The Amy & Leslie Ware Foundation concentrates its giving on a mix of national conservative public‑policy organizations and local Dallas‑area institutions, with significant investments in medical research (notably cancer), religious institutions, and workforce/youth programs. Grants are a combination of large, targeted gifts to a few repeat national grantees and substantial one‑off awards to community nonprofits and vocational training in the Dallas area.
A $500,000 grant to UT Southwestern Medical Center is the clearest signal of the Amy & Leslie Ware Foundation’s priorities: substantial support for medical research, especially cancer-related work, alongside targeted gifts to civic, religious, and policy organizations. The foundation’s recent grants show a mix of high-dollar awards and smaller community gifts, with repeat support for several institutions over multiple years. UT Southwestern appears twice in the recent-grants list, including a $150,000 cancer research grant in 2023 and the 2025 award of $500,000, placing medical research at the center of its giving pattern. Beyond research, the foundation has supported organizations tied to public policy and education, including Hudson Institute, American Enterprise Institute, and The American Ideas Institute in Washington, DC. In Dallas, it has funded the Diocese of Dallas, Christ the King Catholic Church, and University of North Texas at Dallas, while also making grants to workforce and youth-oriented organizations such as the Plumbers & Pipefitters of Dallas Apprenticeship Training Fund and the State Fair of Texas Youth Livestock Auction & Scholarship Program. That mix suggests a funder that combines institutional philanthropy with local community support.
Cancer research is one of the foundation’s most visible themes. In 2025, it gave $500,000 to UT Southwestern Medical Center, following a $150,000 grant to the same institution in 2023 for cancer research. Those awards point to an emphasis on scientific work rather than short-term program support. The foundation also backs conservative policy organizations in Washington, DC. It gave $225,000 to Hudson Institute in 2025, $100,000 to American Enterprise Institute in 2024 and another $100,000 in 2025, and $100,000 to Advancing American Freedom Foundation in 2025. Locally, it has supported religious institutions such as Diocese of Dallas and Christ the King Catholic Church, as well as workforce training through the Plumbers & Pipefitters of Dallas Apprenticeship Training Fund. Youth and education grants appear in its support for the State Fair of Texas Youth Livestock Auction & Scholarship Program and University of North Texas at Dallas.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $2,750 at the 25th percentile, $10,500 at the median, and $80,550 at the 75th percentile, which shows a wide spread between smaller community gifts and larger institutional awards. The recent list also includes repeated grants to the same organizations across multiple years, including UT Southwestern Medical Center, American Enterprise Institute, Communities Foundation of Texas, Phoenix House Texas, and the State Fair of Texas Youth Livestock Auction & Scholarship Program. It is a Regular Funder rather than a donor-advised fund vehicle, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$1M
$620K
$146K
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $3K and $81K, with a median of $11K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$11K
75th Percentile
$81K
About 82% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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Concentrated high-dollar giving: a small number of large grants (several six‑figure gifts) including repeat funding to favored national policy and medical institutions, combined with targeted local investments in religious, vocational and youth programs.
Notable grantees: UT Southwestern Medical Center, American Enterprise Institute, Hudson Institute, Diocese of Dallas, Plumbers & Pipefitters of Dallas Apprenticeship Training Fund
Giving is heavily Texas-centered: 82% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state, Texas. Dallas is the most common city in the recent-grants list, with additional Texas recipients in Garland, Coppell, San Antonio, and Allen. Outside Texas, the main destination is Washington, DC, which is the top state-level concentration by grant count in the provided data. All recent grants shown go to US recipients.
Its recent grants include medical research institutions, policy and think-tank organizations, religious institutions, workforce training programs, and youth education groups. Examples in the data include UT Southwestern Medical Center, Hudson Institute, Diocese of Dallas, and the Plumbers & Pipefitters of Dallas Apprenticeship Training Fund.
The typical grant size ranges from $2,750 at the 25th percentile to a median of $10,500, with the 75th percentile at $80,550. That spread suggests the foundation makes both smaller community grants and much larger institutional awards.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including UT Southwestern Medical Center, American Enterprise Institute, Communities Foundation of Texas, Phoenix House Texas, and the State Fair of Texas Youth Livestock Auction & Scholarship Program.
