The John S. Dunn Foundation concentrates its giving on building permanent capacity for behavioral health at UTHealth in Houston, providing multi-million-dollar endowment support specifically to establish the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center and related psychiatry programs. Grants are targeted, institution-building gifts that advance behavioral health research, education, and patient care rather than one-off program expenses. The foundation appears to act as a principal funder for this single flagship initiative in the Houston medical/academic sector.
A 2025 grant of $2,000,000 to UTHealth Science Center’s John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center captures the John S Dunn Foundation’s defining pattern: large, repeated commitments to permanent behavioral health endowments in Houston. The foundation has used matching grants and endowed funds to build long-term support for psychiatry, behavioral sciences, and related research, education, and patient care. That approach shows up across UTHealth, Houston Methodist, Texas Children’s Hospital, and other Houston medical institutions, where the grants are structured to create chairs, professorships, and named endowments rather than short-term project funding. Behavioral health is the clearest throughline, but the foundation’s grantmaking also reaches medical research, nursing education, clinic support, and selected community mental health services. Recent awards include support for psychiatry departments, schizophrenia and psychotic-disorders research, support groups for people affected by depression or bipolar disorder, and on-campus mental health programming. The foundation also funds clinical and academic capacity in Houston’s medical ecosystem through research centers, scholarship funds, and institution-building gifts. Its recent record suggests a funder that favors durable infrastructure and specialized expertise within the greater Houston area.
Behavioral health is central to the John S Dunn Foundation’s recent giving. In 2025, it gave $2,000,000 to UTHealth Science Center - John S Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center to establish permanent endowments for behavioral health research, education, and patient care. It also gave $200,000 to UTHealth Science Center - Faillace Dept Of Psychiatry for a distinguished chair focused on schizophrenia and psychotic disorders. The foundation also backs research that connects psychiatry with other fields. Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation received $300,000 to establish the John S. Dunn Foundation Distinguished Centennial Chair in Behavioral Health to explore the connection between mental health and gut microbiome. Baylor College Of Medicine received $100,000 to support the Cultivation Center’s microbiome-based therapeutic and diagnostic candidates. Beyond research, the foundation funds direct mental health support and healthcare workforce development. Communities In Schools of Houston Inc received $200,000 for an on-campus Mental Health Initiative Program, and Houston Baptist University received $150,000 for undergraduate nursing scholarships.
$5.1M
$81.8M
$11.1M
$6.2M
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Highly concentrated giving: very few, large grants directed repeatedly to the same academic medical center to create permanent endowments and institutional infrastructure.
Notable grantees: UTHealth Science Center - Faillace Department of Psychiatry, UTHealth Science Center - John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center, The UTHealth Science Center at Houston
Typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list includes a much larger endowment-building tier at $2,000,000 and $3,000,000, alongside many mid-sized awards for chairs, scholarships, clinics, and research support. The pattern is repeat funding to the same institutions over multiple years, especially UTHealth, Rice University, Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, and Communities In Schools of Houston Inc. The foundation makes one-year grants and accepts unsolicited applications for several of its general grantmaking categories online; the board meets monthly. It also funds individuals indirectly through scholarship programs rather than direct individual grants.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly Houston-centered: 97% of grants go to recipients in Texas, with the recipient country distribution entirely in the US. Houston is the main city appearing across the recent grants list, including UTHealth Science Center, Rice University, Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, Texas Children’s Hospital, and Communities In Schools of Houston Inc. College Station appears through Texas A&M Foundation, and Dickinson appears through CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic. The geographic scope is local, with giving concentrated in the greater Houston area.
It supports nonprofit institutions and service providers in the greater Houston area, especially universities, hospitals, clinics, and community organizations. Recent grants include UTHealth Science Center, Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, Texas Children’s Hospital, Communities In Schools of Houston Inc, and CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare.
The recent grants point to behavioral health, psychiatry, nursing education, medical research, clinic support, and selected community mental health services. The foundation also funds endowed chairs and research endowments in areas such as schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, gut microbiome and mental health, and cardiovascular device development.
