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Mays Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$17.8M
Grant Range
$25K - $30.0M
Decision Time
4mo

Mays Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $17,812,800 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $304.6 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 3-6 months for grants under $25,000; rolling for larger grants
  • Grant Range: Varies; typical grants around $25,000; major gifts of $2-30 million to San Antonio institutions
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Bexar County, Texas, with emphasis on San Antonio

Contact Details

Website: https://maysfamilyfoundation.com

Managing Director: Jay McCall
Email: jaymccall@maysfamily.com
Phone: Not publicly listed
Address: 250 W. Nottingham Dr. Ste #400, San Antonio, TX 78209

Overview

The Mays Family Foundation was established in 1994 by L. Lowry Mays, founder and former Chair of Clear Channel Communications, and his wife Peggy Pitman Mays. With assets totaling approximately $304.6 million, the foundation distributed $17.8 million in grants in 2023. Currently led by their daughter, Kathryn Mays Johnson (Director and President), the foundation concentrates its grantmaking primarily in Bexar County and San Antonio, supporting education, health (particularly cancer research and treatment), environment and animals, arts and culture, human services, and Christian organizations and ministries. Since 2004, the foundation has donated more than $55 million to community causes. The family has demonstrated a hands-on approach to philanthropy, often volunteering with organizations before making financial commitments to gauge organizational soundness. Major recent gifts include $30 million to UT Health San Antonio's Cancer Center, $25 million to Texas A&M's Mays Business School, and significant seven-figure gifts to San Antonio cultural institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through an online application system with two distinct pathways:

Small Grants (Under $25,000)

  • Typical grant size: Around $25,000
  • Quarterly review cycles with specific decision dates
  • More structured timeline and predictable review process

Major Grants ($25,000+)

  • Grant range: $25,000 to multi-million dollar commitments
  • Rolling review throughout the year
  • Can be awarded at any time
  • Applications received after November 1 typically considered in following calendar year

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on organizations that:

  • Collaborate with other grantees and organizations
  • Do not compete with other nonprofits
  • Measure results and demonstrate outcomes
  • Have a history of success

Specific funding areas include:

Education

  • Texas A&M University ($25 million for graduate education building, 2024)
  • University of Texas Health-Houston
  • Wayland Baptist University

Health & Medical (particularly cancer care)

  • UT Health San Antonio Cancer Center ($30 million legacy gift)
  • Mays Cancer Center naming gift

Arts & Culture

  • McNay Art Museum ($2 million for Mays Family Park)
  • Witte Museum ($5 million for Mays Family Center)
  • San Antonio Museum of Art (funding free admission for Bexar County residents)
  • Briscoe Western Art Museum
  • San Antonio Zoo ($5 million for Generation Zoo capital campaign)

Environment & Animals

  • Animal Defense League (San Antonio)
  • Bat Conservation International (Austin)
  • Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Religious Organizations

  • Pius X Church
  • St. Anthony De Padua Church
  • Christ Episcopal Church
  • Other Texas Christian ministries

Human Services

  • Various San Antonio community organizations

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does NOT fund:

  • Individual recipients (organizations only)
  • Partisan political groups or lobbying efforts
  • Memberships or dues
  • Requests that benefit board members, the Managing Director, or their family members (spouses, children, grandchildren, and their spouses)
  • Unsolicited repeat requests in the same year

Governance and Leadership

Kathryn (Kathy) Mays Johnson - Director and President (Compensation: $88,399)

As daughter of founders Lowry and Peggy Mays, Kathy Johnson leads the foundation's strategic direction. She has stated: "My parents' vision has always been to strengthen this community, the community in which they live, the community in which we live." She emphasizes that her role includes ensuring the entire family remains philanthropically engaged: "My parents always said my job was not only to run the foundation but to make sure that our family was philanthropic."

On the foundation's strategic approach, Johnson explained: "Our foundation has a history of using philanthropy as a source of capital to fund projects for all types of nonprofits to generate free cash flow in support of their mission." She adds: "We try to give to things that empower people and enrich their lives, but also have some sort of educational base."

L. Lowry Mays - Founder (deceased 2024)

Mays was a Texas A&M graduate who built Clear Channel Communications into a mass media giant. He and his wife Peggy approached philanthropy strategically, often volunteering with organizations before making financial commitments. Lowry stated at events: "Peggy and I are very excited about this honor. We are so happy to help this community in any way that we can." On the cancer center gift: "We are inspired by the Cancer Center's exceptional leadership, mission, vision and goals."

Peggy Pitman Mays - Co-Founder

While Lowry and Peggy were drawn to different philanthropic causes, the couple always made their philanthropic decisions jointly.

Jay McCall - Managing Director
Email: jaymccall@maysfamily.com

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts applications exclusively through an online submission system (transitioned from paper applications as of June 1, 2014). No paper submissions are accepted.

