The Edward & Wilhelmina Ackerman Foundation makes a small number of very large, targeted gifts—primarily in the Dallas area—focused on education with a clear emphasis on Jewish communal and historical programming. Major recipients include a synagogue (Temple Emanu-El), a university-affiliated Holocaust studies center, and a prominent private girls’ school, indicating support for both Jewish life and elite independent schooling. Grants are concentrated and repeat to a handful of institutions rather than broadly distributed across many organizations.
A defining feature of the Edward & Wilhelmina Ackerman Foundation is how tightly its giving is organized around a few Dallas institutions, with very large gifts repeated over multiple years. Temple Emanu-el received $410,000 in 2025 after a $211,000 grant in 2024, and the University of Texas at Dallas Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies received $190,000 in 2023, $175,000 in 2024, and $125,000 in 2025. Those grants point to the foundation’s core interests: Jewish communal education, Holocaust studies, and school-based learning in Dallas. The Hockaday School is another major beneficiary, with $337,124 in 2025, $100,000 in 2024, and $96,000 in 2023. Other support goes to institutions such as St Mark's School of Texas, The June Shelton School and Evaluation Center, Dallas Urban Debate Alliance, and The Dallas Museum of Art. A smaller grant to UNICEF in 2023 shows that most of the foundation’s activity is local, but not entirely limited to Dallas-based recipients. Across the record, the pattern is concentrated, repeat-oriented, and centered on education-linked institutions rather than broad, open-ended grantmaking.
Jewish congregational education is a central theme. Temple Emanu-el received $410,000 in 2025 and $211,000 in 2024, both coded for education, showing sustained support for synagogue-linked learning and programming. Holocaust studies and Jewish historical scholarship are also prominent. The University of Texas at Dallas Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies received $190,000 in 2023, $175,000 in 2024, and $125,000 in 2025, indicating a multi-year relationship with a university-affiliated research center. Independent schooling appears throughout the record. The Hockaday School received $337,124 in 2025, $100,000 in 2024, and $96,000 in 2023; St Mark's School of Texas also appears with grants of $37,500 in 2025, $25,000 in 2024, and $27,500 in 2023. The foundation also supported The June Shelton School and Evaluation Center with $30,000 in 2024 and 2023.
Typical grant size is small relative to the largest awards: p25 is $1,000, median is $2,500, and p75 is $15,000. At the same time, the recent record includes several six-figure gifts, which suggests a split between routine smaller grants and a handful of major commitments. The same institutions appear across multiple years, especially Temple Emanu-el, the University of Texas at Dallas Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies, and Hockaday School, pointing to recurring relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is a private family foundation, and the grants shown are programmatic education gifts.
$5.3M
$8.8M
$1.4M
$5.5M
Most grants fall between $1K and $15K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Concentrated, high-dollar philanthropy: few grants overall, multiple large gifts to repeat grantees in the same city; funding appears project- or endowment-oriented rather than small operational grants.
Notable grantees: Temple Emanu-El (Dallas), University of Texas at Dallas — Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies, The Hockaday School
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly concentrated in Texas, with 73% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and Texas also the top state by grant count. Dallas dominates the recipient map: Temple Emanu-el, Hockaday School, the Ackerman Center at UT Dallas, Lumin Education, St Mark's School of Texas, Dallas Urban Debate Alliance, and The Dallas Museum of Art all received support there. Outside Texas, the record reaches Natick, Massachusetts; New York, New York; Durham, North Carolina; and Charlotte, North Carolina. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The recent record centers on education-linked institutions, especially Jewish congregational education, Holocaust studies, and independent schools. Named recipients include Temple Emanu-el, the University of Texas at Dallas Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies, Hockaday School, St Mark's School of Texas, and The June Shelton School and Evaluation Center.
Yes. Texas is the top state by grant count, and 73% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Dallas is the main city in the record, with multiple grants to organizations there across several years.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Temple Emanu-el, the University of Texas at Dallas Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies, Hockaday School, Dallas Urban Debate Alliance, St Mark's School of Texas, and The Dallas Museum of Art.
The distribution is modest at the center: p25 is $1,000, median is $2,500, and p75 is $15,000. The recent list also includes larger, targeted awards above $100,000, showing that a small number of grants carry much larger amounts.
