The Once Upon A Time Foundation makes very large, focused gifts to academic medicine, concentrating its philanthropic resources on a single major medical institution. Its support appears aimed at transformative biomedical research, clinical care capacity, or major capital/endowment needs at a Texas-area academic medical center (UT Southwestern).
Extremely concentrated giving: very large, multi-million-dollar gifts directed to one repeat grantee (two grants to the same institution), indicating strategic, transformational support rather than many small or diverse grants.
Once Upon a Time Foundation’s most visible recent gift is $10 million to UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas for general support, followed by a $2.5 million grant in 2025 and $1 million in 2023 to the same institution. That repeated support points to a funder that concentrates large, unrestricted gifts on a small set of medical and research recipients rather than spreading money across many program areas. In the recent grant list, UT Southwestern is joined by other major recipients in academic medicine and healthcare, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, and Texas Children’s Hospital. The foundation also appears alongside a broader set of large nonprofit and institutional grantees such as the Fort Worth Zoo, Vanguard Charitable, and The Genesis Foundation. Across those grants, the pattern is one of sizable general-support awards to established organizations, with a particular emphasis on medical centers and health systems. The result is a grantmaking profile centered on institutional capacity, biomedical research, and clinical infrastructure, especially in Texas and at nationally prominent medical organizations.
Academic medicine is a clear throughline. Once Upon a Time Foundation gave $10 million to UT Southwestern Medical Center for general support, then followed with $2.5 million in 2025 and $1 million in 2023. It also made six- and seven-figure general-support grants to Massachusetts General Hospital and Johns Hopkins University, both major research institutions. Healthcare delivery appears as another focus: Texas Health Resources (Harris Methodist Foundation) received $275,000 in 2025 and $137,500 in 2024, while Texas Children’s Hospital received $200,000 in 2025. The foundation also supported other institutional priorities outside medicine, including $1 million to Fort Worth Zoo in 2025 and 2024, and $1 million in 2023.
Typical grant size is modest at the low end and much larger at the top of the distribution: p25 is $350, median is $1,387, and p75 is $10,000. The recent awards show a very wide spread, from small grants to seven-figure general-support gifts. The same grantee can appear across multiple years, most clearly UT Southwestern Medical Center and Texas Health Resources, which indicates recurring support rather than one-off awards. The foundation is a regular funder, and the recent grants are predominantly general support. It also funds individuals, though the recent grant list is dominated by institutional recipients.
$35.9M
$276.7M
$2.4M
$14.7M
Most grants fall between $350 and $10K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$350
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 42% of grants go to recipients in CO.
Top 10 recipient countries by grant volume for Once Upon A Time Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 1,651 | $34.6M | 98.4% |
| 2 | Australia | 10 | $171K |
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Notable grantees: UT Southwestern Medical Center
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, which accounts for 1,651 grants, or 98.4%, with smaller numbers in Asia, Canada, the Netherlands, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Greece, Gambia, and the UK. Colorado is the top state by grant count, even though the foundation’s headquarters are in Fort Worth, Texas. In the recent grants list, Dallas, Fort Worth, Boston, New York, Baltimore, and Chapel Hill all appear as recipient cities, showing a national reach with repeated Texas ties.
The recent grants point to academic medicine and healthcare as the main pattern. UT Southwestern Medical Center received $10 million, $2.5 million, and $1 million across recent years, while Massachusetts General Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, Texas Children’s Hospital, and Texas Health Resources also appear in the list.
Its distribution is wide: p25 is $350, median is $1,387, and p75 is $10,000. That means many grants are relatively small, but the recent grant list also includes very large awards, including seven-figure gifts and a $10 million grant.
Yes. UT Southwestern Medical Center appears multiple times across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including $10 million in 2024 and $2.5 million in 2025. Texas Health Resources also appears in both 2024 and 2025, showing a recurring relationship.
Its grantmaking is national, with 98.4% of recipient-country counts in the US. Colorado is the top state by grant count, and the recent grants include recipients in Dallas, Fort Worth, Boston, New York, Baltimore, and Chapel Hill.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
0.6% |
| 3 | Canada | 4 | $56K | 0.2% |
| 4 | Puerto Rico | 3 | $3K | 0.2% |
| 5 | Chile | 2 | $668K | 0.1% |
| 6 | Greece | 2 | $120K | 0.1% |
| 7 | Switzerland | 2 | $105K | 0.1% |
| 8 | Netherlands | 2 | $57K | 0.1% |
| 9 | Germany | 1 | $50K | 0.1% |
| 10 | United Kingdom | 1 | $3K | 0.1% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $2,500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FORT WORTH ZOO | FORT WORTH, TX | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO | BOULDER, CO | $410,949 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $366,667 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $320,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCES (HARRIS METHODIST FOUNDATION) | ARLINGTON, TX | $275,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $225,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE | MALVERN, PA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | HOUSTON, TX | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE GENESIS FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $155,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $151,227 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE | MALVERN, PA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $133,760 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KINDERPLATZ OF FINE ARTS | FORT WORTH, TX | $103,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF FORT WORTH | FORT WORTH, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER | DALLAS, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TRI-CITIES FOOD BANK | KENNEWICK, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $94,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY | FORT WORTH, TX | $90,777 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $86,779 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $85,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FORT WORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT | FORT WORTH, TX | $80,300 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY | FORT WORTH, TX | $79,740 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $71,495 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $71,460 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $69,800 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $66,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS - AUSTIN | AUSTIN, TX | $63,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MCLEAN HOSPITAL | BELMONT, MA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $55,800 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $55,800 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE GOLD STANDARD FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, MA | $50,006 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE GOLD STANDARD FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, MA | $50,004 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RAINFOREST TRUST | WARRENTON, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORVILLA | SOUTH BEND, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TASTE PROJECT OF FORT WORTH | FORT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WELL AWARE | AUSTIN, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| A RED CIRCLE | ST LOUIS, MO | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | QUANTICO, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION | TAVERNIER, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY | FORT WORTH, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
$2,500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FORT WORTH ZOO
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
$410,949GENERAL SUPPORT
CHILDREN'S NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$366,667GENERAL SUPPORT
UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
$320,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TEXAS HEALTH RESOURCES (HARRIS METHODIST FOUNDATION)
$275,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$225,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VANGUARD CHARITABLE
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE GENESIS FOUNDATION
$155,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DUKE UNIVERSITY
$151,227GENERAL SUPPORT
VANGUARD CHARITABLE
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CHILDREN'S NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$133,760GENERAL SUPPORT
UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
KINDERPLATZ OF FINE ARTS
$103,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF FORT WORTH
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TRI-CITIES FOOD BANK
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$94,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
$90,777GENERAL SUPPORT
THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$86,779GENERAL SUPPORT
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$85,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FORT WORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT
$80,300GENERAL SUPPORT
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
$79,740GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
$71,495GENERAL SUPPORT
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY
$71,460GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
$69,800GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
$66,500GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS - AUSTIN
$63,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MCLEAN HOSPITAL
$60,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS
$55,800GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
$55,800GENERAL SUPPORT
THE GOLD STANDARD FOUNDATION
$50,006GENERAL SUPPORT
THE GOLD STANDARD FOUNDATION
$50,004GENERAL SUPPORT
RAINFOREST TRUST
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CORVILLA
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TASTE PROJECT OF FORT WORTH
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WELL AWARE
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
A RED CIRCLE
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT