Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation
Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. It supports arts and cultural education, education, and youth enrichment in communities impacted by Ryman Hospitality Properties’ assets.
Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation at a glance
In short: Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation gave $359K across 42 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Tennessee. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $359,150
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 42
- +7.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,551
- +2.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $14,415
- +204.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (13 of 41, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (89% 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 Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its online application. Proposals are reviewed monthly; the foundation’s website says applicants generally receive a response within 60 days of submission, while its 2025 filing says organizations are typically notified within 30 days of receipt. Applications should include the organization’s name, address, telephone number, and correspondence contact; the purpose and requested amount; a description of the organization’s objective; its tax-exemption letter; a board listing; and the intended use and beneficiaries. Applicants must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3), align with a focus area, and comply with applicable equal employment opportunity and other federal, state, and local laws. Ineligible applicants include individuals, trusts or endowments, international or foreign institutes, and political, lobbying, veteran, labor, religious, civic, social, or fraternal organizations. The foundation generally does not approve multi-year commitments.
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: Candice Rorie
Mailing address: One Gaylord Drive, Nashville, TN 37214
Phone: (615) 316-6000
Website: https://rymanhp.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation
Who Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cumberland Heights ($55K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $195K.
Grant Size Distribution
162 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 158 grants of 162 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Nashville. In 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to Tennessee recipients, 7% to Texas, 3% to Illinois, and 1% to Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 41 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 48% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $222K (2020) to $359K (2025). In 2025 it made 42 grants totaling $359K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland Heights Nashville, TN | Grant for support of program mission for treatment of addiction | $50,000 |
| Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country Kerrville, TX | Grant Supporting Kerr County Flood Relief | $25,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee Nashville, TN | Grant for Support of Program Mission for Youth | $25,000 |
| YMCA of Middle Tennessee Antioch, TN | Grant for Support of Program Mission for Youth | $25,000 |
| Pencil Foundation Nashville, TN | Grant for Support of Program Mission for Education | $15,000 |
| Adventure Science Center Nashville, TN | Grant for support of program mission for education and youth enrichment | $10,000 |
| Cheekwood Estate & Gardens Nashville, TN | Grant for Support of Program Mission for Youth | $10,000 |
| Ferguson Charitable Foundation Chicago, IL | Community Grant for General Support | $10,000 |
| Fisk University Nashville, TN | Grant for Support of Program Mission for Education | $10,000 |
| Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee Nashville, TN | Grant for Support of Program Mission for Youth | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,415 | $370,500 | $360,820 | $359,150 | 42 | $360,820 | $182 |
| 2024 | $4,735 | $325,000 | $328,285 | $326,625 | 39 | $328,285 | $1,330 |
| 2023 | $8,020 | $285,000 | $281,594 | $280,000 | 33 | $281,594 | $1,081 |
| 2022 | $4,614 | $210,000 | $244,663 | $243,100 | 28 | $244,663 | $2,340 |
| 2021 | $39,277 | $325,000 | $303,582 | $302,050 | 20 | $303,582 | $1,869 |
| 2020 | $17,859 | $180,000 | $222,982 | $221,500 | 17 | — | $2,564 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation reported a distributable amount of $182 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 focus areas are arts and cultural education programs that directly affect the community and raise awareness of historic preservation; primary through post-graduate education, with special interest in schools near the company’s holdings; and youth enrichment, particularly opportunities for disadvantaged children in the local area.
Its 2025 grants included organizations whose missions illustrate these areas. PENCIL says it links community resources with Metro Nashville Public Schools to help young people achieve academic success and prepare for life. The Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation says it works to strengthen early literacy in Tennessee, while Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee says it builds girls’ courage, confidence, and character. Fisk University describes its mission as educating graduates for substantive contributions to society.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 42 grants totaling $359,150. Grants ranged from $150 to $50,000, with a median of $5,000.
The largest reported grants included $50,000 to Cumberland Heights for addiction-treatment program support; $25,000 to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country for Kerr County flood relief; and $25,000 each to Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee and YMCA of Middle Tennessee for youth program support. Other grants included $15,000 to PENCIL Foundation for education program support and $10,000 each to Adventure Science Center, Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Fisk University, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation, and Middle Tennessee Council Boy Scouts of America.
The foundation also awarded $10,000 to Thistle Farms, whose stated mission is to support women survivors recovering from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction, and $5,000 each to Nashville Public Library Foundation and Communities in Schools of Tennessee.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Colin V. Reed as chairman, Mark Fioravanti as president, Scott J. Lynn as secretary, Justin Simpson as treasurer, and Brian Abrahamson, Shannon Sullivan, and Caroline Jones as assistant secretaries.
Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation is led by Mark Fioravanti, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mark Fioravanti
President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Colin V. Reed
Chairman
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Abrahamson
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott J. Lynn
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Jones
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin Simpson
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Sullivan
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Todd Siefert (2020–2023) — Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Jennifer Hutcheson (2020–2022) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation
How much does Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation give each year?
Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation gave $359K across 42 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $327K across 39 grants.
What is Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation's typical grant size?
Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,551, across 42 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation give grants?
Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (31 grants), Brentwood, TN (2 grants) and Hermitage, TN (2 grants).
Does Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 17% of Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 42) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Grant for Support of Program Mission for Youth" (13 grants), "Grant for Support of Program Mission for Education" (7 grants) and "Grant for Support of Program Mission for Community" (6 grants).
Who are Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation's largest grantees?
Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cumberland Heights ($55,000 across 2 grants), Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country ($25,000) and Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation?
Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation reported $14K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $361K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $182 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation fund?
The foundation’s focus areas are arts and cultural education programs that directly affect the community and raise awareness of historic preservation; primary through post-graduate education, with special interest in schools near the company’s holdings; and youth enrichment, particularly opportunities for disadvantaged children in the local area. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its online application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation's EIN?
Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2573370. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ryman-hospitality-properties-foundation-morg_9080112539d04f9bbeef5f2821953d6f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_202573370_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ryman Hospitality Properties Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ryman-hospitality-properties-foundation-morg_9080112539d04f9bbeef5f2821953d6f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Ryman Hospitality Properties 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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