James T and Michelle A Ryan Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation supports academic scholarships, internships and social support for students from underserved communities, so work centred on those aims is the closest fit, although its grants also reach universities, schools and community organisations.
- It does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold application is unlikely to get a hearing; a warm introduction or an existing relationship is the better route.
- Most of its grants are small, with half of its 32 grants to organisations at $5,000 or less and a median of $5,000, so a modest request fits.
- About 8 in 10 grants fall between $500 and $535,000, but that is a typical band rather than a ceiling, as the largest grant was $950,000.
- Repeat giving is strong, with 99% of its grant dollars to organisations in the latest filing going to organisations it had also funded in an earlier filing, so a new applicant should expect to compete with established grantees; its grants have mainly gone to Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, but no geographic focus is stated, so an organisation elsewhere should not assume it is excluded.
Overview
James T and Michelle A Ryan Foundation is a US private foundation based in Hawthorn Woods, IL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and web pages about the foundation (chicagojesuitacademy.org, blogs.bsu.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation focuses on providing academic scholarships, internships, and social support for students from underserved communities. Its organisation grants support universities and schools as well as charitable and community organisations. Stated grant purposes include scholarships, support for students and alumni, and general charitable programming. The record also includes grants for community services, veterans and military families, and programmes serving Native American-led organisations on Sioux reservations. Together, the evidence shows education-centred support alongside a broader spread of charitable programming delivered through organisations. Its stated focus also includes internships and social support beyond scholarship funding.
Themes
- Academic scholarships
- Internships
- Social support
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 32 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 41% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations James T and Michelle A Ryan Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 10 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $21,500 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Miami University · Scholarship$650,0002025 tax year
- Chicago Jesuit Academy · Support students & alumni$532,9442025 tax year
- Ball State University · Ball state university foundation support$373,5002025 tax year
- DePaul University · Scholarship$200,0002025 tax year
- GreenLight Fund Chicago · General support for charitable programming$40,0002025 tax year
- Lincoln Park Community Shelter · General support for charitable programming$3,0002025 tax year
- University of Iowa Foundation · General support for charitable programming$1,0002025 tax year
- Jeffrey Pride Foundation · General support$5002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Michelle A Ryan — Trustee
- James T Ryan — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $916,854 | $910,849 | $1,970,045 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,010,742 | $1,976,980 | $4,149,170 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $1,862,109 | $1,801,944 | $2,465,838 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to James T and Michelle A Ryan Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Hawthorn Woods, IL
Applying to James T and Michelle A Ryan Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Hawthorn Woods, IL