Sid W. Richardson Foundation Grants

The Sid W. Richardson Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Fort Worth, Texas. Established by the late Sid W. Richardson, the foundation supports charitable activities aligned with his interests and values, particularly those that benefit Texans. With a strong emphasis on improving quality of life through educational, health, human service, and cultural programs, the Foundation serves as a significant source of funding for nonprofit organizations and public entities across Texas, especially in the Fort Worth area. The Foundation’s longstanding commitment to strategic philanthropy is evidenced through decades of grantmaking that aims to strengthen communities and enrich lives. The Foundation accepts proposals from organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are classified as other than private foundations under Section 509(a), as well as qualified public entities defined under Section 170. Eligible applicants must serve Texas populations through programming in education, health, human services, or culture. However, grants focused on human services and cultural programming are restricted to organizations based in or serving the Fort Worth area. Each organization is limited to one application per calendar year, which encourages applicants to submit their strongest and most strategic proposal. Applicants must begin the application process by submitting a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through the Foundation’s online grant portal. This involves creating a login, completing a short eligibility quiz, and, if deemed eligible, submitting the LOI form. The Foundation then reviews the LOI and informs applicants within 10–14 business days whether they are approved to submit a full application. Returning grantees follow a similar portal process but identify themselves as previous recipients during the eligibility phase. The Foundation explicitly notes that it does not use access codes, and any assistance with portal access can be directed to Shelley Wujcikowski via email. The Foundation operates on a biannual grant cycle, with two board meetings each year during which funding decisions are made. Deadlines are February 1 for the Spring cycle and September 15 for the Fall cycle. Applicants are notified following board meetings regarding the outcome of their proposal. Given the high volume of requests received, only a portion of proposals can be funded, and the Foundation notes that lack of funding is not necessarily a reflection of proposal merit. The Foundation outlines several exclusions in its funding policy. It does not provide grants to individuals or support for school trips, testimonial dinners, marketing events, or fundraisers. Additionally, it discourages grantees from presenting commemorative gifts to the Foundation, its board, or staff, emphasizing that all resources should be directed toward mission-driven work. These policies underscore the Foundation’s desire to remain focused on programmatic impact rather than recognition. Grantees can review previous funding recipients through the Foundation’s online records, which allow sorting by grant type, organization, city, and amount. This transparency helps potential applicants understand funding patterns and assess alignment with the Foundation’s priorities. Inquiries and login assistance should be directed to Shelley Wujcikowski at swujcikowski@sidrichardson.org. There is no publicly listed phone number, but applicants are encouraged to use the email contact provided for all communications.