Spec's Charitable Foundation
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.
Spec's Charitable Foundation at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,575,000
- +4.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $393,750
- +4.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $385,000
- Total assets
- $4,598,344
- +7.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Spec's Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
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
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 7 grants of 20 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
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.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ArchDiocese of Galveston Houston, TX | Educational Purposes | $735,000 |
| Houston Symphony Outreach Houston, TX | Educational Purposes | $650,000 |
| U of H Conrad Hilton School Houston, TX | Educational Purposes | $120,000 |
| University of North Texas Foundation Denton, TX | Educational Purposes | $70,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Spec's Charitable 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 | $4,598,344 | $2,693,573 | $2,088,919 | $1,575,000 | 4 | $1,575,000 | $301,629 | $232,149 |
| 2023 | $4,262,667 | $2,113,658 | $1,951,161 | $1,513,000 | 4 | $1,896,250 | $48,035 | $210,117 |
| 2022 | $4,076,623 | $2,086,647 | $1,899,841 | $1,536,597 | 5 | $1,536,597 | $271,989 | $181,070 |
| 2021 | $3,278,436 | $1,831,022 | $1,206,500 | $1,154,000 | 4 | $1,154,000 | $381,199 | $117,959 |
| 2020 | $3,216,965 | $1,787,955 | $1,539,819 | $1,446,000 | 3 | — | $82,034 | $126,812 |
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.
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.
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 Spec's Charitable Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Spec's Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Texas
Ernst & Young Foundation
New York, NY
Ernst & Young Foundation supports higher education through employee and partner matching gifts, as well as educational and special-project grants, including research, education forums, and programs that expand educational opportunity. In 2025, it made 637 grants ranging from $5,056 to $316,005, with a median of $13,525, to recipients across multiple states; the largest shares went to New York, Texas, California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$47.6M
Grants
637
Total Given
$16.7M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Dallas Jewish Community Foundation
Dallas, TX
The Dallas Jewish Community Foundation distributes donor-directed grants and supports charitable, educational, healthcare, and social-service initiatives, including Jewish community organizations and scholarships. Its 2025 grants had a median of $19,240, with 51% of grant dollars going to Texas recipients; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$329.8M
Grants
579
Total Given
$52.9M
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Communities Foundation of Texas Inc
Dallas, TX
Communities Foundation of Texas funds a broad range of community needs, including health, education, housing, and community development, primarily in North Texas and across Texas. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $18,800, though amounts varied widely; nearly all opportunities are by invitation, with some specific programs open for applications.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
2,209
Total Given
$209.2M
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston, TX
The Foundation makes grants through donor-advised and other donor-established funds for public benefit, human services, education, and health, including initiatives addressing economic mobility and poverty in Harris County. In 2024, its median grant was $25,000; it serves Greater Houston, while grants also go to recipients elsewhere in Texas and beyond. It does not accept proposals for the upcoming High-Impact Grantmaking cycle and plans to invite selected organizations or collaboratives to apply.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,724
Total Given
$232.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Spec's Charitable 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.
Spec's Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?