Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Fort Worth, TX EIN: 75-2495163

The Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation is a private foundation based in Fort Worth, Texas. Its 2024 grants supported research, wildlife conservation, and nonprofit operations, including organizations in Texas, Virginia, and Idaho.

Key facts about Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation

In short: Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation gave $1.7M across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $333K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
75-2495163
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,664,770
Grants made (2024)
5
Average grant
$332,954
Median grant
$250,000
Total assets
$87,682,183
Primary geography
Texas (73% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$87.7M

+11.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.7M

-68.5% YoY

Grant Count

5

-37.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$333K

-49.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation gives

  • Giving fell 68% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 41% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for invasive species research, animal health and conservation facilities, and wildlife programs. The Peregrine Fund describes its mission as conserving birds of prey worldwide; Fossil Rim Wildlife Center describes its mission as conserving animal species in peril through research, caregiver training, and conservation information.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 5 grants totaling $1,664,770. Grants ranged from $20,000 to $944,770, with a median of $250,000. The largest grants were $944,770 to the University of Texas at Austin for the Texas Invasive Species Research Program; $250,000 to the International Rhino Foundation for general support; $250,000 to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center for capital support for its Animal Health & Conservation Center; $200,000 to The Peregrine Fund for general support for its Aplomado Program; and $20,000 to Opportunity in Overalls for operational support.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 15% to Virginia, and 12% to Idaho.

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.

Cities

AustinFort WorthBoiseNashvilleStrasburgKingsvilleStillwaterDallasGlen RoseKerrvilleLexington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10M$20M$30M8 grants2020 8 grants2021 10 grants2022 8 grants2023 5 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2024) to $23.1M (2022). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $1.7M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2024

University of Texas at Austin: $945KUniversity of Texas at Austin$945KThe International Rhino Foundation: $250KThe International RhinoFoundation$250KFossil Rim Wildlife Center Inc: $250KFossil Rim Wildlife Center Inc$250KThe Peregrine Fund Inc: $200KThe Peregrine Fund Inc$200KOpportunity in Overalls: $20KOpportunity in Overalls$20K

The largest 2024 recipient was University of Texas at Austin ($945K). Together the top 5 received $1.7M.

Grant Size Distribution

39 grants across all recorded years

3<$50K2$50–100K12$100–250K5$250–500K9$500K–1M4$1–5M4$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 12 grants of 39 (31%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXTexas Invasive Species Research Program$944,770
The International Rhino Foundation Strasburg, VAGeneral Support$250,000
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Inc Glen Rose, TXCapital Support - Animal Health & Conservation Ctr.$250,000
The Peregrine Fund Inc Boise, IDGeneral Support for Aplomado Program$200,000
Opportunity in Overalls Fort Worth, TXOperational Support$20,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $87,682,183 $4,924,932 $4,026,697 $1,664,770
2023 $78,687,032 $3,904,262 $1,124,898 $5,282,829
2022 $65,789,838 $1,885,700 $21,060,138 $23,103,646
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$87,682,183$78,687,032$65,789,838
Revenue$4,924,932$3,904,262$1,885,700
Expenses$4,026,697$1,124,898$21,060,138
Qualifying Distributions$1,745,685$5,415,891$18,208,074
Net Investment Income$4,723,527$3,746,066$1,582,632
Distributable Amount$4,230,850$3,198,939$2,388,321

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation is led by Preston M Geren III, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 6 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.

Officers on the 2023 filing

The latest filing that lists officers: our copy of the 2024 filing lists none.

  • Preston M Geren III

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dee Steer

    Assistant Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gary W Reese

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lee M Bass

    Presidenttreasurer

    President & Treasurer → Presidenttreasurer, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ramona S Bass

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thomas W White

    Vice Presidentsecretary

    Vice President & Secretary → Vice Presidentsecretary, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Preston M. Green III (2020) — Executive Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 309 Main Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: (817) 336-0494

Frequently asked questions about Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation

How much does Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation give each year?

Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation gave $1.7M across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.3M across 8 grants.

What is Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation's typical grant size?

Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $332,954, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation give grants?

Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (15%) and Idaho (12%).

Does Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 60% of Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation's largest grantees?

Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Texas at Austin ($944,770), The International Rhino Foundation ($250,000) and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Inc ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 87% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation?

Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation reported $87.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for invasive species research, animal health and conservation facilities, and wildlife programs. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation's EIN?

Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2495163. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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