The Ruth U Fertel Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2002 and based in Kenner, Louisiana. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation focused on grantmaking to support various charitable causes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.1M
+10.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$671K
-6.3% YoY
Grant Count
39
-15.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
+10.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruth U Fertel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $526K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for elementary and secondary education, including Catholic and Protestant schools. The foundation also supports causes dedicated to the arts, education, New Orleans, and the environment.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 46 grants in its most recent reporting year. Recent grant recipients include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Louisiana, Ohio, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $12,116,206
- Total Revenues: $1,483,738
- Total Expenses: $835,695
- Total Giving: $670,933
The foundation has no employees and no liabilities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,116,206 | $10,925,072 | $9,997,315 |
| Revenue | $1,483,738 | $1,357,299 | $1,251,985 |
| Expenses | $835,695 | $849,606 | $880,295 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $671,685 | $717,486 | $742,836 |
| Net Investment Income | $823,748 | $525,179 | $379,526 |
| Distributable Amount | $525,569 | $507,914 | $519,832 |
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
201 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Longue Vue Foundation ($62,500), Son Of A Saint ($60,000), Jesuit High School ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Audubon Nature Institute New Orleans, LA | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| Cafe Reconcile New Orleans, LA | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Dominican Peace Center Columbus, OH | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Edible School NOLA New Orleans, LA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Faulkner Society New Orleans, LA | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| Good Shepherd School New Orleans, LA | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Jazz At Lincoln Center New York, NY | Unrestricted | $12,500 |
| Jesuit High School New Orleans, LA | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Junior Achievment GNO Inc New Orleans, LA | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Kenyon Review Gambier, OH | Unrestricted | $12,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Randy Fertel serves as President and Director of the foundation. He also serves as President of the Fertel Foundation and supports causes dedicated to the arts, education, New Orleans, and the environment.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Fertel | President, Director | — | — |
| James E Ryder Jr | Sec-Treas., Director | — | — |
| Robert W Merrick | Director | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ruth U Fertel Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for elementary and secondary education, including Catholic and Protestant schools. The foundation also supports causes dedicated to the arts, education, New Orleans, and the environment.
How do I apply for a grant from Ruth U Fertel Foundation?
The foundation made 46 grants in its most recent reporting year. Recent grant recipients include: • Son of A Saint: $60,000 (unrestricted) • St. Mary's Dominican High School: $50,000 (unrestricted) • Louisiana Museum Foundation: $31,250 (unrestricted) Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $120,000. The foundation provides unrestricted grants to its recipients.
Where does Ruth U Fertel Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Louisiana, Ohio, and New York.
What size grants does Ruth U Fertel Foundation award?
In 2024, Ruth U Fertel Foundation awarded 39 grants totaling $671K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ruth U Fertel Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ruth U Fertel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $526K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ruth U Fertel Foundation's EIN?
Ruth U Fertel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-0879051. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ruth U Fertel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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