Ray C Fish Foundation
The Ray C. Fish Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas, established in 1957. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity dedicated to supporting qualified educational, scientific, and charitable organizations across Texas.
Key facts about Ray C Fish Foundation
- EIN
- 74-6043047
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,101,875
- Grants made (2024)
- 40
- Average grant
- $27,547
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (17 of 40, 2024)
- Total assets
- $18,274,336
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Ray C Fish Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ray C Fish Foundation's 40 itemized 2024 grants were Texas (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (40 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Ray C Fish Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 40 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 40% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 123% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Ray C Fish Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.3M
-5.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+3.8% YoY
Grant Count
40
-9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
+14.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ray C Fish Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The mission of Ray C. Fish Foundation is to assist in the support and/or advancement of qualified educational, scientific, and other charitable organizations to achieve their charitable purposes.
Vision: The foundation envisions Texas as a vibrant state with a history where opportunity and "can do" encouragement are norms in pursuing healthy community activities.
Funding Areas: The foundation supports organizations working in the following areas:
- Arts and culture
- Performing arts
- Education and higher education
- Health, in-patient medical care, and hospital care
- Diseases and conditions
- Information and communications
- Libraries, archives, and special collections
- Human services, family services, and child welfare
Grantmaking
The foundation has distributed grants to over 300 different Texas institutions since its inception. Recent grants (fiscal year 2023) include:
Ready to take the next step with Ray C Fish Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Ray C. Fish Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations serving Texas, with particular emphasis on the Houston metropolitan area. Past major grants have supported institutions throughout the state, including locations such as Sherman, Kerrville, Ingram, and Houston.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 40 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2023:
- Total Assets: $19,320,350
- Total Revenues: $1,884,495
- Total Expenses: $2,060,196
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Breakdown (FY 2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $395,271
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,076,615
- Miscellaneous revenues: $367,322
- Total grants and contributions received: $45,287
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,274,336 | $19,320,350 | $19,496,273 |
| Revenue | $1,057,204 | $1,884,495 | $2,141,977 |
| Expenses | $2,102,770 | $2,060,196 | $2,352,214 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,512,543 | $1,485,303 | $1,680,132 |
| Net Investment Income | $389,806 | $1,267,315 | $1,435,245 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,226,479 | $1,114,376 | $1,286,393 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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
164 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Chapelwood Umc Foundation ($100,000), His Fathers Heart Ministries ($100,000), United Against Human Trafficking ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHAPELWOOD UMC FOUNDATION Houston, TX | GENERAL | $100,000 |
| HIS FATHERS HEART MINISTRIES Houston, TX | GENERAL | $100,000 |
| UNITED AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING Houston, TX | GENERAL | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN HERITAGE EDUCATION Houston, TX | GENERAL | $75,000 |
| MERCY GATE MINISTRIES Houston, TX | GENERAL | $60,000 |
| ARBOR SCHOOL Houston, TX | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY Houston, TX | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| MEMORIAL PARK CONSERVANCY INC Houston, TX | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| SPRINGSPIRIT Houston, TX | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| TEXAS HEART INSTITUTE Houston, TX | GENERAL | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Catherine D. Kaldis - President and Trustee (35 hours per week, compensation of $163,200)
- Christopher J. Daniel - Trustee (compensation of $60,000)
- James L. Daniel Jr. - Trustee (compensation of $60,000)
- Robert J. Cruikshank - Trustee (compensation of $60,000)
The foundation maintains a staff of 5 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher J Daniel | VP/Asst Sec/Trustee | 65 | $120,000 |
| Catherine D Kaldis | Pres/Trustee | 35 | $163,200 |
| Robert J Cruikshank | Trea/Trustee | 30 | $30,000 |
Contact Information
- Address: 5120 Woodway Drive, Suite 9008, Houston, TX 77056-1725
- Phone: 713-522-0741
- Website: raycfishfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ray C Fish Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The mission of Ray C. Fish Foundation is to assist in the support and/or advancement of qualified educational, scientific, and other charitable organizations to achieve their charitable purposes. **Vision:** The foundation envisions Texas as a vibrant state with a history where opportunity and "can do" encouragement are norms in pursuing healthy community activities. **Funding Areas:** The foundation supports organizations working in the following areas: • Arts and culture
How do I apply for a grant from Ray C Fish Foundation?
The foundation has distributed grants to over 300 different Texas institutions since its inception. Recent grants (fiscal year 2023) include: • United Against Human Trafficking: $100,000 • Scenic Houston: $50,000 • Texas Heart Institute: $50,000 Total giving in fiscal year 2023 was $1,061,465. The foundation made 24 grants during this period.
Where does Ray C Fish Foundation make grants?
The Ray C. Fish Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations serving Texas, with particular emphasis on the Houston metropolitan area. Past major grants have supported institutions throughout the state, including locations such as Sherman, Kerrville, Ingram, and Houston.
What size grants does Ray C Fish Foundation award?
In 2024, Ray C Fish Foundation awarded 40 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ray C Fish Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ray C Fish Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ray C Fish Foundation's EIN?
Ray C Fish Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6043047. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.