James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation
The James T and Michelle A Ryan Foundation is a private foundation based in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. Its 2025 filing lists grants for scholarships, student and alumni support, university foundation support, and charitable programming.
James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation at a glance
In short: James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation gave $1.8M across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $180K), top state Illinois. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,801,944
- -8.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $180,194
- -8.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $21,500
- Total assets
- $2,444,476
- -41.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6 Barberry Drive, Hawthorn Woods, IL 60047-8054
Phone: (847) 612-2230
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Miami University ($650K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 50 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Illinois (41%), Ohio (36%), Indiana (21%), Massachusetts (2%), and Iowa (0%). The filing also lists a $500 grant to Lakota Friends Circle in Wanblee, South Dakota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $500; repeat grants $200K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $40K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 602% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $254K (2021) to $2.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Miami University Oxford, OH | Scholarship | $650,000 |
| Chicago Jesuit Academy Chicago, IL | Support Students & Alumni | $532,944 |
| Ball State University Muncie, IN | Ball State University Foundation Support | $373,500 |
| Depaul University Chicago, IL | Scholarship | $200,000 |
| Greenlight Fund Chicago Boston, MA | General Support for Charitable Programming | $40,000 |
| Lincoln Park Community Shelter Chicago, IL | General Support for Charitable Programming | $3,000 |
| University of Iowa Foundation Iowa City, IA | General Support for Charitable Programming | $1,000 |
| Biltmoredouglas Hudson Sr Scholarship Foundation North Barrington, IL | General Support for Charitable Programming | $500 |
| Jeffrey Pride Foundation Barrington, IL | General Support | $500 |
| Lakota Friends Circle Wanblee, SD | To support programs providing resources to native americanled organizations on sioux reservations, including education, food security, housing, and support for women and children. | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,444,476 | $144,631 | $1,862,109 | $1,801,944 | 10 | $1,805,905 | $133,007 | $158,053 |
| 2024 | $4,151,960 | $7,363,546 | $2,010,742 | $1,976,980 | 10 | $1,987,935 | $3,293,091 | $63,024 |
| 2023 | $1,953,729 | $2,586,284 | $916,854 | $910,849 | 12 | $912,596 | $1,070,441 | $36,867 |
| 2022 | $1,316,302 | $19,182 | $270,112 | $256,688 | 8 | $258,278 | $2,423 | $67,394 |
| 2021 | $1,567,232 | $7,118 | $261,275 | $253,935 | 10 | $257,363 | — | $81,344 |
| 2020 | $1,814,750 | $1,470,201 | $1,592,924 | $1,565,525 | 7 | — | $6,061 | $92,054 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $158K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to universities, a community shelter, charitable organizations, and other recipients. DePaul University describes its own mission as supporting students’ integral human development through teaching and academic excellence. Jeffrey Pride Foundation describes its own purpose as raising funds for charitable, educational, scientific, and literary purposes within the scope of pediatric cancer research.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $1,801,944. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $650,000, with a median of $21,500.
The largest 2025 grants included $650,000 to Miami University for scholarships, $532,944 to Chicago Jesuit Academy to support students and alumni, $373,500 to Ball State University Foundation for support, and $200,000 to DePaul University for scholarships. Other listed grants included $40,000 to GreenLight Fund Chicago for general support of charitable programming and $3,000 to Lincoln Park Community Shelter for general support of charitable programming.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James T Ryan and Michelle A Ryan as trustees.
James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James T. Ryan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle A. Ryan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation
How much does James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation give each year?
James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation gave $1.8M across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.0M across 10 grants.
What is James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation's typical grant size?
James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $21,500, and its average grant was $180,194, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation that year got $500 on average.
Where does James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation give grants?
James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Ohio (36%) and Indiana (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants).
Does James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation's largest grantees?
James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Miami University ($650,000), Chicago Jesuit Academy ($532,944) and Ball State University ($373,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation?
James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $158K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to universities, a community shelter, charitable organizations, and other recipients. DePaul University describes its own mission as supporting students’ integral human development through teaching and academic excellence. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation's EIN?
James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1619871. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Live grants for the work James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/james-t-and-michelle-a-ryan-foundation-morg_0e34c1c78f394544b9e5ed286891233b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261619871_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/james-t-and-michelle-a-ryan-foundation-morg_0e34c1c78f394544b9e5ed286891233b},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from James T and Michelle a Ryan Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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