The Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation is a private foundation established in 2000 and based in Dallas, Texas. Located at 3131 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Suite 1210, the foundation operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.0M
-1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$459K
-0.4% YoY
Grant Count
26
-3.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+3.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation reported a distributable amount of $537K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Healthcare and medical research
- Environmental initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected grantee model, typically selecting charitable organizations rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.
Grant Range
$3,000
Average Grant
award: $11,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Primary states: Texas, Connecticut, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina
- Additional states: California, District of Columbia, Hawaii
Cities supported include: Austin, Dallas, Denton, Kaunakakai, New Haven, New York, Oakland, Plano, Santa Fe, Washington, Wichita Falls, and Winston-Salem.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Financial Position (2024):
- Total Assets: $5,952,424
- Total Revenues: $441,225
- Total Expenses: $521,952
- Total Giving: $458,894
Historical Trend: Total assets have decreased from $12.2 million in 2011 to approximately $6 million in recent years. Annual giving has fluctuated, ranging from $471,000 in 2020 to $900,000 in 2022.
Tax Status:
- EIN: 75-2911958
- IRS Ruling Year: 2002
- Organization Type: 501(c)(3) Private Foundation
- Tax-deductible contributions
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,952,424 | $6,033,151 | $6,500,161 |
| Revenue | $441,225 | $60,004 | $706,123 |
| Expenses | $521,952 | $527,014 | $507,978 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $493,442 | $492,805 | $483,266 |
| Net Investment Income | $416,061 | $197,391 | $700,324 |
| Distributable Amount | $536,795 | $485,994 | $471,833 |
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
175 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Yale University ($283,000), Southern Methodist University ($71,430), Southern Methodist University ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ATT Performing Arts Center Dallas, TX | General operating support | $5,834 |
| Cornerstone Community Partnerships Santa Fe, NM | Annual support | $500 |
| Dallas Opera Dallas, TX | The Dallas Opera's Annual Campaign support | $1,000 |
| Dallas Symphony Association Inc Dallas, TX | Annual support | $4,167 |
| George W Bush Foundation Dallas, TX | Leadership Circle general support | $3,334 |
| Junior League of Dallas Dallas, TX | General operating support and special event underwriting | $1,250 |
| Letot Center Capital Foundation Dallas, TX | Scholarship support honoring Craig Evans | $2,500 |
| Lumin Education Dallas, TX | General operating support honoring Terry Ford | $500 |
| Museum of New Mexico Foundation Santa Fe, NM | Special event underwriting | $1,000 |
| SM Wright Foundation Dallas, TX | General operating support | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a volunteer board of directors and officers who serve without compensation:
- Caren H. Prothro – Chair Emeritus/Director
- Nita C. Clark – President/Director
- Vincent H. Prothro – Vice President/Director
The foundation is governed by six officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caren H Prothro | Chair Em./Dir. | 3 | — |
| Nita C Clark | Pres./Director | 3 | — |
| Vincent H Prothro | VP/Director | 0.1 | — |
| J H Cullum Clark | Sec,Treas./Dir. | 1 | — |
| Dori Kawai | CFO | 1 | — |
| Douglas C Denby | CIO | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated active engagement in major educational and health initiatives:
Prothro Foundation Pledges $500,000 To UTD's Center for BrainHealth - NewsPledged $500,000 to the University of Texas at Dallas Center for BrainHealth
Prothro Foundation Pledges $500,000 To UTD's Center for BrainHealth - NewsSupported Southern Methodist University's capital campaign
Honored Caren Prothro with a Robert S. Folsom Leadership Dinner recognition
Robert S. Folsom Leadership Dinner honoring Caren Prothro**Contact Information:**
Phone: (214) 540-4808
Address: 3131 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Suite 1210, Dallas, TX 75219-5440
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Healthcare and medical research • Environmental initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $500 to $283,000 • Historical median grant size: $3,000 • Average grant award: $11,000 • Individual grants have ranged from $250 to $100,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected grantee model, typically selecting charitable organizations rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. **Recent Grant Activity:** Notable recent grants include: • Yale University: $283,000 for Multi-Year Funding for the School of…
Where does Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • **Primary states:** Texas, Connecticut, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina • **Additional states:** California, District of Columbia, Hawaii **Cities supported include:** Austin, Dallas, Denton, Kaunakakai, New Haven, New York, Oakland, Plano, Santa Fe, Washington, Wichita Falls, and Winston-Salem.
What size grants does Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation award?
In 2024, Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $459K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation reported a distributable amount of $537K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation's EIN?
Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2911958. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
William Z Hayes Foundation
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$629K
Grants
4
Total Given
$28K
Tr Uw Jane James Cook Item 19
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$861K
Grants
11
Total Given
$41K
Forsyth Fbo Leonard Wood Memorial
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$320K
Grants
1
Total Given
$18K
Teas Foundation
AMARILLO, TX
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
3
Total Given
$138K
Crystelle Waggoner Charitable Trust
DALLAS, TX
Assets
$13.5M
Grants
41
Total Given
$3.9M
Nelson & Debbie Fox Charitable Fdtn
LUBBOCK, TX
Assets
$329K
Grants
9
Total Given
$90K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation to a real strategy.