The Eugene McDermott Foundation makes very large, place-based investments in Dallas-area cultural institutions and biomedical research/education infrastructure. Its recent grants are dominated by major capital and transformational projects—reimagining the art museum, a new zoo exhibit, support for the symphony’s operations and endowment, and construction of a biomedical engineering building at two local universities. The foundation prioritizes flagship institutions that serve the Dallas community and combine capital needs with long-term institutional sustainability.
The Eugene McDermott Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by major capital commitments to Dallas institutions: $10 million for the Dallas Museum of Art’s Reimagining the DMA and $10 million for a new exhibit at the Dallas Zoological Society. Those two grants capture a broader pattern of place-based support for large civic projects that shape the city’s cultural life. The foundation also backed the Dallas Symphony Association with $9 million for annual fund operations and endowment support, showing that it funds both new initiatives and long-term institutional stability. Across the recent grant list, the foundation repeatedly supports organizations that combine public programming with major facility or endowment needs. It gave $7 million to The Dallas Opera to help meet an O’Donnell Foundation matching grant, $5 million to North Texas Public Broadcasting for The Future of KERA, and $4 million each to UT Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Texas at Dallas for the TI Biomedical Engineering & Science Building. The pattern points to a funder that invests in high-profile Dallas institutions with significant infrastructure, audience, and research ambitions.
In arts and culture, the foundation has made large awards for museums, symphony, opera, broadcasting, and human-rights programming. It gave $5 million to North Texas Public Broadcasting for The Future of KERA and $1 million to Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights for endowment support. Its biomedical and higher-education giving centers on research facilities and campus infrastructure. UT Southwestern Medical Center received $4 million for the TI Biomedical Engineering & Science Building, and the University of Texas at Dallas received the same amount for that building. The foundation also gave $1.2 million to University of Texas at Dallas for the McDermott Suite Renovation. Public-space and civic projects appear as another clear theme. Southern Gateway Public Green received $5 million for construction of a park, while Fair Park First received $1.5 million for the Rebirth of Magnolia Lounge. Those grants sit alongside support for zoo and museum development, showing a strong interest in spaces used by the Dallas public.
Typical grant size is $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $200,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent list also includes several multi-million-dollar awards. The foundation’s giving is highly recurring in Dallas-area institutions: Dallas Symphony Association appears in both 2024 and 2025, Dallas Zoological Society appears in 2023 and 2025, Southern Gateway Public Green appears in 2023 and 2025, and University of Texas at Dallas appears in 2025 more than once. The foundation is a private foundation rather than a program-initiated grantmaker, and it also funds individuals. No application process is shown in the provided data.
$55.5M
$131M
$21.3M
$56.6M
Most grants fall between $20K and $200K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$200K
About 96% of grants go to recipients in TX.
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.
Very concentrated, high-dollar capital and endowment grants to a small set of local flagship institutions; few grants overall but large in size and focused on transformational projects in the Dallas metro.
Notable grantees: Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Zoological Society (Dallas Zoo), Dallas Symphony Association, UT Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas at Dallas
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in Texas, with 96% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Dallas is the clearest center of activity, including awards to the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Symphony Association, Dallas Zoological Society, North Texas Public Broadcasting, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and UT Southwestern Medical Center. Outside Dallas, the recent list includes Austin recipients such as Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, plus a smaller number of grants to Santa Fe, Washington, and Fort Worth.
The foundation supports Dallas-area cultural institutions, biomedical engineering and research infrastructure, parks and green space, and selected public health and social service organizations. Recent grants include museums, symphony and opera groups, universities, a zoo, and community-serving nonprofits such as United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and Resource Center of Dallas Inc.
The typical grant size is $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $200,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also shows much larger awards, including multiple grants of $5 million, $7 million, $9 million, and $10 million.
