The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation is a public charity based in Corpus Christi, Texas. Established in 1960 by Sarita Kenedy East, it supports mostly Catholic educational, charitable, and religious activities, primarily in South Texas.
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation at a glance
In short: The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation gave $16.8M across 388 grants in 2024 (avg $43K), mostly in Texas. 48% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $16,766,015
- +4.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 388
- +15.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $43,211
- -9.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $494,578,717
- +10.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 48% first-time grantees (155 of 323, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Organizations must pass the eligibility quiz to access the foundation’s online application. Applicants must be nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and be listed in IRS Publication 78 or, for Catholic applicants, the an individual recipient Directory. Applications are considered for organizations and programs, not individuals, and grant funds must be used within Texas. The online application includes organization, contact, and project information, plus required electronic attachments; the application page identifies a copy of the applicant’s most recent IRS determination as a required attachment. Applications must be filed directly with the foundation, not with board members. The grant policy says incomplete applications are returned and gives applicants seven business days to complete them.
- Review Cycle
- October 15 for consideration at the board’s May meetings.
- Deadline
- October 15 for consideration at the board’s May meetings.
- Contact
Mailing address: 555 N Carancahua St 1700, Corpus Christi, TX 78401-0851
Phone: (361) 887-6565
Website: https://kenedy.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation
Who The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Diocese of Corpus Christi ($1.9M). Together the top 10 received $4.3M.
Organizations only. It also paid 58 grants to individuals ($1,832,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,738 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,271 grants of 1,738 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All charitable donations are made within Texas. The foundation’s primary focus is South Texas; its filing identifies the Dioceses of Brownsville, Corpus Christi, and Laredo as the South Texas area receiving about 70% of its sectarian grants. It also supports Catholic activities elsewhere in Texas and non-sectarian charities operating in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 388 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation open to new grantees?
48%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 155 of 323 grantees (48%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $67K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 33% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $14.4M (2020) to $16.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 388 grants totaling $16.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Diocese of Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX | 10% Income Distribution | $1,918,015 |
| Chancery Office of Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX | Renovations (2nd of 5 payments) | $600,000 |
| San Agustin Parish Hall Laredo, TX | Operational Support | $252,800 |
| Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission La Villa, TX | Repairs | $250,000 |
| Texas Catholic Conference Austin, TX | Education Growth Fund | $250,000 |
| Archdiocese of San Antonio - Hope for the Future San Antonio, TX | Tuition Assistance | $200,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX | Mission Support | $200,000 |
| MissionParish Support - Diocese of Laredo Laredo, TX | Operational Support | $200,000 |
| Mother Teresa Shelter Corpus Christi, TX | Program Support | $200,000 |
| Office of Evangelization and Catechesis - Diocese of Victoria Victoria, TX | Operational Support | $154,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $494,578,717 | $31,844,186 | $22,119,519 | $16,766,015 | 388 | $18,864,730 |
| 2023 | $447,376,604 | $23,340,020 | $21,540,965 | $16,015,958 | 336 | $7,948,215 |
| 2022 | $391,275,423 | $49,226,807 | $22,004,481 | $16,900,094 | 343 | $13,284,524 |
| 2021 | $427,674,743 | $73,765,655 | $19,899,876 | $15,096,042 | 310 | $33,507,427 |
| 2020 | $364,888,417 | $75,089,891 | $18,408,488 | $14,378,944 | 361 | $62,577,965 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to nurture endeavors that help break the cycle of poverty, assist people to help themselves, develop the Catholic faith, advance spirituality, support Catholic institutions, cultivate a passion for learning, foster respect, and encourage cooperative partnerships. It encourages grants with benefits that extend beyond the primary grantee, as well as seed funding that can catalyze significant, preferably ongoing, effects.
Education is a favored area, including tuition assistance for Catholic schools and support for Catholic and public universities. The foundation also favors health and human services. Its 2024 filing says that about 70% of sectarian grants go to South Texas, including the Dioceses of Brownsville, Corpus Christi, and Laredo.
Examples of supported organizations include Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi, which describes its mission as serving people in need and addressing social ills; Mother Teresa Shelter, which says it provides outreach services to homeless individuals and families; and an individual recipient and Saint Rita Monastery, which says it supports nuns’ prayers and services for the poor.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 388 grants totaling $16,766,015. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $1,918,015, with a median award of $25,000. The largest listed grants included $1,918,015 to the Diocese of Corpus Christi for “10% Income Distribution,” $600,000 to the Chancery Office of Corpus Christi for renovations, and $252,800 to San Agustin Parish Hall for operational support. Other listed awards included $250,000 each to an individual recipient for repairs and the an individual recipient Conference for its Education Growth Fund; $200,000 each to Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi, Archdiocese of an individual recipient – Hope for the Future, MissionParish Support – Diocese of Laredo, and Mother Teresa Shelter; and $150,000 each to Catholic Schools of Fort Worth for tuition assistance and Parish & School Accounting Services – Diocese of Corpus Christi for accounting services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists BP WM Michael Mulvey, AB Gustavo Garcia-Siller, Bishop Robert Coerver, Bishop John Cahill, Nicholas T Serafy Jr, Marcela Garcia, Francis Hubert, and Michael F Terry as directors. Gloria Hicks is listed as vice president, and Robert Sweeney as treasurer.
