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.
Key facts about The Summerlee Foundation
- EIN
- 75-2252355
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,278,865
- Grants made (2025)
- 195
- Average grant
- $11,686
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 75% first-time grantees (144 of 191, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (50% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Summerlee Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Summerlee Foundation's 195 itemized 2025 grants were Texas (50%) and California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (13 grants), Dallas, TX (10 grants), Houston, TX (8 grants) and San Antonio, TX (7 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Summerlee Foundation open to new grantees?
75%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 144 of 191 grantees (75%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 4% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−20%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 Summerlee Foundation
- How to evaluate The Summerlee Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Summerlee Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.3M
-22.6% YoY
Grant Count
195
+3.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-25.4% YoY
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
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
Share of all 195 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
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 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
872 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 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Friends of the Texas Historical Com ($55,000), Museum of the Big Bend ($55,000), Texas State Historical Association ($35,000 across 3 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FRIENDS OF THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COM Austin, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $55,000 |
| MUSEUM OF THE BIG BEND Alpine, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $55,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS FOUNDATIO Denton, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| ANIMAL PROTECTION NEW MEXICO Albuquerque, NM | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| C 60 INC Houston, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| FAUNALYTICS San Diego, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| GLOBAL FEDERATION OF ANIMAL SANCTUA Phoenix, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL MARINE MAMMAL PROJECT Berkeley, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY Edinburg, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| PROJECT COYOTE Larkspur, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jessica Lee Hamlin – President
The Summerlee Foundation is led by Gary N. Smith, President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary N. Smith
President
President & Program Director → President & Tx History Program Director, 2022
President & Tx History Program Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$162K (2021) → $200K (2025)
John W. Crain
Chairman
Director & Chair of the Board → Chairman of the Board, 2022
Chairman of the Board → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melanie K. Anderson
Director
Program Director-Animal Pr → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$149K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Ron Tyler PhD
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly F. Williams
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David D. Jackson
Assistant Secretary
Founding Director & Assistant → Founding Director & Assistant Secretary, 2022
Founding Director & Assistant Secretary → Assistant Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Casey
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Volcansek PhD
Vice Chair
Director & Vice Chair → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Burseth PhD
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jim Bruseth PhD (2022–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: James Bruseth (2021) — Director & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
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 2025, The Summerlee Foundation awarded 195 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Summerlee Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Petco Love
San Antonio, TX
Assets
$25.1M
Grants
783
Total Given
$18.2M
Shell USA Company Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$52.3M
Grants
4,650
Total Given
$16.0M
The Cigna Group Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Assets
$127.2M
Grants
4,075
Total Given
$14.1M
Texas Instruments Foundation
Dallas, TX
Assets
$73.0M
Grants
4,484
Total Given
$22.6M
Communities Foundation of Texas Inc
Dallas, TX
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
2,209
Total Given
$209.2M
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston, TX
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,724
Total Given
$232.3M
Celanese Foundation
Irving, TX
Assets
—
Grants
1,423
Total Given
$1.8M
The Houston Food Bank
Houston, TX
Assets
$164.4M
Grants
1,128
Total Given
$210.7M
Once Upon a Time Foundation
Fort Worth, TX
Assets
$276.7M
Grants
1,039
Total Given
$10.7M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Verizon Foundation
Basking Ridge, NJ
Assets
$23.8M
Grants
5,464
Total Given
$7.0M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
More Funders in Texas
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.