The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation awards grants annually to organizations focusing on children’s wellbeing, health and education.
IP TAKE: Youth organizations working in Dallas should keep this funder on their radar. The foundation does not award multi-year grants, however.
Nowitzki also engages in philanthropy to his native Germany through the Dirk Nowitzki Stiftung, which “helps children and young people in Germany to make the most of their opportunities and to recognize and develop their potential.”
With his recent retirement, Nowitzki might now have a bit more bandwidth for philanthropy. Expect the couple to continue to give within their established interest areas.
PROFILE: Founded in 2001, the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation is steered by NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki and his wife Jessica. Born in Germany, Dirk Nowitzki joined the NBA in the 1998 Draft. He spent his entire NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, where he became an 14-time All-Star, an NBA champion, and the first European-born player to win MVP. One of the greatest NBA players of all time, he retired in 2019. Born in Sweden, Jessica married Dirk in 2012. She’s been involved with Dallas' Goss-Michael Foundation Art Gallery.
Grants for Education, Youth and Health
The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation awards grants annually to organizations focusing on children’s wellbeing, health and education.
The foundation is especially interested in lifting up children who are “affected by illness, poverty, abuse and neglect through proper channels of guidance and directs them on a path to success.” The foundation partners with Dallas Tennis Association and supports Team Nowitzki, top young tennis players who are provided with training and enrichment on and off the courts.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $15,000 to $300,000. Grantmaking largely focuses on Dallas and Tarrant counties in Texas. Past local grantees have included Education Opens Doors, Family Gateway, Girls Embracing Mothers, and Fort Worth Youth Orchestra.
The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation does not fund the same organization twice in the same calendar year and does not give multi-year grants. The foundation’s application is available online. There is one grant cycle annually. Proposals must be submitted by September 30th of each year. Foundation board members meet annually to vote on grant proposals. Selected charities will be notified of approval by the end of December each year.
PEOPLE:
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