The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation
The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation is a private foundation based in Fort Worth, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports 23 grants totaling $65,000 to charitable organizations in several states, with the largest shares of grant dollars going to recipients in Washington, California, and Missouri.
The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation at a glance
In short: The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation gave $65K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), top state Washington. 4% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $65,000
- -0.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- -8.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,826
- +7.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,707,422
- +7.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (31% 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 The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4455 Camp Bowie Blvd Suite 114-72, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Phone: (817) 999-3282
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was City Academy ($10K). Together the top 10 received $48K.
Grant Size Distribution
105 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 105 grants of 105 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states. By share of grant dollars, Washington accounted for 31%, California 23%, Missouri 22%, Texas 9%, and Illinois 4%. These reported shares do not account for all grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 23 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 91% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−19%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 94% 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 $65K (2024) to $100K (2020). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $65K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City Academy St. Louis, MO | General Support | $10,000 |
| Woodland Park Zoo Seattle, WA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Alameda County Community Food Bank Oakland, CA | General Support | $6,000 |
| Berkeley Food Network Berkeley, CA | general support | $5,000 |
| Malt Fort Worth, TX | general support | $5,000 |
| Berkeley Public Library Berkeley, CA | general support | $3,000 |
| St Louis Children's Hospital Foundation St. Louis, MO | General Support | $2,500 |
| Home Works St. Louis, MO | General Support | $2,000 |
| Mary's Place Seattle, WA | General Support | $2,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, UT | general support | $2,000 |
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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 | $1,707,422 | $48,776 | $83,594 | $65,000 | 23 | $77,286 | $42,968 | $82,575 |
| 2023 | $1,593,726 | $39,362 | $78,704 | $65,500 | 25 | $72,659 | $33,462 | $74,213 |
| 2022 | $1,455,585 | $64,039 | $86,770 | $71,500 | 24 | $81,318 | $58,607 | $77,116 |
| 2021 | $1,787,351 | $62,798 | $102,842 | $80,000 | 13 | $93,690 | $54,844 | $86,177 |
| 2020 | $1,662,075 | $85,533 | $110,021 | $100,000 | 20 | — | $84,479 | $74,234 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation reported a distributable amount of $83K 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 included general support for organizations working in education, food assistance, health care, arts and culture, and conservation. For example, City Academy says it works to transform children, families, and its community through education, while Alameda County Community Food Bank says it pursues a hunger-free community. The Ballard Food Bank describes its mission as bringing food and hope to neighbors.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $65,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, with a median of $2,000. Larger grants included $10,000 each to City Academy in St. Louis and Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle; $6,000 to Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland; and $5,000 each to Berkeley Food Network and MALT in Fort Worth. Other reported grants included $3,000 to Berkeley Public Library and $2,500 to St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Nancy S. Thompson as secretary, treasurer, and director; Christopher Thompson as president and director; and Andrew Thompson, Heather Thompson, Wendy Thompson, and Rebecca D’Isay Spring as directors.
The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation is led by Christopher Thompson, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher Thompson
President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Andrew Thompson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Heather Thompson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Nancy S. Thompson
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rebecca D'isay Spring
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Wendy Thompson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: C. Rhea Thompson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: J. Andy Thompson (2020) — Director
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 The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation
How much does The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation give each year?
The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation gave $65K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $66K across 25 grants.
What is The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation's typical grant size?
The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,826, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation give grants?
The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation's top state is Washington, with 31% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (23%) and Missouri (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (6 grants), St. Louis, MO (3 grants), Berkeley, CA (2 grants) and Fort Worth, TX (2 grants).
Does The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation's largest grantees?
The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include City Academy ($10,000), Woodland Park Zoo ($10,000) and Alameda County Community Food Bank ($6,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation?
The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $77K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $83K (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 The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general support for organizations working in education, food assistance, health care, arts and culture, and conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation?
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation's EIN?
The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2709116. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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
(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 The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-cleaves-and-mae-rhea-foundation-morg_49df4283cd9c4689a563109a3bb9816e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752709116_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Cleaves and Mae Rhea Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-cleaves-and-mae-rhea-foundation-morg_49df4283cd9c4689a563109a3bb9816e},
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 The Cleaves and Mae Rhea 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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