing: No deadlines means strategic submission timing matters—apply 4-5 months before funds needed and time submission to align with board meeting schedule (Jan, Apr, Jun, Sep, Nov)
Pre-Application Engagement Encouraged: Staff welcomes questions and may meet before submission—use this opportunity to test alignment and refine approach before investing time in full application

References

All sources accessed December 2025