Yes. Recent grants include $150,000 to Houston Baptist University for undergraduate nursing scholarships and $125,000 to Texas A&M Foundation for an endowed scholarship in engineering medicine. The foundation also supports nursing scholarship programs through partner institutions.
It makes one-year grants and uses a mix of matching grants, endowed chairs, professorships, research endowments, scholarships, and operating support. Typical recent grant sizes cluster at $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000, with larger institutional endowment gifts reaching $2,000,000 and $3,000,000.
Yes, for several general grantmaking categories the foundation accepts unsolicited applications online. Those categories include healthcare education, medical services and clinics, general charity, and general grantmaking for nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving the greater Houston area.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from John S Dunn Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofits (not Type III 509(a)(3)); projects must serve the greater Houston area; no grants to individuals; foundation discourages multiyear grant requests.
Deadline: No deadlines; requests accepted throughout the year (rolling).
Who can apply: Open to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations that are 501(c)(3) public charities (not private foundations or Type III supporting organizations). Requests must support programs or projects within the greater Houston area. No grants to individuals, businesses, capital campaigns, construction, furnishings, or advocacy.
Deadline: No deadlines; accepted throughout the year.
Who can apply: Institutions (universities, hospitals, research centers) that can accept endowed funding or named chairs; must be nonprofit or tax-exempt entities serving the Houston area.
Deadline: No fixed deadlines; typically handled via proposal discussions with Foundation staff.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofits only; institutional scholarship requests (the Foundation does not give scholarships directly to individuals); projects must serve the greater Houston area.
Deadline: No fixed deadlines; applications accepted throughout the year.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving the greater Houston area; Foundation does not fund construction, capital campaigns, or furnishings.
Deadline: No fixed deadlines; rolling review.
Who can apply: Open to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations that are 501(c)(3) public charities (not private foundations or Type III supporting organizations). Requests must support programs or projects within the greater Houston area. No grants to individuals, businesses, capital campaigns, construction, furnishings, or advocacy. The foundation discourages multiyear grant requests.
Deadline: No deadlines; accepted throughout the year.
Who can apply: Open to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations that are 501(c)(3) public charities (not private foundations or Type III supporting organizations). Requests must support programs or projects within the greater Houston area. No grants to individuals, businesses, capital campaigns, construction, furnishings, or advocacy.
Deadline: No deadlines; accepted throughout the year.
Who can apply: Applicants must be nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations meeting Section 501(c)(3) requirements and classified as other than private foundations under Section 509(a). Type III Section 509(a)(3) supporting organizations are not eligible. Requests must support programs or projects within the greater Houston area. The Foundation does not award grants to individuals or businesses, does not support capital campaigns, construction or furnishings, advocacy, or foundations that regrant to third-party organizations. Grants are generally for one-year periods, and organizations should apply once per calendar year. The Foundation discourages multiyear grant requests, although matching grants and collaboration are encouraged.
No fixed deadlines; requests are accepted throughout the year. Organizations should apply once during a calendar year.
