Rainwater Charitable Foundation
The Rainwater Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation based in Fort Worth, Texas, founded by Richard E. Rainwater in 1991. It supports education and family economic security, medical research on neurodegenerative diseases—particularly tauopathies—and initiatives in East Africa. The foundation reports more than $510 million in funding since 2012.
Rainwater Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Rainwater Charitable Foundation gave $43.6M across 320 grants in 2024 (avg $136K), mostly in Texas. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $43,565,002
- +14.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 320
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $136,141
- +14.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $931,421,595
- +5.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (52 of 211, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (62% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Rainwater Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website says the Family Economic Security Letter of Inquiry process is temporarily paused, and that it is not accepting or reviewing new funding inquiries. The website anticipated greater clarity on priorities and community partnerships by the end of 2026. Its Emerging EdTech Solutions RFA listed an April 1, 2026 application deadline, which has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 777 Main Street Suite 2250, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Phone: (817) 820-2700
Website: https://rainwatercharitablefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Rainwater Charitable Foundation
Rainwater Foundation - Family Economic Security Grant
Rainwater Charitable Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Tauopathy Challenge Workshop Grant
Rainwater Charitable Foundation
Amount
US $10,000 - US $510,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
The Rainwater Prize - Breakthrough Prize for Effective Treatments in PSP Grant
Rainwater Charitable Foundation
Amount
US $2,000,000 - US $10,000,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Rainwater Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tarrant to & Through (T3) ($3.5M across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $20.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($185,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,607 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 734 grants of 1,607 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its Family Economic Security and Education funding as primarily serving the Fort Worth–Dallas metropolitan area, with some grants in East Texas and to national organizations. Its broader stated areas include initiatives in East Africa. In 2024, Texas recipients received 62% of grant dollars; California received 10%, Illinois 6%, New York 5%, and recipients listed as “?” 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 320 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Rainwater Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 52 of 211 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $187K; repeat grants $213K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 20% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $37.9M (2023) to $54.6M (2021). In 2024 it made 320 grants totaling $43.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tarrant to & Through (T3) Fort Worth, TX | Program Support - College Advising | $3,316,667 |
| Life Outreach International Fort Worth, TX | Operations Support | $3,000,000 |
| Citysquare Dallas, TX | Operations Support | $2,000,000 |
| Fort Worth Community Land Trust Fort Worth, TX | Program Support - Carroll Park | $2,000,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association Chicago, IL | Medical Research | $1,866,160 |
| North Texas Community Foundation Fort Worth, TX | Program Support - Courtney Rainwater DAF | $1,612,215 |
| Texas Wesleyan University Fort Worth, TX | Program Support - Leadership Academy Network | $888,800 |
| Rhode Island Hospital Foundation Providence, RI | Medical Research | $857,214 |
| Transformative Education for Adults Inc Lakeway, TX | Program Support - New Heights Academy | $600,000 |
| Christian Relief Fund Amarillo, TX | Operations Support | $500,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Rainwater Charitable 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 | $931,421,595 | $85,176,764 | $57,471,998 | $43,565,002 | 320 | $52,832,809 | $73,776,555 | $55,260,120 |
| 2023 | $881,075,731 | $28,931,463 | $52,604,417 | $37,948,780 | 320 | $49,063,183 | $33,683,963 | $52,818,009 |
| 2022 | $854,485,810 | $11,956,596 | $71,852,530 | $53,295,003 | 391 | $61,586,928 | $44,373,705 | $48,646,727 |
| 2021 | $856,887,520 | $46,265,349 | $66,953,036 | $54,584,011 | 336 | $61,025,300 | $90,407,561 | $61,040,353 |
| 2020 | $866,482,897 | $30,837,606 | $52,858,331 | $41,436,610 | 240 | — | $28,463,043 | $56,080,639 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rainwater Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $55.3M 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 mission is to pursue sustainable solutions in the areas it serves. Its website says it seeks programs with measurable success, strong leadership, and the potential to scale, guided by innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
Family Economic Security and Education funding supports work on academic outcomes, affordable housing, and career and economic opportunities for families. The foundation’s 2024 filing says it made over 150 grants in these areas, primarily in the Fort Worth–Dallas metropolitan area, with some grants in East Texas and to national organizations. Medical research support primarily goes through the Tau Consortium, which brings researchers together to advance understanding of primary tauopathies. The filing reports that the consortium’s 2024 grant cycle consisted of 74 grants. The foundation also describes initiatives in East Africa and other programs.
