Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo

FORT WORTH, TX EIN: 75-1879237

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

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

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

6states

Cities

AllenArlingtonAustinAzleBedfordBurlesonCleburneCollege StationCrowleyDallasEulessFort WorthGrapevineHoustonHurstIrvingKellerMemphisMesquiteNew Braunfels

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.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$3M$6M$8M$11M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
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

$0$2M$4M$6M$8M148 grants2020160 grants2021152 grants2022141 grants2023145 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

ALL SAINTS HEALTH FOUNDA…$400KCOMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS O…$292KBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS…$100KCRISTO REY FORT WORTH CA…$100KCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FO…$75KCAMP SUMMIT INC$68KACH CHILD AND FAMILY SER…$50KAMPLIFY$50KCANINE COMPANIONS FOR IN…$50KCHRIST'S HAVEN FOR CHILD…$50K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

202<$50K30$50–100K11$100–250K3$250–500K4$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Thomas M Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Fo

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

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

JOHN P RYAN JRCHAIRMAN$243KLEE A MCCONNELLPRESIDENT$241KJ LYNDELL KIRKLEYDIRECTOR/SECRETARY$20KTHOMAS M RYAN IIDIRECTOR$20KMARTHA V LEONARDDIRECTOR$20KR EARL COXDIRECTOR$10KBAILEY RYANADVISORY DIRECTOR$10K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
JOHN P RYAN JRCHAIRMAN40$243,000
LEE A MCCONNELLPRESIDENT40$241,000
J LYNDELL KIRKLEYDIRECTOR/SECRETARY1$20,000
THOMAS M RYAN IIDIRECTOR1$20,000
R EARL COXDIRECTOR1$10,000
MARTHA V LEONARDDIRECTOR1$20,000
BAILEY RYANADVISORY DIRECTOR1$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

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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