Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo
The Thomas M., Helen McKee & John P. Ryan Foundation is a private foundation established in 1986 in Texas (originally named the Ryan Foundation, adopting its current name in 2003). Based in Fort Worth, Texas, the foundation operates as a supporting organization dedicated to advancing charitable, educational, and religious purposes through strategic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$123.1M
+3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.9M
+45.7% YoY
Grant Count
145
+2.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$47K
+41.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo reported a distributable amount of $5.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or religious purposes by conducting and supporting activities that benefit St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Happy Hill Farm Children's Home, Inc., and Harris Methodist Hospital of Fort Worth, Texas.
Primary funding areas include:
- Health care
- Human and social services
- Education
- Children's services
- Women's and children's services
- Arts and culture
- Emergency care programs
- Capital campaigns
- General operating support
The foundation does not make grants to individuals.
Grantmaking
The foundation's Board of Directors, consisting of five members all residing in Fort Worth, meets quarterly to review grant applications and make funding decisions. Pre-application contact is available through Valerie Freeman, Executive Assistant.
Grant Range
Up to $500,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation exclusively supports charitable organizations in Fort Worth and Tarrant County, Texas. This geographic limitation reflects the foundation's commitment to its lifelong home community. While grantmaking is concentrated in Texas, records indicate some activity in California, Michigan, and Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $123,116,894
- Total revenues: $8,249,401
- Total expenses: $8,563,198
- Total liabilities: $4,340,000
- Annual giving: Approximately $7.4 million
- Number of employees: 3
Investment Strategy: The foundation's endowment is invested in stocks, bonds, and alternative investments and managed by investment advisors. Annual purchases and sales of investments result from portfolio rebalancing based on market conditions.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $123,116,894 | $118,540,369 | $112,809,962 |
| Revenue | $8,249,401 | $3,351,174 | $1,293,128 |
| Expenses | $8,563,198 | $6,488,369 | $10,088,768 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,384,372 | $7,568,695 | $6,737,053 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,475,500 | $2,507,585 | $1,934,083 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,933,472 | $5,549,655 | $5,918,979 |
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
1 open opportunity from Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include All Saints Health Foundation ($400,000), Communities in Schools of Greater Tarrant County ($292,000), Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 6 STONES MISSION NETWORK EULESS, TX | NIGHT OF HOPE PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| ACH CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES FORT WORTH, TX | SECURE ASSESSMENT FACILITY PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND FORT WORTH, TX | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| AIDS OUTREACH CENTER FORT WORTH, TX | CLIENT SERVICES PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| ALL SAINTS HEALTH FOUNDATION FORT WORTH, TX | CARTER REHABILITATION AND FITNESS CENTER RENOVATION | $400,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY DALLAS, TX | PAID TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IN TARRANT COUNTY | $25,000 |
| AMPHIBIAN PRODUCTIONS INC FORT WORTH, TX | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $20,000 |
| AMPLIFY FORT WORTH, TX | SHRED TRUCK FLEET PURCHASE & MAINTENANCE PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| ARLINGTON LIFE SHELTER ARLINGTON, TX | THE ROAD HOME PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| ART WORKS FOUNDATION MEMPHIS, TN | 3RD ANNUAL ART WORTH FESTIVEL | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lee A McConnell - Principal Officer
- Valerie Freeman - Executive Assistant
The foundation operates with a Board of Directors consisting of five members, all residing in Fort Worth.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN P RYAN JR | CHAIRMAN | 40 | $243,000 |
| LEE A MCCONNELL | PRESIDENT | 40 | $241,000 |
| J LYNDELL KIRKLEY | DIRECTOR/SECRETARY | 1 | $20,000 |
| THOMAS M RYAN II | DIRECTOR | 1 | $20,000 |
| R EARL COX | DIRECTOR | 1 | $10,000 |
| MARTHA V LEONARD | DIRECTOR | 1 | $20,000 |
| BAILEY RYAN | ADVISORY DIRECTOR | 1 | $10,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking with recent notable contributions including a major gift toward the McFadden Science Center renovation at Texas Wesleyan University. The foundation maintains an active grant program with ongoing opportunities for qualified organizations in its service area.
Thomas M., Helen McKee & John P. Ryan Foundation (Texas)Contact Information
- Website: www.ryanfoundation.com
- Phone: 817-529-4220
- Email: vfreeman@ryanfoundation.com
- Address: 1320 S University Drive, Suite 721, Fort Worth, TX 76107-8070
- EIN: 75-1879237
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo fund?
The foundation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or religious purposes by conducting and supporting activities that benefit St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Happy Hill Farm Children's Home, Inc., and Harris Methodist Hospital of Fort Worth, Texas. Primary funding areas include: • Health care • Human and social services • Education • Children's services • Women's and children's services • Arts and culture • Emergency care programs • Capital campaigns • General opera…
How do I apply for a grant from Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: Up to $500,000 • Individual grants have ranged from $600 to $2,000,000 • Average award: $47,000 • Median grant: $20,000 • Decision time: 2-3 months **Recent Grant Examples:** • $500,000 to the Botanical Research Institute of Texas for their Family Garden Capital Campaign • $300,000 to the Center for Transforming Lives for their Riverside Campus Capital Campaign • $250,000 to Rivertree Academy for Capital Campaign **Annual Grantmaking Activity:** • 2024:…
Where does Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo make grants?
The foundation exclusively supports charitable organizations in Fort Worth and Tarrant County, Texas. This geographic limitation reflects the foundation's commitment to its lifelong home community. While grantmaking is concentrated in Texas, records indicate some activity in California, Michigan, and Tennessee.
What size grants does Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo award?
In 2024, Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo awarded 145 grants totaling $6.9M — an average of about $47K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo reported a distributable amount of $5.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo's EIN?
Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-1879237. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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