Mays Family Foundation
The Mays Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1994 by L. Lowry Mays and his wife Peggy Pitman Mays. Based in San Antonio, Texas, the foundation is committed to supporting communities through philanthropic giving that aids, empowers, enriches, and educates. The foundation operates with a small dedicated staff and maintains an active grantmaking program.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$312.5M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$18.2M
+2.0% YoY
Grant Count
181
+18000.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$100K
-99.4% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support the communities in which it lives, works, and serves through causes that aid, empower, enrich, and educate.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Health (particularly cancer research and treatment)
- Environment and animals
- Arts and culture
- Human services
- Christian organizations and ministries
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Wildlife
Grantmaking
The foundation favors organizations that:
Grant Range
$1,000 to $3,500,000
Average Grant
amount varies by funding area
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses its funding within Texas, with particular emphasis on Bexar County and San Antonio. The foundation has also made significant grants to institutions outside the immediate San Antonio area, including major gifts to educational institutions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $312,522,351
- Total revenue: $30,305,592
- Total expenses: $22,414,242
- Net income: $7,891,350
- Total liabilities: $0
Staffing:
- 2 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $312,522,351 | $304,631,040 | $288,852,936 |
| Revenue | $30,305,592 | $36,879,681 | $24,577,051 |
| Expenses | $22,414,242 | $21,100,945 | $22,733,616 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $18,755,068 | $18,216,247 | $20,500,847 |
| Net Investment Income | $27,036,534 | $34,651,929 | $20,148,794 |
| Distributable Amount | $20,891,024 | $18,230,603 | $18,497,351 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Mays Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include San Antonio Area Foundation (cep) ($150,000), Alamo Trust Inc ($100,000), Charity Ball Association ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SAN ANTONIO SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| THRIVE WELL CANCER FOUNDATION SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTH TEXAS SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| DOSEUM SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| ALAMO HEIGHTS SCHOOL FOUNDATION SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| METROPOLITAN ST PATRICKS DAY PARADE IN ST LOUIS INC ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL | $3,500 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTH TEXAS SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| BALLET SAN ANTONIO SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF WEST TEXAS SAN ANTONIO, TX | GENERAL | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Kathryn Mays Johnson - Director and President (15 hours/week, $89,000 compensation)
- David E. Green - Managing Director (40 hours/week, $203,000 compensation)
- Randall T. Mays - Director and Secretary (1 hour/week, no compensation)
- Mark P. Mays - Director (1 hour/week, no compensation)
- Linda Mays McCaul - Director (1 hour/week, no compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHRYN MAYS JOHNSON | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT | 15 | $88,575 |
| LINDA MAYS MCCAUL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK P MAYS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RANDALL T MAYS | DIRECTOR/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, the Mays Family Foundation made a landmark $25 million donation to Texas A&M University's Mays Business School for a graduate education building. This represented the largest donation in the school's history and was designated to expand programs for future students.
Mays Business School Receives $25M Donation from Mays Family Foundation -Since 2004, the foundation has donated more than $55 million to community causes.
Mays Family Foundation Donates $25 Million For Graduate Education Building\Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mays Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to support the communities in which it lives, works, and serves through causes that aid, empower, enrich, and educate. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Health (particularly cancer research and treatment) • Environment and animals • Arts and culture • Human services • Christian organizations and ministries • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Wildlife
How do I apply for a grant from Mays Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $18,174,270 • Total grants awarded: 181 grants (2024 tax year) • Median grant amount: $25,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $3,500,000 • Average grant amount varies by funding area **Application Approach:** The foundation favors organizations that: • Collaborate with other grantees and organizations • Do not compete with other non-profits • Measure results • Have a history of success Approved applications may require execution of a Grant Agreement with fol…
Where does Mays Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses its funding within Texas, with particular emphasis on Bexar County and San Antonio. The foundation has also made significant grants to institutions outside the immediate San Antonio area, including major gifts to educational institutions.
What size grants does Mays Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Mays Family Foundation awarded 181 grants totaling $18.2M — an average of about $100K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Mays Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Mays Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mays Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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