Mary Louise Dobson Foundation
The Mary Louise Dobson Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2001 by Mary Louise Dobson of Egypt, Texas. Based in Wharton, Texas, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to providing funding for youth-focused initiatives and community development.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.6M
+5.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$736K
-6.8% YoY
Grant Count
22
-15.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
+10.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mary Louise Dobson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $756K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To support charitable organizations with an emphasis on enhancing the lives of youth in all aspects in the Wharton County Area, although other charitable organizations are not excluded.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Boys & Girls Clubs in and around Wharton County
- Youth Athletic Programs
- Education (ranging from infant care to college career-ready programs)
- Brick & Mortar Projects
- Program and operational assistance for youth organizations
- Healthcare
- Local family assistance programs
- Civic and cultural purposes
- Human services
- Health services
Grants are primarily provided for specific, identifiable projects or purposes rather than in response to general fundraising programs. Both capital and operating purposes are considered.
Grantmaking
The foundation uses a two-step application process:
Review Cycle
** April 1st and October 1st for meetings occurring in the following months.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus on Wharton County, Texas, with funding activity in multiple Texas cities including Bay City, Boling, El Campo, Freeport, Houston, Louise, Richmond, and Wharton.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $14.6 million
- Revenue: $1,650,585
- Expenses: $1,011,757
- Net Income: $638,828
- Total Liabilities: $1,000
Cumulative Impact: As of December 2025, the foundation has dispersed a total of $8,248,000 in grants throughout Wharton County since its inception in 2001.
25 Years of Service (as of the foundation's recent communications)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,568,621 | $13,782,579 | $15,621,515 |
| Revenue | $1,650,585 | $785,265 | $1,209,858 |
| Expenses | $1,011,757 | $1,012,580 | $934,245 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $825,599 | $880,235 | $788,169 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,473,916 | $308,588 | $327,073 |
| Distributable Amount | $755,634 | $676,747 | $773,419 |
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
99 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boys & Girls Club-Greater Houston ($349,360), OakBend Medical Center ($71,500), Wharton High School ($63,632).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boys & Girls Club-Greater Houston Houston, TX | General operations | $349,360 |
| Just Do It Now Inc Wharton, TX | General operations | $31,500 |
| Boys& Girls Club of El Campo El Campo, TX | General operations | $15,000 |
| Friends of Wharton Texas Animal Control Wharton, TX | General assistance | $2,500 |
| Firl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Houston, TX | Summer camp of 50 girls | $6,500 |
| Hesed House of Wharton Wharton, TX | Hurricane Beryl assistance | $1,000 |
| Institute For Civility In Government Houston, TX | DC trip for 10 students | $2,000 |
| Billie H Jones Leadership Academy Wharton, TX | General operations | $25,000 |
| Matagorda County Crisis Center Bay City, TX | New location construction | $30,000 |
| OakBend Medical Center Richmond, TX | Wharton Campus elevatorqq | $71,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Abby King (35 hours per week)
President: Jimmy Schulz
Founder: Mary Louise "Weasy" Dobson (1922–), who established the foundation to give back to youth citizens of Wharton County and impact the future well-being of the community.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abby King | Exec Dir | 35 | $90,000 |
| Jimmy Schulz | President | 1 | — |
| Don Hillis | Treas Dr | 1 | — |
| Ron Sanders | Director | 1 | — |
| Sarah Armour | Sec Dir | 1 | — |
| Jane Dobson | VP Dir | 1 | — |
| Dwight D King | Director | 1 | — |
| John Dettling | Director | 1 | — |
| Terence Ward | Director | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 588 Wharton, TX 77488
Phone: 979-533-2441
Email: hello@marylouisedobsonfoundation.org
Website: www.marylouisedobsonfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mary Louise Dobson Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To support charitable organizations with an emphasis on enhancing the lives of youth in all aspects in the Wharton County Area, although other charitable organizations are not excluded. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Boys & Girls Clubs in and around Wharton County • Youth Athletic Programs • Education (ranging from infant care to college career-ready programs) • Brick & Mortar Projects • Program and operational assistance for youth organizations • Healthcare • Local family assistance p…
How do I apply for a grant from Mary Louise Dobson Foundation?
**Application Process:** The foundation uses a two-step application process: 1. Submit a qualification page for approval 2. Submit the full grant application **Required Documentation:** • Most recent fiscal year audited financial statements • Year-to-date Statement of Account • Year-to-date Balance Sheet • End of year Cash Flow Statements • End of year Statement of Activities for the previous year • End of year Balance Sheets for the previous year • 501(c)(3) Letter of Determination from IRS **…
Where does Mary Louise Dobson Foundation make grants?
Primary focus on Wharton County, Texas, with funding activity in multiple Texas cities including Bay City, Boling, El Campo, Freeport, Houston, Louise, Richmond, and Wharton.
What size grants does Mary Louise Dobson Foundation award?
In 2024, Mary Louise Dobson Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $736K — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Mary Louise Dobson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Mary Louise Dobson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $756K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Mary Louise Dobson Foundation's EIN?
Mary Louise Dobson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0690889. 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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