The Ruth McC Tankersley Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on climate science and policy work alongside substantial support for veterans and their families. Grants are large and targeted, funding well-known climate research and advocacy institutions as well as a family-linked foundation serving veterans. The foundation favors a small set of repeat grantees and multi-million dollar commitments that advance climate solutions and veteran services.
Ruth McC Tankersley Charitable Fnd shows a clear pattern of concentrated, high-dollar support for climate work and veterans’ services, with repeat commitments stretching across multiple years. Woodwell Climate Research Cntr received several large grants for research and climate control solutions, including $700,000 in 2024 and 2025 and $600,000 in 2023, while World Resources Institute also received repeated funding for its climate program. On the veterans side, Michaels Foundation and Heavenly Hoofs Inc appear as recurring recipients tied to support for veterans and their families, with grants reaching the high six figures and mid-six figures across consecutive years. The foundation also backs a small set of other institutions through targeted awards, including education, health, and conservation-related grants. Its giving pattern suggests a funder that favors a limited number of organizations, often returning to the same recipients over time rather than making broad one-off gifts. Grants are national in scope, but the recurring recipients and purposes point to defined priorities rather than a diffuse portfolio.
Climate science and policy work is one of the foundation’s main threads. Woodwell Climate Research Cntr received $700,000 in 2024 and again in 2025 for general operating and research support, and it also received $600,000 in 2023 for climate control solutions. World Resources Institute was funded for its Climate program in both Washington, DC and Glen Burnie, MD, with $700,000 in 2024 and $700,000 in 2025 listed separately. Veterans’ services are another recurring area. Michaels Foundation received $650,000 in 2024 and $550,000 in 2023 for support of veterans and their families, while Heavenly Hoofs Inc received $170,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 to support and provide services to veterans with PTSD. The foundation also supports education and conservation. The Gregory School received grants for its Friday Exploration Program, scholarships, financial aid, and general operations, and Nature Forward received environmental education and conservation-related support.
Typical grants cluster around six figures: the p25 is $10,000, the median is $40,000, and the p75 is $100,000. The recent grants list shows a pattern of repeat awards to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, especially in climate and veterans-related giving. The foundation’s portfolio also includes very large commitments above the typical range, which suggests a mix of smaller awards and targeted major grants. It funds individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$4.7M
$30.1M
$2.9M
$4.9M
Most grants fall between $10K and $100K, with a median of $40K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$40K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 40% of grants go to recipients in IL.
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Highly concentrated: a small number of large, repeat grants to a few flagship organizations; split between multi-year/multi-grant commitments to major climate research/advocacy centers and sizable gifts to a family-associated veterans foundation.
Notable grantees: World Resources Institute, Woodwell Climate Research Center, Michaels Foundation / Michaels Foundation Inc (veterans and families)
The grants are national, and every recent grant in the dataset goes to a U.S. recipient. By count, Illinois is the top state for giving, while 40% of grants go to recipients in Arizona. Recent recipients include Tucson, Phoenix, Winter Park, Falmouth, Chevy Chase, and Miami. The foundation’s grant map also reaches outside Arizona through repeated awards to organizations in Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington, DC.
Its strongest themes are climate science and policy work and support for veterans and their families. The recent grants list also includes education, environmental education, conservation, health, and animal heritage-related awards, but those appear alongside the two main priorities rather than replacing them.
The grant-size distribution centers on mid-sized awards: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $40,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. Recent activity also includes much larger commitments in the hundreds of thousands for a small number of repeat recipients.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Woodwell Climate Research Cntr, World Resources Institute, Michaels Foundation, Heavenly Hoofs Inc, Rollins College, and The Gregory School. That pattern suggests sustained support rather than one-time gifts only.
By recipient count, Illinois is the top state for giving. Arizona accounts for 40% of grants to recipients, and recent awards also went to organizations in Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, DC, and other U.S. locations.
