Moody Foundation
Frances “Francie” Moody-Dahlberg wasn’t yet born when her great-grandparents launched the Moody Foundation to pour into the lives of Texans and make a lasting impact that now spans generations.
Guided by its mission of empowering Texas communities to thrive and prosper, the Moody Foundation has consistently supported education, social services, children’s needs and community development.
“It’s an honor to continue my family’s philanthropic legacy — especially here in Texas,” said Francie, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Moody Foundation. “For me, it's not about tradition for tradition’s sake, but about stewarding a legacy that’s built on compassion, civic responsibility and a desire to make real, lasting change.”
For Francie, “real, lasting change” includes a historic nine-figure grant awarded in 2025 to Children’s Health℠ and UT Southwestern Medical Center to support the new Dallas pediatric campus, which broke ground in October 2024.
Health care is a cornerstone of the Moody Foundation’s giving, especially when it lends to supporting children and families since Francie believes this is one of the most powerful ways to improve communities.
The Moody Foundation joins other donors in linking arms early — before there were renderings or official plans — when the new campus was only a dream to build one of the nation’s biggest and best hospitals for kids.
The region’s pediatric population is exploding, underscoring the urgent need for expanded access to top-tier pediatric health care. With the support of the Moody Foundation, Children’s Health and UT Southwestern are ushering in a new era of pediatric medical care, innovation and research, resulting in a healthier future for children as North Texas experiences remarkable growth.
This grant from the Moody Foundation is the third, and largest, nine-figure gift to support the new Dallas pediatric campus project. This contribution follows the generous $100 million early gifts from the Pogue Foundation announced in May 2024 and the Rees-Jones Foundation announced in October 2024.
The $5 billion new Dallas pediatric campus will be located in Dallas’ Southwestern Medical District, directly across from UT Southwestern’s William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. This project is a joint venture between Children’s Health and UT Southwestern. The campus will serve as a collaborative center for innovation, academic research, training and the advancement of lifesaving technologies.
Francie hopes this gift from the Moody Foundation will be a catalyst to inspire community members to rally and support an effort to advance pediatric medicine and transform the lives of kids now and in the future.
“We made this investment because we believe in the vision," Francie said. “This gift is an investment in our community, in the future of pediatric care and in the next generation of Texans.”
Together, with the support of generous donors like the Moody Foundation and community members who have given gifts of all sizes — from historic grants to lemonade stand sales — the new campus is no longer a “someday” vision.
“Our involvement began with a deep understanding of the positive impact this facility would have on children’s health — not just for today, but for future generations as well,” Francie said. “Early on, it became clear that this was an opportunity to be part of something transformational. We were honored to step in early with our support, making the largest gift to date toward this landmark project.”
The new hospital will help meet the increasing demand for pediatric health care, research and training. In recognition of the generous support by the foundation, the hospital at the new Dallas pediatric campus will be named Moody Children’s Hospital upon completion in 2031.
This grant is in addition to the more than $400 million the Moody Foundation has contributed previously to Children’s Health and the University of Texas System, much of it earmarked toward research. Francie noted that research is the “foundation of progress” that leads to breakthroughs that help save lives.