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
$28.1M
$2.9M
$4.9M
Most grants fall between $10K and $100K, with a median of $40K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$40K
75th Percentile
$100K
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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.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michaels Foundation | Groveland, FL | $950,000 | 2026 | Grant for Veteran Well-Being Endowment Fund |
| Woodwell Climate Research Cntr | Falmouth, MA | $700,000 | 2026 | Grant support general operating exp research |
| World Resources Institute | Washington, DC | $700,000 | 2026 | Grant for general operating Exp |
| Michaels Foundation | Groveland, FL | $200,000 | 2026 | Grant for Fundraising programs |
| Community Fnd of Southern AZ | Tucson, AZ | $150,000 | 2026 | Grant Miller Luke Jakobsen Donor Advised Fund |
| St Matthews Episcopal Church Chand | Chandler, AZ | $150,000 | 2026 | Grant for ministry programs and interfaith miss |
| The Gregory School | Tucson, AZ | $150,000 | 2026 | Grant to sup budget fin aid programs tutoring |
| Nature Forward | Chevy Chase, MD | $115,000 | 2026 | Grant support general Operating Exp |
| Elusen Inc | Palm Bay, FL | $104,000 | 2026 | Grant support Graphic Design prntg Ser |
| Michaels Foundation | Eustis, FL | $100,000 | 2026 | Grant for fundraising programs |
| Community Fnd for Southern AZ | Tucson, AZ | $96,000 | 2026 | Grant money earmarked for the HM and LJ donor Fund |
| Michaels Foundation | Groveland, FL | $86,000 | 2026 | Grant for support for Veterans |
| St Michaels Parish Day School | Tucson, AZ | $85,000 | 2026 | Grant support Fac and Bldg improvements |
| UA Foundation fbo Cooper Center | Tucson, AZ | $85,000 | 2026 | Grant assist in hiring Educ staff |
| Flandrau Science Center Planetarium | Tucson, AZ | $85,000 | 2026 | Grant in Sup Marine Disc Exh k-12 Educ Prog |
| The Gregory School | Tucson, AZ | $85,000 | 2026 | Grant for interm Head of School |
| John Hopkins Medicine | Baltimore, MD | $80,000 | 2026 | Grant to research patients and proj Alzheimers |
| Episcopal Diocese of Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | $80,000 | 2026 | Grant support campus ministries |
| The Intentional Man Project | Los Angeles, CA | $60,000 | 2026 | Grant for updating equip skills training job Dev |
| Chandler Center for the Arts | Chandler, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | Grant for Connecting kids youth arts programs |
| Friends of Hutto Dog Park | Hutto, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | Grant in support dog park and Equip |
| Arizona Burn Foundation | Phoenix, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | Grant to support life of burn survivors |
| Tanglewood Music Center | Boston, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | Grant Music Center-Rubin |
| Tucson Childrens Museum | Tucson, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | Grant for general operating exp arts STEM Exh |
| Osceola for the Arts | Kissimmee, FL | $40,000 | 2026 | Grant to support Visual arts programs |
| Friends Club | Bethesda, MD | $40,000 | 2026 | Grant for support early stages of dementia |
| College Bound | Washington, DC | $40,000 | 2026 | Grant support Academic Mentoring |
| Reed Charitable Fnd | Winter Park, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | Grant Lit Training implem Sup Educ events |
| Cancer Support Community-PA Chapter | Warminster, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | Grant provide Support programs |
| Chandler Center for the Arts | Chandler, AZ | $25,000 | 2026 | Grant to support Ashli St Armants project |
| Make a Wish Foundation | Scottsdale, AZ | $25,000 | 2026 | Grant wishes to children in treatment |
| Michaels Foundation | Groveland, FL | $25,000 | 2026 | Grant to general operations |
| Sugarloaf Citizens Association | Dickerson, MD | $20,000 | 2026 | Grant Expansion of regenerative Farming |
| Mission Edge San Deigo | San Diego, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | Grant for ALS support therapy and Lifesaving Res |
| Piedmont Envir and Ed Fund | Barnesville, MD | $15,000 | 2026 | Funding Projects for teachers and students |
