“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” ― John Holmes

GRANTS

Apply Today!

#1

Submit a Qualification Page
This helps us get to know you and your organization better, ahead of your full application. This is a required first step of the application process.

#2

Gather Required Information & Documents
We encourage you to review requirements below, though the application will allow you to save and continue later.

#3

Complete the Online Grant Application Form
Upon completion, you will receive a submission success message. We will be in touch with questions or updates.

Deadlines

November 1st & May 1st
for meetings occurring in the following months.

Grant application forms must be submitted on or before the designated deadlines in order to be considered at the next grant committee meeting.

Need Help?

For questions about the application process feel free to contact us.

Application Checklist

Please use this checklist to gather the data required with all applications:

Grant Guidelines

The Mary Louise Dobson Foundation grants shall primarily be for education, human services, health, civic or cultural purposes, with priority given to youth-related projects and current initiatives, according to the following guidelines.

1. The Mary Louise Dobson Foundation considers applications from and makes grants to 501(c)3 organizations and public charities in Wharton County. In the past, some projects for organizations lying outside this defined geographic area have been considered and/or approved when the specific project benefits citizens of the specified counties.

2. Grants shall be for capital and/or operating purposes on a single or installment grant basis, with or without matching funds.

3. Applications will be considered and reviewed with the Grants Committee for positive or negative recommendation to the Board of Directors for its consideration.

4. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals or loans of any type. Although the Foundation supports scholarship programs, the Foundation does not select individual scholarship recipients. The Foundation prefers not to fund galas or gala-like, testimonial, advertising, promotional or fund-raising events. MLDF grants shall be primarily for specific, identifiable projects or purposes, rather than in response to general fund-raising programs by other charitable organizations. Grants to national charitable organizations or local chapters thereof will generally not be considered.

5. The MLDF Grants Committee will have authority to originate and present for recommendation to the full Board pro-active grants conceived by individual committee or board members of the committee or board as a whole.

6. Before an application can be considered, proof is required that the applicant has an exempt classification as described in Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, and that it is considered “not a private foundation” within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code. An applicant may qualify under Section 170(c)1 if its requested grant is shown to be for public purposes only as described in the Code.

7. A decision to decline funding should not be interpreted as a negative evaluation of a program or organization. It is not feasible for the foundation to discuss with applicants’ reasons for declining a request, and the foundation does not provide critiques of proposals.

Qualification Page

Please submit this form as the first step in the application process. (see steps above for info on the whole process)

ONLINE GRANT APPLICATION

Complete the Online Grant Application Form
Upon completion, you will receive a submission success message. We will be in touch with questions or updates.

RECIPIENTS

YEAR

GRANT RECIPIENT

AMOUNT

PURPOSE

LOCATION

2023

Boy Scouts of America Troop 326

$10,000.00

Youth Program/Operating Support

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Boys & Girls Club of El Campo

$15,000.00

General Operating Support

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Boys & Girls Club Of Greater Houston

$68,250.00

Capital Improvements

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Boys & Girls Club Of Greater Houston

$300,000.00

General Operating Support

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Boys & Girls Club Of Palacios

$10,000.00

General Operating Support

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto

$6,500.00

2024 Summer Camp Operating Support 

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Just Do It Now, Inc.

$30,000.00

General Operating Support for Youth Programs

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Wharton Citizens Police Academy Alumni

$15,000.00

Operation: Blue Santa

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

S.T.O.P., Inc.

$22,500.00

General Support: Bullying/Suicide Program @ Wharton County ISDs

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Wharton County Jr. College – Pioneer Country Store

$5,000.00

General Program Support

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Small Blessings Childcare Center

$5,000.00

General Operating Support

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

The ARC of Wharton

$26,028.00

General Operating Support

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Gulf Coast CASA

$22,000.00

 Recruitment & Training of Advocates

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Texas Hearing Institute

$8,958.00

Audio Equipment & Therapy for Wharton County Youth

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

OakBend Medical Center

$20,000.00

Capital Support for the Wharton Campus

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Louise Independent School District

$6,650.00

Playground Equipment

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Wharton High School

$32,000.00

College & Career Program Support

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Wharton County Jr. College

$24,000.00

WCJC/Scholarship Grant – WISD/BISD Graduates attending WCJC

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Wharton Independent School District

$50,000.00

Community in Schools Program Support

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Northside Center

$20,650.00

Scholarships for W.C.J.C Satellite Campus Students

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

St. Philip the Apostle Catholic School

$7,500.00

Campus Security Improvements

Wharton, Wharton County

2023

Scholarships for Wharton Ag. Students – (SWAG)

$10,000.00

Scholarship Program Support

Wharton, Wharton County

Questions? Contact Us today!
The Mary Louise Dobson Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization.  Since you receive no goods or services as a result of your donation, your gift is considered a tax-deductible gift within the limits allowed by the Internal Revenue Service.  It is always best to check with your CPA as to the effect of your donation on your personal situation.