Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation
The Ruth J & Robert A Conway Foundation is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2024, it made 16 grants totaling $215,000 to organizations in Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan.
Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation at a glance
In short: Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation gave $215K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Ohio. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $215,000
- -97.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- -71.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $13,438
- -92.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $12,500
- Total assets
- $9,953,882
- +7.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (6 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (79% 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 Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation
- How to Apply
-
An application must be requested in writing. Recipients must be public charities under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).
- Contact
Application contact: Ruth J Robert A Conway Foundation I
Mailing address: 2948 Alpine Terrace, Cincinnati, OH 45208
Phone: (513) 236-4041
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Pink Ribbon Girls ($25K). Together the top 10 received $165K.
Grant Size Distribution
148 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 128 grants of 148 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio, 14% to recipients in Kentucky, and 7% to recipients in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 16 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 46% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 27% 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 $215K (2024) to $9.7M (2023). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $215K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pink Ribbon Girls Tippy City, OH | General Support | $25,000 |
| Santa Maria Community Services Cincinnati, OH | General Support | $20,000 |
| Society of St Vincent De Paul Council of Northern Kentucky Erlanger, KY | General Support | $20,000 |
| Society of St Vincent De Paul Council Cincinnati, OH | General Support | $20,000 |
| Caring Place of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | General Support | $15,000 |
| Center for Respite Care Cincinnati, OH | General Support | $15,000 |
| Mercy Neighborhood Ministries Cincinnati, OH | General Support | $15,000 |
| University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MI | General Support | $15,000 |
| Athenaeum of Ohio Cincinnati, OH | General Support | $10,000 |
| Down Syndrome Association Cincinnati, OH | General Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ruth J & Robert a Conway 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 | $9,953,882 | $1,018,838 | $337,305 | $215,000 | 16 | $225,068 | $902,085 | $829,657 |
| 2023 | $9,304,491 | $2,080,259 | $9,893,589 | $9,746,010 | 57 | $9,761,388 | $373,837 | $1,058,586 |
| 2022 | $14,205,582 | $1,384,921 | $849,495 | $665,000 | 33 | $681,113 | $1,231,658 | $1,042,171 |
| 2021 | $14,021,969 | $969,281 | $538,430 | $400,000 | 20 | $414,139 | $524,989 | $1,078,308 |
| 2020 | $13,572,123 | $1,228,910 | $418,782 | $296,000 | 22 | — | $1,135,135 | $874,344 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation reported a distributable amount of $830K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to a range of organizations. For example, Santa Maria Community Services describes its work as helping Greater Price Hill families attain education, financial, and health goals. The Center for Respite Care says it provides holistic medical care to people experiencing homelessness who need a safe place to heal. Last Mile Food Rescue describes its mission as rescuing good food and getting it to people who need it.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $215,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $25,000, with a median award of $12,500. Its largest listed award was $25,000 to Pink Ribbon Girls for general support. Other grants included $20,000 each to Santa Maria Community Services, Society of St Vincent de Paul Council of Northern Kentucky, and Society of St Vincent de Paul Council in Cincinnati; and $15,000 each to Caring Place of Cincinnati, Center for Respite Care, Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, and University of Detroit Mercy. The listed purposes for these grants were general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mary Lois Conway Drath as president. Trustees are Tim Conway, Mary Ruth Smyjunas, Sean Conway, and Sheila Conway.
Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation is led by Mary Lois Conway Drath, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary Lois Conway Drath
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Ruth Smyjunas
Trustee
Treasurer → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sean Conway
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sheila Conway
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Conway
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Joseph A. Conway (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Judy Wimberg (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Kathleen Bell (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Liz Carter (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Robert Conway Jr. (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Sister Carren Herring (2020–2023) — Trustee
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.
Frequently asked questions about Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation
How much does Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation give each year?
Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation gave $215K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $9.7M across 57 grants.
What is Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation's typical grant size?
Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $12,500, and its average grant was $13,438, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation give grants?
Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Kentucky (14%) and Michigan (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (11 grants).
Does Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation's largest grantees?
Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Pink Ribbon Girls ($25,000), Santa Maria Community Services ($20,000) and Society of St Vincent De Paul Council of Northern Kentucky ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation?
Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation reported $10.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $225K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $830K (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 Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to a range of organizations. For example, Santa Maria Community Services describes its work as helping Greater Price Hill families attain education, financial, and health goals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation?
An application must be requested in writing. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation's EIN?
Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1575184. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ruth J & Robert a Conway Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ruth-j-and-robert-a-conway-foundation-morg_edb750129d874482bfe8c1b5b2550446
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311575184_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ruth J \& Robert a Conway Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ruth-j-and-robert-a-conway-foundation-morg_edb750129d874482bfe8c1b5b2550446},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Ruth J & Robert a Conway 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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