Tres Grace Family Foundation
The Tres Grace Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2019 by Tom, Lynne, and Hugh Dobson to honor their mother Grace Dobson's philanthropic legacy. Grace Dobson became head of the Whataburger enterprise following her husband Harmon Dobson's death in 1967 and became a prominent philanthropic figure throughout South and Central Texas. The foundation operates independently from Whataburger and is not affiliated with Whatabrands LLC. It is based in San Antonio, Texas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$126.5M
+7.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.4M
+12.5% YoY
Grant Count
103
+10200.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$101K
-98.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tres Grace Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is dedicated to "mindful giving" to support vulnerable populations across Texas. It operates within six primary focus areas:
- Hunger & Food Security — Direct food assistance, general operating support, programming, capital projects, and disaster relief for organizations addressing food insecurity
- Health & Human Services — Organizations that help heal the body, mind, and soul, including mental health services, medical assistance, and emergency services
- Housing & Homelessness — Support for unhoused populations
- Education
- Parks & Green Space
- Arts & Culture
The foundation notes that these six strategic focus areas are expected to evolve as the organization grows, maintaining flexibility to address emerging community needs.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates by **invitation only** and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
s and decision timelines are not publicly disclosed
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses on Texas and the southern United States, with a preference for Texas. It has been instrumental in supporting programs including after-school and summer programs for children, establishing safe shelters for the unhoused population, and supporting Texas food banks.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total assets: $118,009,227
- Total revenues: $8,606,152
- Total expenses: $10,084,262
- Annual giving: $9,208,000
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Grants and contributions: $6,000,000
- Investment income and dividends: $2,473,581
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $122,645
- Miscellaneous revenues: $9,926
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $126,519,317 | $118,009,227 | $109,077,000 |
| Revenue | $11,838,690 | $8,606,152 | $8,063,275 |
| Expenses | $11,123,164 | $10,084,262 | $7,544,599 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,746,340 | $9,639,918 | $7,101,667 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,436,172 | $2,254,724 | $2,696,231 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,811,326 | $5,360,392 | $5,445,931 |
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
54 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Driscoll Children's Hospital Development Foundation Inc ($2,000,000), Central Texas Food Bank ($300,000), Coastal Bend Food Bank ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Amarillo Area Foundation Inc Amarillo, TX | Health & Human Services | $50,000 |
| Amistad Community Health Center Incorporated Corpus Christi, TX | Health & Human Services | $62,000 |
| Ann Richards School Foundation Austin, TX | Basic Needs | $10,000 |
| Austin Community Foundation Austin, TX | Camps | $25,000 |
| Austin Symphony Orchestra Society Austin, TX | Arts & Culture | $50,000 |
| Autism Community Network San Antonio, TX | Health & Human Services | $100,000 |
| Camp Aranzazu Rockport, TX | Camps | $25,000 |
| CASA of South Texas Pleasanton, TX | Health & Human Services | $25,000 |
| CASA of the Coastal Bend Corpus Christi, TX | Health & Human Services | $25,000 |
| CASA of Travis County Austin, TX | Health & Human Services | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Anne Dobson
- Hugh C. Dobson
- Tom Dobson
- Lynne Dobson
- Claire McLean
- Heather Dobson (President)
- Greg Wooldridge
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heather B Dobson | President | 5 | — |
| Hugh C Dobson | Treasurer | 5 | — |
| Lynne Dobson | Secretary | 5 | — |
| Anne M Dobson | Director | 5 | — |
| Tom E Dobson | Director | 5 | — |
| Claire McLean | Director | 5 | — |
| Greg Wooldridge | Director | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 200 Concord Plaza, Suite 240, San Antonio, TX 78216
Website: https://tresgraceff.org/
EIN: 84-2615544
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Tres Grace Family Foundation fund?
The foundation is dedicated to "mindful giving" to support vulnerable populations across Texas. It operates within six primary focus areas: • **Hunger & Food Security** — Direct food assistance, general operating support, programming, capital projects, and disaster relief for organizations addressing food insecurity • **Health & Human Services** — Organizations that help heal the body, mind, and soul, including mental health services, medical assistance, and emergency services • **Housing & Hom…
How do I apply for a grant from Tres Grace Family Foundation?
The foundation operates by **invitation only** and does not accept unsolicited applications. **Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $9,208,000 (2023) • Grant sizes and decision timelines are not publicly disclosed • Success rate information is not available
Where does Tres Grace Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses on Texas and the southern United States, with a preference for Texas. It has been instrumental in supporting programs including after-school and summer programs for children, establishing safe shelters for the unhoused population, and supporting Texas food banks.
What size grants does Tres Grace Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Tres Grace Family Foundation awarded 103 grants totaling $10.4M — an average of about $101K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Tres Grace Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Tres Grace Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Tres Grace Family Foundation's EIN?
Tres Grace Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-2615544. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Tres Grace Family 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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