The Ryan Foundation
The Ryan Foundation is a private foundation based in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Its website describes its support as focused on medical research, healthcare and education; its grant records also show giving to community and religious organizations.
The Ryan Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ryan Foundation gave $52.0M across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $3.2M), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $51,951,644
- +168.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +300.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,246,978
- -33.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $307,287
- Total assets
- $1,471,817,371
- +3.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Colorado (88% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Ryan Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation says applications should include general background information about the applicant, the amount requested and the organization’s proposed budget. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and it lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- Contact the foundation for information.
- Deadline
- Contact the foundation for information.
- Contact
Application contact: Steve Ryan
Mailing address: 8301 E Prentice Ave Suite 200, Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Phone: (402) 306-2965
Email: steve.p.ryan@ryan.foundation
Website: https://ryan.foundation
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ryan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Charles Schwab Donor Advised Fund ($45.9M). Together the top 10 received $51.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 31 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
For 2024, the reported share of grant dollars by recipient state was Colorado 88%, Nebraska 11%, Missouri 1% and Iowa 0%. These figures are reported as percentages. The 2024 grants included recipients in Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Ryan Foundation gives
- 0% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1438% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 84% 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 (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 $3.4M (2021) to $52.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $52.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Schwab Donor Advised Fund Denver, CO | General Support | $45,900,000 |
| Catholic Bishop of Lincoln Inc Lincoln, NE | General Support | $1,500,000 |
| Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Omaha Omaha, NE | General Support | $800,000 |
| Catholic Archbishop of Omaha Inc Omaha, NE | General Support | $715,000 |
| VJ and Angela Skutt Catholic High School Omaha, NE | General Support | $600,000 |
| Children's Hospital & Medical Center Foundation Omaha, NE | General Support | $400,000 |
| Lourdes Central Catholic School Nebraska City, NE | General Support | $370,000 |
| Father Flanagan' Boys Home dba Boys Town National Research Hospital Boys Town, NE | General Support | $320,573 |
| Curators of the University of Missouri Columbia, MO | General Support | $294,000 |
| Duchesne College & Convent Omaha, NE | General Support | $268,483 |
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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 | $1,471,817,371 | $77,615,901 | $59,137,924 | $51,951,644 | 16 | $59,503,786 | $74,918,762 | $70,796,403 |
| 2023 | $1,424,512,361 | $561,557,585 | $97,711,700 | $19,378,937 | 4 | $19,378,937 | $5,190,569 | $52,806,339 |
| 2022 | $414,086,102 | $131,492,826 | $28,082,637 | $16,004,705 | 5 | $16,004,705 | $21,452,884 | $19,343,449 |
| 2021 | $441,293,463 | $369,614,124 | $7,148,928 | $3,377,063 | 3 | $3,377,063 | $16,927,218 | $16,354,965 |
| 2020 | $80,530,529 | $42,127,302 | $9,113,761 | $5,393,087 | 3 | — | $1,188,890 | $2,791,105 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ryan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $70.8M 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
The foundation’s website highlights medical research, healthcare and education. Its supported organizations include healthcare providers, research institutions, schools, community organizations, churches and missions, and charitable funds and foundations.
One supported grantee, New Visions Homeless Services, describes its mission as providing “help, hope and opportunities” to neighbors experiencing homelessness and hunger in the Council Bluffs and Omaha communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $51,951,644. Grants ranged from $30,000 to $45,900,000, with a median of $307,286. The largest grant was listed to “filing” in Denver, Colorado, for $45,900,000, with the purpose stated as general support.
Other notable 2024 grants included $1,500,000 to Catholic Bishop of Lincoln Inc; $800,000 to Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Omaha; $715,000 to Catholic Archbishop of Omaha Inc; $600,000 to VJ and Angela Skutt Catholic High School; and $400,000 to Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Foundation. Each was listed for general support.
The foundation’s website also reports a $2.5 million additional commitment to Boys Town National Research Hospital in June 2022 for research on childhood disorders.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Steve Ryan as president and Carol Ryan, Ramy Hanna and Walter Longo MD as board members.
The Ryan Foundation is led by Steve Ryan, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Steve Ryan
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$109K (2020) → $160K (2024)
Ramy Hanna
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$7K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Walter Longo MD
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$7K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Carol Ryan
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 $160K, to Steve Ryan (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Ryan Foundation
How much does The Ryan Foundation give each year?
The Ryan Foundation gave $52.0M across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $19.4M across 4 grants.
What is The Ryan Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ryan Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $307,287, and its average grant was $3,246,978, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Ryan Foundation give grants?
The Ryan Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Nebraska (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (8 grants).
Does The Ryan Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Ryan Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ryan Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ryan Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Charles Schwab Donor Advised Fund ($45,900,000), Catholic Bishop of Lincoln Inc ($1,500,000) and Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Omaha ($800,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ryan Foundation?
The Ryan Foundation reported $1.5B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $59.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $70.8M (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 Ryan Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website highlights medical research, healthcare and education. Its supported organizations include healthcare providers, research institutions, schools, community organizations, churches and missions, and charitable funds and foundations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ryan Foundation?
The foundation says applications should include general background information about the applicant, the amount requested and the organization’s proposed budget. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ryan Foundation's EIN?
The Ryan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3755606. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ryan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ryan-foundation-morg_4454eda9203845dfa1842b42c60699a9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363755606_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ryan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ryan-foundation-morg_4454eda9203845dfa1842b42c60699a9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 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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