Caris Foundation

Caris Foundation is a preselected-only private family foundation — it does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The Halbert family, who founded Caris Life Sciences (a major cancer diagnostics company), created and funds the foundation exclusively through family contributions. This means the only viable path to funding is cultivating a direct relationship with the Halbert family or existing Caris Foundation leadership before any funding conversation can occur.

To position for consideration, organizations should: (1) Align tightly with the foundation's core pillars — Christian faith-based mission, international poverty alleviation, and youth development in Kenya or Haiti; (2) Connect through Caris Life Sciences or Abilene Christian University alumni networks, both of which have deep ties to the Halbert family; (3) Demonstrate culturally embedded, sustainable programming rather than one-time interventions, as the foundation explicitly values solutions that are "culturally relevant and sustainable"; (4) Have a track record of working in East Africa (especially Kenya) or the Caribbean (especially Haiti), as these are the foundation's two primary international geographies; (5) Engage with the Colleyville, TX faith community, as the foundation has strong roots there. Cold outreach via gsmith@carisls.com (identified contact) or info@carisfoundation.org is unlikely to yield results without a warm introduction.

Caris Foundation's grantmaking is highly concentrated and relationship-driven. In 2024, 14 total grants were made totaling approximately $6.1 million in distributions. Two grants alone — $2.75M to Caris Foundation International and $2.6M to Abilene Christian University — accounted for approximately 87% of all grant dollars. This pattern reveals a foundation that writes a small number of large, relationship-anchored checks rather than a broad portfolio of smaller community grants.

The foundation's assets have been steadily declining from a peak of ~$40M in 2011 to $16.8M in 2024, with annual expenses consistently exceeding contributions (the foundation receives no external donations — it runs on investment income and asset liquidation). Annual charitable disbursements have ranged from $5.4M–$6.2M over recent years, suggesting a planned drawdown strategy. At the current burn rate, the foundation has roughly 2–3 years of assets at current giving levels before significant restructuring would be required.

Sector focus is split between international humanitarian work (channeled primarily through Caris Foundation International, a separate 501c3 that led a $98.5M USAID health program in Haiti) and domestic U.S. higher education and faith-based organizations. Human services grants tend to go to Texas-based organizations like Fortress Youth Development Center.

Caris Foundation operates in a distinct niche among Texas Christian family foundations. Below is a comparison with peer foundations of similar asset size and mission focus:

Key differentiator: Caris Foundation is one of the smaller active family foundations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, but punches above its weight through its relationship with Caris Foundation International, which has administered nearly $100M in USAID health programming. Organizations seeking international development funding in the Haiti/Kenya corridor should consider Caris Foundation International (EIN: 26-1488005) as a parallel engagement target.

In 2024, Caris Foundation distributed approximately $6.1M across 14 grants. The largest single grant was $2.75M to Caris Foundation International, supporting ongoing health programming in Haiti and Kenya. A $2.6M grant to Abilene Christian University reflects the Halbert family's longstanding support for Christian higher education. George W. Bush Foundation received $100,000, suggesting civic and leadership development also falls within the family's philanthropic interests.

Caris Foundation International — the foundation's primary implementation vehicle — previously led a landmark $98.5M USAID-funded "Project Santé" health program in Haiti beginning in 2017, partnering with the Haitian Ministry of Public Health across 164 clinical sites nationwide. This represents the most significant programmatic footprint of the Caris network globally.

Asset trajectory shows the foundation is in a deliberate drawdown phase: assets fell from $40.2M (2011) to $16.8M (2024) while annual giving has remained relatively stable at $5–6M. Revenue in 2024 was $5.59M (primarily from asset sales and dividends), while expenses were $6.25M, resulting in a net draw of $654K on the endowment. No external contributions were received in 2024.

1. Do not submit an unsolicited application. The foundation explicitly funds only preselected organizations. Any cold outreach should be framed as relationship-building, not a grant request.

2. Leverage the ACU connection. Abilene Christian University is the foundation's largest domestic grantee. Faculty, staff, or alumni with ACU connections should pursue introductions through that channel before approaching the foundation directly.

3. Target Caris Foundation International for operational partnerships. If your organization works in Haiti or East Africa in health, education, or human services, engaging Caris Foundation International (the operating arm) as a programmatic partner may create a pathway to Caris Foundation grant dollars.

4. Emphasize sustainability and cultural embeddedness. The foundation's stated philosophy prizes solutions that are "culturally relevant and sustainable." Proposals should foreground community-led approaches, local leadership, and long-term systems change over one-time service delivery.

5. Faith-based alignment is essential. The foundation's spiritual ethos is central — Kathy Halbert is described as providing the "spiritual heartbeat" of the foundation. Christian mission alignment, without being performative, should be authentic and clearly articulated.

6. Contact via warm introduction only. Phone: 972-947-2781. Email: info@carisfoundation.org. The most effective entrée is a personal introduction from an existing Caris grantee, ACU administrator, or member of the Colleyville/Irving faith community.

7. Monitor Form 990-PF filings. The foundation files annual 990-PF returns (available via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer). New grantee names that appear for the first time in recent filings signal emerging priorities and potential openings for peer organizations.