The Meadows Foundation is a private family foundation headquartered in Dallas, Texas, established in 1948. The foundation is dedicated to improving the quality and circumstances of life for the people of Texas through collaborative grantmaking and philanthropic programs. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation has distributed more than $1.4 billion in grants and charitable distributions to approximately 3,800 institutions and agencies serving Texans over its 77-year history.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$718.0M
+3.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$24.1M
-11.2% YoY
Grant Count
161
-5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$150K
-6.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to improve the quality and circumstances of life for the people of Texas now and in the future.
The foundation supports work across six primary program areas:
Arts & Culture — Supporting organizations throughout Texas that provide opportunities for all Texans to experience and benefit from the arts. The foundation's most significant arts partner is Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts and the Meadows Museum.
Civic & Public Affairs — Assisting communities in developing leadership talent, promoting civic and public collaboration, supporting nonprofit capacity-building and management, and improving service delivery infrastructure. The foundation also funds projects that improve animal welfare and enhance the human-animal connection.
Education — Supporting initiatives that recognize the link between quality education and quality of life, including early reading programs, high-quality instructor development, resource access, and high academic expectations for all students.
Environment — Addressing environmental challenges related to Texas's projected population growth.
Health — Supporting health-related initiatives.
Human Services — Funding organizations that provide essential services to Texans.
The foundation also maintains specific initiatives focused on postsecondary completion, educator preparation, water conservation, depression, mental health, and homelessness.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded approximately $24.1 million in grants in 2024, with 170 grants distributed that year. Grant amounts typically range from $500 to $4,929,120, with an average grant size of approximately $509.
Grant Range
of approximately $509.
Average Grant
of approximately $509.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds throughout Texas. However, the foundation also supports work in other states including California, New York, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $718,015,871 (as of 2024)
Annual Revenue: $29,584,617 (2024)
Annual Expenses: $44,989,627 (2024)
Total Liabilities: $25.3 million (2024)
Total Giving: $24,104,736 (2024)
Employees: 36 (as of 2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $718,015,871 | $694,306,466 | $676,424,889 |
| Revenue | $29,584,617 | $3,668,203 | $1,930,826 |
| Expenses | $44,989,627 | $55,799,592 | $40,232,653 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $38,531,530 | $40,027,023 | $35,187,812 |
| Net Investment Income | $30,722,242 | $2,613,280 | $9,695,405 |
| Distributable Amount | $34,487,178 | $32,788,117 | $33,587,792 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Meadows Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Monica Christopher — Chief Philanthropy Officer (joined February 2026)
Candace Barnes — Vice President Human Resources
Olin Lancaster — Board Member
Layton Wilson — Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated active grantmaking and strategic initiatives in recent years:
Launched the Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water at Sul Ross State University with a $2.75 million commitment to support water research in West Texas
Meadows Foundation donates $2.75M to launch water research institute in WestAwarded $100,000 to VIDA to support nursing and allied health career development in the Rio Grande Valley
VIDA Secures $100,000 from The Meadows Foundation to Support Growth of NursingMade a $6 million grant to the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
Meadows Foundation donates $2.75M to launch water research institute in WestProvided $3.4 million to Cafe Momentum for development of a new flagship location and community services center in the Wilson Historic District
Continued support for education initiatives, including $500,000 toward the new elementary school in Uvalde CISD
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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