The John S. Dunn Foundation, a Texas-based charitable nonprofit organization, supports nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations as defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and classified as public charities under Section 509(a), excluding Type III 509(a)(3) supporting organizations. The foundation is focused on programs and initiatives within the greater Houston area and does not provide funding to individuals or private foundations.
The foundation’s grantmaking is primarily directed towards healthcare education, including support for nursing programs, clinics serving underserved populations, mental health services, and medical research. Although the foundation has a history of funding mental health initiatives, it has currently exceeded its budget in that area due to a recent multiyear commitment to establish the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center in Houston. As a result, future funding in mental health is limited. Additionally, the foundation generally does not support multiyear funding requests but does encourage applications involving matching funds and collaborations.
Organizations seeking funding may apply online at any time, as there are no specific deadlines. However, each organization may only apply once per calendar year. The Board of Trustees reviews applications monthly, and the decision-making process typically takes a few weeks. The foundation does not support capital campaigns, construction projects, furnishings, advocacy efforts, or re-granting foundations.
Applicants must provide comprehensive documentation including the organization’s IRS determination letter, details of the funding request, a project summary, budget, fundraising status, rationale for requesting external support, the organization's current annual budget, latest audited financial statements, and lists of board members and officers. The foundation only considers requests for one-year grants and requires that declined applicants wait a full year before reapplying.
For guidance, the foundation provides both video and written tutorials on completing the online application. All funding decisions are made by the Board of Trustees, and applicants are encouraged to submit complete and accurate information to facilitate a timely review.