Examples of the kinds of organizations it supports include CitySquare, whose stated mission is to address poverty through programs focused on hunger, health, housing, and hope; the Fort Worth Community Land Trust, which says it works to preserve affordable housing; and Transformative Education for Adults, whose stated mission includes connecting adults with high school education, career training, and college pathways.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 320 grants totaling $43,565,002. Grants ranged from $320 to $3,316,667, with a median of $50,000. The largest listed awards included $3,316,667 to Tarrant To & Through (T3) for college advising; $3,000,000 to Life Outreach International for operations support; $2,000,000 each to CitySquare for operations support and the Fort Worth Community Land Trust for the Carroll Park program; and $1,866,160 to the Alzheimer’s Association for medical research. Other listed awards included $1,612,215 to the North Texas Community Foundation for the Courtney Rainwater DAF program and $888,800 to Texas Wesleyan University for the Leadership Academy Network.
The foundation’s Rainwater Prize program recognizes research contributions related to tauopathies. The supplied program descriptions list a Breakthrough Prize for effective treatments in PSP, with awards of $2 million to $10 million; a Milestone Prize for advances in tauopathy research, of up to $2 million; and an Outstanding Innovation in Neurodegenerative Research prize of $400,000. The descriptions say these prizes may not be awarded every year; the innovation prize is for non-profit research use.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Jeremy Smith as President and Executive Director; Aaron Bigbee as CIO and Investment Manager; Melissa Parrish as Executive VP and CFO; and Susan Montgomery as VP, Controller, and Tax Director. Trustees listed are Walter J. Rainwater Jr., Richard T. Rainwater, Courtney E. Rainwater, and Matthew J. Rainwater.
Rainwater Charitable Foundation is led by Jeremy Smith, President & Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 6 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jeremy Smith
President & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$576K (2020) → $733K (2024)
Matthew J. Rainwater
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$104K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Richard T. Rainwater
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$84K (2020) → $144K (2024)
Susan E. Montgomery
Vice President, Controller & Tax Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$238K (2020) → $301K (2024)
Walter J. Rainwater Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$183K (2020) → $220K (2024)
Courtney E. Rainwater
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Melissa Parrish
Executive Vice President & CFO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$457K (2020) → $558K (2024)
Aaron Bigbee
CIO & Investment Manager
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$591K (2023) → $657K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Randolph Kim (2020–2023) — CIO & Investment Manager to
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 $733K, to Jeremy Smith (President and Executive Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Rainwater Charitable Foundation
How much does Rainwater Charitable Foundation give each year?
Rainwater Charitable Foundation gave $43.6M across 320 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $37.9M across 320 grants.
What is Rainwater Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Rainwater Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $136,141, across 320 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rainwater Charitable Foundation that year got $187K on average.
Where does Rainwater Charitable Foundation give grants?
Rainwater Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (10%) and Illinois (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Worth, TX (113 grants), Dallas, TX (27 grants), San Francisco, CA (22 grants) and New York, NY (21 grants).
Does Rainwater Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 320 grants with a stated purpose on Rainwater Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Medical Research" (106 grants), "Operations Support" (83 grants) and "Program Support - Tarrant County" (8 grants).
Who are Rainwater Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Rainwater Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Tarrant to & Through (T3) ($3,539,201 across 4 grants), Life Outreach International ($3,000,000) and The Regents of the University of California San Francisco ($2,677,920 across 20 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($185,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Rainwater Charitable Foundation?
Rainwater Charitable Foundation reported $931.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $52.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $55.3M (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 Rainwater Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to pursue sustainable solutions in the areas it serves. Its website says it seeks programs with measurable success, strong leadership, and the potential to scale, guided by innovation, accountability, and collaboration. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rainwater Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Rainwater Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Rainwater Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 80-0870036. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Rainwater Charitable 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 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). Rainwater Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rainwater-charitable-foundation-morg_d01e2045ae974a19b9d65be99292c82a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_800870036_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rainwater Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rainwater-charitable-foundation-morg_d01e2045ae974a19b9d65be99292c82a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Rainwater Charitable 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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