Description

The Foundation

Established in 1948 by Algur H. and Virginia Garrison Stuart Meadows, The Meadows Foundation is a private family foundation dedicated to improving the quality and circumstances of life for the people of Texas, now and in the future. Al and Virginia Meadows believed all Texans deserve the same gift they were afforded – the opportunity to live a happy, healthy, and productive life. Over the past 77 years, the Foundation has dispersed more than $1.4 billion to 3,800 organizations across Texas in arts and culture, civic and public affairs, education, environment, health, and human services. Specific initiatives include postsecondary education completion, educator preparation, water conservation, mental health, and homelessness.

The Foundation’s governance and long-term stewardship are entrusted to Al and Virginia’s family and trusted banking, legal, and public-spirited advisors through a 15-member board of directors. With almost $800 million in assets and headquartered in its program-related investment property in Dallas’ Wilson Historic District, the Foundation’s work is supported and advanced by 40 staff members.

The Grants Department - Program Areas

The Meadows Foundation provides grants throughout Texas within its program areas and also its initiatives in education, environment, homelessness, and mental health.

Arts & Culture

Algur and Virginia Meadows were passionate about the arts’ ability to illuminate and reflect communities, reimagine conversations, promote public engagement, and preserve memories. The Foundation supports organizations throughout the state that provide opportunities for all Texans to experience and benefit from the arts. Its most significant partner is Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts and the Meadows Museum.

Civic & Public Affairs

Communities thrive when effective civic leadership and healthy public systems are supported by a strong network of nonprofit organizations. The Foundation assists communities in developing leadership talent, promoting civic and public collaboration, supporting nonprofits through management and capacity-building, and improving processes and infrastructures for the delivery of services to all residents. The Foundation also recognizes the importance of animals and the role they have in many people’s lives, funding projects that improve their welfare and enhance the human-animal connection.

Education

The Foundation believes that the link between quality of education and quality of life is undeniable, and that knowledge empowers choices that influence our social and family environment, health and mental well-being, home and community, and career and income. Each additional year of schooling increases earnings by 8-10%. In addition, early reading, high-quality instructors, access to resources, and high expectations for all students improve lifelong study skills and academic achievements.

Environment

With the population in Texas expected toincrease by 73%to 51.5 million people in 2070, the impacts on the environment will be significant. The Foundation focuses on preserving rich ecological and biological resources for future generations while meeting growing needs.

Health

Access to quality health care is essential. Health and mental health programs that offer a chance to rethink what can be accomplished with new knowledge and technology ultimately lead to Texans living healthier lives. The Foundation invests in programs and initiatives that promote innovation in services and delivery and strengthen the ecosystem of physical and mental health care.

Human Services

In communities across Texas, people face overwhelming challenges and times of personal or family crisis. The Foundation supports programs and agencies that thoughtfully weave compassion and respect into the support systems that improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable Texans. It also emphasizes supporting efforts that reduce homelessness in the Dallas area. 

The Opportunity

The Meadows Foundation is preparing for a new chapter with the arrival of a new President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2026. As the Foundation looks ahead, it seeks a steady and strategic Vice President of Grants to build on recent efforts to enhance the efficiency and modernization of its grantmaking. This is a key leadership role to ensure that the Foundation’s philanthropic work remains thoughtful, effective, and increasingly impactful. 

The ideal candidate will bring a strong track record of leading complex grantmaking strategies and managing multiple priorities with clarity and focus. The Vice President of Grants should demonstrate the ability to think both strategically and operationally, balancing immediate funding decisions with long-term impact planning. While serving as a trusted representative of the Foundation to external partners and the broader community, this individual will oversee a talented team that includes three program officers as well as administrative and research staff and will work closely with the President and CEO to sustain an intentional, mission-driven culture that supports learning, partnership, and continuous improvement in the Foundation’s philanthropic work.

Responsibilities

The Vice President of Grants is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing grantmaking strategies for the Foundation. The VP of Grants manages and coordinates the work of the grants program, administrative, and learning and evaluation staff and serves as an ambassador of the Foundation to external audiences.

