Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation
The Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in San Antonio, Texas. In its 2025 filing, it reported grants to public charities, with 95% of grant dollars going to recipients in Texas and 5% to recipients in Florida.
Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation gave $908K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $48K), mostly in Texas. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $907,612
- +130.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- -5.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $47,769
- +142.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $3,518,515
- +6.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (6 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests from public charities qualifying as 501(c)(3) organizations. Applicants should submit a request to the foundation’s board of directors with a detailed description of the grant’s purpose and intended use, along with a copy of the organization’s IRS favorable determination letter recognizing it as a 501(c)(3). The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Sam And Laura Dawson Family Foundat
Mailing address: 3 Ceylon, San Antonio, TX 78230
Phone: (210) 375-9000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was San Antonio Zoo ($200K). Together the top 10 received $847K.
Grant Size Distribution
86 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 72 grants of 86 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 5% to recipients in Florida. Many listed recipients are based in San Antonio, including the San Antonio Zoo, Trinity Baptist Church, and the Charity Ball Association of San Antonio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 19 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $53K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 162% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 576% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $294K (2021) to $1.5M (2023). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $908K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Zoo San Antonio, TX | Support Programs | $200,000 |
| Trinity Baptist Church San Antonio, TX | Support Programs | $154,631 |
| The Charity Ball Association of San Antonio Inc San Antonio, TX | Support Programs | $139,049 |
| The University of Texas at Austin - Cockrell School of Engineering Austin, TX | Support Programs | $100,000 |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX | Support Programs | $100,000 |
| United Way of San Antonio San Antonio, TX | Support Programs | $50,000 |
| CRU Orlando, FL | Support Programs | $43,232 |
| Remember the Alamo Foundation San Antonio, TX | Support Programs | $25,000 |
| Arboretum San Antonio San Antonio, TX | Support Programs | $20,000 |
| San Antonio Youth for Christ San Antonio, TX | Support Programs | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,518,515 | $1,145,409 | $944,100 | $907,612 | 19 | $916,146 | $557,710 | $159,012 |
| 2024 | $3,320,125 | $307,158 | $428,466 | $394,059 | 20 | $402,545 | $62,547 | $171,644 |
| 2023 | $3,442,040 | $3,298,939 | $1,573,972 | $1,520,100 | 19 | $1,528,499 | $20,683 | $142,415 |
| 2022 | $1,716,809 | $976,309 | $379,703 | $346,027 | 16 | $357,072 | $806,654 | $73,646 |
| 2021 | $1,119,866 | $940,729 | $308,018 | $294,250 | 12 | $300,884 | $26,326 | $60,953 |
| 2020 | $760,608 | $863,955 | $373,784 | $350,050 | 15 | — | $112,926 | $37,741 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $159K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 filing reports grants with the purpose “support programs.” The organizations it supported describe a range of activities: Remember the Alamo Foundation says it supports the Alamo Trust and its preservation, educational outreach, and public programs; Ballet San Antonio describes its work as sharing dance through performances and outreach; and the World Affairs Council of San Antonio says it promotes public understanding of world affairs and U.S. foreign policy.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 19 grants totaling $907,612. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $200,000, with a median grant of $15,000. Among the largest were $200,000 to the San Antonio Zoo, $154,631 to Trinity Baptist Church, $139,049 to the Charity Ball Association of San Antonio, and $100,000 each to the University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Samuel G. Dawson as president, Laura F. Dawson as vice president, Taylor G. Dawson as secretary, and Kendall Dawson Weaver as treasurer.
Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation is led by Samuel G. Dawson, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Samuel G. Dawson
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kendall Dawson Weaver
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $12K (2025)
Laura F. Dawson
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Taylor G. Dawson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $12K, to Kendall Dawson Weaver (Treasurer).
Frequently asked questions about Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation
How much does Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation give each year?
Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation gave $908K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $394K across 20 grants.
What is Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $47,769, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation that year got $53K on average.
Where does Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation give grants?
Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Antonio, TX (16 grants).
Does Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Programs" (19 grants).
Who are Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include San Antonio Zoo ($200,000), Trinity Baptist Church ($154,631) and The Charity Ball Association of San Antonio Inc ($139,049), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation?
Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $916K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $159K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 filing reports grants with the purpose “support programs.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests from public charities qualifying as 501(c)(3) organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation's EIN?
Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1264255. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sam-and-laura-dawson-family-foundation-morg_d4b0b4de80b84e9da612cabcaff3a9b9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_831264255_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sam-and-laura-dawson-family-foundation-morg_d4b0b4de80b84e9da612cabcaff3a9b9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Sam and Laura Dawson Family 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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