The Lee and Ramona Bass Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on wildlife conservation and higher-education research, with a strong regional focus in Texas and targeted national conservation initiatives. It funds capital projects and endowed programs (e.g., zoo master plans, research endowments) as well as species-specific conservation efforts (Aplomado falcon, rhino, prairie-chicken) and a signature military scholars program at Vanderbilt. Grants are often large, multi-grant commitments to a small set of repeat grantees, and include both applied research and operational/capital support.
The Lee and Ramona Bass Foundation’s largest recent commitment is the $11,000,000 award to the Fort Worth Zoological Association for the A Wilder Vision Master Plan Project, a sign that capital planning and long-horizon institutional support sit alongside its conservation work. Across the recent grants list, the foundation backs both place-based projects in Texas and species-focused efforts that reach beyond the state, including a repeated program of support for the Bass Military Scholars Program at Vanderbilt University and continued funding for wildlife conservation organizations. Its giving is also marked by repeat awards to the same organizations over multiple years, suggesting sustained relationships rather than one-off grants. The portfolio includes major support for university-based research, zoo and wildlife infrastructure, and targeted conservation initiatives tied to birds of prey, grassland species, and rhino conservation. In addition to operating and project support, the foundation has funded endowment purposes, such as an endowment for a full-time research director, and capital needs such as animal health and conservation facilities. The result is a grantmaking pattern that blends institutional capacity, applied research, and species-specific conservation.
A major theme is university-led invasive species research. The foundation gave $998,616 to The University of Texas at Austin for the Texas Invasive Species Research Program, then followed with another $50,000 for Texas Invasive Species Research Program Phase II. It also funded Texas native-species work with $100,000 to Texas AM University Kingsville for the South Texas Natives Project. Another cluster centers on birds and habitat. The Peregrine Fund received $500,000 for the Aplomado Falcon project & endowment support, $375,000 for the same effort, and later $200,000 for General Support for Aplomado Program. For grassland birds, Oklahoma State University Fnd received $105,030 for Greater Prairie-Chicken project support and another $104,213 for the same purpose. The foundation also backs animal-health infrastructure: Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Inc received $250,000 for Capital Support - Animal Health & Conservation Ctr.
Typical awards are large: the 25th percentile is $100,000, the median is $250,000, and the 75th percentile is $998,616. The recent record shows repeated grants to the same organizations across 2023 through 2025, including multiple awards to the same university, conservation groups, and a military-scholarship program. That pattern points to multi-year, relationship-based giving rather than isolated transactions. The foundation is a private grantmaker; it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The listed recent grants are all to U.S. recipients.
$3.6M
$87.7M
$4.9M
$4M
Most grants fall between $100K and $999K, with a median of $250K.
25th Percentile
$100K
Median
$250K
75th Percentile
$999K
About 44% of grants go to recipients in KY.
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a small number of repeat grantees; emphasis on capital campaigns, endowed programs, and multi-grant commitments that support both research and long-term conservation initiatives, with a noticeable Texas geographic focus.
Notable grantees: Fort Worth Zoological Association, Vanderbilt University (Bass Military Scholars Program), The Peregrine Fund, International Rhino Foundation, The University of Texas at Austin
Giving is regional, with 44% of grants to recipients in Texas. Fort Worth and Austin appear repeatedly, including grants to the Fort Worth Zoological Association, Safe City Commission Inc, Opportunity in Overalls, and The University of Texas at Austin. Outside Texas, Nashville is a recurring recipient city through Vanderbilt University, and Boise appears through The Peregrine Fund. The foundation also gives in Kentucky through Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation, which is the top state by grant count.
The recent grants favor conservation organizations, universities, and Texas-based civic or community groups. Examples include The University of Texas at Austin for invasive species research, The Peregrine Fund for Aplomado Falcon work, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Inc for animal-health infrastructure, and Vanderbilt University for the Bass Military Scholars Program.
The grant-size distribution is large: p25 is $100,000, median grant size is $250,000, and p75 is $998,616. The recent list also includes major commitments of $11,000,000 and $5,000,000, showing a mix of very large anchor grants and lower six-figure awards.
