The Moody Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Galveston, Texas, established in 1942. As one of the largest private foundations in Texas, it operates as a non-operating foundation with a focus on charitable grantmaking to strengthen communities across the state. The foundation has been in operation for over 80 years and has awarded thousands of grants to community partners throughout its history.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5B
+58.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$121.3M
+34.6% YoY
Grant Count
373
+39.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$325K
-3.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Moody Foundation reported a distributable amount of $169.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Empowering Texas Communities to Thrive and Prosper.
Vision: Building a bigger, better future for Texans.
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Early childhood literacy initiatives
- Youth educational opportunities
Grantmaking
The Moody Foundation makes grants across a range of sizes. Recent grants have included awards such as $1,600,000 to Abilene Christian University for renovations to Moody Coliseum, $846,120 to Highland Park ISD Education Foundation for K-12 education research, and $600,000 to Child Poverty Action Lab for program expansion.
Review Cycle
programs for educational and literacy grants. Recent grant initiatives include the "Generation Moody" grants program and the M-Pact Fund.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Texas, with some activity in New York and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,228,364,246 to $3,534,764,351
- Total Revenue: $162,839,323
- Total Expenses: $106,548,134
- Total Giving: $121,331,301
Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3), tax-exempt since October 1943 EIN: 74-1403105
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,534,764,351 | $2,228,364,246 | $2,172,073,057 |
| Revenue | $1,432,337,894 | $162,839,323 | $1,332,537,378 |
| Expenses | $145,013,039 | $106,548,134 | $135,495,452 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $125,159,610 | $96,203,098 | $109,468,093 |
| Net Investment Income | $204,196,280 | $98,063,416 | $1,295,169,073 |
| Distributable Amount | $169,763,721 | $118,777,962 | $97,169,703 |
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
2 open opportunities from The Moody Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Abilene Christian University ($1,800,000), Avance Inc ($1,000,000), Austin Public Education Foundation ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 212 Catalysts Austin, TX | Help hire an Executive Director and grow capacity for the African American Leadership Institute | $50,000 |
| Abide Womens Health Center Inc Dallas, TX | Assistance with Expanding the Easy Access Clinic in South Dallas | $100,000 |
| Abilene Christian University Abilene, TX | Assistance completing second and final phase of renovations to Moody Coliseum | $1,800,000 |
| Achilles International Inc New York, NY | Help boost participation of people with disabilities in health-focused, inclusive sports in Texas | $75,000 |
| After School All-Stars Dallas, TX | Aid growth of after-school programs at Spence Middle to raise academic performance | $33,334 |
| Alcohol Drug Abuse Women's Center Inc Galveston, TX | Support updates to finance systems, cybersecurity, building repairs, and staffing transitions | $50,000 |
| Alliance for Women and Children Abilene, TX | Assistance with Project Description A-Teens Reimagined | $10,000 |
| Altacair Foundations McAllen, TX | Assistance with the Colonia Elevation Program | $40,000 |
| Amarillo Area Foundation Inc Amarillo, TX | Support transport and outreach to involve rural schools in 2024 EPIC Success Career Expo events | $25,000 |
| Amarillo Area Foundation Inc Amarillo, TX | Assistance with relief in the Texas Panhandle from the wild fires | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Frances Moody-Dahlberg has served as Executive Director and Board Chair since 1998. The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees and employs 16 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frances A Moody-Dahlberg | Trustee/Chair/CEO/President | 37.5 | $214,973 |
| Ross R Moody | Trustee/Vice Chair | 10 | $100,250 |
| Elizabeth Moody | Trustee/Sec/Treas/Sr VP/Grants/CCO | 47.5 | $271,355 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced the third round of "Generation Moody" grants with a $6,115,000 investment. The foundation also awarded a $30 million gift to Baylor University's School of Education to support scholarships, research, and related initiatives. Additionally, the foundation awarded a $1.5 million grant to Comp-U-Dopt and announced grantees for the M-Pact Fund Cycle One.
BaylorProud \xBB $30 million Moody Foundation gift to support School of\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Moody Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Empowering Texas Communities to Thrive and Prosper. **Vision:** Building a bigger, better future for Texans. The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Science and STEM education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Early childhood literacy initiatives • Youth educational opportunities
How do I apply for a grant from The Moody Foundation?
The Moody Foundation makes grants across a range of sizes. Recent grants have included awards such as $1,600,000 to Abilene Christian University for renovations to Moody Coliseum, $846,120 to Highland Park ISD Education Foundation for K-12 education research, and $600,000 to Child Poverty Action Lab for program expansion. The foundation maintains active grant opportunities, including rolling deadline programs for educational and literacy grants. Recent grant initiatives include the "Generation …
Where does The Moody Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Texas, with some activity in New York and Massachusetts.
What size grants does The Moody Foundation award?
In 2024, The Moody Foundation awarded 373 grants totaling $121.3M — an average of about $325K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Moody Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Moody Foundation reported a distributable amount of $169.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Moody Foundation's EIN?
The Moody Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-1403105. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Moody Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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