O'Donnell Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation, based in Dallas, funds education, medicine and the arts, with particular emphasis on medical and scientific research and STEM education, and it does not fund individuals, scholarships, loans or prizes.
- Its stated priority is Texas and its filing shows a preference for local institutions, so a Texas organisation has a natural case to make, though that is an emphasis rather than a limit on who may apply.
- Its grants are large: the median is $1,000,000 and the largest is about $38,500,000, so a small organisation should ask for what its project needs rather than aim at these figures.
- Repeat giving makes up 47% of its grant dollars to organisations, but the filing gives no deadlines and says it accepts applications, so a first approach is open.
- Send a brief letter covering the project, timetable, budget, funds already pledged and the amount requested, with the governing-board list and IRS determination letter.
Overview
O'Donnell Foundation is a US private foundation based in Dallas, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and web pages about the foundation (tamest.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The O’Donnell Foundation focuses on education, medicine and the arts, with particular emphasis on medical and scientific research and STEM education. Its work also encompasses higher education, clinical care and educational initiatives beyond STEM. It supports cultural institutions and Texas institutions, while its stated reach extends beyond Texas. Its grants are directed to organisations: its application information asks applicants to provide their organisation’s governing-board list and tax-exempt-status determination letter, and its filing states a preference for local institutions. The evidence describes institutional giving across education, research, medicine and the arts, rather than scholarships or individual grants.
Themes
- Higher education
- STEM education
- Medical research
- Scientific research
- Arts
Geographic Focus
Priority: Texas. (as reported in other published sources)
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
- Scholarships, loans or prizes
How to apply
Applications should include a brief letter outlining the project, timetable, budget, funds already pledged and requested contribution, together with the organisation’s governing-board list and IRS determination letter confirming tax-exempt status.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 47% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 52 grants to organisations were $1,000,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Preference is given to local institutions.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 18% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 47% of grant dollars went to organisations O'Donnell Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 33 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $1M (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Dallas College Foundation · Operations$38,350,0002025 tax year
- Southern Methodist University · Operations$25,300,0002025 tax year
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas · Operations$17,251,0002025 tax year
- University of North Texas at Dallas · Operations$17,000,0002025 tax year
- University of Texas at Dallas · Operations$15,500,0002025 tax year
- Dallas Symphony Association · Operations$12,930,0222025 tax year
- Commit Partnership · Operations$10,900,0002025 tax year
- Dallas Museum of Art · Operations$10,001,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Tiffany Armstrong — VP & Secretary & Treasurer
- Serena Ritch — VP & Director of Arts Program
- Caren Prothro — Vice-Chairman
- Robert Dedman JR — Vice-Chairman
- Jere Thompson JR — Director
- Ruth O'Donnell Mutch — Director
- Edward A Copley — Director
- William T Solomon — Chairman, President & CEO
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $37,901,107 | $33,526,386 | $121,538,731 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $37,309,432 | $31,374,338 | $356,893,264 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $192,163,364 | $187,386,895 | $180,206,923 | Filing for 2025 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 O'Donnell Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (214) 871-5800
- Dallas, TX
Applying to O'Donnell Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (214) 871-5800
- Dallas, TX