John Henry Dean Iii and Shirley Lawson Dean Foundation

About John Henry Dean Iii and Shirley Lawson Dean Foundation

The John Henry Dean III and Shirley Lawson Dean Foundation’s recent giving is defined by repeated, large general-support grants to a small group of Fort Worth institutions, especially Baylor Scott & White All Saints Health Foundation and Cook Children’s Medical Center. Those gifts point to a clear emphasis on health infrastructure and pediatric care, with museum and civic organizations also appearing as major beneficiaries. The foundation’s largest recent grant to Baylor Scott & White All Saints Health Foundation was $4,589,200 in 2023, and Cook Children’s Medical Center received $3,504,000 in 2024 followed by $3,000,000 in 2025. It also awarded $2,000,000 to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in 2025, underscoring that its biggest commitments extend beyond medicine to regional educational institutions. The recent record shows a preference for unrestricted support rather than project-specific awards. Grants are often labeled general support, including major gifts to healthcare systems, children’s providers, and Fort Worth cultural organizations. Alongside those anchor recipients, the foundation’s list includes organizations such as Center for Transforming Lives, Texas Health Resources Foundation, and Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc, suggesting a place-based portfolio concentrated in the Fort Worth area.

What John Henry Dean Iii and Shirley Lawson Dean Foundation Funds

Healthcare is the clearest theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025, it gave $3,000,000 to Cook Children’s Medical Center for general support, and in 2024 it awarded $524,690 to Baylor Scott & White All Saints Health Foundation for the same purpose. Cultural and educational institutions also receive substantial backing. The foundation granted $2,000,000 to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in 2025 and $15,000 to Fort Worth Zoological Association Inc in 2024, both as general support. Its recent list also includes direct community assistance and emergency-response organizations. Examples include $100,000 to Center for Transforming Lives in 2024, $30,000 to Fort Worth Hope Center in 2025, and $20,000 to the American Red Cross in 2023. These awards show that the foundation’s support extends beyond major capital recipients to local service providers as well.

How John Henry Dean Iii and Shirley Lawson Dean Foundation Gives