Leland Fikes Foundation
OVERVIEW: The Leland Fikes Foundation supports reproductive justice, civic engagement, medical research and Dallas-area human services.
IP TAKE: This long-established progressive funder is highly approachable, but it does not provide detailed information about its grantmaking priorities. Its reproductive justice and civic engagement grantamking programs work nationally, while its human services grants are mainly limited to Dallas, and medical research funding generally goes to projects a the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center. Grantseekers may submit an LOI at any time, and the foundation’s staff meets weekly to review these. Full proposals, however, are accepted on an invitation-only basis.
PROFILE: The Leland Fikes Foundation was established in 1952 by Texas oil magnate Leland Fikes. While the foundation does not have a stated mission, its current priorities center on reproductive justice, civic engagement, medical research and Dallas-area human services. Across all areas of grantmaking, the foundation works to promote racial equity. This funder works nationally, but a significant portion of its grantmaking remains in its home state of Texas, especially the Dallas area, where it bases it human services grantmaking program.
Grants for Civic and Democracy
The Fikes Foundation names civic engagement as one of its core grantmaking interests. Fike’s grantmaking in this area seeks to “strengthen a free, inclusive, and transparent democracy.” Support goes to organizations engaged in public policy development, advocacy and the expansion of voting rights and access. Grantees include the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and the Democracy Fund.
Grants for Public Health and Women and Girls
The Fikes Foundation’s grantmaking for reproductive health, rights and justice works broadly to support “a range of strategies to improve access to reproductive healthcare.” On the national level, the foundation has made grants to the Center for Reproductive Rights, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. In Texas, the foundation provides ongoing support to Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas and the NARAl Pro-Choice Texas Foundation. The foundation has not articulated any change in strategy since wide-ranging changes in abortion laws took place in 2022.
Grants for Diseases and Science Research
The Fikes Foundation’s giving for medical research goes mainly to research projects at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Recent areas of interest, according to tax filings, include genetic research and studies of resistant bacteria. It is unclear if the foundation’s giving in this area extends beyond the University of Texas.
Grants for Dallas
The Fikes Foundation’s names Dallas-area human services as one of its four main grantmaking areas, with funding supporting a broad range of organizations working in areas of health, mental health, housing, opportunity and community development. Recent grantees include the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, the counseling center at the Family Place, Girls Incorporated of Central Dallas, Senior Citizens of Greater Dallas and the Parkland Foundation, which used funding to support the construction of a breast health center.
Important Grant Details:
The Fikes Foundation made about $6.7 million in grants in a recent year, with grants ranging from $20,000 to $1 million. About half of all grantmaking stays in the Dallas area, but national organizations have also received large sums, especially in the area of reproductive justice.
The Leland Fikes Foundation accepts letters of inquiry throughout the year, except for its medical research grants. Grantseekers whose work aligns with the foundation’s priorities may be invited to submit a full proposal. Submit general inquiries via email.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS: