OVERVIEW: The Carlson Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of Carlson Capital Founder Clint Carlson, and his wife, Nancy. The couple’s Texas grantmaking focuses on education and youth, arts and culture, human services, and health, strongly tracking with board memberships and personal connections in Dallas and Houston.
IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Networking will be key for getting on this funder’s radar.
PROFILE: Established in 2002, Carlson Capital Founder Clint D. Carlson and his wife, Nancy, founded the Carlson Foundation. Before Carlson Capital, he managed growth stock accounts at American Capital Asset Management. He holds a juris doctor degree from the University of Houston, and he received his B.A. and M.B.A. from Rice University. He worked at Bass Brothers and also co-managed a risk arbitrage fund at Maxxam Group and affiliated companies. In 1993, he founded Carlson Capital, an alternative asset management firm that manages over eight billion dollars. Carlson’s wife Nancy also works at Carlson Capital. Grantmaking areas of interest include Education and youth, arts and culture, human services, and health.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
The foundation does not have a website to guide grant seekers. However, education is a big interest, and the couple strongly supports their alma mater, Rice University. The school has received millions from the Carlsons. Nancy also holds a JD from University of Texas at Austin School of Law, which the family has also supported. The school is home to the Center for Women in Law, an organization the Carlsons have contributed to as well. Other grantees have included Southern Methodist University, Basalt Elementary School, Dallas Children’s Advocacy School, Preston Hollow Presbyterian School, and Greenhill School, which has been strongly supported.
Grants for Arts and Culture
In the arts, the couple’s Texas grantmaking involves organizations like the Aspen Art Museum, Dallas Children’s Theater, Dallas Museum of Art (where Nancy sits on the board), Orchestra of New Spain, Texas Ballet Theater, and The Arts Community Alliance (TACA). Nancy serves on the board of the Dallas Museum of Art.
Grants for Health and Human Services
In health and human services, grantmaking is broad and invests in more established local grantees. Grantees have included North Dallas Food Bank, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Planned Parenthood, and the S.M. Wright Foundation, which provides “support and stability to underprivileged children and less fortunate families through hunger relief, economic empowerment, and assistance in the areas of education, health and social services.”
Important Grant Details:
Foundation grants tend to be between $10,000 and $100,000. The couple’s grantmaking via their foundation almost exclusively focuses on Texas organizations, primarily in Dallas and Houston.
Grantmaking of late has tended to involve similar organizations, and the foundation does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. The phone number to reach the foundation staff is 214-932-9600.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
The Carlson Foundation
2100 McKinney Ave., Ste. 1800
Dallas, TX 75201
214-932-9600.
