About Moody Foundation
The Moody Foundation concentrates very large, strategic capital and program gifts to higher-education institutions in Texas and to key cultural and civic institutions in Galveston. Their funding is oriented toward campus infrastructure, student life and athletics, arts/cultural facility improvements, and health science/medical education, emphasizing transformational, visible projects. Grants are typically multi-million-dollar awards often repeated to the same institutions, reflecting long-term relationships with flagship Texas universities and local Galveston organizations.
Focus Areas
Major capital projects and student life centers at Texas universities (e.g., Moody Center for Student Life)Intercollegiate athletics facilities and program support at flagship universities (notably UT Austin athletics)University arts and museum redevelopment (e.g., Blanton Museum grounds/entry)Health sciences education and medical center support in Galveston (e.g., UTMB, Galveston College Health Science Center)Galveston civic attractions and cultural institutions (e.g., Moody Gardens site improvements)
Who They Fund
K-12 students (including secondary students)
About Moody Foundation
The Moody Foundation’s recent grantmaking is defined by repeated seven- and eight-figure commitments to Texas universities and Galveston institutions. The largest awards in the file go to the University of Texas at Austin Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, including $40,000,000 in 2024 and $30,000,000 in 2025 for the university’s mission and purpose. Rice University also appears twice at major scale, with $20,000,000 in 2023 and $15,000,000 in 2024 for The Moody Center for Student Life and Opportunity. That pattern shows a funder that backs long-horizon projects rather than one-time awards. The foundation supports campus infrastructure, student life, athletics, arts facilities, health sciences, and civic assets. Southern Methodist University received $20,000,000 in 2023 and $10,000,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for the Moody School of Graduate & Advanced Studies, while Galveston-based organizations receive major support for education, health, and community spaces. The grant list also includes substantial awards to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and Galveston College Foundation, underscoring the foundation’s presence in its local community alongside statewide higher-education giving.
What Moody Foundation Funds
Higher education is a central theme. The foundation gave $20,000,000 in 2023 and $15,000,000 in 2024 to Rice University for The Moody Center for Student Life and Opportunity, and another $20,000,000 in 2023 plus $10,000,000 in 2024 and 2025 to Southern Methodist University for the Moody School of Graduate & Advanced Studies. Athletics and campus identity also appear in large awards. The University of Texas at Austin Department of Intercollegiate Athletics received $40,000,000 in 2024 and $30,000,000 in 2025, both described as assistance supporting the university’s mission and purpose. In arts and cultural placemaking, the foundation gave $8,000,000 in 2023 to the University of Texas at Austin Blanton Museum of Art for redevelopment of the museum grounds and entryways. In local community support, Moody Gardens received $7,000,000 in 2025 for attraction and site improvements.
How Moody Foundation Gives
Typical awards sit at $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent grant list is dominated by much larger capital gifts. Recipients often appear across multiple years, including Rice University, Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas at Austin Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, and Galveston Island Day School Moody Early Childhood Center. That repeat pattern points to ongoing institutional relationships rather than isolated grants. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF, and it makes grants to individuals as well as organizations.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$121.3M
Total Assets
$3.5B
Total Revenue
$1.4B
Total Expenses
$145M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
Geographic Reach
Local5 states funded
About 99% of grants go to recipients in TX.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Frances A Moody-Dahlberg
Trustee/Chair/CEO/President
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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