John S Dunn Foundation
The John S Dunn Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Houston, Texas, established in 1977. The foundation is dedicated to improving health outcomes and advancing health equity across the greater Houston area through strategic philanthropy and community partnerships.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$81.8M
+6.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.1M
-0.5% YoY
Grant Count
45
-2.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$113K
+1.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The John S Dunn Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen healthcare clinics serving underserved and vulnerable populations, expand access to high-quality mental health programs, advance medical research that addresses pressing community health needs, and invest in healthcare education to develop a skilled and compassionate workforce.
Primary funding priorities include:
- Healthcare clinics serving underserved and vulnerable populations
- Mental health programs and behavioral sciences
- Medical research across any organ or tissue system
- Healthcare education and nursing programs
- Medical research endowments and chairs
- Nursing scholarships and educational programs
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Funded grant sizes range from $10,000 to $20,000,000.
Grant Types
How to Apply
** Applicants submit brief proposals that are reviewed on a rolling basis. The foundation's board meets monthly to make funding decisions.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses exclusively on the greater Houston area and Texas, with particular emphasis on Houston.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $76.8 million (2023); $81,821,300 (2024)
Annual Giving: $5,107,452 (2024); $6.13 million in expenses (2023)
Revenue: $4,229,016 (2023)
Liabilities: $0 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $81,821,300 | $76,848,487 | $78,745,406 |
| Revenue | $11,144,127 | $4,229,016 | $9,251,548 |
| Expenses | $6,171,314 | $6,125,935 | $8,132,045 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,418,898 | $5,437,844 | $7,069,891 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,373,428 | $3,636,175 | $8,189,027 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,834,697 | $4,590,846 | $4,528,764 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
238 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from John S Dunn Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles M Lusk III | President | 5.41 | $60,000 |
| John R Wallace | Vice President | 5 | $48,000 |
| David G Key | Secretary/Treasurer | 5.49 | $48,000 |
| Cynthia J Adkins | Trustee | 5.28 | $48,000 |
| Diana M Hawkins | Trustee | 5.02 | $48,000 |
| Terri Lacy | Trustee | 5.1 | $48,000 |
| Andrew W Sowell | Trustee | 4.99 | $48,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation established the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center at UTHealth Houston as part of a recent multiyear commitment to mental health programming.
UTHealth Houston establishes the John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences CenterThe foundation has made significant commitments to collaborative research initiatives, including support for research grant programs through partnerships with major institutions in the Houston area and contributions to biomedical engineering programs.
Dunn Foundation gives Rice $3M for collaborative research grants | EurekAlert!Contact Information
Address: 3355 West Alabama, Suite 990, Houston, Texas 77098
Phone: 713-626-0368
Fax: 713-626-3866
Email: jsdrf@swbell.net
Website: johnsdunnfoundation.org
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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