John S Dunn Foundation
The John S Dunn Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. It supports charitable organizations, primarily in the greater Houston area, with a focus on healthcare clinics serving underserved and vulnerable populations, mental health programs, medical research, and healthcare education.
John S Dunn Foundation at a glance
In short: John S Dunn Foundation gave $5.1M across 45 grants in 2024 (avg $113K), mostly in Texas. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,107,452
- -0.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 45
- -2.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $113,499
- +1.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $81,821,300
- +6.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (4 of 43, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John S Dunn Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation accepts online applications, with requests accepted throughout the year and no application deadline listed on its website. The website says applicants must be eligible tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3), classified as other than a private foundation under Section 509(a); Type III supporting organizations are not eligible. The website says organizations should apply once per calendar year, requests are for one-year periods, and applicants whose requests are declined must wait until the following year to reapply. It generally discourages multiyear requests and encourages matching grants and collaboration. The Foundation’s filing instructions separately state that a letter should identify the organization, amount requested, and purpose. Filing-stated award restrictions generally limit donees to Texas organizations whose primary efforts are medically related to education and research. The website also excludes grants to businesses and individuals and support for capital campaigns.
- Review Cycle
- None; requests are accepted throughout the year.
- Deadline
- None; requests are accepted throughout the year.
- Contact
Application contact: John S Dunn Foundation
Mailing address: 3355 West Alabama St Suite 990, Houston, TX 77098-1718
Phone: (713) 626-0368
Website: https://johnsdunnfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from John S Dunn Foundation
Who John S Dunn Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was UThealth Science Center - John S Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $3.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($30,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
246 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 246 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website limits requests to programs and projects in the greater Houston area. Its filing states that awards are generally limited to Texas donees whose primary efforts are medically related to educational and research activities. All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
Cities
Is John S Dunn Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 43 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $594K; repeat grants $70K. How we count
Medians: $163K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 84% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.0M (2021) to $6.8M (2022). In 2024 it made 45 grants totaling $5.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UThealth Science Center - John S Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center Houston, TX | Grant to establish 14 separate permanent endowments for the use, benefit, and support of UTHealth to advance behavioral health research, education, and patient care at the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center. | $2,000,000 |
| Rice University Houston, TX | Grant to support a fund for research seed grants with the Collaborative Research Center explicitly designed to bring together Rice researchers with their colleagues in the Texas Medical Center. | $300,000 |
| Communities In Schools of Houston Inc Houston, TX | Grant to support the on-campus Mental Health Initiative Program Program for 2023-2024 school year. | $200,000 |
| Texas Heart Institute Houston, TX | Grant to establish the John S. Dunn Chair for the Innovative Device & Engineering Applications (IDEA) Lab which is focused on developing and evaluating cutting-edge cardoivascular medical devices. | $200,000 |
| UThealth Science Center - Faillace Dept Of Psychiatry Houston, TX | Grant to establish the John S. Dunn Foundation Distinguished Chair in Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for research in schizophrenia and psychotic disorders. | $200,000 |
| Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation Houston, TX | Grant to establish the Eva Lynn and John S. Dunn, Jr. New Century Chair in Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery $1,500,000 Endowment Fund. | $134,452 |
| Texas A&M Foundation College Station, TX | Grant to establish the John S. Dunn Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Engineering Medicine to support $10,000 annually to a top-performing student. | $125,000 |
| Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation Houston, TX | Grant to support the John S. Dunn Foundation Advancing Nursing Excellence Award to award funds to each of the runners up each year who go above and beyond in their commitment to their patients. | $110,000 |
| Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX | Grant to support research for the Cultivation Center to increase its capacity and substantially enhance its production of microbiome-based therapeutic and diagnostic candidates. | $100,000 |
| reMIND Depression & Bipolar Support Houston, TX | Grant to provide free support groups for diagnosed individuals, family members and friends impacted by depression or bipolar disorder. | $100,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $81,821,300 | $11,144,127 | $6,171,314 | $5,107,452 | 45 | $5,418,898 | $10,373,428 | $4,834,697 |
| 2023 | $76,848,487 | $4,229,016 | $6,125,935 | $5,134,452 | 46 | $5,437,844 | $3,636,175 | $4,590,846 |
| 2022 | $78,745,406 | $9,251,548 | $8,132,045 | $6,763,153 | 47 | $7,069,891 | $8,189,027 | $4,528,764 |
| 2021 | $77,625,903 | $10,972,143 | $6,069,922 | $5,018,142 | 54 | $5,246,532 | $10,315,875 | $4,884,385 |
| 2020 | $72,723,815 | $5,685,287 | $6,122,163 | $5,067,042 | 54 | — | $4,898,682 | $4,217,354 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John S Dunn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.8M for 2024 — 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 Foundation’s stated mission is to strengthen healthcare clinics serving underserved and vulnerable populations, expand access to mental health programs, advance medical research addressing community health needs, and invest in healthcare education.