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UThealth Science Center - John S Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center | Houston, TX | $2,000,000 | 2025 | Grant to establish 14 separate permanent endowments for the use, benefit, and support of UTHealth to advance behavioral health research, education, and patient care at the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center. |
| Rice University | Houston, TX | $300,000 | 2025 | Grant to support a fund for research seed grants with the Collaborative Research Center explicitly designed to bring together Rice researchers with their colleagues in the Texas Medical Center. |
| UThealth Science Center - Faillace Dept Of Psychiatry | Houston, TX | $200,000 | 2025 | Grant to establish the John S. Dunn Foundation Distinguished Chair in Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for research in schizophrenia and psychotic disorders. |
| Texas Heart Institute | Houston, TX | $200,000 | 2025 | Grant to establish the John S. Dunn Chair for the Innovative Device & Engineering Applications (IDEA) Lab which is focused on developing and evaluating cutting-edge cardoivascular medical devices. |
| Communities In Schools of Houston Inc | Houston, TX | $200,000 | 2025 | Grant to support the on-campus Mental Health Initiative Program Program for 2023-2024 school year. |
| Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation | Houston, TX | $134,452 | 2025 | Grant to establish the Eva Lynn and John S. Dunn, Jr. New Century Chair in Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery $1,500,000 Endowment Fund. |
| Texas A&M Foundation | College Station, TX | $125,000 | 2025 | Grant to establish the John S. Dunn Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Engineering Medicine to support $10,000 annually to a top-performing student. |
| Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation | Houston, TX | $110,000 | 2025 | Grant to support the John S. Dunn Foundation Advancing Nursing Excellence Award to award funds to each of the runners up each year who go above and beyond in their commitment to their patients. |
| University of St Thomas | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | Grant to support the John S. Dunn Nursing Scholarship Fund which will provide BSN scholarships ranging from $500 to $3,500 each to deserving nursng students in the 2024-2025 academic year. |
| reMIND Depression & Bipolar Support | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | Grant to provide free support groups for diagnosed individuals, family members and friends impacted by depression or bipolar disorder. |
| TIRR Foundation | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | Grant to support Mission Connect IP Award for traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. |
| The Children's Assessment Center Foundation | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | Grant to be used for Therapy and Psychological Services Department for mental health services. |
| Baylor College of Medicine | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | Grant to support research for the Cultivation Center to increase its capacity and substantially enhance its production of microbiome-based therapeutic and diagnostic candidates. |
| The Council on Recovery | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | Grant to support a Center for Co-Occurring Disorders, with a focus on the connection between substance use, mental health, trauma and suicide. |
| Texas Hearing Institute | Houston, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | Grant to support comprehensive audiology, speech therapy and educational services to children ($50,000) and to support the Doctor of Audiology Externship Program ($50,000). |
| Memorial Hermann Foundation | Houston, TX | $75,000 | 2025 | Grant to assist in providing a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with cardiac package for the Larry Johnson Cardiac Imaging Center. |
| El Centro de Corazon | Houston, TX | $75,000 | 2025 | Grant to support operating expenses for medical, dental and behavioral health services for Houston's East End. |
| Houston Christian University | Houston, TX | $75,000 | 2025 | Grant to support nursing scholarships at Houston Christian University for the 2024-25 academic year. |
| Houston Hospice | Houston, TX | $75,000 | 2025 | Grant to support grief and bereavement programs which provide families with opportunities to heal and regain their normal lives after the death of a loved one. |
| The Gateway Academy Inc | Houston, TX | $60,000 | 2025 | Grant to support their Mental Health Program. |
| San Jose Clinic | Houston, TX | $60,000 | 2025 | Grant to support healthcare for uninsured and underserved. |
| The Rise School of Houston | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | Grant for general operating support. |
| Child Advocates Of Fort Bend | Rosenberg, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | Grant for operational support to provide direct clinical services for child victims and their families. |
| Village Learning Center Inc | Kingwood, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | Grant to fund medical services for their medically fragile population of children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. |
| Archway Academy | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | Grant to support student scholarships to provide 11 partial scholarships for families unable to help their children struggling with addiction. |
| The Beacon | Houston, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | Grant to be used to support general operating expenses for The Beacon and its core programs. |
| Camp Allen | Navasota, TX | $45,000 | 2025 | Grant to support updating medical equipment, supplies, and transportation for the John S. Dunn Camper Health Center. |
| Star of Hope | Houston, TX | $45,000 | 2025 | Grant to be used to support the Men's Development Center - John S. Dunn Wellness Center. |
