For a number of years prior to his death in April 1998, Harry W. Bass, Jr. administered two nonprofit foundations. The first, the Harry Bass Foundation, was created by his father, Harry Bass, Sr., to give support to a number of Dallas charitable and religious institutions, as well as hospitals and museums.

A second foundation, the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Research Foundation, was created in 1991 as an extension of the younger Mr. Bass’s great interest in the study of numismatics and his desire to engage in significant philanthropic endeavors in several different areas.

Following the death of Harry W. Bass, Jr., the two independent foundations were merged to form the Harry Bass Foundation dba Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation. The foundation seeks to enrich the lives of the citizens of Texas by providing support to qualified organizations in the areas of education, human services, civic and community, science and research, and arts and culture. It funds special projects of public entities or other nonprofit 501(c)(3) endeavors.

The original Harry Bass Foundation was funded from proceeds of family oil interests and subsequent investments. The new merged Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation assets have continued to grow with the sale of a portion of the coin collection Mr. Bass bequeathed to his original Harry W. Bass, Jr. Research Foundation.