Yes. Recent grants include support for The Gregory School’s Friday Exploration Program and financial aid, Nature Forward’s environmental education and conservation work, Arizona Burn Foundation’s support for burn survivors, and Nichlaus Childrens Hosp Fnd’s general funding.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michaels Foundation | Groveland, FL | $940,000 | 2025 | Support of Veterans and their Families |
| World Resources Institute | Glen Burnie, MD | $700,000 | 2025 | Grant for WRIs Climate program |
| Woodwell Climate Research Cntr | Falmouth, MA | $700,000 | 2025 | Grant support general operating exp research |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, FL | $200,000 | 2025 | Grant Money for the MM Innovation Fund |
| The Gregory School | Tucson, AZ | $200,000 | 2025 | Grants Friday Exploration Program |
| Heavenly Hoofs Inc | Saint Cloud, FL | $170,000 | 2025 | Grant to support&provide srvs to Veterans PTSD |
| The Gregory School | Tucson, AZ | $150,000 | 2025 | Grant general operations |
| Arizona Burn Foundation | Phoenix, AZ | $120,000 | 2025 | Grant to support life of burn survivors |
| Nature Forward | Chevy Chase, MD | $115,000 | 2025 | Grant support general Operating Exp |
| Elusen Inc | Palm Bay, FL | $104,000 | 2025 | Grant support Graphic Desgn&prntg Ser |
| Community Fnd for Southern AZ | Tucson, AZ | $100,000 | 2025 | Grant money earmarked for the HM and LJ donor Fund |
| Defenders of Wildlife | Washington, DC | $95,000 | 2025 | Grant support imperiled species & habitats |
| St Michaels Parish Day School | Tucson, AZ | $85,000 | 2025 | Grant support school counselor |
| UA Foundation fbo Cooper Center | Tucson, AZ | $85,000 | 2025 | Grant- assist in hiring Educ staff |
| Episcopal Diocese of Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | $80,000 | 2025 | Grant support rural congregations |
| The Intentional Man Project | Los Angeles, CA | $73,000 | 2025 | Grant for updating equip skills training & job Dev |
| The Church of the Epiphany | Tempe, AZ | $70,000 | 2025 | Grant reduce debtparish clergy renwl |
| Flandrau Science CenterPlanetarium | Tucson, AZ | $60,000 | 2025 | Grant-support Univ of Sce ExhDisc Trs |
| Tucson Childrens Museum | Tucson, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | Grant for general operating expenses |
| Tanglewood Music Center | Boston, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | Grant Music Center-Rubin |
| University of AZ Fnd | Tucson, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | Herd Agreement - Al Marah Arabian Mare Herd |
| Friends of Hutto Dog Park | Hutto, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | Grant support adl splash pad dogs |
| Chandler Center for the Arts | Chandler, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | Grant for Connecting kids youth arts programs |
| Friends Club | Bethesda, MD | $40,000 | 2025 | Grant for support early stages of dementia |
| College Bound | Washington, DC | $40,000 | 2025 | Grant support Academic Mentoring |
| St Matthews Episcopal Church Chand | Chandler, AZ | $37,000 | 2025 | Grant for ministry programs and interfaith miss |
| Fighting for our Heroes | Groveland, FL | $30,000 | 2025 | Grant money for Veterans support food trnspt |
| Cancer Support Community-PA Chapter | Warminster, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | Grant Therap Councl wellnessnutr |
| Reed Charitable Fnd | Orlando, FL | $30,000 | 2025 | Grant Training Teacherscomm awrns |
| SEEDs for Autism | Phoenix, AZ | $30,000 | 2025 | Grant new job Dev opp & training |
| Purple Maia Foundation | Aiea, HI | $25,000 | 2025 | Grant digital annotation |
| Sugarloaf Citizens Association | Barnesville, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | Grant Expansion of regenerative Farming |
| Piedmont Envir Ed Fund | Barnesville, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | Funding Projects for teachers and students |
| Make a Wish Foundation | Scottsdale, AZ | $11,250 | 2025 | Grant wishes to children in treatmt |
| Willow Wish | Chandler, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | Grant money for birthing families |
| Sandhills Community College | Pinehurst, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | Grant support Guar Fin Aid Prog |
| The Carolina Philharmonic | Pinehurst, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | Grant music education |
| Reed Chrtble Fnd | Winter Park, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | Grant support Literacy |
| Valley Interfaith Project Education | Phoenix, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | Grant-Dev of Leadership and bldg publ |