Its grant guidelines identify healthcare education, nursing programs, healthcare clinics for underserved populations, mental health programs, and medical research as general funding areas. The Foundation also supports nursing scholarships and medical research endowments and chairs, but does not award scholarships directly to individuals.
Examples of supported organizations include Texas Heart Institute, whose mission is to reduce the toll of cardiovascular disease through research, education, and improved patient care; Communities In Schools of Houston, which works to connect students and families with community support; and El Centro de Corazon, which describes its mission as improving community well-being through quality healthcare and innovative programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 45 grants totaling $5,107,452. Grant amounts ranged from $3,000 to $2,000,000, with a median grant of $50,000. Notable awards included $2,000,000 to UTHealth Science Center’s John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center for permanent endowments supporting behavioral health research, education, and patient care; $300,000 to Rice University for research seed grants connecting Rice researchers with Texas Medical Center colleagues; and $200,000 each to Communities In Schools of Houston for its on-campus Mental Health Initiative and Texas Heart Institute for the John S. Dunn Chair for its IDEA Lab.
Other reported 2024 grants included $200,000 to UTHealth’s Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for a distinguished chair focused on schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, and $125,000 to Texas A&M Foundation for an endowed Engineering Medicine scholarship. The Foundation also awarded $100,000 each to Baylor College of Medicine for research capacity, reMIND Depression & Bipolar Support for support groups, Texas Hearing Institute for services and an audiology externship program, and The Children’s Assessment Center Foundation for therapy and psychological services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Charles M. Lusk III as President, John R. Wallace as Vice President, and David G. Key as Secretary/Treasurer. It lists Cynthia J. Adkins, Diana M. Hawkins, Terri Lacy, and Andrew W. Sowell as trustees.
John S Dunn Foundation is led by Charles M Lusk III, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); all 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Charles M Lusk III
President
President & Trustee → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
5.4 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $60K (2024)
Cynthia J Adkins
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5.3 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $48K (2024)
Terri Lacy
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5.1 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $48K (2024)
Andrew W Sowell
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$10K (2021) → $48K (2024)
Diana M Hawkins
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$7K (2021) → $48K (2024)
David G Key
Secretary & Treasurer
Trustee → Secretary, Treasury & Trustee, 2021
Secretary, Treasury & Trustee → Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
5.5 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $48K (2024)
John R Wallace
Vice President
Secretary, Treasurer & Trustee → Vice President & Trustee, 2021
Vice President & Trustee → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $48K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Dan S Wilford (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: J Dickson Rogers (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $60K, to Charles M Lusk III (President). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about John S Dunn Foundation
How much does John S Dunn Foundation give each year?
John S Dunn Foundation gave $5.1M across 45 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.1M across 46 grants.
What is John S Dunn Foundation's typical grant size?
John S Dunn Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $113,499, across 45 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John S Dunn Foundation that year got $594K on average.
Where does John S Dunn Foundation give grants?
John S Dunn Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (38 grants).
Does John S Dunn Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 18% of John S Dunn Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 45) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John S Dunn Foundation's largest grantees?
John S Dunn Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include UThealth Science Center - John S Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center ($2,000,000), Rice University ($300,000) and Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation ($244,452 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($30,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is John S Dunn Foundation?
John S Dunn Foundation reported $81.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John S Dunn Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to strengthen healthcare clinics serving underserved and vulnerable populations, expand access to mental health programs, advance medical research addressing community health needs, and invest in healthcare education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John S Dunn Foundation?
The Foundation accepts online applications, with requests accepted throughout the year and no application deadline listed on its website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John S Dunn Foundation's EIN?
John S Dunn Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-1933660. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John S Dunn Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-s-dunn-foundation-morg_24008c5ef7ac4e9fba0a585b8500d661
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_741933660_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John S Dunn Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-s-dunn-foundation-morg_24008c5ef7ac4e9fba0a585b8500d661},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 John S Dunn 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.
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