The Leo Potishman Foundation concentrates large, general-purpose gifts to cultural, educational, and civic institutions with a clear geographic emphasis on Fort Worth / Texas. They favor established institutions—universities, museums, a zoo, and civic organizations—and also support targeted human services work. Their giving signals interest in community-building institutions that promote history, civic pride, and local quality of life.
Leo Potishman Foundation Xxxxx3002 gives large general-purpose grants to institutions that shape Fort Worth’s civic and cultural life, with Texas Christian University receiving $1,230,000 in 2023 and the Fort Worth Zoological Association, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame each receiving $1,000,000 gifts. The pattern is institution-heavy rather than individual or project-by-project: universities, museums, a zoo, civic organizations, and service providers appear throughout the recent grants list. Several awards also point to place-based support for Fort Worth identity and public life, including the Community Foundation of North Texas, Center for Transforming Lives, and Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives. The foundation’s giving includes both broad operating-style support and grants tied to specific needs, such as the Fort Worth expansion of UT Southwestern Medical Center and Heritage and Paddock Parks. Alongside cultural and educational institutions, it funds human services and community support organizations, suggesting a portfolio that mixes civic amenities, public-facing attractions, and local social infrastructure.
Education is a major theme. In 2025, the foundation gave $800,000 to Texas A&M Foundation, and it also supported Texas Wesleyan University with $350,000 in 2025 and $250,000 in 2023. Cultural institutions are another clear priority: the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame received $1,000,000 in 2024, while the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and the Fort Worth Zoological Association each received $1,000,000 in 2023. Human services also appear in the grant list. Center for Transforming Lives received $900,000 in 2024, and The Gatehouse received $250,000 in 2025. The foundation also backed community-serving institutions such as Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County and Ronald McDonald House-Ft Worth, showing attention to both education support and family assistance.
Typical grants sit in a fairly high range: the distribution is $50,000 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $150,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list shows repeated support to some recipients across years, including Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, Texas A&M Foundation, National Medal of Honor Museum, Community Foundation of North Texas, Projecthandup Gatehouse, and Ronald McDonald House-Ft Worth. The foundation appears to operate as a general grantmaking private foundation, with a broad charitable mandate and no program-related investments. Its active program accepts unsolicited requests and allows grants up to $200,000, with preference for Fort Worth, surrounding areas, and Texas more broadly.
$5.5M
$17.1M
$5.1M
$5.9M
Most grants fall between $50K and $150K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$150K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in TX.
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Concentrated, high-value grants to a small set of repeat and flagship grantees rather than many small gifts; multiple seven- and six-figure awards, with several organizations receiving repeat support and a clear regional focus on Fort Worth/Texas.
Notable grantees: Texas A and M Foundation, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Fort Worth Zoological Association (Fort Worth Zoo), National Medal of Honor Museum
Grant activity is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 100% of recorded grants going to U.S. recipients. Fort Worth is the core destination, including awards to Fort Worth, TX recipients such as Texas Christian University, the Fort Worth Zoological Association, and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Other Texas cities also appear regularly, especially Dallas and College Station, along with Grapevine, Arlington, and Hurst. The top state by grant count is Texas, while the foundation’s headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois.
The grant list shows support for universities, museums, a zoo, civic organizations, and human services groups. Recent awards include Texas Christian University, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the Fort Worth Zoological Association, Center for Transforming Lives, and Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives.
Its typical grant size is relatively large: $50,000 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $150,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include several seven-figure grants, such as $1,230,000 to Texas Christian University.
Yes. The active General Grant Program accepts unsolicited requests and can award from $0 to $200,000. It also states a preference for Fort Worth, surrounding areas, and Texas more broadly.
Texas receives the most grants by count, and Fort Worth is the clearest local center of activity. Recent recipients also include Dallas, College Station, Grapevine, Arlington, and Hurst, all in Texas.
