The Irene Ryan Foundation
The Irene Ryan Foundation is a private foundation based in Foxboro, Massachusetts. It supports theatre and arts programs through grants.
The Irene Ryan Foundation at a glance
In short: The Irene Ryan Foundation gave $70K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $70,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- Average grant
- $7,000
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $603,314
- -12.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (50% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Irene Ryan Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its 2024 IRS filing says written requests are accepted for theatre and arts program funding, for both general support and specific program and event purposes. The filing listed no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- No specific deadlines.
- Deadline
- No specific deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Barbara Mclean
Mailing address: 100 Keyes Rd 223, Concord, MA 01724
Phone: (949) 400-4620
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Irene Ryan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Perkins Academy for the Blind ($10K). Together the top 10 received $70K.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 18 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina (50%), Massachusetts (36%), California (7%), and New York (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Irene Ryan Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 218% 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $44K (2021) to $87K (2023). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $70K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Perkins Academy for the Blind Watertown, MA | Theatre Arts Program Support. | $10,000 |
| Raleigh Little Theatre Raleigh, NC | Theatre Arts Program Support. | $10,000 |
| Theatre For All Wilmington, NC | Theatre Arts Program Support. | $10,000 |
| Rare Bird Theatre Spring Creek, NC | Theatre Arts Program Support. | $10,000 |
| Positive Action Community Theatre Encinitas, CA | Theatre Arts Program Support. | $5,000 |
| Rehabilitation Thru Arts Purchase, NY | Theatre Arts Program Support. | $5,000 |
| Art Access Inc Raleigh, NC | Theatre Arts Program Support. | $5,000 |
| Special Need Art Program Lexington, MA | Theatre Arts Program Support. | $5,000 |
| Cape Symphony Cape Arts & Entertainment West Barnstable, MA | Theatre Arts Program Support. | $5,000 |
| Special Stars Performing Arts Salisbury, MA | Theatre Arts Program Support. | $5,000 |
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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 | $603,314 | $1,627 | $90,194 | $70,000 | 10 | $70,000 | $32,043 |
| 2024 | $691,881 | $1,753 | $20,103 | — | — | — | $34,458 |
| 2023 | $710,231 | $2,224 | $107,249 | $87,000 | 6 | $87,000 | $38,501 |
| 2022 | $815,256 | $2,258 | $80,035 | $60,000 | 1 | $60,000 | $43,444 |
| 2021 | $893,033 | $2,277 | $64,068 | $44,000 | 1 | — | $45,201 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Irene Ryan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K 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 2024 IRS filing describes its direct charitable activity as grants to theatre programs in support of the arts. Its 2025 grant purposes were listed as theatre arts program support.
Among its 2025 grantees, Theatre For All Inc. describes its mission as empowering people with disabilities, nurturing community connections, and overturning stereotypes through performing arts. Raleigh Little Theatre Inc. describes its mission as using theatre to enrich, educate, entertain, and engage volunteers, students, and audiences of all ages.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $70,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $10,000, with a median of $5,000. Recipients included Perkins Academy for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts ($10,000); Raleigh Little Theatre and Theatre For All in North Carolina ($10,000 each); and Rare Bird Theatre in Spring Creek, North Carolina ($10,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Barbara McLean as managing director and Lisa K Wrye as treasurer and secretary, director.
The Irene Ryan Foundation is led by Barbara McLean, Managing Director on every filing since 2021; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barbara McLean
Managing Director
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$6K (2021) → $12K (2025)
Lisa K. Wrye
Treasurer, Secretary & Director
Treasurer & Secretary → Treasurer, Secretary & Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$6K (2023) → $6K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Donald R. McLean (2021–2022) — Former Managing Director
- Former: Thomas McLean (2021–2022) — Former Managing Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $12K, to Barbara McLean (Managing Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Irene Ryan Foundation
How much does The Irene Ryan Foundation give each year?
The Irene Ryan Foundation gave $70K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is The Irene Ryan Foundation's typical grant size?
The Irene Ryan Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,000, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Irene Ryan Foundation give grants?
The Irene Ryan Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (36%) and California (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Raleigh, NC (2 grants).
Does The Irene Ryan Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on The Irene Ryan Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Theatre Arts Program Support." (10 grants).
Who are The Irene Ryan Foundation's largest grantees?
The Irene Ryan Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Perkins Academy for the Blind ($10,000), Raleigh Little Theatre ($10,000) and Theatre For All ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Irene Ryan Foundation?
The Irene Ryan Foundation reported $603K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $70K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $32K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Irene Ryan Foundation fund?
The foundation’s 2024 IRS filing describes its direct charitable activity as grants to theatre programs in support of the arts. Its 2025 grant purposes were listed as theatre arts program support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Irene Ryan Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Irene Ryan Foundation's EIN?
The Irene Ryan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-2702624. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The Irene Ryan 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Irene Ryan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-irene-ryan-foundation-morg_bf098739526046d994ba1b6d821027e4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_952702624_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Irene Ryan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-irene-ryan-foundation-morg_bf098739526046d994ba1b6d821027e4},
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 Irene Ryan 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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