The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation
The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation is a private foundation based in Victoria, Texas. It makes grants to charitable, religious, and educational organizations, generally in Refugio and Victoria counties, and operates and maintains St. Dennis Chapel in Refugio County.
The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation at a glance
In short: The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation gave $728K across 46 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Texas. 7% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $727,884
- -11.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 46
- +7.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,824
- -17.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $10,117,968
- +31.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (3 of 46, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Requests should be submitted in writing and include a resume of activities and a specific dollar request. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Awards are generally limited to charitable, religious, and educational organizations in Refugio and Victoria counties, Texas.
- Contact
Application contact: Bland Proctor
Mailing address: P O Box 400, Victoria, TX 77902-0400
Phone: (361) 578-6271
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Meals on Wheels South Texas - Victoria Senior Citizens Center Inc ($70K). Together the top 10 received $395K.
Grant Size Distribution
226 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 217 grants of 226 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grant dollars went entirely to recipients in Texas. Its stated award restrictions generally limit grants to charitable, religious, and educational organizations in Refugio and Victoria counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 46 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 46 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $396K (2020) to $822K (2024). In 2025 it made 46 grants totaling $728K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Meals on Wheels South Texas - Victoria Senior Citizens Center Inc Victoria, TX | Operational Support | $70,000 |
| Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry Victoria, TX | Support for Their Food Pantry | $50,000 |
| St Mary's Catholic Church Victoria, TX | Assisting with the restoration of the nazareth convent project | $50,000 |
| Christ's Kitchen Victoria, TX | Operational Support | $40,000 |
| Community Action Committee of Victoria Texas Victoria, TX | Operational support to address victoria's homeless by ensuring housing stability for those in need | $35,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Refugio County Refugio, TX | Support for Triple Play Program | $30,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Victoria Inc Victoria, TX | Enhancement of Youth Program Services | $30,000 |
| Food Bank of the Golden Crescent Victoria, TX | Operational Support | $30,000 |
| Golden Crescent CASA Inc Victoria, TX | Operational Support | $30,000 |
| Mid-Coast Family Services Victoria, TX | Operational Support | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Kathryn O'Connor 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,117,968 | $3,387,694 | $948,986 | $727,884 | 46 | $845,906 | $3,131,638 | $794,203 |
| 2024 | $7,677,730 | $893,269 | $952,922 | $822,475 | 43 | $822,475 | $785,039 | $767,533 |
| 2023 | $7,737,383 | $906,856 | $709,663 | $627,176 | 43 | $627,176 | $810,637 | $640,750 |
| 2022 | $7,547,761 | $1,254,346 | $782,908 | $693,607 | 48 | $693,607 | $1,156,186 | $626,941 |
| 2021 | $7,070,682 | $697,769 | $757,958 | $677,780 | 46 | $677,780 | $600,995 | $670,934 |
| 2020 | $7,128,941 | $597,927 | $461,612 | $396,433 | 46 | — | $437,098 | $527,755 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation reported a distributable amount of $794K 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 filing describes its direct charitable activity as operating and maintaining St. Dennis Chapel, a Roman Catholic church available to the public for prayer, Bible study, field trips, meetings, weddings, other special events, and regularly scheduled Masses.
Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in areas including food assistance, senior services, youth programs, housing stability, and family support. For example, Christ’s Kitchen says its mission is to feed people in need and provide medical and transportation assistance. Mid-Coast Family Services says it works to eliminate family violence, homelessness, and substance abuse. Goliad County Senior Citizens says it provides meals and recreation to older adults, including homebound people in Goliad County.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 46 grants totaling $727,884. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $70,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest were $70,000 to Meals on Wheels South Texas – Victoria Senior Citizens Center for operational support; $50,000 to Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry for its food pantry; and $50,000 to St. Mary’s Catholic Church for restoration of the Nazareth Convent project. Other grants included $40,000 to Christ’s Kitchen and $35,000 to Community Action Committee of Victoria Texas.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and trustees listed on the 2025 filing are D H Braman III, VP/Trustee; Louise O'Connor, VP/Trustee; Ralph R Gilster III, President/Treasurer/Trustee; Junie G Meskey, Trustee; Kathryn G Dunham, Trustee; Virginia D Lebermann, Trustee; Bland Proctor, Secretary; and Tom Gilster, VP/Trustee.
The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation is led by Ralph R. Gilster III, President, Treasurer & Trustee on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ralph R. Gilster III
President, Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
D. H. Braman III
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Junie G. Meskey
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kathryn G. Dunnam
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Louise O'Connor
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Virginia D. Lebermann
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tom Gilster
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Bland Proctor
Secretary
Assistant Secretary → Secretary & Assistant Secretary, 2021
Secretary & Assistant Secretary → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Kathryn Counts (2020–2023) — Vice President & Trustee
- Former: Venable Proctor (2020–2021) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Kathryn O'Connor Foundation
How much does The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation give each year?
The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation gave $728K across 46 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $822K across 43 grants.
What is The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation's typical grant size?
The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,824, across 46 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation give grants?
The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Victoria, TX (29 grants), Refugio, TX (8 grants) and Goliad, TX (4 grants).
Does The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 46) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation's largest grantees?
The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Meals on Wheels South Texas - Victoria Senior Citizens Center Inc ($70,000), Victoria Christian Assistance Ministry ($50,000) and St Mary's Catholic Church ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation?
The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation reported $10.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $846K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $794K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its direct charitable activity as operating and maintaining St. Dennis Chapel, a Roman Catholic church available to the public for prayer, Bible study, field trips, meetings, weddings, other special events, and regularly scheduled Masses. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation?
Requests should be submitted in writing and include a resume of activities and a specific dollar request. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation's EIN?
The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6039415. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-kathryn-o-connor-foundation-morg_77aa3c4ead854d7382875fb4bf87fbcb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_746039415_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Kathryn O'Connor Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-kathryn-o-connor-foundation-morg_77aa3c4ead854d7382875fb4bf87fbcb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Kathryn O'Connor 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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