Leland Fikes Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- This Dallas-based foundation funds four priorities: reproductive health, rights and justice; democracy; Dallas-area human services; and medical research, with priority given to work that is nationwide, statewide in Texas, or local to Dallas.
- It only accepts applications by invitation, so a grant writer cannot simply submit a cold proposal; once invited, applicants use an online portal and there are quarterly submission deadlines.
- Typical grants run from $25,000 to $150,000, with a median of $50,000, so a request in that band is realistic, though a small number of grants go much higher, up to $1,500,000.
- Most of its grant dollars go to organisations it has funded before, suggesting a relationship-led approach rather than one geared to attracting new, unsolicited applicants.
- It funds only 501(c)(3) organisations and will not fund individuals or politically partisan groups, and applicants should be ready to explain how racial equity informs their programme design and delivery.
Overview
Leland Fikes Foundation is a US private foundation based in Dallas, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation concentrates its grantmaking on four strategic priorities: reproductive health, rights and justice; democracy; Dallas-area human services; and medical research. It supports general operations, programmes and direct services, advocacy, and capacity building aligned with those priorities. Its reproductive-health work includes access to contraception and abortion, provider development, advocacy, research and strategic litigation. Its democracy work includes public policy, civil rights, election infrastructure and protection, and voting. It supports local organisations addressing homelessness, food insecurity, and physical and mental health, and invests in innovative medical research in partnership with a medical centre. It prioritises organisations working nationwide, statewide in Texas, and locally in Dallas, and seeks to further equity throughout its grantmaking. Applicants are expected to explain how racial equity informs programme development and implementation.
Themes
- Reproductive health
- Democracy
- Dallas-area human services
- Medical research
Geographic Focus
Priority: Nationwide; Texas; Dallas.
What They Don't Fund
- Organizations other than 501(c)(3) organizations
- Individuals
- Politically partisan groups
How to apply
Organisations must be invited to apply. The Foundation sends a link to prospective applicants upon invitation; applications are submitted through its online portal. It supports only 501(c)(3) organisations.
Deadlines: Applications have quarterly submission deadlines.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 83% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 226 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Applicants should explain how racial equity informs their programme development and implementation.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
4 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 20% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 83% of grant dollars went to organisations Leland Fikes Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 84 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · Neuro hifu$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas · Capital campaign$600,0002024 tax year
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America · Resolute: the fight for abortion equity$600,0002024 tax year
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center · Comprehensive campaign$400,0002024 tax year
- Dallas 24 Hour Club · Capital grant to purchase 1421 n. peak st., dallas, tx 75204$250,0002024 tax year
- Texas Freedom Network Education Fund · General operating support$250,0002024 tax year
- Parkland Foundation · Expansion of family planning services at parkland health$250,0002024 tax year
- Truth Pregnancy Resource Center · General operating support$150,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Lauren Blitzer — Secretary
- Brendan J Fikes — Vice President
- Catherine F Lavie — Vice President
- Lee Fikes — Treasurer
- Amy L Fikes — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $9,264,263 | $5,600,000 | $160,187,914 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $11,037,217 | $7,000,000 | $161,325,335 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $11,866,636 | $8,200,000 | $159,152,322 | Filing for 2024 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Leland Fikes Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (214) 754-0144
- info@fikesfoundation.org
- Dallas, TX
- fikesfoundation.org
Applying to Leland Fikes Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (214) 754-0144
- info@fikesfoundation.org
- Dallas, TX
- fikesfoundation.org