← Back to US Funders Directory

Thomas M., Helen McKee & John P. Ryan Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.4M
Grant Range
Up to $0.5M
Decision Time
3mo

Thomas M., Helen McKee & John P. Ryan Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,384,372
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months
  • Grant Range: Not specified
  • Geographic Focus: Fort Worth and Tarrant County, Texas

Contact Details

Website: www.ryanfoundation.com Email: vfreeman@ryanfoundation.com Phone: Not publicly listed Address: Thomas M., Helen McKee & John P. Ryan Foundation University Centre II 1320 S. University Drive, Suite 721 Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Pre-application Contact: Valerie Freeman (Executive Assistant)

Overview

The Thomas M., Helen McKee & John P. Ryan Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in 1983 with total assets exceeding $118 million. The foundation distributes approximately $7.4 million annually to support charitable organizations exclusively in Fort Worth and Tarrant County, Texas. The foundation operates with a five-member Board of Directors, all residing in Fort Worth, who meet quarterly to review grant applications and make funding decisions. Recent notable grants include $500,000 to the Botanical Research Institute of Texas for their Family Garden Capital Campaign and $300,000 to the Center for Transforming Lives for their Riverside Campus Capital Campaign.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation provides grants for:

  • General Operating Support
  • Capital Campaigns
  • Program Support
  • Emergency Care Programs

Recent grant examples include:

  • $500,000 to Botanical Research Institute of Texas (Capital Campaign)
  • $300,000 to Center for Transforming Lives (Capital Campaign)
  • $250,000 to Rivertree Academy (Capital Campaign)

Priority Areas

  • Health care
  • Human and social services
  • Education
  • Women's and children's services
  • Arts and culture
  • Religious organizations (specifically St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Happy Hill Farm Children's Home)

What They Don't Fund

  • Professional conferences
  • Out-of-state endeavors
  • Grants to individuals
  • Organizations outside Tarrant County

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

  • John P. Ryan Jr. (Chairman)
  • Lee A. McConnell (President)
  • J. Lyndell Kirkley (Secretary/Director)
  • Martha V. Leonard (Director)
  • R. Earl Cox (Director)
  • Thomas M. Ryan (Director)

Key Staff:

  • Valerie Freeman (Executive Assistant) - Primary contact for grant applications

The Board meets quarterly in March, June, September, and December to review grant requests and make funding decisions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. First-time applicants: Submit a one-page letter of inquiry via email to vfreeman@ryanfoundation.com

  2. Application deadlines: February 1st, May 1st, August 1st, and November 1st (by 12:00 pm)

  3. Required materials:

    • Purpose of grant request
    • Amount requested
    • Current operating budget
    • Audited financial statements
    • IRS determination letter
    • Most recent Form 990
    • For project grants: detailed project description, timeline, and evaluation plan

  4. Submission format: Unbound, no staples or folders

  5. All grant requests receive a formal written response

Decision Timeline

  • Applications reviewed at quarterly board meetings (March, June, September, December)
  • Decisions typically made within 2-3 months of submission deadline
  • All applicants receive formal written notification

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation made 160 grants in the most recent reporting year.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in available documentation.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's focus and recent grants:

  • Strong local connection: Demonstrate clear benefit to Fort Worth/Tarrant County communities
  • Capital campaign strength: Foundation shows preference for well-planned capital campaigns with community impact
  • Established organizations: Recent grants favor established nonprofits with proven track records
  • Clear documentation: Submit all required materials in the specified format
  • First-time applicants: Start with a concise, compelling letter of inquiry before full application
  • Email communication: Include email contact for efficient follow-up

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Strictly limited to Tarrant County, Texas organizations - do not apply if located elsewhere
  • Strong preference for capital campaigns and operational support over program grants
  • Quarterly decision cycle allows multiple opportunities per year to apply
  • Foundation values brevity - first-time applicants need only a one-page inquiry letter
  • All applications receive formal written responses, demonstrating professional grant management
  • With over $118 million in assets and $7.4 million in annual giving, this is a major regional funder
  • No individual grants under any circumstances

References

  • ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Thomas M & Helen Mckee & John P Ryan Foundation Inc (accessed December 31, 2025)
  • CauseIQ Foundation Profile: thomas-m-helen-mckee-john-p-ryan-foundation (accessed December 31, 2025)
  • GuideStar Profile: EIN 75-1879237 (accessed December 31, 2025)
  • Ryan Foundation Official Website: www.ryanfoundation.com (accessed December 31, 2025)
  • Ryan Foundation Guidelines for Grants: www.ryanfoundation.com/guidelines-for-grants (accessed December 31, 2025)
← Back to US Funders Directory