Ray C Fish Foundation
The Ray C. Fish Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Established in 1957, it supports qualified educational, scientific, and other charitable organizations, with a stated aim of helping them achieve their charitable purposes.
Ray C Fish Foundation at a glance
In short: Ray C Fish Foundation gave $965K across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in Texas. 43% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $965,335
- -12.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- -7.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,090
- -5.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $24,922,767
- +36.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (16 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% 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 Ray C Fish Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website provides application materials and submission instructions for grant requests.
- Review Cycle
- The website says there are no deadlines for making a request.
- Deadline
- The website says there are no deadlines for making a request.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5120 Woodway Suite 9008, Houston, TX 77056
Phone: (713) 522-0741
Website: https://raycfishfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ray C Fish Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Heritage Education ($160K). Together the top 10 received $685K.
Grant Size Distribution
201 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 166 grants of 201 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its vision and grantmaking history in terms of Texas. All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to Texas recipients, and its account of past giving names institutions in locations including Houston, Austin, Sherman, Kerrville, Ingram, and College Station.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ray C Fish Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 37 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $37K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 22% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 114% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $965K (2025) to $1.2M (2022). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $965K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Heritage Education Houston, TX | General | $160,000 |
| His Fathers Heart Ministries Houston, TX | General | $100,000 |
| Springspirit Houston, TX | General | $100,000 |
| United Against Human Trafficking Houston, TX | General | $100,000 |
| Memorial Park Conservancy Inc Houston, TX | General | $50,000 |
| Texas Heart Institute Houston, TX | General | $50,000 |
| Mercy Gate Ministries Houston, TX | General | $45,000 |
| Z78 Ministries Houston, TX | General | $30,000 |
| Archway Academy Houston, TX | General | $25,000 |
| Bridges to Life Houston, TX | General | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ray C Fish 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,922,767 | $8,598,102 | $1,952,664 | $965,335 | 37 | $1,386,507 | $7,939,371 | $1,220,920 |
| 2024 | $18,274,336 | $1,057,204 | $2,102,770 | $1,101,875 | 40 | $1,512,543 | $389,806 | $1,226,479 |
| 2023 | $19,320,350 | $1,884,495 | $2,060,196 | $1,061,465 | 44 | $1,485,303 | $1,267,315 | $1,114,376 |
| 2022 | $19,496,273 | $2,141,977 | $2,352,214 | $1,244,500 | 42 | $1,680,132 | $1,435,245 | $1,286,393 |
| 2021 | $19,704,977 | $3,385,819 | $1,959,872 | $987,680 | 38 | — | $2,696,627 | $1,230,633 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ray C Fish Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M 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
The foundation’s mission is to assist in supporting or advancing qualified educational, scientific, and other charitable organizations so they can achieve their charitable purposes. Its vision is for Texas to be a vibrant state where opportunity and “can do” encouragement are norms in pursuing healthy community activities.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of its grantees. United Against Human Trafficking describes its mission as ending human trafficking through community education, prevention, and survivor empowerment. Texas Heart Institute says its work is to reduce the toll of cardiovascular disease through research, education, and improved patient care. Memorial Park Conservancy describes its mission as preserving, restoring, and enhancing Memorial Park for Houstonians’ enjoyment, recreation, and education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 37 grants totaling $965,335. Grant amounts ranged from $1,660 to $160,000, with a median of $10,000. All reported grant dollars went to Texas recipients.
The largest 2025 awards included $160,000 to American Heritage Education; $100,000 each to His Fathers Heart Ministries, SpringSpirit, and United Against Human Trafficking; and $50,000 each to Memorial Park Conservancy and Texas Heart Institute. These grants were listed for general purposes.
The foundation’s application materials describe an electronic submission process: applicants are instructed to email a completed application, with the application as the first page, and number each document and its pages. The requested materials include a one-page summary on organizational letterhead, principal staff and board lists, other funding sources for the project, financial statements and budgets, and an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. The foundation’s website says trustees may request more information or schedule a site visit, and that applicants are notified in writing of the outcome. It limits applications to once per calendar year; after a denial, an organization must wait one year from the denial letter, and after an award, a grantee must wait one year from the contribution date. It does not fund businesses or individuals, capital campaigns, mass-appeal solicitations, or other foundations that make grants to third parties.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Christopher J. Daniel as VP/assistant secretary/trustee and Catherine D. Kaldis as president/trustee. The foundation’s website lists Catherine M. Daniel as president and Christopher J. Daniel as vice president and treasurer. It also identifies Sarah Young as operations manager and Gregory Mount as CPA.
Ray C Fish Foundation is led by Catherine D. Kaldis, President & Trustee on every filing since 2021; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Catherine D. Kaldis
President & Trustee
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$143K (2021) → $163K (2025)
Christopher J. Daniel
Vice President, Assistant Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2021
65 hrs/week
$104K (2021) → $120K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Robert J. Cruikshank (2021–2024) — Treasurer & Trustee
- Former: James L. Daniel Jr. (2021–2023) — Vice President & Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $163K, to Catherine D Kaldis (Pres/Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ray C Fish Foundation
How much does Ray C Fish Foundation give each year?
Ray C Fish Foundation gave $965K across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 40 grants.
What is Ray C Fish Foundation's typical grant size?
Ray C Fish Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $26,090, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ray C Fish Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does Ray C Fish Foundation give grants?
Ray C Fish Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (37 grants).
Does Ray C Fish Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ray C Fish Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (37 of 37) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ray C Fish Foundation's largest grantees?
Ray C Fish Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include American Heritage Education ($160,000), His Fathers Heart Ministries ($100,000) and Springspirit ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ray C Fish Foundation?
Ray C Fish Foundation reported $24.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ray C Fish Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to assist in supporting or advancing qualified educational, scientific, and other charitable organizations so they can achieve their charitable purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ray C Fish Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2021–2025.
Does Ray C Fish 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ray C Fish Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ray-c-fish-foundation-morg_77c3eba465bf49fcb916fd2c3836eadb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_746043047_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ray C Fish Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ray-c-fish-foundation-morg_77c3eba465bf49fcb916fd2c3836eadb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Ray C Fish 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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