Harry Bass Foundation
The Harry Bass Foundation, also known as the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation, is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. It awards competitive grants to qualified organizations, primarily for youth and education, with a focus on early childhood education and literacy.
Harry Bass Foundation at a glance
In short: Harry Bass Foundation gave $6.7M across 40 grants in 2025 (avg $167K), mostly in Texas. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,691,000
- -79.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 40
- -23.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $167,275
- -73.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $71,209,487
- -2.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (9 of 40, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Harry Bass Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
Submit an LOI through the online grantmaking portal; a full application is by invitation after review of the LOI. The foundation states that Dallas County is preferred.
- Review Cycle
- Proposals are accepted throughout the year. The foundation advises submitting at least five months before funding is needed. Applications are considered at one of three trustee meetings held annually, usually in late spring or summer, late summer, and late November to early December.
- Deadline
- Proposals are accepted throughout the year.
- Contact
Application contact: David Calhoun
Mailing address: 4809 Cole Avenue Suite 105, Dallas, TX 75205
Phone: (214) 599-0300
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Harry Bass Foundation
Who Harry Bass Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UT Southwestern Co Southwestern Medical Fdn ($5.0M). Together the top 10 received $5.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
252 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 177 grants of 252 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it awards grants predominantly in Dallas County and rarely considers requests from outside the county. Its 2025 filing shows that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Harry Bass Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 40 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $580K; repeat grants $47K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 306% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 183% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2021) to $33.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 40 grants totaling $6.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UT Southwestern Co Southwestern Medical Fdn Dallas, TX | Program | $5,000,000 |
| Readers 2 Leaders Dallas, TX | Program | $150,000 |
| Child Care Group Dallas, TX | Program | $100,000 |
| The George W Bush Foundation Dallas, TX | Program | $100,000 |
| Reading Partners North Texas Dallas, TX | Program | $100,000 |
| North Texas Food Bank Plano, TX | Program | $100,000 |
| Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX | Program | $100,000 |
| Texans on Mission Dallas, TX | GOS | $100,000 |
| Crossroads Community Services Dallas, TX | Program | $75,000 |
| Young Women's Preparatory Network Dallas, TX | Program | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Harry Bass Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Reported grantmaking totals vary by filing year:
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $71,209,487 | $6,014,062 | $8,058,171 | $6,691,000 | 40 | $7,325,711 | $5,404,519 | $4,010,213 |
| 2024 | $73,247,812 | $9,438,037 | $35,215,785 | $33,367,600 | 52 | $33,944,242 | $8,808,129 | $4,129,618 |
| 2023 | $99,027,945 | $45,426,508 | $23,907,975 | $22,829,500 | 60 | $23,288,646 | $44,983,645 | $3,589,690 |
| 2022 | $62,995,266 | $12,837,786 | $2,558,945 | $1,647,518 | 52 | $2,168,645 | $12,527,186 | $1,891,012 |
| 2021 | $52,713,966 | $6,033,954 | $2,220,963 | $1,391,318 | 48 | $1,820,252 | $5,655,037 | $2,196,666 |
| 2020 | $48,900,953 | $1,809,097 | $2,099,790 | $1,401,410 | 46 | — | $1,532,037 | $1,811,122 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harry Bass Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it seeks to enrich the lives of Texas residents by supporting qualified organizations, primarily in youth and education, with special emphasis on early childhood literacy. It prefers specific program requests; capital projects and general operating support are less common, and endowment gifts are rare.
Eligible applicants include qualified public entities, churches, and 501(c)(3) public charities. The foundation says it rarely funds public entities or churches, and does not fund private foundations, foreign organizations, individuals, disqualified supporting organizations, or non-functionally integrated Type III supporting organizations.
Grantees’ missions illustrate the range of organizations receiving support. Readers 2 Leaders, which received $150,000 in 2025, says it equips students for success through reading. Family Compass, which received $64,200, says it works to prevent child abuse and neglect. North Texas Food Bank, which received $100,000, says it works to close the hunger gap in North Texas.
Grantmaking
The foundation requires applicants to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through its online grantmaking portal. If an LOI elicits sufficient interest, the organization may be invited to submit a full application and required attachments. Hard-copy and email submissions are not accepted. The foundation encourages prospective applicants to review its guidelines and contact it with questions before applying.
Its 2025 filing reports 40 grants totaling $6,691,000. Individual awards ranged from $1,000 to $5,000,000, with a median of $30,000. The largest reported award was $5,000,000 to UT Southwestern Co Southwestern Medical Foundation for a program. Other 2025 awards included $150,000 to Readers 2 Leaders; $100,000 each to ChildCareGroup, the George W. Bush Foundation, Reading Partners North Texas, North Texas Food Bank, and Southern Methodist University; and $75,000 each to Crossroads Community Services and Young Women’s Preparatory Network.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Doris L. Bass as trustee; Michael L. Calhoun as president and trustee; F. David Calhoun as executive director; and Linda B. Staley as trustee.
