Funding Amount

Not stated

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle
Rolling — applications accepted year-round
Tracked since
April 2026

From the program guidelines: “Proposals are accepted year-round, but submission at least five months prior to funding is advised.”

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Geography

  • In Dallas County, with occasional consideration
  • In Dallas County with a focus on early childhood education and literacy
  • Based in the Greater Dallas area (Dallas County)

Required status

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Other requirements

  • Occasionally we consider funding organizations outside the Greater Dallas area but prior approval from the Foundation is highly recommended before submitting a request.
  • Each organization is limited to one application within a twelve-month period.

Not eligible / not funded

  • Not eligible: Grants outside Dallas County are rarely considered.
  • Not eligible: Due to our Board of Trustees’ focus on Early Childhood Education, we rarely provide funding to public entities or churches.
  • Not eligible: Endowment gifts are rare.
  • Not eligible: In general the Harry W.
  • Not eligible: Bass, Jr.
  • Not eligible: Construct churches or seminaries
  • Not eligible: For underwriting including fundraising events
  • Not eligible: Professional conferences
  • Not eligible: Symposia
  • Not eligible: Out-of-state performances
  • Not eligible: Competition expenses
  • Not eligible: The following organizations are Not Eligible:Private Foundations (Operating and Non-Operating)

Overview

The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Grant supports qualified non-profit organizations in Youth and Education, emphasizing early childhood literacy. Proposals are accepted year-round, but submission at least five months prior to funding is advised. Grants are primarily for entities in Dallas County, with occasional consideration for organizations outside this area. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities or similar, and each organization can submit only one application per year.

NOTE: The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation accepts grant proposals at any time throughout the year. However, it is a good idea to submit your proposal at least five months before the funding is needed. Grant applications are only considered by our Board of Trustees at one of the three Trustee Meetings held annually, usually (1) late spring summer; (2) late summer; and, (3) end of November – beginning of December.
Background
Enriching lives by supporting qualified non-profit organizations in the areas of Youth and Education with a focus on Early Childhood Literacy.
Under the terms of our charter, we can distribute grants only to qualified public entities, churches or 501(c)(3) public charities. We neither lend nor grant money to individuals. We award competitive grants predominantly in Dallas County with a focus on early childhood education and literacy. Grants outside Dallas County are rarely considered. Grants to organizations in the areas of Health & Human Services, Civic & Community, Science & Research, and Arts & Culture are occasionally considered.
Grant requests are primarily considered in the areas of Youth and Education, and specifically for early childhood literacy (ages 0-8). Occasionally, our board might consider grant requests in other areas.

Eligibility

Under the terms of its charter, The Foundation can distribute grants only to qualified public entities, churches or nonprofit 501(c)(3) endeavors. Unsolicited grant requests are restricted to organizations based in the Greater Dallas area (Dallas County). Occasionally we consider funding organizations outside the Greater Dallas area but prior approval from the Foundation is highly recommended before submitting a request.Each organization is limited to one application within a twelve-month period.

Ineligibility

Grants outside Dallas County are rarely considered. Due to our Board of Trustees’ focus on Early Childhood Education, we rarely provide funding to public entities or churches.Endowment gifts are rare.In general the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation does not make grants to construct churches or seminaries, or for underwriting including fundraising events, professional conferences, symposia, out-of-state performances or competition expenses.
The following organizations are Not Eligible:Private Foundations (Operating and Non-Operating)

What Harry Bass Foundation actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2025

Grants in 2025
40
Total given
$6.69M
Median grant
$30K
Range
$1,000–$5M
  • By dollars: Texas 100%. Top recipient cities: Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Richardson, TX.
  • 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 28% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • UT Southwestern Co Southwestern Medical Fdn · Dallas, TX

    Program

    $5M

  • Readers 2 Leaders · Dallas, TX

    Program

    $150K

  • Child Care Group · Dallas, TX

    Program

    $100K

  • The George W Bush Foundation · Dallas, TX

    Program

    $100K

  • Reading Partners North Texas · Dallas, TX

    Program

    $100K

IRS Form 990-PF, 2025. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Education
  • Youth programs
  • Literacy
  • Nonprofits

Categories

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