Under the supervision of the President and CEO, this role is responsible for informing and implementing the strategic and charitable priorities of the Foundation. Specifically, the Vice President of Grants will:

• Lead efforts to maximize impact through the Foundation’s grantmaking process.
  • Research and evaluate grant requests. 
  • Oversee post-grant activities, including evaluation. 
  • Approve and coordinate recommendations developed by program staff; set grants agenda with the President and CEO before finalizing proposals for the Board of Directors.
  • Collaborate with the Vice President of Operations on the Internal Wilson Historic District Committee in vetting tenants in the District.
  • Deliver formal presentations to the Board of Directors and address questions and/or informational requests related to recommended grants.
  • Identify and develop short- and long-term grantmaking goals and opportunities to advance the Foundation’s mission.
• Build relationships and inform strategy to support the program work of the Foundation. 
  • Make site visits to grantee location(s) and key partners of the Foundation.
  • Serve as liaison to assigned membership organizations on behalf of the Foundation.
  • Help maintain the presence of the Foundation in critical settings and conversations across Texas.
  • Collaborate with other foundations on grantmaking strategies.
  • Collaborate with the Grants department staff to support the long-term vision for grantmaking.
• Deliver presentations on behalf of the Grants department to internal and external audiences.
• Oversee day-to-day Grants department activities.
  • Supervise all activities related to the program, learning and evaluation, and administration teams in the department.
  • Review department budget data and prepare the annual department budget along with the President and CEO.
  • Provide a professional development framework and growth opportunities for department staff.
  • Provide knowledge-sharing opportunities to increase the department’s effectiveness.
• Serve on the Foundation’s executive team, thereby supporting and contributing to the leadership and strategic direction.

Requirements

The Ideal Candidate

Leadership

• A creative and forward-looking strategic thinker who will ensure that the Foundation’s services and programs fulfill its founders’ mission and meet the needs of the communities it serves. 
• Ability to instill confidence, credibility, and trust with board members, staff, grantees, partner organizations, and public officials and constituents, while recognizing and respecting the cultural variances among the communities served by the Foundation. 
• A dynamic visionary who sees the big picture and can identify future needs, develop strategies, establish priorities, and proactively and innovatively address complex issues. 
• A fair and personable leader who takes an open and collaborative approach with all levels of employees, but who also has the discipline and resolve to ensure that organizational goals are consistently met. 
• A strong, energetic individual who has the confidence to use independent judgment and to make and follow through on difficult decisions.
• An unpretentious and service-oriented executive who demonstrates respect and sensitivity in interactions with others. 
• An accessible, visible, and engaged person who is an active and positive presence in the daily life of the Foundation.

Experience

• Post-graduate degree in a related field (preferred).
• Proficient working knowledge of foundation management and grant administration (preferred). 
• Minimum 10 years of broad, senior-level experience in the philanthropic sector and family organizations (preferred). 
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a grantmaking function across a variety of program areas (preferred).
• At least three years of executive management experience advising C-suite and other senior leaders. 

Skills & Knowledge

• Ability to identify, analyze, and summarize complex information for internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with all staff and contribute to outcomes across departments.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to respond to multiple, competing demands and to motivate teams to produce high-quality work within tight timeframes and simultaneously manage several projects.
• Strong understanding of the nonprofit sector, in particular of health, education, and environmental disparities within Texas.
• Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to present to diverse audiences, and communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Basic understanding of learning and evaluation practices, as well as private foundation IRS regulations, and of nonprofit accounting principles.
• Strong skills in all Microsoft Office software.

Personal Characteristics

• Passion for the Foundation’s mission and alignment with a philanthropic organization.
• Ability to exercise the utmost confidentiality and discretion.
• Emotional intelligence – level-headed, flexible, and dependable.
• Able to recognize different personality styles to communicate effectively with all. 
• Executive presence, polish, and self-confidence without self-importance.
• High moral standards appropriate for an organization dedicated to the public good.

Other Considerations

• Compensation: Competitive with comparable organizations and commensurate with capability, experience, and prevailing market trends 
• Benefits:  Strong, comprehensive benefits package
• Location: Dallas, Texas – Hybrid workplace
• Travel: Limited