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation is led by Sylvia Whitmore, CEO & Officer on every filing since 2020; 16 of 18 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sylvia Whitmore
CEO & Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$258K (2020) → $307K (2024)
Ricardo Hinojosa
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
AB Gustavo Garcia-Siller
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$13K (2020) → $13K (2024)
Bishop John Cahill
Director
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$14K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Bishop Robert Coerver
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$13K (2020) → $14K (2024)
BP WM Michael Mulvey
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$14K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Nicholas T Serafy Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$13K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Michael F Terry
Director
On filings since 2021
1.5 hrs/week
$12K (2021) → $14K (2024)
Francis Hubert
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
$13K (2023) → $14K (2024)
Marcela Garcia
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$13K (2023) → $14K (2024)
Thomas E Dobson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$1K (2023) → $0 (2024)
Gloria Hicks
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Jean Claire Turcotte
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$16K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Linda E Galvan
Assistant Comptroller
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$106K (2020) → $121K (2024)
Marco Castillo
Operations Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$131K (2020) → $153K (2024)
Paul Damerow
Comptroller
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$159K (2020) → $173K (2024)
Robert J Sweeney
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$16K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Silvat Majeed
Investment Officer
Invest Coordinator → Investment Officer, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$110K (2020) → $124K (2024)
Former officers (7)
- Former: Brad Stewart (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: JA Garcia Jr. (2020–2022) — Non-Voting Director
- Former: Tom Dobson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Anna B Galo (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Homero Vera (2020–2021) — Ranch Manager
- Former: Analeta Olden (2020) — Director
- Former: Mike Dipp Jr. (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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $307K, to Sylvia Whitmore (CEO/Officer). 16 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation
How much does The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation give each year?
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation gave $16.8M across 388 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $16.0M across 336 grants.
What is The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation's typical grant size?
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $43,211, across 388 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation that year got $36K on average.
Where does The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation give grants?
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Corpus Christi, TX (86 grants), Laredo, TX (26 grants), San Antonio, TX (26 grants) and Houston, TX (14 grants).
Does The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 24% of The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (93 of 388) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (59 grants), "Tuition Assistance" (28 grants) and "Tuition Assistance - KMF Initiative" (21 grants).
Who are The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation's largest grantees?
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Diocese of Corpus Christi ($1,918,015), Chancery Office of Corpus Christi ($600,000) and Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission ($280,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 58 grants to individuals ($1,832,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation?
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation reported $494.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $31.8M.
What does The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to nurture endeavors that help break the cycle of poverty, assist people to help themselves, develop the Catholic faith, advance spirituality, support Catholic institutions, cultivate a passion for learning, foster respect, and encourage cooperative partnerships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation?
Organizations must pass the eligibility quiz to access the foundation’s online application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation's EIN?
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6040701. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation funds
Religion Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Puente de Maravillas Foundation
San Antonio, TX
The San Antonio-based Puente de Maravillas Foundation supports charitable and educational organizations, including work in scholarships, health and human services, hunger relief, vocational programs, arts, and youth services, primarily in Texas. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $300,000, with a median of $25,000. It funds preselected organizations only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$52.3M
Grants
53
Total Given
$2.8M
Behmann Brothers Foundation
Corpus Christi, TX
The foundation funds agricultural research and education, schools, youth programs, healthcare, and service organizations, primarily in eight South Texas counties; applicants must be headquartered in Texas. Its 2025 grants ranged from $145 to $36,000, with a median of $2,500. It accepts applications by regular mail using its required form, during its stated application period.
Assets
$8.5M
Grants
106
Total Given
$364K
United Way of the Coastal Bend Inc
Corpus Christi, TX
United Way of the Coastal Bend funds programs in education, health, and financial stability across 60 communities in ten Coastal Bend counties in Texas. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,090 to $192,475, with a median of $31,725; it reviews submitted grants, but the profile does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$8.6M
Grants
53
Total Given
$2.8M
Earl C Sams Foundation Inc
Corpus Christi, TX
The Earl C. Sams Foundation supports public charities working in education, health, social services, religion, and the environment, primarily in South Texas. In 2024, grants ranged from $2,500 to $170,500, with a median of $10,000. It considers applications from public charities; applications are generally due 30 days before a board meeting.
Assets
$20.7M
Grants
49
Total Given
$777K
Allen Lovelace Moore
Corpus Christi, TX
The Blanche Davis Moore Foundation funds programs for children 18 and under, including education, outreach, childcare, food, recreation, and housing, with priority in Nueces, Kleberg, Jim Wells, and San Patricio counties in Texas. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6 to $25,000, with a median of $7,500. It accepts applications from eligible public charities using its standard form.
Assets
$7.9M
Grants
51
Total Given
$389K
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Inc
San Antonio, TX
This San Antonio-based funder supports healthcare and social services for underserved communities, including access to mental and behavioral healthcare and food security, across the 74-county Rio Texas Conference area. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $171,000 (ranging from $5,429 to $4.78 million); it welcomes proposals through its open grant cycle, while Cornerstone Grants are invitation-only.
Assets
$2.2B
Grants
218
Total Given
$64.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-g-and-marie-stella-kenedy-memorial-foundation-morg_a8be7252d94749eeb889e2e8fcf5e180
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_746040701_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-g-and-marie-stella-kenedy-memorial-foundation-morg_a8be7252d94749eeb889e2e8fcf5e180},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial 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.
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?