Application Portal: https://maysfamilyfoundation.com/grant-request-form

Account Creation: Applicants must create an account with email login and password to access all submission materials.

Support Resources:

  • Downloadable PDF tutorial
  • 5-minute video walkthrough of the application process

Important Application Notes:

  • Save work frequently during completion
  • Character limits and file size restrictions apply to certain fields
  • Documents remain unsaved until final application submission
  • Approved applications may require execution of a Grant Agreement with follow-up reports

Decision Timeline

For Grants Under $25,000 (Quarterly review cycles):

  • April 1–June 30 submission: Decision by September 30
  • July 1–September 30 submission: Decision by December 10
  • October 1–December 31 submission: Decision by February 28
  • January 1–March 31 submission: Decision by May 30

For Grants Over $25,000:

  • Reviewed on a rolling basis as received
  • May be awarded at any time during the year
  • Applications received after November 1 generally considered in the following calendar year

Board Review: The Board meets periodically to review grant requests, however funds may be granted at any time during the year.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose success rates, application statistics, or the number of applications received versus approved. They state that every submission is considered.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not accept unsolicited repeat requests in the same year. Unsuccessful applicants should wait until the following calendar year before reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Based on research into the Mays Family Foundation's stated priorities and funding patterns, here are key factors for application success:

1. Demonstrate Collaboration Over Competition

The foundation explicitly favors organizations that "collaborate with other grantees and organizations" and "do not compete with other non-profits." In your application, highlight partnerships, collaborative initiatives, and how your work complements rather than duplicates existing services.

2. Show Measurable Results

The foundation values organizations that "measure results." Include specific metrics, outcomes data, and evaluation frameworks. Show not just what you do, but the quantifiable impact you achieve.

3. Prove Your Track Record

Organizations must have "a history of success." Emphasize your organization's longevity, past achievements, financial stability, and sustained impact over time. New or unproven programs may face challenges.

4. Connect to Educational Outcomes

President Kathy Johnson stated: "We try to give to things that empower people and enrich their lives, but also have some sort of educational base." Even if your primary mission isn't education, demonstrate educational components or capacity-building elements of your work.

5. Align With San Antonio Community Priorities

The foundation's vision is "to strengthen this community." Show deep understanding of San Antonio and Bexar County needs, and how your work specifically addresses local priorities. Demonstrate local roots and community connections.

6. Emphasize Strategic Use of Capital

Johnson explained their approach: "Our foundation has a history of using philanthropy as a source of capital to fund projects for all types of nonprofits to generate free cash flow in support of their mission." Frame your request in terms of how foundation capital will create sustainable impact or ongoing revenue streams.

7. Consider Volunteer Engagement First

The Mays family's approach included volunteering before giving: "The pair often initially volunteered their time and talent so they could gauge the organization's soundness before making a financial investment." If possible, invite foundation leadership to see your work firsthand before or alongside your application.

8. Major Gifts Require Major Relationships

The foundation's largest gifts ($2-30 million) have gone to organizations with deep family connections—Texas A&M (Lowry's alma mater), UT Health (cancer touched the family personally), and San Antonio institutions where the family has long been involved. Major grants appear relationship-driven rather than application-driven.

9. Focus on Core Mission Areas

Review the foundation's documented giving: education, health (especially cancer), environment/animals, arts/culture, human services, and Christian ministries. Applications outside these areas face longer odds.

10. San Antonio Cultural Institutions Have Strong Track Record

If you're a San Antonio arts, culture, or zoo/museum organization, note the pattern of substantial gifts: San Antonio Zoo ($5M), Witte Museum ($5M), McNay Art Museum ($2M), Alamo Museum ($5M). Cultural infrastructure projects with capital needs align well with foundation priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Local focus is critical: The foundation prioritizes Bexar County and San Antonio. Out-of-region organizations face significant barriers unless they have exceptional connections or Texas A&M affiliation.

  • Two-tier system: Small grants (under $25,000) follow predictable quarterly cycles; larger grants require relationship development and are awarded on rolling basis.

  • Collaboration and measurement matter: Explicitly address how you collaborate (not compete) and how you measure results—these are stated priorities.

  • Educational connection strengthens applications: Even non-educational organizations should emphasize educational components or capacity-building aspects of their work.

  • No repeat applications in same year: Plan your submission carefully—if declined, you must wait until the following calendar year.

  • Major gifts are relationship-driven: Multi-million dollar grants have consistently gone to organizations with deep family connections (Texas A&M, UT Health, San Antonio institutions). Don't expect seven-figure grants without substantial cultivation.

  • Application deadlines matter for small grants: Submit well before quarterly deadlines to ensure timely review. Applications after November 1 typically roll to next calendar year.

References

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