Leland Fikes Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $7,000,000 (2023)
Total Assets: $97 million (recent); $210 million (2021 tax documents)
Decision Time: Weekly LOI review; quarterly board meetings
Grant Range: $20,000 - $1,000,000
Average Grant: $90,000 - $136,000
Geographic Focus: National (reproductive justice, democracy), Texas statewide, Dallas local (human services)
Total Grants (2023): 77 awards

Contact Details

Address: 3161 Webb Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75205

Phone: 214-754-0144

Email:

General inquiries: Info@FikesFoundation.org
Administrative matters: admin@fikesfoundation.org

Website: fikesfoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 1954 and named for Leland Fikes, a prominent Texas oil and gas executive, real estate investor, and philanthropist who died in 1966, the Leland Fikes Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Dallas, Texas. With approximately $97-210 million in assets (varying by reporting period), the foundation has disbursed $212 million in grants since its inception through 3,171 individual grants to 665 different organizations. In 2023, the foundation awarded $7 million across 77 grants.

The foundation's mission emphasizes the advancement of equity, particularly racial equity, across all its grantmaking priorities. This commitment is demonstrated through its focus on four strategic areas: Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice; Democracy; Dallas-Area Human Services; and Medical Research (by invitation only). The foundation made 44 grants of $1 million or more throughout its history and is described by Inside Philanthropy as "highly approachable" despite limited public information about detailed grantmaking criteria.

The Leland Fikes Foundation is a leadership donor to the Dallas Foundation's Racial Equity Fund, which launched in 2021 and dispersed $2.5 million in 2022 to 25 organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation funds general operations, programs and direct services, advocacy, and capacity building in alignment with four strategic priorities:

1. Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice (National/State scope)

Grant Range: $20,000 - $2,400,000
Focus areas include:
- Access to reproductive healthcare and information, including contraception and abortion
- Building the pipeline of healthcare providers
- Advocacy and power building
- Research and strategic litigation
Recent major grantees: Planned Parenthood Federation of America ($2.4 million for 2021 capital campaign), Center for Reproductive Rights, Physicians for Reproductive Choice, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, NARAL Pro-Choice Texas Foundation, NARAL Pro-Choice America

2. Democracy (National/State scope)

Grant Range: Varies
Focus areas include:
- Strengthening a free, inclusive, and transparent democracy
- Responsive policy and strategic litigation
- Civil rights
- Election infrastructure and protection
- Voting access and empowered citizens
- Fact-based journalism
Recent grantees: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Democracy Fund, ACLU Foundation of Texas

3. Dallas-Area Human Services (Local Dallas focus)

Grant Range: $20,000 - $1,000,000
Focus areas include:
- Homelessness
- Food insecurity
- Physical and mental health
- Employment support
Recent grantees: Black Heart Foundation, Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas Education Foundation, Impact Ventures, Southern Dallas Progress Community Development Corporation, Texas Pride Impact Funds, Union Development Corporation DBA-Project Unity, United to Learn

4. Medical Research (Invitation only)

Primarily supports projects at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Example grants: $3.75 million for neuro-high intensity focused ultrasound (2021), $500,000 to endow the Lee Fikes Chair in Biomedical Sciences

Priority Areas

Cross-Cutting Commitment: The foundation works to promote racial equity across all areas of grantmaking. An essential facet of their grantmaking philosophy is the integration of racial equity considerations into program development and implementation.

The foundation prioritizes organizations working nationwide for reproductive justice and democracy issues, statewide in Texas for these same priorities, and locally in Dallas for human services.

What They Don't Fund

Individuals
Politically partisan groups
Organizations without 501(c)(3) status
Medical research (unless by specific invitation from the foundation)

Governance and Leadership

Amy L. Fikes - President

Lee Fikes - Treasurer

Brendan J. Fikes - Vice President

Catherine F. Lavie - Vice President

Lauren Blitzer - Secretary

A dedicated Board of Trustees provides overall guidance to ensure that grants are awarded in a manner consistent with the organization's mission.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Process:

New applicants and organizations whose last grant was awarded before 2021 must submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
LOIs may be submitted at any time through the foundation's online system
The foundation's staff meets weekly to review LOIs
Organizations may submit once per calendar year
LOIs must be submitted at least 6 weeks before the desired grant deadline

Full Proposal:

