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Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$1.7M
Granted FY2024still arriving
5
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$945k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Education$18MAnimals$16MEnvironment$7.1MArts & Culture$1.0MPublic Benefit$1.0MFood & Nutrition$554kInternational$200kScience & Tech$200kOther$0
02FY2024 · 5 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $10k–50k1 grant · $20k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $200k
  • $250k+3 grants · $1.4M
$250,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$88M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
University of Texas at Austin$944,770
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Inc$250,000
The International Rhino Foundation$250,000
The Peregrine Fund Inc$200,000
Opportunity in Overalls$20,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY20–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 91% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%THE PEREGRINE FUND INC: $500k → 8%Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Inc: $250k → 9%The University of Texas at Austin: $1.0M → 10%Fort Worth Zoological Association: $11.0M → 11%Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital: $50k → 13%George W Bush Foundation: $500k → 14%TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY - KINGSVILLE: $100k → 27%The International Rhino Foundation: $250k → 12%Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation: $100k → 15%The Peregrine Fund: $500k → 8%The University of Texas at Austin: $999k → 10%Safe City Commission Inc: $100k → 11%GEORGE W BUSH FOUNDATION: $500k → 14%Texas AM University Kingsville: $100k → 27%The International Rhino Foundation: $250k → 12%The Peregrine Fund: $500k → 8%The University of Texas at Austin: $999k → 10%Fort Worth Zoological Association: $3.4M → 11%Texas AM University Kingsville: $100k → 27%The International Rhino Foundation: $250k → 12%The Peregrine Fund: $375k → 8%University of Texas at Austin: $945k → 10%Opportunity in Overalls: $20k → 11%The International Rhino Foundation: $200k → 12%The Peregrine Fund Inc: $200k → 8%The University of Texas at Austin: $50k → 10%FORT WORTH ART ASSOCIATION ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION: $1.0M → 11%THE INTERNATIONAL RHINO FUND: $200k → 12%Merlin Tuttles Bat Conservation In: $25k → 10%BOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS: $100k → 11%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

96%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$42M · 8 repeat orgs$1.9M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +39% since the first grant, against +21% for those funded once.

8 repeat relationships: 3 still active in FY2024, 5 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

8
8

Total granted

$42M
$1.7M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+39%
+21%

Still filing today

63%
63%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 84% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $270k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’20’21’22’23’24
AnimalsEducationArts & CultureScience & TechHealthEnvironmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • Vanderbilt University
    4× · 2020–2023 · $18M · revenue +65%
  • TP
    THE PEREGRINE FUND INC
    5× · 2020–2024 · $2.1M · revenue +39%
  • TI
    THE INTERNATIONAL RHINO FOUNDATION
    4× · 2021–2024 · $950k · revenue +46%

Funded once

  • FW
    FORT WORTH ART ASSOCIATION ENDOWMENT FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $1.0M · revenue +94% · 31% of their budget
  • TI
    THE INTERNATIONAL RHINO FUND
    one grant, 2020 · $200k
  • SC
    Safe City Commission
    one grant, 2023 · $100k · revenue +13%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Witte Museum

The witte museum inspires people to shape the future of texas through transformative and relevant experiences in nature, science and culture.

Arts & Culture
2
Conservation Farms & Ranches

Preserving and enhancing the habitat of wildlife, such as sandhill cranes, waterfowl, raptors, which habitat expenses are supported by agricultural activities.

Housing & Shelter
3
Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society

The cheyenne mountain zoological society owns and operates the cheyenne mountain zoo. a leader in conservation, captive breeding and animal care, the zoo connects people with wildlife and wild places through experiences that inspire…

Animals
4
Rainforest Trust

Rainforest trust saves endangered wildlife and protects our planet by creating rainforest reserves through partnerships, community engagement, and donor support.

International
5
Fauna & Flora International Usa Inc

Our mission is to act to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take into account human needs.

Philanthropy
6
Panthera Corporation

Panthera's mission is the conservation of the world's 40 wild cat species, many of which are endangered or threatened. panthera develops, implements and oversees wild cat conservation strategies on a global scale.

Animals
7
The University of TexasTexas a&M Investment Management Company

To generate superior long-term investment returns to support The University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems as they provide world-class teaching, push the boundaries of discovery, and achieve excellence in patient healthcare for…

Education
8
Zoological Society of Pittsburgh

The zoological society of pittsburgh is dedicated to being a leader in, and significant contributor to, the conservation of endangered and threatened species. the society provides an enjoyable family experience that fosters understanding,…

Animals
9
Furman University

The primary mission of furman as a liberal arts institution is to provide a distinctive education in fine arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and the sciences, as well as selected professional disciplines.

Education
10
Kimbell Art Foundation
Arts & Culture
11
Wetlands America Trust Inc

Wetlands america trust, inc. is a nonprofit organization formed in 1985 to expand ducks unlimited, inc's mission to provide leadership in the protection of the natural balance of wetlands ecosystems ensuring the future viability of…

Environment
12
Naples Zoo Inc

Naples zoo is accredited by the american zoo & aquarium association (aza) and has numerous animal exhibits placed on its 45-acre site. (continued on schedule o)each exhibit is unique and designed to simulate typical conditions for the…

Animals
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Fort Worth Zoological Association; the most unlike its peers is The Peregrine Fund Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

11 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 11 of the 18 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
1
Early backer (in before they grew)
11/11
Grantees still filing
8/11
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Vanderbilt University: $17,530,000 · EducationVanderbilt UniversityTHE GEORGE W BUSH FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 · EducationTHE GEORGE W BUSH FOUNDATIONTHE FORT WORTH ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: $14,400,000 · AnimalsTHE FORT WORTH ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONTHE INTERNATIONAL RHINO FOUNDATION: $950,000 · AnimalsTHE INTERNATIONAL RHINO FOUNDATION+1 more: $25,000 · AnimalsThe University of Texas at Austin: $5,039,234 · OtherThe University of Tex…THE PEREGRINE FUND INC: $2,075,000 · OtherTHE PEREGRINE FUND IN…Oklahoma State University Fnd: $454,475 · OtherOklahoma State Univer…+5 more: $620,000 · Other+5 moreFORT WORTH ART ASSOCIATION ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 · Arts & CultureFOSSIL RIM WILDLIFE CENTER INC: $250,000 · EnvironmentSafe City Commission: $100,000 · Crime & LegalBOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS INC: $100,000 · Science & TechSID PETERSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: $50,000 · Health
Education$18,530,000Animals$15,375,000Other$8,188,709Arts & Culture$1,000,000Environment$250,000Crime & Legal$100,000Science & Tech$100,000Health$50,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetVanderbilt University: $17,530,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetTHE FORT WORTH ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: $14,400,000 over 2y, 15% of budgetTHE PEREGRINE FUND INC: $2,075,000 over 5y, 6.1% of budgetTHE GEORGE W BUSH FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 over 2y, 1.3% of budgetFORT WORTH ART ASSOCIATION ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 over 1y, 31% of budgetTHE INTERNATIONAL RHINO FOUNDATION: $950,000 over 4y, 8.4% of budgetFOSSIL RIM WILDLIFE CENTER INC: $250,000 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetSafe City Commission: $100,000 over 1y, 2.7% of budgetBOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS INC: $100,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetSID PETERSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMERLIN TUTTLES BAT CONSERVATION INC: $25,000 over 1y, 5.2% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Communities Foundatio…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Communities Foundation of Texas IncTX12.8× affinity4 shared granteesties to 3 of 3Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Communities Foundation of Texas Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%10%23%40%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    2report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Lee & Ramona Bass Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 18 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Lee & Ramona Bass’ filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home