The Ryan Memorial Foundation concentrates its philanthropy almost exclusively on Catholic Relief Services, signaling a strong commitment to faith-based international humanitarian and development work. Its grants support global emergency relief, poverty alleviation, and development programs delivered through a Catholic humanitarian agency rather than a broad portfolio of local or domestic nonprofits. The foundation appears mission-focused and aligned with Catholic global relief priorities.
Highly concentrated: all funding went to a single, faith-based international grantee (Catholic Relief Services) across multiple grants, indicating repeat, targeted support rather than diversified or small-scale giving.
Ryan Memorial Foundation’s grantmaking is dominated by unrestricted support for Catholic Relief Services, with three of its largest recent grants going to that organization in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That repeated pattern points to a funder that uses sizeable, flexible gifts to back Catholic international humanitarian and development work over time rather than spreading its dollars across many unrelated programs. Beyond that core relationship, the foundation has also backed other large humanitarian and community-serving organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, International Rescue Committee, and United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Those awards suggest a mix of global relief interests and selected domestic support, all delivered through general operating or unrestricted grants. The overall picture is of a foundation with a concentrated philanthropic identity and a limited set of recurring recipients, especially when compared with a broader, diversified grantmaker. Its recent giving includes both very large awards and a cluster of mid-six-figure grants, indicating a capacity for substantial support while still favoring a narrow set of organizations.
In Catholic international humanitarian aid, Ryan Memorial Foundation gave $407,407 to Catholic Relief Services in 2025, following similar unrestricted grants of $361,267 in 2024 and $314,402 in 2023. That repeated support aligns with disaster response, poverty alleviation, and basic health and nutrition work delivered through a Catholic relief agency. The foundation also backed emergency and humanitarian relief outside that single relationship: Doctors Without Borders received $252,321 in 2024 and $248,785 in 2025, while International Rescue Committee received $198,694 in 2025 and $101,460 in 2024. On the domestic side, the foundation supported United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania with $250,455 in 2025 and $249,736 in 2024, and also gave to Extra Mile Education Foundation for Pittsburgh-focused education work in both 2024 and 2025.
Typical awards cluster in the mid-five-figure to low-six-figure range, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $16,666, and a p75 of $51,202. The recent record also shows several much larger unrestricted grants, including repeated seven-figure-scale annual commitments to the same core grantees. Recurrence is a defining feature: Catholic Relief Services, Doctors Without Borders, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and International Rescue Committee all appear across multiple years. Ryan Memorial Foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF entity and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The available records do not show an application process.
$3.8M
$6.3M
$844K
$3.9M
Most grants fall between $5K and $51K, with a median of $17K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$17K
75th Percentile
$51K
About 1% of grants go to recipients in PA.
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Notable grantees: Catholic Relief Services
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 209 grants, or 100%, going to U.S. organizations. Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, even though the foundation’s headquarters are in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Recent awards show a strong Pittsburgh concentration, including recipients in Pittsburgh itself and nearby Pennsylvania locations such as Alexandria and Harlan in the grant record. Outside Pennsylvania, New York City appears repeatedly through grants to organizations in New York, NY, and other recipient cities include Vero Beach, Florida; Easton, Maryland; and Rochester, New York.
The recent record shows support for Catholic international humanitarian aid, emergency relief, poverty alleviation, and some domestic community-serving organizations. Named recipients include Catholic Relief Services, Doctors Without Borders, International Rescue Committee, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and Extra Mile Education Foundation.
Yes. The recent grants listed here are all marked unrestricted, including large awards to Catholic Relief Services, Doctors Without Borders, and United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania. That pattern suggests flexible support rather than tightly designated project funding.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years. Catholic Relief Services received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Doctors Without Borders and International Rescue Committee appear in more than one year as well; and United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Extra Mile Education Foundation also recur.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $5,000, a median of $16,666, and a p75 of $51,202. The recent grant list also includes much larger awards, so the portfolio ranges from modest gifts to sizable unrestricted grants.
