The William Wright Family Foundation concentrates its giving on biomedical research into neurological and mitochondrial diseases, making large multi-year gifts to national disease-focused research organizations. It also makes occasional local, faith-affiliated memorial gifts to community social service providers in North Texas. The portfolio is highly concentrated around a few repeat grantees rather than broad, diversified giving.
Concentrated, high-dollar support to a small number of national research organizations with repeat grants; occasional smaller, one-off local gifts tied to memorials or community service.
The William Wright Family Foundation’s giving is anchored by repeat, six-figure support for disease research organizations, especially the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. Across 2023 to 2025, those two groups received the foundation’s largest recent grants, all framed as continuation or continuance of research. That pattern points to a portfolio built around sustaining biomedical work over time rather than making many one-time awards. The foundation also keeps a visible local thread in North Texas. The Salvation Army of North Texas received memorial-designated gifts in three consecutive years, while Dallas-based nonprofits such as Annie’s Place and Welcome Home Recovery also appear in the recent-grants list. Elsewhere in the portfolio, the foundation has supported educational, cultural, and service organizations with operating or mission support, including Boys & Girls Club of Vernon Inc, the Adaptive Sports Center, and Dallas Theological Seminary. The grant list shows a mix of larger research commitments and smaller organizational support awards, but the overall shape is concentrated rather than broad.
Biomedical research is the clearest through line. The foundation gave $240,000 in 2024 and $230,000 in 2023 to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, both for continuation of research, and added another $200,000 in 2025 for the same purpose. Alzheimer’s disease research is the other major pillar: the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation received $200,000 in 2025, $110,000 in 2024, and $100,000 in 2023, each for continuance of research. Its portfolio also includes recurring support for community and faith-linked institutions in Texas. The Salvation Army of North Texas received memorial gifts in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Dallas Theological Seminary appears with general education fund grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. In youth and community support, Boys & Girls Club of Vernon Inc received operational support in three separate years.
Typical grants cluster around a fairly broad middle range, with p25 at $20,000, a median of $38,750, and p75 at $60,000. The recent list shows repeated awards to the same recipients across multiple years, especially in research and Texas-based operating support, which suggests ongoing relationship-based funding rather than isolated gifts. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its grant descriptions emphasize continuation of research, continuance of mission, operational support, and general education fund support.
$686K
$11.8M
$475K
$700K
Most grants fall between $20K and $60K, with a median of $39K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$39K
75th Percentile
$60K
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Notable grantees: United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, The Salvation Army of North Texas
Grantmaking is regional, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Texas is the main delivery point by count, representing 63% of grants, and the list includes repeated awards in Dallas, Vernon, Amarillo, and Houston. Outside Texas, New York appears through New York, NY, while other recurring recipient locations include Pittsburg, PA, and Crested Butte, CO. The foundation also gives most often in New York by grant count, even though its headquarters are in Texas.
The recent grants center on biomedical research organizations, especially groups working on mitochondrial disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The foundation also supports Texas nonprofits with operational, mission, memorial, and education-fund grants, including service providers, schools, museums, and community organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years. The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and The Salvation Army of North Texas appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The distribution is centered in the tens of thousands: p25 is $20,000, the median is $38,750, and p75 is $60,000. The recent grants list also includes larger six-figure awards for research organizations, which pushes the portfolio above that middle range.
Texas receives 63% of grants, and the recent list shows repeated awards in Dallas, Vernon, Amarillo, and Houston. The foundation also gives outside Texas, including New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado, and the overall recipient base is entirely U.S.-based.
