Bird Family Foundation

The Bird Family Foundation operates as a family-led private foundation out of Fort Worth, Texas, with approximately $15.1 million in assets. Led by Gregory A. Bird (CEO/President) and Laura E. Bird (Secretary/Treasurer), alongside directors William Holloway, Joseph C. Bird (Director of Investments), and Stephanie B. Baker (Director of Grants), the foundation pursues a focused grantmaking strategy centered on five pillars: childhood development and education, family services, community development, connection to nature, and health and well-being. The foundation emphasizes play-based and nature-based learning experiences, support for families in crisis, public access to arts and sciences, and environmental stewardship education. Their dual geographic focus on North Texas and North Carolina reflects the Bird family's personal connections to these regions.

Over the 2022-2024 period, the Bird Family Foundation distributed grants to approximately 24 organizations, with total charitable disbursements of $684,750 in 2024. Grant sizes range from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median award of $85,000. The foundation shows a clear preference for repeat grantees and institutional relationships: the Botanical Research Institute of Texas received the largest single grant ($500,000), reflecting the foundation's deep commitment to nature and environmental education. Fort Worth Country Day ($150,000) and Lena Pope ($45,000-$48,368 across years) represent ongoing investments in education and child/family services respectively. The foundation has grown significantly from $25,000 in total grants in 2019 to $685K in 2024, suggesting an intentional ramp-up of philanthropic activity as assets have grown from $10.2M to $15.1M. Revenue in 2024 was $1.49M, with contributions ($200K), dividends ($154K), and asset sales ($1.18M) as primary sources.

Among Fort Worth-area family foundations, Bird Family Foundation is a mid-size funder with a distinctive niche in nature-based education and environmental stewardship that differentiates it from larger legacy foundations like Amon G. Carter and Sid Richardson. Its giving-to-asset ratio of approximately 4.5% is healthy for a private foundation (above the 5% minimum distribution requirement when accounting for operating expenses), and its growth trajectory from $25K to $685K in annual giving over five years signals increasing engagement and capacity.

The foundation's 2025 grant cycle opened with an August 1 deadline and decisions expected in early Fall 2025. In 2024, the single largest grant ($500,000) to the Botanical Research Institute of Texas underscores the foundation's deepening commitment to environmental and botanical research. The foundation also maintains its relationship with Fort Worth Country Day and Texas Christian University, indicating strong ties to Fort Worth educational institutions. The Charlotte Hornets Foundation grant ($10,000) represents the North Carolina dimension of their giving. The foundation's website (birdfamilyfdn.org) now features an active online application portal, marking a shift toward more open and accessible grantmaking compared to earlier years when they primarily funded preselected organizations.

1. Align with nature and education: The foundation's largest grants go to organizations at the intersection of nature, outdoor engagement, and education. Proposals that weave environmental stewardship into educational programming will resonate most strongly. 2. Demonstrate North Texas or NC impact: Geographic focus is a gating criterion. Organizations must be based in or serve North Texas, or demonstrate clear impact in the foundation's focus areas. The North Carolina connection is secondary but real. 3. Apply by August 1: The annual cycle has a firm deadline. Begin relationship-building and pre-application outreach to Stephanie B. Baker (Director of Grants) well before the deadline. 4. Request in the $25K-$150K sweet spot: While grants range up to $500K, the majority of awards cluster in the $10K-$150K range. New grantees should consider entering at a modest level to establish a relationship. 5. Emphasize family and child outcomes: Family services and childhood development are core pillars. Proposals serving families in crisis or providing play-based learning experiences align directly with the foundation's stated mission.