The Philecology Foundation
The Philecology Foundation is a private foundation, based in Fort Worth, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $224.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $18.4M. Net investment income was $58.3M.
The Philecology Foundation at a glance
In short: The Philecology Foundation gave $18.4M across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $2.3M), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $18,415,413
- +41.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,301,927
- +23.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $607,500
- Total assets
- $224,512,772
- +21.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Philecology Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth ($14.7M across 2 grants). Together the top 7 received $18.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 6 grants of 21 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Philecology Foundation gives
- Giving grew 15246% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 70% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2020) to $18.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $18.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth Fort Worth, TX | General | $13,000,000 |
| Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Inc Bentonville, AR | Endowment Fund | $2,000,000 |
| Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth Fort Worth, TX | Contribution-Interest Forgiven | $1,725,413 |
| Jazz Aspen Snowmass Aspen, CO | Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy | $815,000 |
| The William a Farnsworth Library and Art Museum Rockland, ME | Gift for Acquisition of Artwork | $400,000 |
| New York Botanical Garden Bronx, NY | Branching Out Campaign | $250,000 |
| The Cliburn Fort Worth, TX | General | $125,000 |
| University of Miami Frost School of Music Coral Gables, FL | Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy Summer Program | $100,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $224,512,772 | $58,284,093 | $19,225,734 | $18,415,413 | 8 | $18,415,413 | $58,283,918 | $26,234,241 |
| 2024 | $185,462,754 | $64,345,190 | $13,930,296 | $13,020,587 | 7 | $13,020,587 | $64,329,663 | $23,873,415 |
| 2023 | $135,058,733 | $67,820,459 | $3,493,074 | $1,745,688 | 2 | $1,745,688 | $67,570,380 | $20,847,851 |
| 2022 | $89,836,941 | $56,156,262 | $3,555,276 | $120,000 | 2 | $120,000 | $54,533,899 | $17,691,934 |
| 2021 | $75,998,283 | $13,601,018 | $5,179,914 | $2,027,494 | 2 | — | $11,375,763 | $1,316,586 |
| 2020 | $74,079,874 | $9,440,254 | $2,890,792 | $100,000 | 1 | — | $7,482,510 | $1,314,146 |
| 2019 | $38,042,962 | $1,553,786 | $1,628,424 | $1,241,312 | 1 | — | $1,191,613 | $1,122,925 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Philecology Foundation reported a distributable amount of $26.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Philecology Foundation is led by Edward P Bass, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Edward P Bass
President & Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul B Rietema
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sasha C Bass
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dee Steer
Secretary
Secretary & Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary W Reese
Vice President & Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas W White
Vice President, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary
Vice President, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary & Director → Vice President, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Tony S Lee (2020–2021) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Philecology Foundation
How much does The Philecology Foundation give each year?
The Philecology Foundation gave $18.4M across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $13.0M across 7 grants.
What is The Philecology Foundation's typical grant size?
The Philecology Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $607,500, and its average grant was $2,301,927, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Philecology Foundation give grants?
The Philecology Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Arkansas (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Worth, TX (3 grants).
Does The Philecology Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of The Philecology Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Philecology Foundation's largest grantees?
The Philecology Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth ($14,725,413 across 2 grants), Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Inc ($2,000,000) and Jazz Aspen Snowmass ($815,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Philecology Foundation?
The Philecology Foundation reported $224.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $18.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $26.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is The Philecology Foundation's EIN?
The Philecology Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8987808. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 19, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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