The clearest focus areas are continuation of research in mitochondrial disease and Alzheimer’s disease, plus operational and mission support for Texas nonprofits. The portfolio also includes general education fund support and memorial-directed gifts tied to local community organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Sports Center | Crested Butte, CO | $250,000 | 2026 | For continuance of mission |
| United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation | Pittsburg, PA | $200,000 | 2026 | For continuation of research |
| The Salvation Army of North Texas | Dallas, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | In memory of Kelsey Wright |
| AOPA Foundation | Frederick, MD | $50,000 | 2026 | Richard McSpadden Scholarship for Advanced Pilot Training Fund |
| Boys & Girls Club of Vernon Inc | Vernon, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | Operational Support |
| Dallas Theological Seminary | Dallas, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | General Education Fund |
| UT MD Anderson Cancer Center | Houston, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | For continuance of research |
| Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate | Fort Woth, TX | $19,852 | 2026 | For continued support |
| Wilbarger County Junior Livestock Show | Vernon, TX | $6,400 | 2026 | For continued support |
| United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation | Pittsburg, PA | $200,000 | 2025 | For continuation of research |
| Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation | New York, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | For continuance of research |
| The Salvation Army of North Texas | Dallas, TX | $60,000 | 2025 | In memory of Kelsey Wright |
| Boys & Girls Club of Vernon Inc | Vernon, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Organization for Autism Research | Arlington, VA | $27,500 | 2025 | For Continuance of Mission |
| Frontiers of Flight Museum | Dallas, TX | $27,500 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Adaptive Sports Center | Crested Butte, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | For continuance of mission |
| Red River Valley Museum | Vernon, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| UT MD Anderson Cancer Center | Houston, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | For continuance of research |
| Dallas Theological Seminary | Dallas, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | General Education Fund |
| United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation | Pittsburg, PA | $240,000 | 2024 | For continuation of research |
| Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation | New York, NY | $110,000 | 2024 | For continuance of research |
| The Salvation Army of North Texas | Dallas, TX | $60,000 | 2024 | In memory of Kelsey Wright |
| Annie's Place | Dallas, TX | $55,000 | 2024 | For continuance of mission |
| Boys & Girls Club of Vernon Inc | Vernon, TX | $50,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Adaptive Sports Center | Crested Butte, CO | $50,000 | 2024 | For continuance of mission |
| Dallas Theological Seminary | Dallas, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | General Education Fund |
| Ascension Academy | Amarillo, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| UT MD Anderson Cancer Center | Houston, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | For continuance of research |
| United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation | Pittsburg, PA | $230,000 | 2023 | For continuation of research |
| Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | For continuance of research |
| The Salvation Army of North Texas | Dallas, TX | $70,000 | 2023 | In memory of Kelsey Wright |
| Boys & Girls Club of Vernon Inc | Vernon, TX | $50,000 | 2023 | Operational Support |
| Adaptive Sports Center | Crested Butte, CO | $50,000 | 2023 | For continuance of mission |
| Dallas Theological Seminary | Dallas, TX | $20,000 | 2023 | General Education Fund |
| UT MD Anderson Cancer Center | Houston, TX | $20,000 | 2023 | For continuance of research |
| Welcome Home Recovery | Dallas, TX | $20,000 | 2023 | For continuance of mission |
| Mommies in Need Inc | Dallas, TX | $20,000 | 2023 | For continuance of mission |
| Ascension Academy | Amarillo, TX | $20,000 | 2023 | Operational Support |
| The Shane Thurston Foundation | Thornton, CO | $10,000 | 2023 | For continuance of mission |
United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation
$200,000For continuation of research
The Salvation Army of North Texas
$50,000In memory of Kelsey Wright
Richard McSpadden Scholarship for Advanced Pilot Training Fund
General Education Fund
Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate
$19,852For continued support
Wilbarger County Junior Livestock Show
$6,400For continued support
The Salvation Army of North Texas
$60,000In memory of Kelsey Wright
Adaptive Sports Center
$25,000For continuance of mission
Red River Valley Museum
$20,000Operational Support
The Salvation Army of North Texas
$60,000In memory of Kelsey Wright
Annie's Place
$55,000For continuance of mission
Adaptive Sports Center
$50,000For continuance of mission
Ascension Academy
$20,000Operational Support
The Salvation Army of North Texas
$70,000In memory of Kelsey Wright
Welcome Home Recovery
$20,000For continuance of mission
Mommies in Need Inc
$20,000For continuance of mission
Ascension Academy
$20,000Operational Support
The Shane Thurston Foundation
$10,000For continuance of mission