Endowment / Foundation

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The Meadows Foundation

The Meadows Foundation was established in 1948 by Algur H. Meadows and Virginia Meadows. Algur built General American Oil Company of Texas, which supplied the...

The Meadows Foundation logo

The Meadows Foundation

The Meadows Foundation was established in 1948 by Algur H. Meadows and Virginia Meadows. Algur built General American Oil Company of Texas, which supplied the original endowment. The foundation remains under family leadership with Eric R. Meadows as current President and CEO. The foundation allocates roughly 31 percent of assets to private equity alongside real estate and hedge fund holdings. It deploys capital through direct ownership of properties such as the Wilson Historic District and the Meadows Conference Center, both in Dallas, and through program-related investments that advance its Texas-focused mission. Confirmed positions include the Weatherlow Offshore Fund and the Meadows Collection of Spanish art at Southern Methodist University. Activity centers on Texas with additional reach into national philanthropic networks. Assets total $671 million. The foundation maintains its headquarters at 3003 Swiss Avenue in Dallas and operates no other offices. It created the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in 2014 and the Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water in 2026. January 2026: Eric R. Meadows spoke at the Water in the Desert Conference on the launch of the West Texas water research hub. The foundation keeps investment and grant decisions inside a single family-controlled entity rather than spinning out separate vehicles. Family members have held the CEO role continuously since inception, with Eric R. Meadows succeeding Peter M. Miller in 2026.

General information

Firm type

Private Family Foundation

Year founded

1948

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Dallas

Corporate office

3003 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, TX 75204, United States

Principals

Eric R. Meadows

President and CEO

Algur H. Meadows

Founder

Virginia Meadows

Founder

Sector focus

PhilanthropyArtsEducationHealthEnvironment

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at The Meadows Foundation?

Eric R. Meadows serves as President and CEO. Investment oversight sits with the family-led board and external advisor Foundation Advisers, Inc.

How does The Meadows Foundation source proprietary deal flow?

The foundation sources through long-standing Texas relationships and direct ownership of real estate and cultural assets rather than open calls.

Does The Meadows Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

It holds both fund commitments such as Weatherlow Offshore Fund and direct real estate and program-related investments.

Where does the underlying wealth come from?

The endowment originated from Algur H. Meadows' ownership of General American Oil Company of Texas.

Does The Meadows Foundation maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?

It created the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in 2014 and the Meadows Research Institute for West Texas Water in 2026 as separate nonprofits.

What investment stages does The Meadows Foundation typically target?

The foundation targets growth capital, buyouts, secondaries and early-stage venture through its private equity allocation.

How is The Meadows Foundation related to Southern Methodist University?

It maintains the Meadows Museum and Meadows School of the Arts as primary cultural partners at SMU.

Profile maintained by using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.

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