Harry Bass Foundation is led by F. David Calhoun, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
F. David Calhoun
Executive Director
Executive Director & Vice President Secretary → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$168K (2020) → $199K (2025)
Michael L. Calhoun
President & Trustee
Vice President & Trustee → President & Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $90K (2025)
Linda B. Staley
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$6K (2024) → $6K (2025)
Doris L. Bass
Trustee
President & Trustee → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: J. Michael Wylie (2020–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $199K, to F David Calhoun (Exec Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Harry Bass Foundation
How much does Harry Bass Foundation give each year?
Harry Bass Foundation gave $6.7M across 40 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $33.4M across 52 grants.
What is Harry Bass Foundation's typical grant size?
Harry Bass Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $167,275, across 40 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harry Bass Foundation that year got $580K on average.
Where does Harry Bass Foundation give grants?
Harry Bass Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (27 grants), Houston, TX (3 grants), Richardson, TX (2 grants) and Austin, TX (2 grants).
Does Harry Bass Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 40 grants with a stated purpose on Harry Bass Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program" (36 grants) and "Gos" (4 grants).
Who are Harry Bass Foundation's largest grantees?
Harry Bass Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include UT Southwestern Co Southwestern Medical Fdn ($5,000,000), Readers 2 Leaders ($150,000) and Child Care Group ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Harry Bass Foundation?
Harry Bass Foundation reported $71.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Harry Bass Foundation fund?
The foundation says it seeks to enrich the lives of Texas residents by supporting qualified organizations, primarily in youth and education, with special emphasis on early childhood literacy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harry Bass Foundation?
Submit an LOI through the online grantmaking portal; a full application is by invitation after review of the LOI. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Harry Bass Foundation's EIN?
Harry Bass Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-1876307. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Harry Bass Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Hillcrest Foundation
Dallas, TX
Hillcrest Foundation funds Texas charitable organizations working in education, health, and poverty relief, with most grants going to Dallas County and nearby communities. Its 2025 grants ranged from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median of $55,000. It accepts online applications and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$145.2M
Grants
84
Total Given
$8.0M
Texas Women's Foundation
Dallas, TX
The Foundation funds organizations advancing women’s and girls’ economic security, stability, and success, including work in childcare, housing, healthcare, education, and leadership. Its 2025 grants had a median of $31,000; its 2026 Community Grant Cycle allowed requests up to $40,000 for eligible organizations serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area and nearby counties. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$26.3M
Grants
62
Total Given
$3.1M
Hoblitzelle Foundation
Dallas, TX
The Hoblitzelle Foundation primarily funds capital projects—such as construction, renovation, equipment, and technology—for eligible nonprofits in Texas, especially in the Dallas area; it generally does not fund operations. Recent grants ranged from $10,000 to $1 million, with a median of $67,300. It accepts online applications and encourages applicants to discuss a potential project with the foundation before applying.
Assets
$141.1M
Grants
59
Total Given
$7.7M
The Rosewood Foundation
Dallas, TX
The Rosewood Foundation supports arts, education, environmental conservation, healthcare, and poverty alleviation, primarily through program grants aimed at improving quality of life in the Dallas area. Its stated award range is $2,500–$10,000, and it funds only preselected organizations, not unsolicited requests.
Assets
$19K
Grants
3
Total Given
$6K
W P & Bulah Luse Foundation
Dallas, TX
The W P & Bulah Luse Foundation supports qualified Texas charities serving underserved people through education, health care and medical need, human services, and poverty relief, with most grants going to Dallas-area organizations. Its 2025 awards ranged from $5,000 to $25,000, with a median of $10,000. The filing says no special form or deadline is required, so organizations may submit requests; previously funded organizations must wait two years before applying again.
Assets
$14.4M
Grants
76
Total Given
$900K
McKesson Foundation Inc
Dallas, TX
The McKesson Foundation funds cancer support and care, healthcare workforce pathways, and emergency response, with grants mainly supporting organizations in the United States and Canada. Its 2025 grants had a median of $100,000, though amounts ranged from $10,000 to about $2.47 million. Its filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests, while its application page describes an online application process with stated submission windows.
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
76
Total Given
$16.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Harry Bass Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/harry-bass-foundation-morg_3ed6fecd79a545f6aa122ba6591f6753
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_751876307_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Harry Bass Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/harry-bass-foundation-morg_3ed6fecd79a545f6aa122ba6591f6753},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Harry Bass Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Harry Bass Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?