The Summerlee Foundation
The Summerlee Foundation is a private foundation headquartered in Dallas, Texas, established in 1989. The organization operates as a mission-driven grantmaker focused on two distinct program areas: animal protection and the preservation of Texas history. The foundation has awarded $65 million in grants since its inception and has been recognized as an outstanding foundation by the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$80.6M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.9M
+10.6% YoY
Grant Count
188
-1.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+11.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Summerlee Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation makes grants for two specific purposes:
Animal Protection – To alleviate fear, pain and suffering of animals and to promote animal protection and the prevention of cruelty to animals
Texas History – To research, promote and document all facets of Texas history
Grantmaking
The foundation will make every effort to answer questions and advise applicants on funding priorities and requirements during the grant application process, though such assistance does not guarantee funding. The foundation does not share successful proposals with other applicants but will inform applicants of expectations for their proposals.
Grant Types
How to Apply
, though such assistance does not guarantee funding. The foundation does not share successful proposals with other applicants but will inform applicants of expectations for their proposals.
Ready to take the next step with The Summerlee Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Animal Protection:
- The Americas and the British Isles, with special emphasis on underserved and challenged communities
- Cats: United States and Canada
- Dogs: Latin America and First Nations/Native American communities
- Wildlife and marine life programs: The Americas and British Isles
Texas History:
- Focus on Texas (implied by program name)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Annual Revenue: $13.1 million
- Total Grants Awarded (Historical): $65 million
- Staff: 3 employees
- Address: 5556 Caruth Haven Lane, Dallas, TX 75225-8146
- Contact: info@summerlee.org | 214-363-9000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $80,616,840 | $76,395,297 | $74,165,879 |
| Revenue | $5,140,114 | $3,553,093 | $6,129,809 |
| Expenses | $3,917,799 | $4,268,713 | $4,032,707 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,734,716 | $5,011,670 | $3,656,254 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,406,389 | $2,888,078 | $5,632,755 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,742,524 | $3,551,249 | $3,753,299 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Summerlee Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Abilene Christian University ($50,000), Abara Borderland Connections ($30,000), Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A CAT'S LIFE RESCUE MOUNT RAINIER, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| ABARA BORDERLAND CONNECTIONS EL PASO, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY ABILENE, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ADMIRAL NIMITZ FOUNDATION FREDERICKSBURG, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE PROJECT INC NACOGDOCHES, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,000 |
| ALASKA WILDLIFE ALLIANCE ARCHORAGE, AK | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| ALL KIND ANIMAL INITIATIVE ABILENE, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR CONTRACEPTION IN CATS AND DOGS ANN ARBOR, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN AIRPOWER HERITAGE MUSEUM INC DALLAS, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN INDIANS IN TEXAS-AT THE SPANISH COLONIAL MISSIONS SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jessica Lee Hamlin – President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN W CRAIN | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | 5 | — |
| GARY N SMITH | PRESIDENT/TX HISTORY PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $203,946 |
| MARY VOLCANSEK PHD | VICE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| JOAN CASEY | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| HON DAVID D JACKSON | FOUNDING DIRECTOR/ASST. SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| JIM BRUSETH PHD | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| MELANIE K ANDERSON | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| RON TYLER PHD | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| KIMBERLY F WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has launched a significant initiative for cat funding through the **Summerlee Sustainable Solutions grant program**, developed in collaboration with the United Spay Alliance and the Community Cats Podcast. This reimagined program, with applications opening July 1, 2025, offers funding recipients mentorship, strategic planning, and certification in Community Cat Program Management through University of the Pacific, Benerd College.
This change aligns with findings from a commissioned white paper titled "Free-roaming Cat Management: A Funders' Guide to Better Impact." The foundation is also supporting a pilot project based on the white paper's principles and methods, with the goal of creating a replicable model for managing free-roaming cats that achieves meaningful, measurable, and sustainable community-wide success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Summerlee Foundation fund?
The Foundation makes grants for two specific purposes: 1. **Animal Protection** – To alleviate fear, pain and suffering of animals and to promote animal protection and the prevention of cruelty to animals 2. **Texas History** – To research, promote and document all facets of Texas history
How do I apply for a grant from The Summerlee Foundation?
• Cat grants average $5,000 • All other grants average $10,000 • Texas History grants average $10,000 • The foundation does not make grants to individuals • General operating grants are available after establishing a funding history with an organization; rarely given as a first grant unless for ethical-based research • Independent scholars are eligible for grant support with a qualified independent fiscal sponsor • The foundation does not provide direct animal rescue and sheltering services **C…
Where does The Summerlee Foundation make grants?
**Animal Protection:** • The Americas and the British Isles, with special emphasis on underserved and challenged communities • Cats: United States and Canada • Dogs: Latin America and First Nations/Native American communities • Wildlife and marine life programs: The Americas and British Isles **Texas History:** • Focus on Texas (implied by program name)
What size grants does The Summerlee Foundation award?
In 2024, The Summerlee Foundation awarded 188 grants totaling $2.9M — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Summerlee Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Summerlee Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Summerlee Foundation's EIN?
The Summerlee Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2252355. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Summerlee 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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