The Ward Family Foundation
The Ward Family Foundation is listed in IRS filing data as a private foundation based in Plano, Texas. Its 2025 filing reports 24 grants totaling $375,500.
The Ward Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ward Family Foundation gave $376K across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Texas. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $375,500
- +30.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,646
- +30.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $17,500
- Total assets
- $7,472,334
- +4.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (6 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (75% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ward Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. The website likewise describes an invitation-based process.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1900 Preston Road Ste 267 - 314, Plano, TX 75093
Phone: (214) 378-6303
Website: https://wardfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ward Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Children's Hospital of Boston ($50K). Together the top 10 received $279K.
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 104 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 75% of grant dollars went to Texas recipients, 13% to Massachusetts, 5% to Arkansas, 3% to Tennessee, and 3% to Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ward Family Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 24 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $22K first-time, $9K repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 59% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $232K (2019) to $376K (2022). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $376K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Hospital of Boston Boston, MA | Research | $50,000 |
| June Shelton School Dallas, TX | General | $40,000 |
| Dallas Architecture Forum Dallas, TX | General | $35,000 |
| Bonsai Collection at the Japanese Garden Arlington, TX | General | $25,000 |
| Community Foundation Texas Hill CO Kerville, TX | General | $25,000 |
| VNA Meals on Wheels Dallas, TX | General | $24,000 |
| Belton Education Enrichment Foundation Belton, TX | Scholarships | $20,000 |
| Dallas Arborteum Dallas, TX | General | $20,000 |
| Dallas Co Audubon Society Dallas, TX | General | $20,000 |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX | General | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ward Family 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 | $7,472,334 | $736,995 | $439,937 | $375,500 | 24 | $383,445 | $698,515 | $647,459 |
| 2024 | $7,175,276 | $1,182,287 | $515,239 | $287,000 | 24 | $292,970 | $958,645 | $583,620 |
| 2023 | $6,508,228 | $1,150,007 | $504,485 | $262,306 | 22 | $266,256 | $936,959 | $296,609 |
| 2022 | $5,862,706 | $1,131,719 | $503,940 | $375,600 | 21 | $278,935 | $913,439 | $265,462 |
| 2021 | $5,234,927 | $612,791 | $418,380 | $269,500 | 13 | $272,420 | $466,831 | $277,316 |
| 2020 | $5,040,516 | $493,092 | $437,795 | $247,830 | 12 | — | $319,144 | $273,410 |
| 2019 | $4,985,219 | $686,796 | $398,675 | $232,000 | 17 | — | $535,041 | $257,435 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ward Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $647K 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 website states that The Charlie and Tonja Ward Family Foundation supports youth character development through sports, arts, education, and wellness, and supports disaster relief initiatives. Its listed programs include youth sports and mentor clinics, STEM activities, reading, and ministry.
The 2025 filing shows grants to organizations with varied activities. For example, Dallas Architecture Forum says its mission is to educate, enrich, and connect the community through programs and events related to design. Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation describes its work as providing free programming and educational opportunities and maintaining a public park. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not stated priorities of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 24 grants totaling $375,500. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median of $17,500. The largest listed grants included $50,000 to Children’s Hospital of Boston for research; $40,000 to June Shelton School; $35,000 to Dallas Architecture Forum; and $25,000 each to Bonsai Collection at the Japanese Garden and Community Foundation Texas Hill Co. Other listed grants included $24,000 to VNA Meals on Wheels and $20,000 each to Belton Education Enrichment Foundation for scholarships, Dallas Arborteum, Dallas Co Audubon Society, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Vets - Veterans Exploring T, and Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation. Dallas Museum of Art, Baylor Health Care System, and Turtle Creek Conservancy also received grants of $2,000, $2,000, and $1,000, respectively.
The website says it invites proposals from a small group of organizations annually and considers new and existing programs that meet its mission, vision, and priority funding areas. It describes its desired grantees as creative, accountable, stable, and effective.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cynthia R. Ward as president and secretary, Katherine J. Ward as vice president and treasurer, and Susan W. Kinser as director.
The Ward Family Foundation is led by Cynthia R. Ward, President & Secretary since 2020 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cynthia R. Ward
President & Secretary
President, Vice President & Secretary → President & Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan W. Kinser
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine J. Ward
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: William C. Ward (2019) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Ward Family Foundation
How much does The Ward Family Foundation give each year?
The Ward Family Foundation gave $376K across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $287K across 24 grants.
What is The Ward Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ward Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $17,500, and its average grant was $15,646, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ward Family Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does The Ward Family Foundation give grants?
The Ward Family Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (10 grants) and Newport, AR (2 grants).
Does The Ward Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 88% of The Ward Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ward Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ward Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Children's Hospital of Boston ($50,000), June Shelton School ($40,000) and Dallas Architecture Forum ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ward Family Foundation?
The Ward Family Foundation reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $383K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $647K (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 Ward Family Foundation fund?
The website states that The Charlie and Tonja Ward Family Foundation supports youth character development through sports, arts, education, and wellness, and supports disaster relief initiatives. Its listed programs include youth sports and mentor clinics, STEM activities, reading, and ministry. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ward Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ward Family Foundation's EIN?
The Ward Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2514341. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Ward Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 29, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ward Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ward Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ward-family-foundation-morg_0195077bc77c418f9f3a59bfb3324da6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_752514341_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ward Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ward-family-foundation-morg_0195077bc77c418f9f3a59bfb3324da6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Ward Family 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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