Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation
The Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in San Antonio, Texas. Established in 2018, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status. The foundation manages assets of approximately $3.4 million and focuses on grantmaking to support various charitable initiatives across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3M
-3.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$394K
-74.1% YoY
Grant Count
20
+5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
-75.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $172K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants ranging from $500 to $1,106,000, with a median grant size of approximately $20,000. In recent years, the foundation has distributed approximately $1.5 million annually in grants.
Grant Range
of approximately $20,000. In recent years, the foundation has distributed approximately $1.5 million annually in grants.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple U.S. locations and states, including:
- Cities: Auburn, Austin, Houston, Kansas City, Orlando, San Antonio, and Washington
- States: Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Missouri, and Texas
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023 (most recent complete filing):
- Total Assets: $3,442,040
- Total Giving: $1,520,100
- Total Revenue: $3,298,939
- Total Expenses: $1,573,972
- Total Liabilities: $1,190
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,320,125
- Total Revenue: $307,158
- Total Expenses: $428,466
The foundation's revenue includes investment income and dividends from publicly traded securities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,320,125 | $3,442,040 | $1,716,809 |
| Revenue | $307,158 | $3,298,939 | $976,309 |
| Expenses | $428,466 | $1,573,972 | $379,703 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $402,545 | $1,528,499 | $357,072 |
| Net Investment Income | $62,547 | $20,683 | $806,654 |
| Distributable Amount | $171,644 | $142,415 | $73,646 |
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
82 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Trinity Baptist Church ($151,500), The Charity Ball Association of San Antonio Inc ($26,500), Cru ($25,059).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CRU ORLANDO, FL | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $25,059 |
| HAVEN FOR HOPE SAN ANTONIO, TX | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $20,000 |
| OPERA SAN ANTONIO SAN ANTONIO, TX | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $5,000 |
| PAPE-DAWSON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SAN ANTONIO, TX | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $7,500 |
| SAN ANTONIO YOUTH FOR CHRIST SAN ANTONIO, TX | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $15,000 |
| THE CHARITY BALL ASSOCIATION OF SAN ANTONIO INC SAN ANTONIO, TX | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $26,500 |
| TOBIN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS SAN ANTONIO, TX | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $20,000 |
| TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH SAN ANTONIO, TX | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $151,500 |
| CLASSICAL MUSIC INSTITUTE SAN ANTONIO, TX | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $5,000 |
| WITTE MUSEUM SAN ANTONIO, TX | SUPPORT PROGRAMS | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a volunteer leadership team:
| Name | Title | Hours/Week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel G. Dawson | President | 1 | $0 |
| Laura F. Dawson | Vice President | 1 | $0 |
| Taylor G. Dawson | Secretary | 1 | $0 |
| Kendall Dawson Weaver | Treasurer | 8 | $12,000 |
All leadership members work on a volunteer basis except the Treasurer, who receives $12,000 annually for 8 hours of work per week.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAMUEL G DAWSON | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| LAURA F DAWSON | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| TAYLOR G DAWSON | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KENDALL DAWSON WEAVER | TREASURER | 8 | $12,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation made a significant $1 million gift to The Alamo, announced on International Day of Charity.
On International Day of Charity, Dawson Charitable Foundation Gifts $1 MillionSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation?
The foundation makes grants ranging from $500 to $1,106,000, with a median grant size of approximately $20,000. In recent years, the foundation has distributed approximately $1.5 million annually in grants. Recent grantees have included: • The Charity Ball Association of San Antonio ($26,500) • United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County ($25,000) • Arboretum San Antonio ($25,000) • Trinity Baptist Church • The Alamo (received $1 million gift) The foundation does not maintain a publicly listed w…
Where does Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple U.S. locations and states, including: • **Cities:** Auburn, Austin, Houston, Kansas City, Orlando, San Antonio, and Washington • **States:** Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Missouri, and Texas
What size grants does Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $394K — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sam and Laura Dawson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $172K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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