Spec's Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Houston, TX EIN: 76-0488033

Spec's Charitable Foundation is a private foundation, based in Houston, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.6M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $1.6M. Net investment income was $302K.

Key facts about Spec's Charitable Foundation

In short: Spec's Charitable Foundation gave $1.6M across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $394K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
76-0488033
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,575,000
Grants made (2024)
4
Average grant
$393,750
Median grant
$385,000
Total assets
$4,598,344
Primary geography
Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

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

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.6M

+7.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.6M

+4.1% YoY

Grant Count

4

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$394K

+4.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Spec's Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $232K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Spec's Charitable Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 36% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 678% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

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

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

States

Cities

HoustonDenton

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M3 grants2020 4 grants2021 5 grants2022 4 grants2023 4 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2021) to $1.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $1.6M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

ArchDiocese of Galveston: $735KArchDiocese of Galveston$735KHouston Symphony Outreach: $650KHouston Symphony Outreach$650KU of H Conrad Hilton School: $120KU of H Conrad Hilton School$120KUniversity of North Texas Foundation: $70KUniversity of North TexasFoundation$70K

The largest 2024 recipient was ArchDiocese of Galveston ($735K). Together the top 4 received $1.6M.

Grant Size Distribution

20 grants across all recorded years

2<$50K3$50–100K3$100–250K5$250–500K7$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 7 grants of 20 (35%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
ArchDiocese of Galveston Houston, TXEducational Purposes$735,000
Houston Symphony Outreach Houston, TXEducational Purposes$650,000
U of H Conrad Hilton School Houston, TXEducational Purposes$120,000
University of North Texas Foundation Denton, TXEducational Purposes$70,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$4,598,344$4,262,667$4,076,623
Revenue$2,693,573$2,113,658$2,086,647
Expenses$2,088,919$1,951,161$1,899,841
Qualifying Distributions$1,575,000$1,896,250$1,536,597
Net Investment Income$301,629$48,035$271,989
Distributable Amount$232,149$210,117$181,070

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Spec's Charitable Foundation is led by Karen Lynn Rydman, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Karen Lynn Rydman

    President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • John A. Rydman

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Lisa R Key

    Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Robert J. Heisler

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

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 Spec's Charitable Foundation

How much does Spec's Charitable Foundation give each year?

Spec's Charitable Foundation gave $1.6M across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 4 grants.

What is Spec's Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?

Spec's Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $385,000, and its average grant was $393,750, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Spec's Charitable Foundation give grants?

Spec's Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (3 grants).

Does Spec's Charitable Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Spec's Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational Purposes" (4 grants).

How large is Spec's Charitable Foundation?

Spec's Charitable Foundation reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $232K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Spec's Charitable Foundation's EIN?

Spec's Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0488033. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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