Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Brownsville, TX EIN: 74-2826613

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.

Key facts about Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation

In short: Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation gave $162K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

EIN
74-2826613
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$161,969
Grants made (2024)
10
Average grant
$16,197
Median grant
$12,500
Total assets
$2,988,897
Primary geography
Texas (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$3.0M

+1.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$162K

+439.9% YoY

Grant Count

10

+900.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$16K

-46.0% YoY

How Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 2214% from 2021 to 2024. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

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.

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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

2states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.

Cities

BrownsvilleAustinFargoOlmitoBaton RougeMcAllenSan Benito

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200KTotal only2019 17 grants2020 1 grant2021 4 grants2022 1 grant2023 10 grants2024

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.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Homer Hanna High School: $40KHomer Hanna High School$40KThe FM Area Foundation: $27KThe FM Area Foundation$27KTexas Cultural Trust Council: $20KTexas Cultural Trust Council$20KBrownsville Museum of Fine Arts: $17KBrownsville Museum of FineArts$17KTSC Foundation FBO It Vocational School: $15KTSC Foundation FBO ItVocational School$15KTexas Southmost College Foundation: $10KTexas Southmost CollegeFoundation$10KThe Gladys Porter Zoo: $10KThe Gladys Porter Zoo$10KGuadalupe Regional Middle School: $9KGuadalupe Regional MiddleSchool$9KRGV Symphony Orchestra: $8KRGV Symphony Orchestra$8KUnited Cajun Navy: $6KUnited Cajun Navy$6K

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

33<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 33 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Homer Hanna High School Brownsville, TXGeneral Support$40,000
The FM Area Foundation Fargo, NDGeneral Support$26,830
Texas Cultural Trust Council Austin, TXGeneral Support$20,000
Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts Brownsville, TXGeneral Support$17,139
TSC Foundation FBO It Vocational School Brownsville, TXGeneral Support$15,000
Texas Southmost College Foundation Brownsville, TXGeneral Support$10,000
The Gladys Porter Zoo Brownsville, TXGeneral Support$10,000
Guadalupe Regional Middle School Brownsville, TXGeneral Support$9,000
RGV Symphony Orchestra McAllen, TXGeneral Support$8,000
United Cajun Navy Baton Rouge, TXGeneral Support$6,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $2,988,897 $437,822 $462,878 $161,969 (10 grants)
2023 $2,937,094 $335,845 $362,479 $30,000 (1 grant)
2022 $2,676,493 $343,163 $274,111 0 grants
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$2,988,897$2,937,094$2,676,493
Revenue$437,822$335,845$343,163
Expenses$462,878$362,479$274,111
Net Investment Income$221,844$116,696$132,726

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS November 14, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 5, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 1, 2025)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

Diane Garza PHD — CEO: $96KDiane Garza PHDCEO$96K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $96K, to Diane Garza PHD (CEO).

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 1808, Brownsville, TX 78522
Phone: (956) 572-0304

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.

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