Yes. The recent grants show multi-year support to several recipients, including The University of Texas at Austin across 2023, 2024, and 2025; The Peregrine Fund across multiple years; The International Rhino Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Vanderbilt University in 2023 and 2024.
Texas receives 44% of the grants in the dataset, and Fort Worth and Austin show up repeatedly among recipient cities. Outside Texas, Nashville, Boise, and Lexington appear in the recent grants list, while Kentucky is the top state by grant count.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | $944,770 | 2025 | Texas Invasive Species Research Program |
| The International Rhino Foundation | Strasburg, VA | $250,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Inc | Glen Rose, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | Capital Support - Animal Health & Conservation Ctr. |
| The Peregrine Fund Inc | Boise, ID | $200,000 | 2025 | General Support for Aplomado Program |
| Opportunity in Overalls | Fort Worth, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Fort Worth Zoological Association | Fort Worth, TX | $3,400,000 | 2024 | Support for A Wilder Vision Master Plan Project |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | $998,616 | 2024 | Texas Invasive Species Research Program |
| The Peregrine Fund | Boise, ID | $375,000 | 2024 | Aplomado Falcon project & endowment support |
| The International Rhino Foundation | Strasburg, VA | $250,000 | 2024 | General support |
| Oklahoma State University Fnd | Stillwater, OK | $104,213 | 2024 | Greater Prairie-Chicken project support |
| Safe City Commission Inc | Fort Worth, TX | $100,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | $30,000 | 2024 | Bass Military Scholars Program |
| Merlin Tuttles Bat Conservation In | Austin, TX | $25,000 | 2024 | Operational support for Phase II Bat Scan Project |
| Fort Worth Zoological Association | Fort Worth, TX | $11,000,000 | 2023 | Support for A Wilder Vision Master Plan Project |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | $5,000,000 | 2023 | Bass Military Scholars Program |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | $5,000,000 | 2023 | Bass Military Scholars Program |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | $998,616 | 2023 | Texas Invasive Species Research Program |
| The Peregrine Fund | Boise, ID | $500,000 | 2023 | Aplomado Falcon project & endowment support |
| The International Rhino Foundation | Strasburg, VA | $250,000 | 2023 | General support |
| Oklahoma State University Fnd | Stillwater, OK | $105,030 | 2023 | Greater Prairie-Chicken project support |
| Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation | Lexington, KY | $100,000 | 2023 | Endowment for full time research director |
| Texas AM University Kingsville | Kingsville, TX | $100,000 | 2023 | South Texas Natives Project |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | $50,000 | 2023 | Texas Invasive Species Research Program Phase II |
University of Texas at Austin
$944,770Texas Invasive Species Research Program
The International Rhino Foundation
$250,000General Support
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Inc
$250,000Capital Support - Animal Health & Conservation Ctr.
The Peregrine Fund Inc
$200,000General Support for Aplomado Program
Opportunity in Overalls
$20,000Operational Support
Fort Worth Zoological Association
$3,400,000Support for A Wilder Vision Master Plan Project
The University of Texas at Austin
$998,616Texas Invasive Species Research Program
The Peregrine Fund
$375,000Aplomado Falcon project & endowment support
The International Rhino Foundation
$250,000General support
Oklahoma State University Fnd
$104,213Greater Prairie-Chicken project support
Safe City Commission Inc
$100,000Operational Support
Vanderbilt University
$30,000Bass Military Scholars Program
Merlin Tuttles Bat Conservation In
$25,000Operational support for Phase II Bat Scan Project
Fort Worth Zoological Association
$11,000,000Support for A Wilder Vision Master Plan Project
Vanderbilt University
$5,000,000Bass Military Scholars Program
Vanderbilt University
$5,000,000Bass Military Scholars Program
The University of Texas at Austin
$998,616Texas Invasive Species Research Program
The Peregrine Fund
$500,000Aplomado Falcon project & endowment support
The International Rhino Foundation
$250,000General support
Oklahoma State University Fnd
$105,030Greater Prairie-Chicken project support
Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation
$100,000Endowment for full time research director
Texas AM University Kingsville
$100,000South Texas Natives Project
The University of Texas at Austin
$50,000Texas Invasive Species Research Program Phase II