Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation
RIO GRANDE VALLEY PHILANTHROPIC is a public charity based in Brownsville, Texas. Formed in 1997, it says its purpose is to improve quality of life in Brownsville by promoting philanthropy, building permanent charitable endowments, and addressing community needs.
Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation at a glance
In short: Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation gave $162K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $161,969
- +439.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +900.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,197
- -46.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $12,500
- Total assets
- $2,988,897
- +1.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1808, Brownsville, TX 78522
Phone: (956) 572-0304
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Homer Hanna High School ($40K). Together the top 10 received $162K.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 33 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants went to recipients in Texas and North Dakota: 83% of grant dollars went to Texas recipients and 17% to North Dakota recipients. The foundation’s stated mission and program description refer to Brownsville and the metropolitan Brownsville community.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation gives
- Giving grew 2214% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2021) to $162K (2024). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $162K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Homer Hanna High School Brownsville, TX | General Support | $40,000 |
| The FM Area Foundation Fargo, ND | General Support | $26,830 |
| Texas Cultural Trust Council Austin, TX | General Support | $20,000 |
| Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts Brownsville, TX | General Support | $17,139 |
| TSC Foundation FBO It Vocational School Brownsville, TX | General Support | $15,000 |
| Texas Southmost College Foundation Brownsville, TX | General Support | $10,000 |
| The Gladys Porter Zoo Brownsville, TX | General Support | $10,000 |
| Guadalupe Regional Middle School Brownsville, TX | General Support | $9,000 |
| RGV Symphony Orchestra McAllen, TX | General Support | $8,000 |
| United Cajun Navy Baton Rouge, TX | General Support | $6,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,988,897 | $437,822 | $462,878 | $161,969 | 10 | $221,844 |
| 2023 | $2,937,094 | $335,845 | $362,479 | $30,000 | 1 | $116,696 |
| 2022 | $2,676,493 | $343,163 | $274,111 | $77,200 | 4 | $132,726 |
| 2021 | $3,226,219 | $207,192 | $157,662 | $7,000 | 1 | $121,541 |
| 2020 | $3,007,484 | $266,997 | $282,812 | $136,135 | 17 | $157,053 |
| 2019 | $2,808,312 | $268,276 | $352,151 | $100,157 | Total only | $115,379 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to improve quality of life for people in Brownsville by promoting philanthropy, building permanent charitable endowments, and addressing community needs. Its 2024 grants were all reported for general support and went to organizations including schools, foundations, cultural organizations, and a zoo.
One recipient, Texas Southmost College Foundation, describes its mission as assisting Texas Southmost College in providing higher education and increasing the number of area residents who attend by funding scholarships for eligible students.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $161,969. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $40,000, with a median of $12,500. Each was reported for general support.
The largest grants were $40,000 to Homer Hanna High School in Brownsville; $26,830 to The FM Area Foundation in Fargo, North Dakota; $20,000 to Texas Cultural Trust Council in Austin; $17,139 to Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts; and $15,000 to TSC Foundation FBO IT Vocational School, also in Brownsville.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Marcela Ronquillo Hinojosa as president, Jennifer Spence Sampayo as secretary, Maria Wichis Deiz as treasurer, Lizzy Putegnat and Jeffery Ward as directors, and Diane Garza, PhD, as CEO.
Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation is led by Diane Garza PhD, CEO on every filing since 2023; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Diane Garza PhD
CEO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$84K (2023) → $96K (2024)
Marcela Ronquillo Hinojosa
President
Treasurer → Director, 2023
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffery Ward
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lizzy Putegnat
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Spence Sampayo
Secretary
Secretary → Vice President, 2020
Vice President → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Wichis Deiz
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Carlos E Varela (2019–2023) — President
- Former: Marcela Arguelles Lawler (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: John Cowen (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Maria Michis (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Beth Conner Pace (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Juan 'Trey Mendez (2020) — Director
- Former: Cassandra Wolfe (2019) — President
- Former: Trey Mendez (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $96K, to Diane Garza PHD (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation
How much does Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation give each year?
Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation gave $162K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $30K across 1 grant.
What is Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation's typical grant size?
Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $12,500, and its average grant was $16,197, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation give grants?
Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Dakota (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Brownsville, TX (6 grants).
Does Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation's largest grantees?
Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Homer Hanna High School ($40,000), The FM Area Foundation ($26,830) and Texas Cultural Trust Council ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation?
Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $438K.
What does Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to improve quality of life for people in Brownsville by promoting philanthropy, building permanent charitable endowments, and addressing community needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation?
Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation's EIN?
Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2826613. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS November 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 1, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rio-grande-valley-philanthropic-foundation-morg_ce426f4639ae4b2dbe4538fdb80f7318
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_742826613_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rio-grande-valley-philanthropic-foundation-morg_ce426f4639ae4b2dbe4538fdb80f7318},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-25. 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 Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic 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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