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The Dallas Foundation

EIN 75-2890371 · Dallas, TX

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DALLAS FOUNDATION BRINGS TOGETHER PEOPLE, IDEAS AND INVESTMENTS IN GREATER DALLAS SO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CAN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

Income
$160.0 million
Spending
$103.0 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
41.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
27
Volunteers
816
Highest pay
$532,125, executive vp & coo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 41.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $93.5 million spent. OVERVIEW:THE DALLAS FOUNDATION STEWARDS PHILANTHROPIC RESOURCES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR DONOR PARTNERS AND FOCUSES ON IMPACT BY INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY'S GREATEST NEEDS. THE DALLAS FOUNDATION HAS FOCUSED ON FOUR KEY PROGRAM AREAS: 1. ENSURING A STRONG AND HEALTHY START IN LIFE, 2. ECONOMIC MOBILITY, 3. FAMILY HOMELESSNESS, AND 4. CHILD AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH. THROUGH OUR GRANTMAKING AND PARTNERSHIPS, WE AIM TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS ACROSS THE DALLAS AREA.IMPACT METRICS:IN 2024, WE AWARDED OVER $5.4 MILLION IN DISCRETIONARY GRANTS TO MORE THAN 150 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FUNDHOLDERS, A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY $93M. OF THESE GRANTS, 28% WERE DIRECTED TO EDUCATION-RELATED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR A TOTAL PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENT OF OVER $25M IN THIS CAUSE AREA. ANOTHER $10M IN GRANTS FOCUSED ON NONPROFITS WORKING IN THE AREAS OF COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT. SUCCESS STORY:AS PLANNING FOR WHAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME DALLAS' 2024 BOND PACKAGE BEGAN, THE DALLAS HOUSING COALITION (DHC) WAS FORMED. IN 2022, THIS GRASSROOTS, VOLUNTEER-POWERED GROUP OF MORE THAN 200 ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO ADVOCATING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF ATTAINABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, BEGAN ADVOCATING FOR THE CITY TO ALLOCATE UP TO $200 MILLION FOR ATTAINABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESS SOLUTIONS IN THE BOND PACKAGE. ULTIMATELY, THREE HOUSING-RELATED PROPOSITIONS TOTALING ABOUT $82 MILLION WERE PLACED ON THE MAY BALLOT. TO CULTIVATE WIDER COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR HOUSING AND EVENTUALLY PROPOSITIONS G, H, AND I, THE SECTIONS OF THE BOND PACKAGE THAT ADDRESSED HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SERVICES, DHC NEEDED RESOURCES TO DEVELOP A COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN. THE DALLAS FOUNDATION JOINED DALLAS AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND CHARLES SCHWAB BANK WITH A COMBINED $100K INVESTMENT OVER TWO YEARS, INCLUDING 2024, THAT ALLOWED THE GROUP TO ENGAGE EXPERTS TO BUILD THE CAMPAIGN AND THEN GO PUBLIC WITH THEIR MESSAGE. THE EFFORTS EQUIPPED RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY WITH SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS, A WEBSITE, T-SHIRTS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR SUPPORT. THAT INVESTMENT, IN TURN, YIELDED $82M OF BOND FUNDING THAT WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARD MIXED-INCOME/MIXED-USE HOUSING ($36.6M), AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ($26.4M), AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND RENOVATIONS TO THE BRIDGE HOMELESS RECOVERY CENTER, WHICH IS CITY-OWNED ($19M). FUTURE GOALS:LOOKING AHEAD, THE DALLAS FOUNDATION BEGAN PRELIMINARY STEPS TO DEVELOPING AN UPDATED STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUSED ON EXPANDING OUR IMPACT TOWARD ENSURING A STRONG AND HEALTHY START FOR AGES 0-5 AND IDENTIFYING DONOR AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT ENSURE WE ARE EMPOWERING DALLAS COMMUNITIES THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENTS AND COLLABORATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.