Yes. Several organizations appear more than once in the recent grants list, including Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, Texas A&M Foundation, National Medal of Honor Museum, Community Foundation of North Texas, Projecthandup Gatehouse, and Ronald McDonald House-Ft Worth.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEXAS A AND M FOUNDATION | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $800,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| TEXAS BALLET THEATER INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF GREATER TARRANT COUNTY INC | Fort Worth, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | FORT WORTH EXPANSION OF |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTH TEXAS | FORT WORTH, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | FORT WORTH, TX | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BOTANICAL RESEARCH INTISTITUTE OF TEXAS INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY | FORT WORTH, TX | $285,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH INITIATIVES INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | HERITAGE AND PADDOCK PARKS |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA | HURST, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | CAMP TAHUAYA/ GO BEYOND |
| THE GATEHOUSE | GRAPEVINE, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE-FT WORTH | FORT WORTH, TX | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CARTER BLOODCARE POPULATION HEALTH INITIATIVES | Bedford, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PERFORMING ARTS FORT WORTH INC | Fort Worth, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| W I COOK FOUNDATION INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE SAVING HOPE FOUNDATION | FORT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AMON CARTER MUSEUM | FORT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN WARRIOR ASSOCIATION | FORTH WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | R3 FORT WORTH WELLNESS |
| PRESBYTERIAN NIGHT SHELTER OF TARRA | FORT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT-CHISHOLM TRAIL | FORT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MEALS-ON-WHEELS INC OF TARRANT COUNTY | FORT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FORT WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION INC | Fort Worth, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HELPING RESTORE ABILITY | Arlington, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HEROES FOR HEROES | DALLAS, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| LEG UP PROGRAM | ALEDO, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION OF NORTH TEXAS | FORT WORTH, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| DAY RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS | Fort Worth, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF ARLINGTON INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| STAR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE NATIONAL COWGIRL MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR TRANSFORMING LIVES | FORT WORTH, TX | $900,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| TEXAS A AND M FOUNDATION | COLLEGE STATION, TX | $700,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NORTH TEXAS | FORT WORTH, TX | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MUSEUM | DALLAS, TX | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| PROJECTHANDUP GATEHOUSE | GRAPEVINE, TX | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCES FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON, TX | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY | FORT WORTH, TX | $190,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF FORTH WORTH TEXAS | FORT WORTH, TX | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY | FORT WORTH, TX | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE-FT WORTH | FORT WORTH, TX | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BOTANICAL RESEARCH INTISTITUTE OF TEXAS INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| W I COOK FOUNDATION INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| STREAMS AND VALLEYS INC | Fort Worth, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| PERFORMING ARTS FORT WORTH INC | Fort Worth, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CASA MANANA INC | FORT WORTH, TX | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF GREATER TARRANT COUNTY INC | Fort Worth, TX | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| MEALS-ON-WHEELS INC OF TARRANT COUNTY | FORT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| AMON CARTER MUSEUM | FORT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT-CHISHOLM TRAIL | FORT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| UNITED WAY OF TARRANT COUNTY | FORT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
$500,000FORT WORTH EXPANSION OF
TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
$350,000GENERAL
BOTANICAL RESEARCH INTISTITUTE OF TEXAS INC
$350,000GENERAL
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
$285,000GENERAL
DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH INITIATIVES INC
$250,000HERITAGE AND PADDOCK PARKS
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
$250,000CAMP TAHUAYA/ GO BEYOND
THE GATEHOUSE
$250,000GENERAL
CARTER BLOODCARE POPULATION HEALTH INITIATIVES
$100,000GENERAL
AMON CARTER MUSEUM
$50,000GENERAL
PRESBYTERIAN NIGHT SHELTER OF TARRA
$50,000GENERAL
MEALS-ON-WHEELS INC OF TARRANT COUNTY
$50,000GENERAL
LEG UP PROGRAM
$25,000GENERAL
MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION OF NORTH TEXAS
$25,000GENERAL
DAY RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS
$20,000GENERAL
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF ARLINGTON INC
$10,000GENERAL
STAR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM INC
$10,000GENERAL
THE NATIONAL COWGIRL MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME INC
$1,000,000GENERAL
NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MUSEUM
$500,000GENERAL
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
$190,000GENERAL
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF FORTH WORTH TEXAS
$150,000GENERAL
BOTANICAL RESEARCH INTISTITUTE OF TEXAS INC
$150,000GENERAL
STREAMS AND VALLEYS INC
$100,000GENERAL
MEALS-ON-WHEELS INC OF TARRANT COUNTY
$50,000GENERAL
AMON CARTER MUSEUM
$50,000GENERAL