The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation is a major charitable foundation based in Corpus Christi, Texas. Established on January 21, 1960, by Sarita Kenedy East—a South Texas rancher and philanthropist—the foundation was created to honor her parents, John G. Kenedy and Marie Stella Kenedy. The foundation is one of the largest charitable foundations in South Texas and operates with approximately 17-18 employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$494.6M
+10.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$16.8M
+4.7% YoY
Grant Count
388
+15.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
-9.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support and fund mostly Catholic, educational, charitable, and religious activities primarily in South Texas. The foundation operates according to seven core values:
- Help break the cycle of poverty
- Assist people to help themselves
- Develop the Catholic faith
- Advance spirituality
- Nurture support and love for Catholic institutions
- Cultivate a passion for learning
- Foster respect and encourage cooperative, collaborative partnerships
The foundation prioritizes grants with large "ripple effects"—those that generate benefits spreading beyond their primary grantee into the wider community. The foundation also considers "seed money" grants that provide a needed catalyst or first step to significant, preferably ongoing, positive outcomes.
Education has been strongly favored in recent grant-giving cycles, including tuition assistance for Catholic schools and scholarships for Catholic and public universities. The foundation also supports service organizations and Catholic charities targeting health and human services.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
October 15 (for May board consideration)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation makes all of its charitable donations within the State of Texas. Primary focus is on South Texas, specifically the regions encompassing the Dioceses of Brownsville, Corpus Christi, and Laredo. The foundation also supports non-sectarian charities throughout Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total assets: $494,578,717
- Total revenues: $31,844,186
- Total expenses: $22,119,519
- Annual giving: $16,203,608 (2023)
Rating: The foundation holds a Four-Star rating (96%) from Charity Navigator, reflecting strong accountability and financial management.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $494,578,717 | $447,376,604 | $391,275,423 |
| Revenue | $31,844,186 | $23,340,020 | $49,226,807 |
| Expenses | $22,119,519 | $21,540,965 | $22,004,481 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $18,864,730 | $7,948,215 | $13,284,524 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy
Fundraiser Support
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy
Amount
Up to $5,000
Deadline
October 15, 2026
General Grants (Sectarian and Non-Sectarian)
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy
Amount
Varies
Deadline
October 15, 2026
Kenedy Memorial Foundation Grant
The John G and Marie Stella Kenedy
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP WM Michael Mulvey | Director | 1 | $13,800 |
| AB Gustavo Garcia-Siller | Director | 3 | $13,200 |
| Bishop Robert Coerver | Director | 0.25 | $13,800 |
| Bishop John Cahill | Director | 1.5 | $13,800 |
| Gloria Hicks | Vice President | 2 | $14,400 |
| Nicholas T Serafy Jr | Director | 1 | $14,400 |
| Marcela Garcia | Director | 1 | $13,800 |
| Francis Hubert | Director | 0.25 | $13,800 |
| Robert Sweeney | Treasurer | 1 | $13,800 |
| Michael F Terry | Director | 1.5 | $13,800 |
| Jean Claire Turcotte | Secretary | 1 | $13,800 |
| Thomas E Dobson | Director | 1 | — |
| Ricardo Hinojosa | President | 0.48 | — |
| Sylvia Whitmore | CEO/Officer | 40 | $306,961 |
| Paul Damerow | Comptroller | 40 | $172,726 |
| Marco Castillo | Operations Officer | 40 | $152,509 |
| Silvat Majeed | Investment Officer | 40 | $124,141 |
| Linda E Galvan | Assistant Comptroller | 40 | $120,826 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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