Mays Family Foundation
The Mays Family Foundation is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, Texas. Founded in 1994 by Lowry and Peggy Pitman Mays, it supports communities through causes that aid, empower, enrich, and educate, with its website identifying Bexar County, Texas, as its primary community focus.
Mays Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Mays Family Foundation gave $18.2M across 181 grants in 2024 (avg $100K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $18,174,270
- +2.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 181
- +18000.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $100,410
- -99.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $312,522,351
- +2.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Mays Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications and program evaluation reports are submitted through the foundation’s online application system. Applicants create an account and select one of the two grant categories available in the application system. Applications of $25,000 or less are usually decided according to the schedule below; applications over $25,000 are reviewed as received and may be awarded at any time. Applications received after November 1 are generally considered in the following calendar year.
- Review Cycle
- For applications of $25,000 or less, submissions from April 1 to June 30 are usually decided by September 30; July 1 to September 30 by December 10; October 1 to December 31 by February 28; and January 1 to March 31 by May 30.
- Deadline
- For applications of $25,000 or less, submissions from April 1 to June 30 are usually decided by September 30; July 1…
- Contact
Mailing address: 250 W Nottingham Ste 400, San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: (210) 570-1210
Website: https://maysfamilyfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Mays Family Foundation
Who Mays Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Texas A&M Foundation ($6.8M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $13.4M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
185 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 124 grants of 185 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its funding primarily serves Bexar County, Texas, and that the majority of its gifts will be distributed there. In 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to Texas recipients, 6% to Tennessee, and 1% each to Florida, Georgia, and Wyoming.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 181 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Mays Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $14.5M (2020) to $20.2M (2022). In 2024 it made 181 grants totaling $18.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M Foundation College Station, TX | General | $3,500,000 |
| Texas A&M Foundation College Station, TX | General | $2,300,000 |
| UT Health at San Antonio San Antonio, TX | General | $1,800,000 |
| Texas A&M Foundation College Station, TX | General | $1,050,000 |
| San Antonio Zoological Society San Antonio, TX | General | $1,000,000 |
| Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | General | $500,000 |
| Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | General | $500,000 |
| UT Health at San Antonio San Antonio, TX | General | $500,000 |
| YMCA of Greater San Antonio San Antonio, TX | General | $375,000 |
| Haven for Hope of Bexar County San Antonio, TX | General | $300,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Mays Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $312,522,351 | $30,305,592 | $22,414,242 | $18,174,270 | 181 | $18,755,068 | $27,036,534 | $20,891,024 |
| 2023 | $304,631,040 | $36,879,681 | $21,100,945 | $17,812,800 | 1 | $18,216,247 | $34,651,929 | $18,230,603 |
| 2022 | $288,852,936 | $24,577,051 | $22,733,616 | $20,170,665 | 1 | $20,500,847 | $20,148,794 | $18,497,351 |
| 2021 | $287,009,958 | $37,018,063 | $19,139,901 | $16,353,398 | 1 | $16,632,984 | $34,899,358 | $20,486,750 |
| 2020 | $269,136,494 | $19,028,281 | $16,453,965 | $14,538,963 | 1 | — | $7,458,916 | $16,605,243 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mays Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated commitment is to support the communities in which it lives, works, and serves through causes that aid, empower, enrich, and educate. Its guidelines say funding should generally address specific needs in the communities it serves, primarily Bexar County, and that most gifts will be distributed there.
The 2024 grants show support for educational, health, community-service, and other organizations. For example, Texas A&M Foundation describes its mission as building a brighter future for Texas A&M University by uniting generosity and vision to raise support and manage endowed gifts. Haven for Hope of Bexar County says it provides and coordinates care for people experiencing homelessness in Bexar County. The an individual recipient Zoological Society says it works to foster appreciation and concern for all living things.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 181 grants totaling $18,174,270. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $3,500,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest listed awards included $3,500,000, $2,300,000, and $1,050,000 to Texas A&M Foundation; $1,800,000 and $500,000 to UT Health at an individual recipient; and $1,000,000 to the an individual recipient Zoological Society. Other listed recipients included Vanderbilt University, the YMCA of an individual recipient, Haven for Hope of Bexar County, an individual recipient Area Foundation, and United Way of an individual recipient and Bexar County.
The foundation’s guidelines say applicants must be organizations exempt under section 501(c)(3). It does not fund individuals, partisan political groups, or lobbying efforts. It favors organizations that collaborate, do not compete with other nonprofits, measure results, and have a history of success. Approved applicants may be asked to sign a grant agreement and submit follow-up reports on a case-by-case basis.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kathryn Mays Johnson as director and president, Linda Mays McCaul as director, Mark P. Mays as director, and Randall T. Mays as director and secretary.
Mays Family Foundation is led by Kathryn Mays Johnson, Director & President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kathryn Mays Johnson
Director & President
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$98K (2020) → $89K (2024)
Linda Mays McCaul
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark P. Mays
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randall T. Mays
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Lowry Mays (2020–2021) — Director & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $89K, to Kathryn Mays Johnson (Director/President).
Frequently asked questions about Mays Family Foundation
How much does Mays Family Foundation give each year?
Mays Family Foundation gave $18.2M across 181 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $17.8M across 1 grant.
What is Mays Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Mays Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $100,410, across 181 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Mays Family Foundation give grants?
Mays Family Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Antonio, TX (134 grants), St. Louis, MO (6 grants), Houston, TX (5 grants) and Jackson, WY (4 grants).
Does Mays Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Mays Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (181 of 181) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Mays Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Mays Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Texas A&M Foundation ($6,850,000 across 3 grants), UT Health at San Antonio ($2,400,000 across 3 grants) and San Antonio Zoological Society ($1,050,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Mays Family Foundation?
Mays Family Foundation reported $312.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $18.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Mays Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated commitment is to support the communities in which it lives, works, and serves through causes that aid, empower, enrich, and educate. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mays Family Foundation?
Applications and program evaluation reports are submitted through the foundation’s online application system. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mays Family Foundation's EIN?
Mays Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2691624. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mays Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mays-family-foundation-morg_bee22ce3c4f1431eb26adde4b75f85e9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_742691624_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mays Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mays-family-foundation-morg_bee22ce3c4f1431eb26adde4b75f85e9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Mays Family 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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