Collins Fisher Foundation
The Collins Fisher Foundation is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. Its 2021 filing describes support for public charitable purposes, including charitable, scientific, literary, religious, and educational purposes.
Collins Fisher Foundation at a glance
In short: Collins Fisher Foundation gave $221K across 17 grants in 2021 (avg $13K), mostly in California. 6% of 2021 grantees were new. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $220,600
- -2.4% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 17
- -15.0% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $12,976
- +14.8% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Total assets
- $4,559,459
- +2.3% vs 2020
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 17, 2021; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (76% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Collins Fisher Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2021 filing named Nancy Fisher as the contact and said a simple letter setting out the public purpose was sufficient; requests were received anytime. This information is not current application guidance.
- Contact
Application contact: Nancy Fisher
Mailing address: 3644 Beverly Drive, Dallas, TX 75205
Phone: (214) 665-6905
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Collins Fisher Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was American Film Institute ($150K). Together the top 10 received $211K.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 56 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2021 filing stated that it had no geographic restrictions. Its 2021 grants went primarily to organizations in California (76% of grant dollars) and Texas (22%), with 1% to Massachusetts and less than 1% each to the District of Columbia and West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Collins Fisher Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2021
In 2021, 1 of 17 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $500; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $5K repeat.
- 88% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
- In 2021 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2021). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $221K (2021) to $226K (2020). In 2021 it made 17 grants totaling $221K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Film Institute Los Angeles, CA | Furtherance of Charitable Purposes | $150,000 |
| Baylor Healthcare System Foundation Dallas, TX | Furtherance of Charitable Purposes | $10,000 |
| Saint John's Health Center Foundation Santa Monica, CA | Furtherance of Charitable Purposes | $10,000 |
| Uplift Education Dallas, TX | Furtherance of Charitable Purposes | $8,500 |
| The Family Place Dallas, TX | Furtherance of Charitable Purposes | $8,000 |
| Behind Every Door Dallas, TX | Furtherance of Charitable Purposes | $6,600 |
| The Hockaday School Dallas, TX | Furtherance of Charitable Purposes | $5,500 |
| The Thomas Dye School Los Angeles, CA | Furtherance of Charitable Purposes | $5,000 |
| Southwest Medical Foundation Dallas, TX | Furtherance of Charitable Purposes | $4,000 |
| Circle of Children Preschool Santa Monica, CA | Furthernace of Charitable Purposes | $3,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $4,559,459 | $341,655 | $240,148 | $220,600 | 17 | $220,600 | $341,446 | $209,199 |
| 2020 | $4,457,952 | $79,867 | $244,915 | $226,100 | 20 | — | $76,824 | $220,848 |
| 2019 | $4,623,000 | $184,691 | $237,324 | $221,700 | 19 | — | $170,867 | $225,562 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Collins Fisher Foundation reported a distributable amount of $209K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing does not state a separate mission. It says the foundation makes contributions exclusively in aid of public charitable purposes. Its 2021 grants included organizations in film and media, health care, education, and family violence services. For example, the American Film Institute describes its mission as leadership in screen education and recognition of excellence in film, television, and digital media. The Family Place describes its work as providing safe housing, counseling, and skills to victims of family violence.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation gave $220,600 through 17 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $150,000, with a median grant of $4,000. The largest grants included $150,000 to the American Film Institute, $10,000 each to Baylor Healthcare System Foundation and Saint John’s Health Center Foundation, and $8,500 to Uplift Education. Other notable recipients included The Family Place ($8,000), Behind Every Door ($6,600), and The Hockaday School ($5,500).
The foundation’s 2021 filing says it did not restrict giving to preselected organizations, though it also said it contributed to some preselected organizations. It stated that requests could be made by a simple letter describing the public purpose, that requests were received anytime, and that additional information could be requested within a reasonable time. It reported no geographic restriction, but said awards depended on available funds and trustee selection of the project that most benefited the public charitable purpose. The filing also stated that it did not make scholarships, loans, or grants to individuals for further study or research. These are historical filing statements, not current application instructions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing listed Alison Fisher Smith as president, Nancy Collins Fisher as secretary/treasurer, and Andersen Collins Fisher as trustee/director.
Collins Fisher Foundation is led by Alison Fisher Smith, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Alison Fisher Smith
President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Andersen Collins Fisher
Trustee & Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Nancy Collins Fisher
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Collins Fisher Foundation
How much does Collins Fisher Foundation give each year?
Collins Fisher Foundation gave $221K across 17 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $226K across 20 grants.
What is Collins Fisher Foundation's typical grant size?
Collins Fisher Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $4,000, and its average grant was $12,976, across 17 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Collins Fisher Foundation that year got $500 on average.
Where does Collins Fisher Foundation give grants?
Collins Fisher Foundation gives mostly in California: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (8 grants), Los Angeles, CA (2 grants), Santa Monica, CA (2 grants) and Cambridge, MA (2 grants).
Who are Collins Fisher Foundation's largest grantees?
Collins Fisher Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include American Film Institute ($150,000), Baylor Healthcare System Foundation ($10,000) and Saint John's Health Center Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
How large is Collins Fisher Foundation?
Collins Fisher Foundation reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $221K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $209K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Collins Fisher Foundation fund?
The filing does not state a separate mission. It says the foundation makes contributions exclusively in aid of public charitable purposes. Its 2021 grants included organizations in film and media, health care, education, and family violence services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Collins Fisher Foundation?
The 2021 filing named Nancy Fisher as the contact and said a simple letter setting out the public purpose was sufficient; requests were received anytime. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Collins Fisher Foundation's EIN?
Collins Fisher Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1736933. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2021.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 2, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2021
Live grants for the work Collins Fisher Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Collins Fisher Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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