Most grants go to recipients in Texas, which accounts for 82% of grants in the provided data. Dallas appears most frequently among recipient cities, while Washington, DC is the top state by grant count outside the foundation’s headquarters state.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HUDSON INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $225,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM FOUNDATI | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE | WASHINGON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| STATE FAIR OF TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $23,180 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC CHURCH | DALLAS, TX | $22,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $15,800 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ST ANN CATHOLIC CHURCH | COPPELL, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS AT DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| FRIENDS OF THE KATY TRAIL | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| BIRDS EYE VIEW PROJECT | ALLEN, TX | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NEW FRIENDS NEW LIFE | DALLAS, TX | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE JOY SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | EDUCAIONAL |
| FP ASSISTANCE INC | FORNEY, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART | DALLAS, TX | $896 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | DALLAS, TX | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY | DALLAS, TX | $75 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| BIRDS EYE VIEW PROJECT | DALLAS, TX | $110,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $82,400 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| STATE FAIR OF TEXAS YOUTH LIVESTOCK AUCTION & SCJOLARSHIP PROGRAM | DALLAS, TX | $29,545 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| PHOENIX HOUSE TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE AMERICAN IDEAS INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| HOGS FOR THE CAUSE | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE SALVATION ARMY OF NORTH TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $100 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| HIGHLAND PARK LIBRARY | DALLAS, TX | $100 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DIOCESE OF DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $200,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $150,000 | 2023 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS OF DALLAS APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING FUND | GARLAND, TX | $100,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| STATE FAIR OF TEXAS YOUTH LIVESTOCK AUCTION & SCJOLARSHIP PROGRAM | DALLAS, TX | $35,229 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| TEXAS DEPT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDA | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $25,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| PHOENIX HOUSE TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $11,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| THE SALVATION ARMY OF NORTH TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| EDUCATIONAL FIRST STEPS | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| LA FIESTA DE LAS SEIS BANDERAS | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LEAGUE | DALLAS, TX | $2,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| VINALHAVEN LIONS CLUB SCHOLARSHIP F | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
$500,000CHARITABLE
HUDSON INSTITUTE
$225,000CHARITABLE
ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM FOUNDATI
$100,000CHARITABLE
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
$100,000CHARITABLE
STATE FAIR OF TEXAS
$23,180EDUCATIONAL
CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC CHURCH
$22,000RELIGIOUS
COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS
CHARITABLE
ST ANN CATHOLIC CHURCH
$10,000RELIGIOUS
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS AT DALLAS
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
FRIENDS OF THE KATY TRAIL
$5,000CHARITABLE
BIRDS EYE VIEW PROJECT
$5,000CHARITABLE
NEW FRIENDS NEW LIFE
$2,000CHARITABLE
THE JOY SCHOOL
$1,000EDUCAIONAL
FP ASSISTANCE INC
$1,000CHARITABLE
DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART
$896EDUCATIONAL
THE SALVATION ARMY
$500CHARITABLE
SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
$75EDUCATIONAL
BIRDS EYE VIEW PROJECT
$110,000CHARITABLE
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
$100,000CHARITABLE
COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION OF TEXAS
$82,400CHARITABLE
STATE FAIR OF TEXAS YOUTH LIVESTOCK AUCTION & SCJOLARSHIP PROGRAM
$29,545EDUCATIONAL
PHOENIX HOUSE TEXAS
$10,000CHARITABLE
THE AMERICAN IDEAS INSTITUTE
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
HOGS FOR THE CAUSE
$1,000CHARITABLE
THE SALVATION ARMY OF NORTH TEXAS
$100CHARITABLE
HIGHLAND PARK LIBRARY
$100EDUCATIONAL
DIOCESE OF DALLAS
$200,000RELIGIOUS
UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
$150,000CANCER RESEARCH
PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS OF DALLAS APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING FUND
$100,000CHARITABLE
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE
$75,000CHARITABLE
STATE FAIR OF TEXAS YOUTH LIVESTOCK AUCTION & SCJOLARSHIP PROGRAM
$35,229EDUCATIONAL
TEXAS DEPT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDA
$25,000EDUCATIONAL
PHOENIX HOUSE TEXAS
$11,000CHARITABLE
THE SALVATION ARMY OF NORTH TEXAS
$5,000CHARITABLE
EDUCATIONAL FIRST STEPS
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
LA FIESTA DE LAS SEIS BANDERAS
$5,000CHARITABLE
DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LEAGUE
$2,000EDUCATIONAL
DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART
$1,000EDUCATIONAL
VINALHAVEN LIONS CLUB SCHOLARSHIP F
$1,000EDUCATIONAL