| Community Fnd of Southern AZ | Tucson, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | Grant Marge & Kim Christensen Schlshp |
| Weymouth Center for the Arts | Southern Pines, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | Grant Horses Benefit Kids program |
| Positive paths | Mesa, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | Grant support prog low-inc women |
| Desert View HS Band | Tucson, AZ | $3,000 | 2025 | Grant marching band Equip |
| Woodwell Climate Research Cntr | Falmouth, MA | $700,000 | 2024 | Grant support general operating exp research |
| World Resources Institute | Washington, DC | $700,000 | 2024 | Grant for WRIs Climate program |
| Michaels Foundation Inc | Saint Cloud, FL | $650,000 | 2024 | Grant for support to Veterans and families |
| Nichlaus Childrens Hosp Fnd | Miami, FL | $250,000 | 2024 | General Funding - 2018 Agreement |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, FL | $200,000 | 2024 | Grant Money for the MM Innovation Fund |
| Heavenly Hoofs Inc | Saint Cloud, FL | $170,000 | 2024 | Grant to support&provide srvs to Veterans PTSD |
| The Gregory School | Tucson, AZ | $150,000 | 2024 | Grants money for financial aid |
Michaels Foundation
$940,000Support of Veterans and their Families
World Resources Institute
$700,000Grant for WRIs Climate program
Woodwell Climate Research Cntr
$700,000Grant support general operating exp research
Rollins College
$200,000Grant Money for the MM Innovation Fund
The Gregory School
$200,000Grants Friday Exploration Program
Heavenly Hoofs Inc
$170,000Grant to support&provide srvs to Veterans PTSD
The Gregory School
$150,000Grant general operations
Arizona Burn Foundation
$120,000Grant to support life of burn survivors
Nature Forward
$115,000Grant support general Operating Exp
Elusen Inc
$104,000Grant support Graphic Desgn&prntg Ser
Community Fnd for Southern AZ
$100,000Grant money earmarked for the HM and LJ donor Fund
Defenders of Wildlife
$95,000Grant support imperiled species & habitats
St Michaels Parish Day School
$85,000Grant support school counselor
UA Foundation fbo Cooper Center
$85,000Grant- assist in hiring Educ staff
Episcopal Diocese of Arizona
$80,000Grant support rural congregations
The Intentional Man Project
$73,000Grant for updating equip skills training & job Dev
The Church of the Epiphany
$70,000Grant reduce debtparish clergy renwl
Flandrau Science CenterPlanetarium
$60,000Grant-support Univ of Sce ExhDisc Trs
Tucson Childrens Museum
$50,000Grant for general operating expenses
Tanglewood Music Center
$50,000Grant Music Center-Rubin
University of AZ Fnd
$50,000Herd Agreement - Al Marah Arabian Mare Herd
Friends of Hutto Dog Park
$50,000Grant support adl splash pad dogs
Chandler Center for the Arts
$50,000Grant for Connecting kids youth arts programs
Friends Club
$40,000Grant for support early stages of dementia
College Bound
$40,000Grant support Academic Mentoring
St Matthews Episcopal Church Chand
$37,000Grant for ministry programs and interfaith miss
Fighting for our Heroes
$30,000Grant money for Veterans support food trnspt
Cancer Support Community-PA Chapter
$30,000Grant Therap Councl wellnessnutr
Reed Charitable Fnd
$30,000Grant Training Teacherscomm awrns
SEEDs for Autism
$30,000Grant new job Dev opp & training
Purple Maia Foundation
$25,000Grant digital annotation
Sugarloaf Citizens Association
$20,000Grant Expansion of regenerative Farming
Piedmont Envir Ed Fund
$15,000Funding Projects for teachers and students
Make a Wish Foundation
$11,250Grant wishes to children in treatmt
Willow Wish
$10,000Grant money for birthing families
Sandhills Community College
$10,000Grant support Guar Fin Aid Prog
The Carolina Philharmonic
$10,000Grant music education
Reed Chrtble Fnd
$10,000Grant support Literacy
Valley Interfaith Project Education
$10,000Grant-Dev of Leadership and bldg publ
Community Fnd of Southern AZ
$10,000Grant Marge & Kim Christensen Schlshp
Weymouth Center for the Arts
$5,000Grant Horses Benefit Kids program
Positive paths
$5,000Grant support prog low-inc women
Desert View HS Band
$3,000Grant marching band Equip
Woodwell Climate Research Cntr
$700,000Grant support general operating exp research
World Resources Institute
$700,000Grant for WRIs Climate program
Michaels Foundation Inc
$650,000Grant for support to Veterans and families
Nichlaus Childrens Hosp Fnd
$250,000General Funding - 2018 Agreement
Rollins College
$200,000Grant Money for the MM Innovation Fund
Heavenly Hoofs Inc
$170,000Grant to support&provide srvs to Veterans PTSD
The Gregory School
$150,000Grants money for financial aid