The Deason Foundation
The Deason Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1997 and based in Dallas, Texas. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Key facts about The Deason Foundation
In short: The Deason Foundation gave $2.8M across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $167K), mostly in Texas. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 75-2715549
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,842,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- Average grant
- $167,206
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (4 of 17, 2024)
- Total assets
- $42,610,692
- Primary geography
- Texas (55% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants funded. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Quick answers about The Deason Foundation
How much does The Deason Foundation give each year?
The Deason Foundation gave $2.8M across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.9M across 16 grants.
What is The Deason Foundation's typical grant size?
The Deason Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $167,206, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Deason Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does The Deason Foundation give grants?
The Deason Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (32%) and Illinois (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (6 grants) and Arlington, TX (2 grants).
Does The Deason Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 94% of The Deason Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Deason Foundation's largest grantees?
The Deason Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Southern Methodist University ($1,000,000), Stand Together Foundation ($900,000) and Turning Point USA ($290,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Is The Deason Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 17 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $216K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $80K repeat.
- 76% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% 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.
Next steps with The Deason Foundation
- How to evaluate The Deason Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$42.6M
-41.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
-3.0% YoY
Grant Count
17
+6.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$167K
-8.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Deason Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus on its website. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports initiatives in education, philanthropy and grantmaking, and human services. The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$50,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Deason Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation distributes funding across multiple states and cities, including:
- States: Texas, Virginia, Illinois, District of Columbia, California, Colorado
- Cities: Arlington, Austin, Camarillo, Dallas, Fairfax, Houston, Irving, Lemont, Plano, Steamboat Springs, Washington, and Whitesboro
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 17 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $72.8 million
- Total Revenues: $8.6 million
- Total Expenses: $3.1 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Grants, contributions, etc.: $5.1 million
- Investment income and dividends: $3.5 million
Staff: 1 employee
Contact Information:
- Address: 3953 Maple Ave Ste 150, Dallas, TX 75219-3220
- Telephone: 214-378-3600
- EIN: 75-2715549
- Tax-exempt since: July 1998
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $42,610,692 | $72,823,954 | $55,040,907 |
| Revenue | $8,929,513 | $8,605,114 | $10,643,340 |
| Expenses | $2,991,791 | $3,086,697 | $3,030,007 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,891,756 | $2,988,323 | $2,909,231 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,746,972 | $3,421,927 | $2,839,645 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,673,534 | $2,830,260 | $2,788,581 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
68 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY Dallas, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| STAND TOGETHER FOUNDATION Arlington, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $900,000 |
| TURNING POINT USA Lemont, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $290,000 |
| NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MUSEUM Arlington, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE Arlington, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| UT SOUTHWESTERN Dallas, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| BLEXIT FOUNDATION INC Washington, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $80,000 |
| SM WRIGHT FOUNDATION Dallas, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| SOUTHWESTERN DIABETIC FOUNDATION INC Whitesboro, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| FIRST LIBERTY Plano, TX | GENRAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Darwin Deason – President and Treasurer
- Douglas Deason – Vice President
- Asher Ladner – Principal Officer
- Scott Letier – Advisory Employee
- Nick Foster – Vice President and Secretary
The foundation is governed by 4 officers and trustees.
The Deason Foundation is led by Darwin Deason, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; 3 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Darwin Deason
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Deason
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $34K (2024)
Scott Letier
Advisory Employee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
$15K (2021) → $8K (2024)
Nick Foster
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2022
7.5 hrs/week
$37K (2022) → $33K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Asher Ladner (2020–2022) — Vice President & Secretary - Partial
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported the Deason Center at SMU Dedman School of Law through multiple grants and initiatives:
With Deason Center Support State-Funded Pilot Brings Day One Public DefenseThe Deason Center secured $1.5 million for overdetained Texans
With Deason Center Support State-Funded Pilot Brings Day One Public DefenseThe Deason Center was awarded $940,000 for an in-depth study of public defense in California
With Deason Center Support State-Funded Pilot Brings Day One Public DefenseThe Deason Center won a federal grant to study American public defense systems
With Deason Center Support State-Funded Pilot Brings Day One Public DefenseThe Deason Center received a grant from the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Fund at Communities Foundation of Texas
With Deason Center Support State-Funded Pilot Brings Day One Public DefenseThe Deason Center provided support for a state-funded pilot program bringing Day One public defense to rural Mississippi
With Deason Center Support State-Funded Pilot Brings Day One Public DefenseSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Deason Foundation fund?
The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus on its website. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports initiatives in education, philanthropy and grantmaking, and human services. The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from The Deason Foundation?
The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants funded. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Deason Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Deason Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Deason Foundation's EIN?
The Deason Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2715549. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Deason Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.