Full proposals are accepted on invitation-only basis
Only organizations invited after LOI review may submit full proposals
Current grantees can proceed directly to the full application without submitting an LOI
All grant applications must be submitted through the Foundation's online application portal; a link is sent to prospective applicants upon invitation

Decision Timeline

Board Meeting Schedule (2026 Deadlines):

Quarter 1: January 9
Quarter 2: April 10
Quarter 3: July 3
Quarter 4: October 2

Important Timing Considerations:

LOIs received near or after a grant deadline will be considered for funding in the following quarter
LOIs submitted in September or after will be considered for the following calendar year
Staff conducts weekly reviews of incoming LOIs

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, the foundation made 77 awards in 2023, 65 awards in 2022, and 56 awards in 2021, suggesting a moderately selective process. The invitation-only full proposal process indicates competitive selection at the LOI stage.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may submit once per calendar year. Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly detailed, though the annual submission limit suggests unsuccessful applicants must wait until the following calendar year to reapply.

Application Success Factors

Racial Equity Integration: The foundation explicitly seeks to further equity through all areas of its grantmaking. Applicants should be prepared to clearly articulate how racial equity informs their program development and implementation. This is not optional but central to the foundation's evaluation criteria.

Strategic Alignment: Applications must align with one of the foundation's four strategic priorities. The foundation has demonstrated commitment to these areas through consistent grantmaking patterns:

For reproductive justice and democracy work: national or Texas statewide impact
For human services: Dallas-area focus
For medical research: invitation only, typically UT Southwestern Medical Center

Types of Support Valued: The foundation funds general operations, programs and direct services, advocacy, and capacity building. This flexibility suggests they value sustainable organizational development, not just project-specific funding.

Grant Amount Patterns: From 2011-2021, the average grant was $136,000, though recent data suggests an average around $90,000-$136,000. The foundation has made 44 grants of $1 million or more in its history, demonstrating willingness to make substantial investments in aligned organizations. Typical grants range from $20,000 to $1 million.

Relationship Building: The foundation is described as "highly approachable" by Inside Philanthropy. While the full proposal process is invitation-only, the weekly LOI review and open submission timeline suggest accessibility for new applicants who align with priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Lead with racial equity: Clearly articulate how racial equity is integrated into your program development and implementation—this is a core evaluation criterion across all funding areas
Know your geography: Reproductive justice and democracy work should have national or Texas statewide reach; human services must serve the Dallas area specifically
General operating support is available: The foundation funds general operations, advocacy, and capacity building—not just programs—suggesting they invest in organizational sustainability
Large grants are possible: With 44 grants over $1 million in the foundation's history and an average grant of $90,000-$136,000, well-aligned organizations can secure substantial funding
Plan for quarterly cycles: Submit LOIs at least 6 weeks before quarterly board deadlines; submissions in September or later will be considered for the following year
Invitation-only proposals: The LOI is your critical first impression—only invited applicants may submit full proposals, so make your LOI compelling and aligned
One chance per year: Organizations may submit only once per calendar year, so timing and preparation are essential

References

Instrumentl 990 Report: Leland Fikes Foundation. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/leland-fikes-foundation-inc (Accessed January 7, 2026)
Leland Fikes Foundation official website. https://fikesfoundation.org/ (Accessed January 7, 2026)
GuideStar Profile: Leland Fikes Foundation. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/75-6035984 (Accessed January 7, 2026)
Cause IQ: Leland Fikes Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/leland-fikes-foundation,756035984/ (Accessed January 7, 2026)
InfluenceWatch: Leland Fikes Foundation Inc. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/leland-fikes-foundation-inc/ (Accessed January 7, 2026)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Leland Fikes Foundation Inc - Full Filing. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/756035984/202320179349100302/full (Accessed January 7, 2026)
Inside Philanthropy: Leland Fikes Foundation. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-f/leland-fikes-foundation (Accessed January 7, 2026)
Instrumentl Grants: Leland Fikes Foundation Reproductive Rights Progressive Values Grants. https://www.instrumentl.com/grants/leland-fikes-foundation-reproductive-rights-progressive-values-grants (Accessed January 7, 2026)
Grantable: Leland Fikes Foundation Inc Foundation Profile & Grants. https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/leland-fikes-foundation-inc-us-foundation-756035984 (Accessed January 7, 2026)
Candid Foundation Directory: Leland Fikes Foundation. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=FIKE001 (Accessed January 7, 2026)