Mission
The Hillcrest Foundation was created by Mrs. W.W. Caruth, Sr. (Mrs. Earle Clark Caruth) in 1958 to provide financial support to qualified Texas charitable organizations for the advancement of education, the promotion of health and the relief of poverty. Most grants are made to charitable organizations located in Dallas County and the surrounding area.
Mrs. W.W. Caruth, Sr. was from a pioneer family who settled in the Dallas area in 1848. Several Caruth family generations owned and managed farms and ranches, which the family later developed into real estate properties as Dallas became a major metropolitan area. Each succeeding generation has been characterized by a pioneering spirit, vision, courage, hard work and generosity. The Hillcrest Foundation was created to carry the Caruth family’s generosity to the people of Texas.
The Trustees will give priority consideration to the following types of grant requests:
- Construction/improvements of permanent buildings
- Programs and special projects for education, health and poverty relief
- Capital campaigns
- Buildings, facilities and equipment
Guidelines
The Hillcrest Foundation has 3 deadlines annually: February 28, July 31 and November 30.
Grant requests for capital and program support are strongly encouraged. Grant requests for general operating support will not be considered. The majority of grants from the Hillcrest Foundation are 1 year in duration. On occasion, multi-year support is awarded. Approximately 90% of grant funds are paid to organizations in North Texas, with emphasis on charitable services in the Dallas area. Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $300,000 (multi-year payment) with an average grant of $35,000.
The Trustees favorably consider proposals which are unique, necessary and of high priority for the charitable organizations, and which do not duplicate other services which are available; proposals for which funding may not be readily available from other sources; and essential projects which are sufficiently described as worthwhile, important and of a substantive nature. Grants to meet challenges or matching funds have a special appeal.
1-year grants: Organizations that receive a grant from the foundations noted below must skip 2 years before submitting a subsequent application. For example, if your organization was awarded a grant in 2021, it would be ineligible to apply until 2024.
Multi-year grants: Organizations that receive a multi-year grant from the foundations noted below are ineligible to re-apply until 2 years after receiving your last grant installment. For example, if your organization was awarded a 2-year grant in 2021, and last installment was received in 2022, your organization would ineligible to apply until 2025.
If your last request was declined, 1 year must expire before you apply again.
For more information, please see the opportunity webpage.