Garry Weber Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $6,500,000 (2023)
Total Assets: $44.9 million (2023)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: Varies significantly (known grants from $100,000 to $50 million)
Geographic Focus: Dallas, Texas and surrounding areas
Number of Grants: 3 awards in 2023

Contact Details

Address: 8214 Westchester Dr #645, Dallas, TX 75225
Phone: (214) 396-8800
EIN: 87-4129346
Founded: 2022

Note: No website or email contact information is publicly available

Overview

The Garry Weber Foundation was established in 2022 as a private grantmaking foundation based in Dallas, Texas. With total assets of $44.9 million as of 2023, the foundation distributed $6.5 million in grants during its second year of operation. The foundation was created by the Honorable Garry A. Weber, a 1958 graduate of SMU's Cox School of Business, former Dallas County judge, Dallas City Council member, and founder of Weber Financial Inc. The foundation's giving reflects Weber's personal philanthropic interests, including education (particularly at SMU), medical research and healthcare (especially urology programs at UT Southwestern), athletics, and community organizations. The foundation appears to be in a distribution phase, spending down its endowment rather than accepting new contributions, with revenues declining 95.3% from 2022's $40.6 million initial funding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not maintain structured grant programs with specific application cycles. Known funding areas include:

Major Capital Projects: Large-scale institutional support (e.g., $50 million commitment to SMU Athletics for the Garry Weber End Zone Complex)
Medical Education: Support for postgraduate medical training programs (e.g., Garry Weber APP Fellowship in Urology at UT Southwestern)
K-12 Education: Support for local educational institutions (e.g., $1 million grant to Highland Park ISD Education Foundation in December 2023)
Community Causes: Historical support noted for Scottish Rite for Children, United Way, and Boy Scouts of America

Grant amounts vary significantly based on the project and relationship with the organization.

Priority Areas

Based on available information, the foundation prioritizes:

Educational Institutions: Particular focus on Southern Methodist University (SMU) and programs where Garry Weber has personal connections
Medical Research and Training: Emphasis on urology programs and physician assistant postgraduate education at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Athletics: Major support for SMU Athletics facilities and programs
Dallas-area Nonprofits: Focus on organizations serving the Dallas community, including healthcare, youth development, and social services

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private foundation operating primarily through trustee discretion, the foundation appears to focus on:

Organizations with which the founder has personal connections or experience
Dallas-area institutions and programs
Projects where the founder can see direct impact

Governance and Leadership

Key Officers (as of 2023)

Garry A. Weber: President/Treasurer - Founder, former Dallas County judge, Dallas City Council member, and CEO/Chairman of Weber Financial Inc.
John Eric Gambrell: Vice President
Anita Fought: Secretary
Additional board directors serve in governance roles

All officers have reported zero compensation across all filing years, indicating this is a volunteer-led foundation.

Garry Weber's Philanthropic Philosophy

According to his donor profile at UT Southwestern, Weber's giving is motivated by personal experiences with exceptional care and service. In discussing his support for the urology program, he stated:

"This gift stems from my great appreciation of the care I received from these physicians and Brad. It is my hope that graduates of the Program will continue the Medical Center's longstanding tradition of excellent care throughout Dallas and the surrounding areas."

This quote reflects a pattern in Weber's philanthropy: supporting institutions that have personally impacted him and investing in programs that will benefit the broader Dallas community.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Garry Weber Foundation does not have a public application process. As a private foundation, grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the founder's philanthropic priorities and personal relationships with organizations.

The foundation appears to make grants to:

Organizations where Garry Weber has received services or has personal experience
Institutions where he has longstanding involvement (such as SMU, where he served on the Board of Trustees from 1984-1996)
Dallas-area nonprofits aligned with his philanthropic interests

Unsolicited applications are not accepted through a formal process.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees rather than through scheduled review cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications. The foundation made 3 grants totaling $6.5 million in 2023, all to organizations with existing relationships with the founder.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than open applications, the key factors for organizations that have received support include:

Personal Connection to Garry Weber: Documented grants reflect Weber's personal experiences as a patient (UT Southwestern urology), alumnus (SMU), or community member (Highland Park ISD, United Way, Boy Scouts)
Dallas-Area Focus: All known grants benefit Dallas and surrounding communities, reflecting Weber's deep roots in the area as a former judge and City Council member
Demonstrated Excellence: Weber's gift to UT Southwestern was motivated by "great appreciation of the care I received from these physicians," indicating he supports organizations that have proven their excellence through personal experience
Long-term Institutional Relationships: Major gifts to SMU reflect decades of involvement - Weber served on the Board of Trustees for 12 years and the Cox School of Business Executive Board for over 30 years
Community Impact Focus: Weber's stated hope that urology fellowship graduates will "continue the Medical Center's longstanding tradition of excellent care throughout Dallas and the surrounding areas" shows interest in programs with lasting community benefit
Strategic Capital Projects: The $50 million gift for SMU's end zone complex and support for museum construction in Arlington suggest interest in transformative capital campaigns

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation awards grants through trustee discretion only - there is no application portal or open request process
Relationship-Driven Giving: All documented grants reflect personal relationships between Garry Weber and the recipient organizations
Dallas Focus: Geographic priority is clearly Dallas and surrounding areas where Weber has lived and served
Significant Range in Grant Sizes: From $100,000 gifts to $50 million commitments, suggesting flexibility based on project scope and relationship strength
Spend-Down Phase: The foundation appears to be distributing its corpus rather than operating in perpetuity, with declining assets from $44.9M (2023) to $39.9M (2024)
Personal Experience Matters: Weber's documented giving reflects gratitude for excellent service (healthcare) and institutional loyalty (alma mater)
Limited Annual Grants: With only 3 grants made in 2023, this is a highly selective funder with a focused giving strategy

References

Information compiled December 2024