Ruth McC Tankersley Charitable Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The filing states that the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered, and that is the main obstacle to approaching it.
- Its recorded giving spans a broad range of charitable work, including education, arts, health, veterans' well-being and conservation, so fit should be judged against those areas.
- Half of its 134 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less, and most grants fall between $5,000 and $200,000, so a modest request sits closer to its typical grant than a large one; its largest grant was $950,000, to Michaels Foundation, which regrants to other organisations.
- Repeat giving is strong, with 97% of its grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so its grants are largely renewals of existing relationships.
- No geographic focus is stated; grants appear mainly in Florida, Arizona, Massachusetts, District of Columbia and Maryland, but that is a pattern in its grants, not a rule about who may apply.
Overview
Ruth McC Tankersley Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Tucson, AZ.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filings show grants to organisations working on climate and environmental research, veterans’ well-being, schools and education, arts and music, churches and ministry, health and social support, wildlife conservation and community amenities. Recipients include educational institutions, religious bodies, arts and cultural organisations, conservation groups, and providers of health and social services. Recorded purposes include general operating support and targeted work such as financial aid and tutoring, marine science education, burn survivor support, dementia services and youth arts. The grant record also includes environmental education and habitat protection, alongside community facilities. Taken together, its recorded giving spans a broad range of charitable work, with both operating and programme support rather than a single uniform grant purpose.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Florida, Arizona, Massachusetts, District of Columbia and Maryland.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 97% 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 134 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: 3%
- The largest single recipient received 21% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to organisations Ruth McC Tankersley Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 25% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 43 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Michaels Foundation · Grant for Veteran Well-Being Endowment Fund$950,0002025 tax year
- World Resources Institute · Grant for general operating Exp$700,0002025 tax year
- Woodwell Climate Research Center · Grant support general operating exp research$700,0002025 tax year
- Michaels Foundation · Grant for Fundraising programs$200,0002025 tax year
- Saint Matthews Episcopal Church Chandler · Grant for ministry programs and interfaith miss$150,0002025 tax year
- Community Fnd of Southern AZ · Grant Miller Luke Jakobsen Donor Advised Fund$150,0002025 tax year
- Gregory School · Grant to sup budget fin aid programs tutoring$150,0002025 tax year
- Nature Forward · Grant support general Operating Exp$115,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Michael Halle — Trustee
- Mark Miller — Trustee
- Kristie Miller — Trustee
- Margot Rubin — Trustee
- John Helenbolt — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $4,881,724 | $4,651,000 | $36,352,909 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,906,668 | $4,678,250 | $34,913,881 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $4,892,878 | $4,671,000 | $34,693,707 | 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 Ruth McC Tankersley Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (520) 792-1181
- KGood@duffieldlaw.com
- Tucson, AZ
Applying to Ruth McC Tankersley Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (520) 792-1181
- KGood@duffieldlaw.com
- Tucson, AZ