Yes. The geographic scope is local, and 96% of grants go to recipients in Texas. Dallas is the primary recipient city in the recent list, with additional grants in Austin, Fort Worth, Santa Fe, and Washington, DC.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Dallas Symphony Association, Dallas Zoological Society, Southern Gateway Public Green, University of Texas at Dallas, and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. That pattern suggests ongoing support for a core group of Dallas institutions.
It funds individuals as well as organizations. The provided foundation profile indicates that individuals are eligible recipients, alongside nonprofit and institutional grantees in the recent grant list.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Zoological Society | Dallas, TX | $10,000,000 | 2025 | For new exhibit |
| Dallas Museum of Art | Dallas, TX | $10,000,000 | 2025 | For Reimagining the DMA |
| Dallas Symphony Association Inc | Dallas, TX | $9,000,000 | 2025 | For Annual Fund Operations & Endowment Grant |
| The Dallas Opera | Dallas, TX | $7,000,000 | 2025 | To help Meet ODonnell Foundation Matching Grant |
| Health Equity Foundation of Greater | Dallas, TX | $5,000,000 | 2025 | For Operations |
| Southern Gateway Public Green Fnd | Dallas, TX | $5,000,000 | 2025 | For Construction of Park |
| North Texas Public Broadcasting | Dallas, TX | $5,000,000 | 2025 | For The Future of KERA |
| University of Texas at Dallas | Dallas, TX | $4,000,000 | 2025 | For TI Biomedical Engineering & Science Building |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | Dallas, TX | $4,000,000 | 2025 | For TI Biomedical Engineering & Science Building |
| United Way of Metropolitan Dallas | Dallas, TX | $3,000,000 | 2025 | For Programs |
| Resource Center of Dallas Inc | Dallas, TX | $3,000,000 | 2025 | To Change Landscape ofHealthcare for LGBTQIA |
| United Way of Metropolitan Dallas | Dallas, TX | $2,000,000 | 2025 | For Social Innovation Lab & DataCapacity Bldg |
| Fair Park First | Dallas, TX | $1,500,000 | 2025 | For Rebirth of Magnolia Lounge |
| Compass School of Texas | Dallas, TX | $1,500,000 | 2025 | For Curriculum Development |
| Trinity River Audobon Center | Dallas, TX | $1,500,000 | 2025 | For Refurbishing exhibits and Operations |
| Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center | Austin, TX | $1,300,000 | 2025 | For Renovations Redesign and Maintenance |
| University of Texas at Dallas | Dallas, TX | $1,200,000 | 2025 | For McDermott Suite Renovation |
| Parkland Health Foundation | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Developmental Child Care for Patients and Staf |
| Dallas Symphony Orchestra | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Ring Cycle and Operations |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Liver Disease and Transplant Research |
| Texas Tree Foundation | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Cool Schools |
| SPCA of Texas | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Capital Campaign |
| Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Endowment |
| Smithsonians National Zoo | Washington, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Panda Exhibit |
| Transform 1012 N Main Street | Fort Worth, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Operations and Capital Campaign |
| Georgia OKeeffe Museum | Santa Fe, NM | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Capital Campaign |
| Metrocare Dallas | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For General Support |
| Communities Foundation of Texas | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Texas African American Museum Fund |
| Housing Forward | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Street to Home Initiative |
| UTSW and Childrens Health | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For New Pediatric Campus |
| First Presbyterian Church | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For The Stewpots Acquisition of City Square |
| Perot Museum of Nature and Science | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Outdoor Space |
| Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Operations |
| Texas Tree Foundation | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Operations |
| Southern Gateway Public Green Fnd | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Phase 1 |
| North Texas Food Bank | Plano, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | For Food Purchases |
| Dallas Arboretum and Botanical | Dallas, TX | $750,000 | 2025 | For Visitor Education Pavilion |
| Forest Forward | Dallas, TX | $750,000 | 2025 | For Restoration of Forest Theater |