| Houston Achievement Place | Houston, TX | $35,000 | 2025 | Grant to support Project CLASS mental health program which helps young children with emotional, behavioral and family problems. |
| Palmer Drug Abuse Program | Houston, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | Grant to support general operations to support adolescents, young aduts, and families providing recovery services. |
| Communities In Schools of Houston Inc | Houston, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | Grant to support Project MOVE which provides dental care to uninsured children who don't qualify for Medicaid for 2023-2024 school year. |
| San Jacinto Community College Foundation Pasadena Texas | Pasadena, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | Grant to support the John S. Dunn Foundation Scholarship Fund for students in an ADN program for 20 scholarships at $1,500 each in 2024-25. |
| Bo'S Place | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Grant to provide grief support services and education at no cost to children, teens, adults, and community members. |
| Christian Community Service Center | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Grant to be used for emergency medical needs for the Emergency Services program. |
| Halo House Foundation | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Grant to help cover operating costs and program administration. |
| The Hope and Healing Center & Institute | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Grant to support the growth of the Houston Hope Line to continue to reach additional callers and expand operations. |
| The Harris School | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Grant to support their scholarship program to aid famlies for its specialized therapeurtic programs. |
| Covenant House Texas | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Grant to support the Medical and Behavioral Health Services program for Houston's homeless youth. |
| Camp For All | Houston, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | Grant to support expenses to their Camp's health center. |
| College of the Mainland Foundation Inc | Texas City, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | Grant to support 10 or more scholarships for Bachelor of Science in Nursing. |
| Sight Savers America Inc | Pelham, AL | $20,000 | 2025 | Grant to provide high-tech vision and blind aids. |
| Nick Finnegan Couseling Foundation | Houston, TX | $15,000 | 2025 | Grant to support mental health counselling services and outreach. |
| Bridges To Life | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Grant for operational support for its program for victims and offenders and healing. |
| Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Houston-Galveston | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | Grant for operating support. |
| Mental Health America of Greater Houston | Houston, TX | $3,000 | 2025 | Grant to purchase table for 10 for Texas Luncheon. |
| The UThealth Science Center At Houston | Houston, TX | $2,000,000 | 2024 | Grant to establish 14 separate permanent endowments for the use, benefit, and support of UTHealth to advance behavioral health research, education, and patient care at the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center. |
| Rice University | Houston, TX | $300,000 | 2024 | Grant to support a fund for research seed grants with the Collaborative Research Center explicitly designed to bring together Rice researchers with their colleagues in the Texas Medical Center. |
| Communities In Schools of Houston Inc | Houston, TX | $200,000 | 2024 | Grant to support the on-campus Mental Health Initiative Program for 2022-2023 school year. |
| UThealth Science Center - Faillace Dept Of Psychiatry | Houston, TX | $200,000 | 2024 | Matching grant to establish the John S. Dunn Foundation Distinguished Chair in Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for research in schizophrenia and psychotic disorders. |
| CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare | Houston, TX | $150,000 | 2024 | Grant to support operations at CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic in Dickinson. |
UThealth Science Center - John S Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center
$2,000,000Grant to establish 14 separate permanent endowments for the use, benefit, and support of UTHealth to advance behavioral health research, education, and patient care at the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center.
Grant to support a fund for research seed grants with the Collaborative Research Center explicitly designed to bring together Rice researchers with their colleagues in the Texas Medical Center.
UThealth Science Center - Faillace Dept Of Psychiatry
$200,000Grant to establish the John S. Dunn Foundation Distinguished Chair in Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for research in schizophrenia and psychotic disorders.
Grant to establish the John S. Dunn Chair for the Innovative Device & Engineering Applications (IDEA) Lab which is focused on developing and evaluating cutting-edge cardoivascular medical devices.
Grant to support the on-campus Mental Health Initiative Program Program for 2023-2024 school year.
Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation
$134,452Grant to establish the Eva Lynn and John S. Dunn, Jr. New Century Chair in Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery $1,500,000 Endowment Fund.
Grant to establish the John S. Dunn Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Engineering Medicine to support $10,000 annually to a top-performing student.
Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation
$110,000Grant to support the John S. Dunn Foundation Advancing Nursing Excellence Award to award funds to each of the runners up each year who go above and beyond in their commitment to their patients.
