Once Upon a Time Foundation
The Once Upon a Time Foundation is a Form 990-PF private foundation based in Fort Worth, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports assets of $276.7 million. The foundation says it supports organizations providing arts and humanities, community affairs, health and medicine, human services, and education benefits.
Once Upon a Time Foundation at a glance
In short: Once Upon a Time Foundation gave $10.7M across 1,039 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Texas. 61% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,715,876
- -39.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1,039
- +210.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $10,314
- -80.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $350
- Total assets
- $276,746,212
- +2.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 61% first-time grantees (178 of 293, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (56% 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 Once Upon a Time Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says it does not fund requests outside its pre-set budget. Research grants may not include more than 10% indirect costs.
- Contact
Mailing address: 301 Commerce Street 3200, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: (817) 332-5572
Website: https://onceuponatime.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Once Upon a Time Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was UT Southwestern Medical Center ($3.0M across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $6.9M.
Organizations only. It also paid 144 grants to individuals ($139,388), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,974 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,824 grants of 1,974 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Texas recipients received 56% of grant dollars. Other leading recipient states or jurisdictions were North Carolina (7%), the District of Columbia (5%), Pennsylvania (5%), and Colorado (4%). The listed grants include recipients in Texas and other states, including Colorado, North Carolina, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 1,039 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Once Upon a Time Foundation open to new grantees?
61%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 178 of 293 grantees (61%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $65K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 31% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 197% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 107% 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 $2.4M (2020) to $17.7M (2023). In 2024 it made 1,039 grants totaling $10.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX | General Support | $2,500,000 |
| Fort Worth Zoo Fort Worth, TX | General Support | $1,000,000 |
| University of Colorado Boulder, CO | General Support | $410,949 |
| Children's National Research Institute Washington, DC | General Support | $366,667 |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX | General Support | $320,000 |
| Texas Health Resources (Harris Methodist Foundation) Arlington, TX | General Support | $275,000 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | General Support | $250,000 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | General Support | $250,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | General Support | $225,000 |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX | General Support | $200,000 |
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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 | $276,746,212 | $2,359,642 | $14,717,708 | $10,715,876 | 1,039 | $13,841,328 | $30,617,542 | $12,938,152 |
| 2023 | $269,806,059 | $138,880 | $19,919,989 | $17,677,034 | 335 | $19,369,989 | $26,335,810 | $11,660,000 |
| 2022 | $226,156,369 | $-12,186,780 | $9,016,134 | $7,463,583 | 303 | $8,447,135 | $12,870,788 | $10,198,291 |
| 2021 | $247,337,639 | $58,916,782 | $5,004,994 | $3,613,205 | 174 | $4,248,994 | $74,967,942 | $10,485,223 |
| 2020 | $193,194,460 | $885,134 | $3,005,316 | $2,393,193 | 123 | — | $2,209,184 | $10,115,663 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Once Upon a Time Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12.9M 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 does not state a single mission statement in the available materials. It describes support for a range of organizations and projects, including health and medical research and educational programs.
The foundation reports a long-term partnership with UT Southwestern Medical Center, including support for research and the Once Upon a Time Foundation Human Genomics Center. Its other stated initiatives include three $1 million clinical research grants for studies of patients’ electronic communications in psychiatric evaluation and treatment, and grants totaling nearly $2 million for research on childhood apraxia of speech treatment.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations receiving support. Texas Children’s Hospital describes its work as advancing patient care, education, and research to create a healthier future for children and women. Kinderplatz of Fine Arts describes its preschool and kindergarten programs as emphasizing academic readiness through the arts. The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation describes its work as providing need-based scholarships for military children.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 1,039 grants totaling $10,715,876. Grant amounts ranged from $3 to $2.5 million, with a median of $350. The largest listed grant was $2.5 million to UT Southwestern Medical Center for general support. Other large grants included $1 million to the Fort Worth Zoo, $410,949 to the University of Colorado, and $366,667 to Children’s National Research Institute, each for general support.
Other listed 2024 grants included $275,000 to Texas Health Resources (Harris Methodist Foundation), $250,000 to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in each of two listed grants, $225,000 to Johns Hopkins University, and $200,000 each to Texas Children’s Hospital and Vanguard Charitable. Johns Hopkins University received $225,000; the university describes itself as a research institution with education and research across multiple disciplines. Texas Children’s Hospital received $200,000 and describes its work as focused on care, education, and research.
The foundation’s website says it sets an annual board-approved funding budget based on strategic priorities. Its 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Patrick W. Dunne as director, president, and treasurer; Geoffrey P. Raynor as director; Paul E. Christensen as director and secretary; and Montana Raynor as vice president.
Once Upon a Time Foundation is led by Patrick W. Dunne, Director, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2023; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Patrick W. Dunne
Director, President & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Geoffrey P. Raynor
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul E. Christensen
Director & Secretary
Director → Director & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Montana Raynor
Vice President
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Noel Nesser (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Pat Dunne (2020–2022) — President & Treasurer
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.
Frequently asked questions about Once Upon a Time Foundation
How much does Once Upon a Time Foundation give each year?
Once Upon a Time Foundation gave $10.7M across 1,039 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $17.7M across 335 grants.
What is Once Upon a Time Foundation's typical grant size?
Once Upon a Time Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $350, and its average grant was $10,314, across 1,039 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Once Upon a Time Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does Once Upon a Time Foundation give grants?
Once Upon a Time Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were North Carolina (7%) and District of Columbia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Worth, TX (531 grants), College Station, TX (34 grants), Austin, TX (20 grants) and Madison, WI (19 grants).
Does Once Upon a Time Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 86% of Once Upon a Time Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (895 of 1,039) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "The Raynor Cerebellum Project" (72 grants), "The Philanthropy Lab" (63 grants) and "The CAS Teen Meet-up Program" (9 grants).
Who are Once Upon a Time Foundation's largest grantees?
Once Upon a Time Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include UT Southwestern Medical Center ($3,045,000 across 4 grants), Fort Worth Zoo ($1,002,750 across 2 grants) and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($571,495 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 144 grants to individuals ($139,388), which are not listed by name. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Once Upon a Time Foundation?
Once Upon a Time Foundation reported $276.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $13.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $12.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Once Upon a Time Foundation fund?
The foundation does not state a single mission statement in the available materials. It describes support for a range of organizations and projects, including health and medical research and educational programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Once Upon a Time Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Once Upon a Time Foundation's EIN?
Once Upon a Time Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2765224. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Once Upon a Time Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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
Live grants for the work Once Upon a Time Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Once Upon a Time Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/once-upon-a-time-foundation-morg_d2cf9248e6f14fb7b54d26406fc3e788
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752765224_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Once Upon a Time Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/once-upon-a-time-foundation-morg_d2cf9248e6f14fb7b54d26406fc3e788},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Once Upon a Time 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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