| The Dallas Opera | Dallas, TX | $700,000 | 2025 | For Operations |
| Big Thought | Dallas, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | For Dallas City of Learning and Growth |
| Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity | Dallas, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | For Purchase of Building |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | For operations |
| Compass School | Dallas, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | For Operations |
| University of Texas at Dallas | Dallas, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | For Center for Brain Health |
| North Texas Public Broadcasting | Dallas, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | For Matching Grant |
| Josephine Torres Cultural | Dallas, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | For The Bataan Center |
| Volunteers of America | Euless, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | For The Fran Tynan Empowerment Endowment Programs |
| The Commit Partnership | Dallas, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | For Operations |
| TACA Inc | Dallas, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | For Core Programs |
| Dallas Arboretum Botanical Soc | Dallas, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | For Increase in Hourly Wages |
Dallas Zoological Society
$10,000,000For new exhibit
Dallas Museum of Art
$10,000,000For Reimagining the DMA
Dallas Symphony Association Inc
$9,000,000For Annual Fund Operations & Endowment Grant
The Dallas Opera
$7,000,000To help Meet ODonnell Foundation Matching Grant
Health Equity Foundation of Greater
$5,000,000For Operations
Southern Gateway Public Green Fnd
$5,000,000For Construction of Park
North Texas Public Broadcasting
$5,000,000For The Future of KERA
University of Texas at Dallas
$4,000,000For TI Biomedical Engineering & Science Building
UT Southwestern Medical Center
$4,000,000For TI Biomedical Engineering & Science Building
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
$3,000,000For Programs
Resource Center of Dallas Inc
$3,000,000To Change Landscape ofHealthcare for LGBTQIA
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
$2,000,000For Social Innovation Lab & DataCapacity Bldg
Fair Park First
$1,500,000For Rebirth of Magnolia Lounge
Compass School of Texas
$1,500,000For Curriculum Development
Trinity River Audobon Center
$1,500,000For Refurbishing exhibits and Operations
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
$1,300,000For Renovations Redesign and Maintenance
University of Texas at Dallas
$1,200,000For McDermott Suite Renovation
Parkland Health Foundation
$1,000,000For Developmental Child Care for Patients and Staf
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
$1,000,000For Ring Cycle and Operations
UT Southwestern Medical Center
$1,000,000For Liver Disease and Transplant Research
Texas Tree Foundation
$1,000,000For Cool Schools
SPCA of Texas
$1,000,000For Capital Campaign
Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights
$1,000,000For Endowment
Smithsonians National Zoo
$1,000,000For Panda Exhibit
Transform 1012 N Main Street
$1,000,000For Operations and Capital Campaign
Georgia OKeeffe Museum
$1,000,000For Capital Campaign
Metrocare Dallas
$1,000,000For General Support
Communities Foundation of Texas
$1,000,000For Texas African American Museum Fund
Housing Forward
$1,000,000For Street to Home Initiative
UTSW and Childrens Health
$1,000,000For New Pediatric Campus
First Presbyterian Church
$1,000,000For The Stewpots Acquisition of City Square
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
$1,000,000For Outdoor Space
Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
$1,000,000For Operations
Texas Tree Foundation
$1,000,000For Operations
Southern Gateway Public Green Fnd
$1,000,000For Phase 1
North Texas Food Bank
$1,000,000For Food Purchases
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical
$750,000For Visitor Education Pavilion
Forest Forward
$750,000For Restoration of Forest Theater
The Dallas Opera
$700,000For Operations
Big Thought
$500,000For Dallas City of Learning and Growth
Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity
$500,000For Purchase of Building
Stanford University
$500,000For operations
Compass School
$500,000For Operations
University of Texas at Dallas
$500,000For Center for Brain Health
North Texas Public Broadcasting
$500,000For Matching Grant
Josephine Torres Cultural
$500,000For The Bataan Center
Volunteers of America
$500,000For The Fran Tynan Empowerment Endowment Programs
The Commit Partnership
$500,000For Operations
TACA Inc
$500,000For Core Programs
Dallas Arboretum Botanical Soc
$500,000For Increase in Hourly Wages