Grant to support the John S. Dunn Nursing Scholarship Fund which will provide BSN scholarships ranging from $500 to $3,500 each to deserving nursng students in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Grant to provide free support groups for diagnosed individuals, family members and friends impacted by depression or bipolar disorder.
TIRR Foundation
$100,000Grant to support Mission Connect IP Award for traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury.
Grant to be used for Therapy and Psychological Services Department for mental health services.
Grant to support research for the Cultivation Center to increase its capacity and substantially enhance its production of microbiome-based therapeutic and diagnostic candidates.
Grant to support a Center for Co-Occurring Disorders, with a focus on the connection between substance use, mental health, trauma and suicide.
Texas Hearing Institute
$100,000Grant to support comprehensive audiology, speech therapy and educational services to children ($50,000) and to support the Doctor of Audiology Externship Program ($50,000).
Grant to assist in providing a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with cardiac package for the Larry Johnson Cardiac Imaging Center.
El Centro de Corazon
$75,000Grant to support operating expenses for medical, dental and behavioral health services for Houston's East End.
Houston Christian University
$75,000Grant to support nursing scholarships at Houston Christian University for the 2024-25 academic year.
Grant to support grief and bereavement programs which provide families with opportunities to heal and regain their normal lives after the death of a loved one.
The Gateway Academy Inc
$60,000Grant to support their Mental Health Program.
San Jose Clinic
$60,000Grant to support healthcare for uninsured and underserved.
The Rise School of Houston
$50,000Grant for general operating support.
Child Advocates Of Fort Bend
$50,000Grant for operational support to provide direct clinical services for child victims and their families.
Grant to fund medical services for their medically fragile population of children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities.
Grant to support student scholarships to provide 11 partial scholarships for families unable to help their children struggling with addiction.
The Beacon
$50,000Grant to be used to support general operating expenses for The Beacon and its core programs.
Camp Allen
$45,000Grant to support updating medical equipment, supplies, and transportation for the John S. Dunn Camper Health Center.
Star of Hope
$45,000Grant to be used to support the Men's Development Center - John S. Dunn Wellness Center.
Grant to support Project CLASS mental health program which helps young children with emotional, behavioral and family problems.
Palmer Drug Abuse Program
$30,000Grant to support general operations to support adolescents, young aduts, and families providing recovery services.
Grant to support Project MOVE which provides dental care to uninsured children who don't qualify for Medicaid for 2023-2024 school year.
Grant to support the John S. Dunn Foundation Scholarship Fund for students in an ADN program for 20 scholarships at $1,500 each in 2024-25.
Grant to provide grief support services and education at no cost to children, teens, adults, and community members.
Grant to be used for emergency medical needs for the Emergency Services program.
Grant to help cover operating costs and program administration.
Grant to support the growth of the Houston Hope Line to continue to reach additional callers and expand operations.
The Harris School
$25,000Grant to support their scholarship program to aid famlies for its specialized therapeurtic programs.
Covenant House Texas
$25,000Grant to support the Medical and Behavioral Health Services program for Houston's homeless youth.
Camp For All
$25,000Grant to support expenses to their Camp's health center.
Grant to support 10 or more scholarships for Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Nick Finnegan Couseling Foundation
$15,000Grant to support mental health counselling services and outreach.
Grant for operational support for its program for victims and offenders and healing.
Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Houston-Galveston
$10,000Grant for operating support.
Grant to purchase table for 10 for Texas Luncheon.
The UThealth Science Center At Houston
$2,000,000Grant to establish 14 separate permanent endowments for the use, benefit, and support of UTHealth to advance behavioral health research, education, and patient care at the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center.
Grant to support a fund for research seed grants with the Collaborative Research Center explicitly designed to bring together Rice researchers with their colleagues in the Texas Medical Center.
Grant to support the on-campus Mental Health Initiative Program for 2022-2023 school year.
UThealth Science Center - Faillace Dept Of Psychiatry
$200,000Matching grant to establish the John S. Dunn Foundation Distinguished Chair in Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences for research in schizophrenia and psychotic disorders.
Grant to support operations at CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic in Dickinson.