| Weymouth Center for the Arts | Southern Pines, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | Grant Presv Conserv Boyds Hist home Grounds |
| The Carolina Philharmonic | Pinehurst, NC | $10,000 | 2026 | Grant music education |
| Heavenly Hoofs Inc | Saint Cloud, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | Grant to support provide srvs to Veterans PTSD |
| Giffords Law Center | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | Grant in Support Effec Def Leg regdggun safety |
| Willow Wish | Phoenix, AZ | $5,000 | 2026 | Grant support Birth Center Exp and dula care |
| Sandhills Community College | Southern Pines, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | Grant pur shoes food for Children and seniors |
| Giffords Law Center | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | Grant to support preventing gun violence-safety |
| Sandhill Coalition | Tempe, AZ | $5,000 | 2026 | Grant reduce debt parish clergy renewal |
| 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 |
Michaels Foundation
$950,000Grant for Veteran Well-Being Endowment Fund
Woodwell Climate Research Cntr
$700,000Grant support general operating exp research
World Resources Institute
$700,000Grant for general operating Exp
Michaels Foundation
$200,000Grant for Fundraising programs
Community Fnd of Southern AZ
$150,000Grant Miller Luke Jakobsen Donor Advised Fund
St Matthews Episcopal Church Chand
$150,000Grant for ministry programs and interfaith miss
The Gregory School
$150,000Grant to sup budget fin aid programs tutoring
Nature Forward
$115,000Grant support general Operating Exp
Elusen Inc
$104,000Grant support Graphic Design prntg Ser
Michaels Foundation
$100,000Grant for fundraising programs
Community Fnd for Southern AZ
$96,000Grant money earmarked for the HM and LJ donor Fund
Michaels Foundation
$86,000Grant for support for Veterans
St Michaels Parish Day School
$85,000Grant support Fac and Bldg improvements
UA Foundation fbo Cooper Center
$85,000Grant assist in hiring Educ staff
Flandrau Science Center Planetarium
$85,000Grant in Sup Marine Disc Exh k-12 Educ Prog
The Gregory School
$85,000Grant for interm Head of School
John Hopkins Medicine
$80,000Grant to research patients and proj Alzheimers
Episcopal Diocese of Arizona
$80,000Grant support campus ministries
The Intentional Man Project
$60,000Grant for updating equip skills training job Dev
Chandler Center for the Arts
$50,000Grant for Connecting kids youth arts programs
Friends of Hutto Dog Park
$50,000Grant in support dog park and Equip
Arizona Burn Foundation
$50,000Grant to support life of burn survivors
Tanglewood Music Center
$50,000Grant Music Center-Rubin
Tucson Childrens Museum
$50,000Grant for general operating exp arts STEM Exh
Osceola for the Arts
$40,000Grant to support Visual arts programs
Friends Club
$40,000Grant for support early stages of dementia
College Bound
$40,000Grant support Academic Mentoring
Reed Charitable Fnd
$30,000Grant Lit Training implem Sup Educ events
Cancer Support Community-PA Chapter
$25,000Grant provide Support programs
Chandler Center for the Arts
$25,000Grant to support Ashli St Armants project
Make a Wish Foundation
$25,000Grant wishes to children in treatment
Michaels Foundation
$25,000Grant to general operations
Sugarloaf Citizens Association
$20,000Grant Expansion of regenerative Farming
Mission Edge San Deigo
$15,000Grant for ALS support therapy and Lifesaving Res
Piedmont Envir and Ed Fund
$15,000Funding Projects for teachers and students
Weymouth Center for the Arts
$10,000Grant Presv Conserv Boyds Hist home Grounds
The Carolina Philharmonic
$10,000Grant music education
Heavenly Hoofs Inc
$10,000Grant to support provide srvs to Veterans PTSD
Giffords Law Center
$10,000Grant in Support Effec Def Leg regdggun safety
Willow Wish
$5,000Grant support Birth Center Exp and dula care
Sandhills Community College
$5,000Grant pur shoes food for Children and seniors
Giffords Law Center
$5,000Grant to support preventing gun violence-safety
Sandhill Coalition
$5,000Grant reduce debt parish clergy renewal
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