The top state by grant count is Pennsylvania. Recent recipients include organizations in Pittsburgh, Alexandria, Harlan, New York, Vero Beach, Easton, and Rochester, while 100% of the recorded grants go to U.S. recipients.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA | PITTSBURGH, PA | $522,688 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $408,350 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $272,213 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| EXTRA MILE EDUCATION FOUNDATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $240,188 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $203,359 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $176,138 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVANCY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $152,919 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WEST PA | PITTSBURGH, PA | $128,100 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FOUNDATION FOR PENNSYLVANIA WATERSHED | ALEXANDRIA, PA | $103,229 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BAAM | EASTON, MD | $102,480 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JT DISP COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $102,480 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HOLY FAMILY INSTITUTE | PITTSBURGH, PA | $102,422 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | PITTSBURGH, PA | $102,088 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DIOCESE OF GREENSBURG | GREENSBURG, PA | $93,548 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CROSSOVER MISSION | VERO BEACH, FL | $82,464 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHATHAM ORPHEUM THEATER | CHATHAM, MA | $76,059 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ALL4LOVE | CAMBRIDGE, MD | $75,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | CHICAGO, IL | $69,654 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PLEASANT BAY COMMUNITY BOATING | NORTH CHATHAM, MA | $61,648 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $57,272 | 2026 | URESTRICTED |
| LITERACY PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $52,363 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PHILADELPHIA YOUTH BASKETBALL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $51,240 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATRE | PITTSBURGH, PA | $42,545 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $36,829 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | PITTSBURGH, PA | $36,818 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PARTNERS IN PROGRESS | PITTSBURGH, PA | $32,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FRICK ART AND HISTORICAL CENTER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $31,091 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SAGE COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS | MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA | $25,620 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CAPE COD HEALTHCARE | HYANNIS, MA | $25,620 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE | GREEWICH, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST | PITTSBURGH, PA | $21,272 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PROJECT HOME | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COMMUNITY CANOPY PROJECT | PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SISTERS OF CHARITY OF SETON HILL | GREENSBURG, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND | BROOKLYN PARK, MN | $19,215 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| REACH PREP | STAMFORD, CT | $19,215 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $18,414 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNITED PERFORMING ARTS FUND | MILWAUKEE, WI | $18,414 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $18,414 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL | CHICAGO, IL | $16,013 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY | NEW YORK, NY | $16,013 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS | NEW YORK, NY | $16,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| OAKLAND CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | PITTSBURGH, PA | $16,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| POLITICAL REPORTBOLTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FIRST SKIN FOUNDATION | LANDSDALE, PA | $13,611 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SCAN HARBOR | NEW YORK, NY | $12,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $8,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHATHAM CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | CHATHAM, MA | $6,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PITTSBURGH OPERA | PITTSBURGH, PA | $6,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CENTER FOR WORKING FAMILIES | BROOKFIELD, WI | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH
$408,350UNRESTRICTED
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$272,213UNRESTRICTED
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF PITTSBURGH
UNRESTRICTED
PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVANCY
$152,919UNRESTRICTED
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WEST PA
$128,100UNRESTRICTED
FOUNDATION FOR PENNSYLVANIA WATERSHED
$103,229UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN JEWISH JT DISP COMMITTEE
$102,480UNRESTRICTED
HOLY FAMILY INSTITUTE
$102,422UNRESTRICTED
CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$102,088UNRESTRICTED
DIOCESE OF GREENSBURG
$93,548UNRESTRICTED
CHATHAM ORPHEUM THEATER
$76,059UNRESTRICTED
ALL4LOVE
$75,000UNRESTRICTED
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
$69,654UNRESTRICTED
PLEASANT BAY COMMUNITY BOATING
$61,648UNRESTRICTED
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$36,829UNRESTRICTED
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$36,818UNRESTRICTED
PARTNERS IN PROGRESS
$32,000UNRESTRICTED
SAGE COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS
$25,620UNRESTRICTED
CAPE COD HEALTHCARE
$25,620UNRESTRICTED
BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST
$21,272UNRESTRICTED
COMMUNITY CANOPY PROJECT
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
SISTERS OF CHARITY OF SETON HILL
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL
$16,013UNRESTRICTED
EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY
$16,013UNRESTRICTED
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
$16,000UNRESTRICTED
OAKLAND CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$16,000UNRESTRICTED
POLITICAL REPORTBOLTS
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
FIRST SKIN FOUNDATION
$13,611UNRESTRICTED
DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH
$8,000UNRESTRICTED
CHATHAM CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
$6,000UNRESTRICTED