Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation
The Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. Its 2025 filing reports 30 grants totaling $536,955, including support for education, environmental projects, health care, arts and community organizations.
Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation at a glance
In short: Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation gave $537K across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in Connecticut. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $536,955
- +17.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +15.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,899
- +1.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $6,383,648
- +7.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (6 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (53% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3131 Turtle Creek Blvd 1210, Dallas, TX 75219
Phone: (214) 540-4808
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Yale University ($284K). Together the top 10 received $504K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
164 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 150 grants of 164 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 53% of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut and 47% to recipients in Texas. The filing reports 0% going to recipients in the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 22 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 59% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $419K (2021) to $537K (2025). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $537K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Multi-year funding for the School of the Environment | $284,000 |
| Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX | Multi-year funding towards the Owens Art Center Renovation in honor of Nancy McMillan Dedman | $71,420 |
| Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX | Multi-year funding towards the Gerald and Gail Turner ScholarsProgram | $25,000 |
| Trinity Park Conservancy Dallas, TX | Multi-year funding for Harold Simmons Park Capital Campaign | $25,000 |
| Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX | Multi-year funding towards the Caren and Vin Prothro Organ for Perkins Chapel | $20,000 |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX | Multi-year funding towards the Outpatient Cancer Care Tower | $20,000 |
| George W Bush Foundation Dallas, TX | Leadership Circle general support | $10,000 |
| United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Dallas, TX | Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society | $10,000 |
| Uplift Education Dallas, TX | General operating and special event underwriting | $7,500 |
| ATT Performing Arts Center Dallas, TX | General operating support | $5,334 |
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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 | $6,383,648 | $1,053,235 | $622,011 | $536,955 | 30 | $573,239 | $1,033,770 | $552,319 |
| 2024 | $5,952,424 | $441,225 | $521,952 | $458,894 | 26 | $493,442 | $416,061 | $536,795 |
| 2023 | $6,033,151 | $60,004 | $527,014 | $460,892 | 27 | $492,805 | $197,391 | $485,994 |
| 2022 | $6,500,161 | $706,123 | $507,978 | $450,098 | 40 | $483,266 | $700,324 | $471,833 |
| 2021 | $6,302,016 | $86,258 | $481,104 | $418,866 | 41 | $454,427 | $76,932 | $538,687 |
| 2020 | $6,696,862 | $93,745 | $527,896 | $470,730 | 41 | — | $64,782 | $481,401 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation reported a distributable amount of $552K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for projects in education, environmental work, health care, arts and community services. For example, grants included multi-year support for Yale University’s School of the Environment, projects at Southern Methodist University, an outpatient cancer care tower at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Harold Simmons Park’s capital campaign.
Grantee statements offer context about the organizations’ work. Southern Methodist University describes its mission as education through research and teaching, creating and imparting knowledge to shape citizens who contribute to their communities and lead professions. Trinity Park Conservancy says it champions transforming the Trinity River into the heart of Dallas, with community-designed public spaces, access to nature and protection of river ecosystems. Uplift Education says it works to create and sustain public schools of excellence that empower students to reach their potential.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 30 grants totaling $536,955. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $284,000, with a median of $5,000.
The largest reported grants included $284,000 to Yale University for multi-year funding for the School of the Environment; $71,420 to Southern Methodist University for multi-year funding toward the Owens Art Center Renovation in honor of Nancy McMillan Dedman; and $25,000 each to Southern Methodist University for the Gerald and Gail Turner Scholars Program and Trinity Park Conservancy for the Harold Simmons Park Capital Campaign. Other grants included $20,000 to Southern Methodist University for the Caren and Vin Prothro Organ for Perkins Chapel and $20,000 to UT Southwestern Medical Center for the Outpatient Cancer Care Tower.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Caren H Prothro as Chair Emeritus/Director; Nita C Clark as President/Director; Vincent H Prothro as Vice President/Director; and J H Cullum Clark as Secretary, Treasurer and Director. It also lists Dori Kawai as CFO and Douglas C Denby as CIO.
Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation is led by Nita C Clark, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nita C Clark
President & Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caren H Prothro
Chair Em. & Director
Chairman Emeritus → Chair Em. & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J H Cullum Clark
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vincent H Prothro
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dori Kawai
CFO
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas C Denby
CIO
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation
How much does Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation give each year?
Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation gave $537K across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $459K across 26 grants.
What is Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation's typical grant size?
Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $17,899, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation give grants?
Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (47%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (26 grants).
Does Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 27% of Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation's largest grantees?
Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Yale University ($284,000), Southern Methodist University ($131,420 across 8 grants) and Trinity Park Conservancy ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation?
Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $573K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $552K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for projects in education, environmental work, health care, arts and community services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/vin-and-caren-prothro-foundation-morg_62d7f9a3a8774f53b7c26f4094764822
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752911958_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/vin-and-caren-prothro-foundation-morg_62d7f9a3a8774f53b7c26f4094764822},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Vin and Caren Prothro Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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