Yes. The recipient country distribution shows 89 grants, all in the United States.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS - ACKERMAN CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES | DALLAS, TX | $1,725,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ST MARK'S SCHOOL OF TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $1,275,200 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| HOCKADAY SCHOOL | DALLAS, TX | $1,235,700 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| DALLAS HOLOCAUST AND HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM | DALLAS, TX | $516,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| TEMPLE EMANU-EL | DALLAS, TX | $210,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| DALLAS URBAN DEBATE ALLIANCE | DALLAS, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| CATCH UP & READ | DALLAS, TX | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $26,120 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| 18 DOORS | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART | DALLAS, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| TULANE UNIVERSITY | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $12,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE | CHARLOTTE, NC | $8,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK | PLANO, TX | $6,000 | 2026 | FOOD |
| SUPERMOON PROJECT | SAN MARINO, CA | $5,400 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| PRESTON HOLLOW PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| IN MY SHOES INC | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | FOOD |
| THE DALLAS ZOO | DALLAS, TX | $4,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| KERA | DALLAS, TX | $4,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $3,789 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE KINKAID SCHOOL | HOUSTON, TX | $2,929 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $2,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| LUMIN EDUCATION | DALLAS, TX | $2,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE LAMPLIGHTER SCHOOL | DALLAS, TX | $2,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| PRISON ENTREPRENEURSHIP | DALLAS, TX | $2,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $2,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE | ASHLAND, VA | $2,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY | WINSTOMSALEM, NC | $2,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE MENNINGER CLINIC | HOUSTON, TX | $2,500 | 2026 | HEALTH |
| THE FAMILY PLACE | DALLAS, TX | $2,074 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| CROHNS & COLITIS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,572 | 2026 | HEALTH |
| AUSTIN TENNIS ACADEMY | AUSTIN, TX | $1,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE MODERN ART MUSEUM FORT WORTH | FORT WORTH, TX | $1,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| WESTERN SUN FOUNDATION | PLYMOUTH, MI | $1,419 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| MUSIC WILL | COVINA, CA | $1,033 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| DALLAS FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $1,031 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| WOODALL RODGERS PARK FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $1,030 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $1,029 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| SAFE HARBOR SHELTER | RICHMOND, VA | $1,000 | 2026 | HEALTH |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF DALLAS | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2026 | FOOD |
| TEXSAR | WIMBERLEY, TX | $500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| RYAN GOLDBLATT FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $300 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| YOUTH WITH FACES | DALLAS, TX | $257 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| DUBLIN SCHOOL | DUBLIN, NH | $105 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ASSOCIATION OF FORMER STUDENTS AGGIE NETWORKTX | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $103 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| TEMPLE EMANU-EL | DALLAS, TX | $410,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| HOCKADAY SCHOOL | DALLAS, TX | $337,124 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS - ACKERMAN CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES | DALLAS, TX | $125,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ST MARK'S SCHOOL OF TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $37,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS - ACKERMAN CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES
$1,725,000EDUCATION
ST MARK'S SCHOOL OF TEXAS
$1,275,200EDUCATION
HOCKADAY SCHOOL
$1,235,700EDUCATION
DALLAS HOLOCAUST AND HUMAN RIGHTS MUSEUM
$516,000EDUCATION
TEMPLE EMANU-EL
$210,000EDUCATION
DALLAS URBAN DEBATE ALLIANCE
$100,000EDUCATION
CATCH UP & READ
EDUCATION
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
$26,120EDUCATION
18 DOORS
$25,000EDUCATION
THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART
$15,000EDUCATION
TULANE UNIVERSITY
$12,500EDUCATION
QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE
$8,000EDUCATION
NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK
$6,000FOOD
SUPERMOON PROJECT
$5,400EDUCATION
PRESTON HOLLOW PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL
$5,000EDUCATION
DUKE UNIVERSITY
$5,000EDUCATION
IN MY SHOES INC
$5,000FOOD
THE DALLAS ZOO
$4,500EDUCATION
KERA
$4,000EDUCATION
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF DALLAS
$3,789EDUCATION
THE KINKAID SCHOOL
$2,929EDUCATION
EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF DALLAS
$2,500EDUCATION
LUMIN EDUCATION
$2,500EDUCATION
THE LAMPLIGHTER SCHOOL
$2,500EDUCATION
PRISON ENTREPRENEURSHIP
$2,500EDUCATION
AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
$2,500EDUCATION
RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE
$2,500EDUCATION
WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
$2,500EDUCATION
THE MENNINGER CLINIC
$2,500HEALTH
THE FAMILY PLACE
$2,074EDUCATION
CROHNS & COLITIS FOUNDATION
$1,572HEALTH
AUSTIN TENNIS ACADEMY
$1,500EDUCATION
THE MODERN ART MUSEUM FORT WORTH
$1,500EDUCATION
WESTERN SUN FOUNDATION
$1,419EDUCATION
MUSIC WILL
$1,033EDUCATION
DALLAS FOUNDATION
$1,031EDUCATION
WOODALL RODGERS PARK FOUNDATION
$1,030EDUCATION
COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF DALLAS
$1,029EDUCATION
SAFE HARBOR SHELTER
$1,000HEALTH
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF DALLAS
$1,000EDUCATION
VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS
$1,000FOOD
TEXSAR
$500EDUCATION
RYAN GOLDBLATT FOUNDATION
$300EDUCATION
YOUTH WITH FACES
$257EDUCATION
DUBLIN SCHOOL
$105EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION OF FORMER STUDENTS AGGIE NETWORKTX
$103EDUCATION
TEMPLE EMANU-EL
$410,000EDUCATION
HOCKADAY SCHOOL
$337,124EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS - ACKERMAN CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES
$125,000EDUCATION
ST MARK'S SCHOOL OF TEXAS
$37,500EDUCATION