Anne T and Robert M Bass Foundation
The Anne T and Robert M Bass Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1984 and based in Fort Worth, Texas. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a highly selective, invitation-only approach to philanthropy. The foundation maintains a deliberately low public profile, with no website and no published grant guidelines, reflecting the founders' preference for strategic philanthropy based on existing relationships and board involvement.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$101.2M
-1.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.3M
+17.6% YoY
Grant Count
31
+3.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$170K
+13.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Anne T and Robert M Bass Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not provide a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation supports:
- Education: K-12 and higher education institutions, particularly independent schools and elite universities
- Arts and Culture: Performing arts and cultural organizations
- Human Services: Community-based human services organizations
- Health: Health-related initiatives
The foundation demonstrates particular commitment to institutions where the Bass family has existing relationships or board involvement, including Stanford University, Duke University, and Yale University.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
**: $5,000 - $2,500,000
How to Apply
**: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made through trustee discretion to organizations where the Bass family has existing relationships or board involvement. The foundation operates without formal grant programs or published application cycles.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Fort Worth, Texas, with select support for national institutions. Geographic areas of activity include Arlington, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $103.2 million (2023); $141 million (2024)
Annual Revenue: $12.7 million (2023)
Annual Expenses: $5.54 million (2023); $4.69 million (2015)
Total Liabilities: $8,580 (2023)
Grant Distributions: $5.3 million (2024); $4.48 million (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $101,233,235 | $103,228,150 | $96,035,367 |
| Revenue | $4,404,082 | $12,743,789 | $3,775,069 |
| Expenses | $6,390,422 | $5,544,330 | $8,243,706 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,269,024 | $4,480,120 | $7,437,387 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,281,667 | $11,329,359 | $2,133,866 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,674,028 | $5,502,227 | $5,845,224 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
160 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Governor's Academy ($2,829,013), The Brookings Institution ($1,000,000), Amon Carter Museum ($350,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AIDS OUTREACH CENTER FORT WORTH, TX | GENERAL | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL | $30,000 |
| AMON CARTER MUSEUM FORT WORTH, TX | GENERAL | $350,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER TARRANT COUNTY FORT WORTH, TX | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| CENTER FOR TRANSFORMING LIVES FORT WORTH, TX | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK FORT WORTH, TX | GENERAL | $30,000 |
| DRC SOLUTIONS FORT WORTH, TX | GENERAL | $30,000 |
| EPIPHANY SCHOOL DORCHESTER, MA | GENERAL | $100,000 |
| GILL CHILDREN'S SERVICES FORT WORTH, TX | GENERAL | $30,000 |
| GOODWILL NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS FORT WORTH, TX | GENERAL | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Anne T Bass - Director and President
- Robert M Bass - Director and Vice President
- Bryan L Barrett - Director, Vice President, Assistant Secretary
- Jay H Hebert - Vice President, Assistant Secretary
- Thomas W White - Vice President, Assistant Secretary
- Gary W Reese - Vice President, Assistant Treasurer
- Thomas R Hegi - Vice President, Assistant Secretary
- Timothy R Bass - President of Investments, Chief Operating Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNE T BASS | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT | — | — |
| ROBERT M BASS | DIRECTOR/VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| BRYAN L BARRETT | DIRECTOR/VP/ASST SECRETARY | — | — |
| JAY H HEBERT | VICE PRESIDENT/ASST SECRETARY | — | — |
| THOMAS W WHITE | VICE PRESIDENT/ASST SECRETARY | — | — |
| GARY W REESE | VICE PRESIDENT/ASST TREASURER | — | — |
| THOMAS R HEGI | VICE PRESIDENT/ASST SECRETARY | — | — |
| TIMOTHY R BASS | PRESIDENT OF INVESTMENTS/COO | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been recognized for major gifts to Duke University, including a $50 million gift to support Duke's initiatives. The foundation has also provided support to the Bass Connections program at Duke University, with multiple gifts designated for this educational initiative.
$5 Million Gift from Fortin Foundation Will Support Bass Connections ProgramFrequently Asked Questions
What does Anne T and Robert M Bass Foundation fund?
The foundation does not provide a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation supports: • **Education**: K-12 and higher education institutions, particularly independent schools and elite universities • **Arts and Culture**: Performing arts and cultural organizations • **Human Services**: Community-based human services organizations • **Health**: Health-related initiatives The foundation demonstrates particular commitment to institutions where t…
How do I apply for a grant from Anne T and Robert M Bass Foundation?
**Grant Range**: $5,000 - $2,500,000 **Annual Giving**: Approximately $4.5 million (2023) **Grant Activity**: The foundation distributed $4.48 million through 30 grants in 2023. The median grant size is approximately $30,000. **Application Process**: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made through trustee discretion to organizations where the Bass family has existing relationships or board involvement. The foundation operates without formal grant programs or pub…
Where does Anne T and Robert M Bass Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Fort Worth, Texas, with select support for national institutions. Geographic areas of activity include Arlington, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Washington, D.C.
What size grants does Anne T and Robert M Bass Foundation award?
In 2024, Anne T and Robert M Bass Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $5.3M — an average of about $170K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Anne T and Robert M Bass Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Anne T and Robert M Bass Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Anne T and Robert M Bass Foundation's EIN?
Anne T and Robert M Bass Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2001892. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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