The Ryan Smith Foundation concentrates its giving almost exclusively on education, with a clear emphasis on Catholic and faith-affiliated schools and colleges as well as college-access programs for underserved students. It makes a handful of sizable gifts and often renews support to the same institutions, combining investments in Catholic secondary schools (including Cristo Rey network schools) with donations to higher‑education institutions. A portion of funding is also directed locally in Florida (e.g., Florida Gulf Coast University), but overall the portfolio is tightly focused on advancing educational opportunity.
A $220,000 grant to Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School stands out in the Ryan Smith Foundation’s recent record and points to how it funds: education first, often through Catholic and faith-affiliated institutions. The foundation’s largest gifts are paired with smaller follow-on awards, showing a mix of major support and sustained relationship-based giving. Georgetown University received two recent grants, including $100,000 in 2023 and $50,000 in 2025, while Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School also received $56,500 in 2024 and $60,000 in 2025. That pattern places college access, student advancement, and faith-linked schooling at the center of the portfolio. The grants also reach beyond one school type. Florida Gulf Coast University has appeared repeatedly in the recent list, and the foundation has made targeted awards to organizations serving students, wounded soldiers, friars, people facing poverty, and other communities tied to its stated topic areas. The overall picture is a foundation that gives selectively, returns to familiar grantees, and uses education as its main channel while also supporting a narrower set of mission-driven causes.
Educational advancement is the clearest throughline. The Ryan Smith Foundation gave $220,000 to Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School in 2023 and followed with $56,500 in 2024 and $60,000 in 2025, all for educational advances. It also gave Georgetown University $100,000 in 2023 and $50,000 in 2025 for the same purpose. Catholic secondary education is another recurring area: Ursuline School received $50,000 in 2023 and $25,000 in 2024, while Montini Catholic High School received $25,000 in 2023. The foundation also backs college-access and student-support work locally, including $7,500 to Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida in 2025 and $2,000 to Alexandra Desantis Trust in 2023.
Typical grant size centers on a median of $5,000, with the lower quartile at $1,736 and the upper quartile at $31,250. The recent record shows both one-time awards and repeated support to the same institutions across multiple years, especially in education. Grants are made directly to organizations rather than to individuals, and there is no program-related investment activity in the data provided. The portfolio combines a few large grants with many smaller ones, including gifts under $10,000 alongside six-figure support.
$193K
$995K
$435K
$204K
Most grants fall between $2K and $31K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$31K
About 31% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Concentrated, relatively few but large grants with repeated multi‑year support to core grantees; funding is focused rather than widely distributed across causes.
Notable grantees: Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School, Georgetown University, Ursuline School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Montini Catholic High School
Giving is national, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. New York appears most often among recipient locations, including Brooklyn, New Rochelle, Yonkers, and New York City. Florida also shows up repeatedly, with grants to Fort Myers, Fort Meyers, and Niceville, plus local support in Americus, Georgia. The headquarters is in Naples, Florida, but the recipient footprint extends well beyond the state.
The recent record is concentrated in education, especially Catholic and faith-affiliated schools and universities. Named recipients include Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School, Georgetown University, Ursuline School, Montini Catholic High School, Florida Gulf Coast University, and Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida.
Yes. Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Georgetown University in 2023 and 2025; Florida Gulf Coast University in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Eod Warrior Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $1,736, a median of $5,000, and a p75 of $31,250. The recent list includes both smaller awards like $500 and $1,000 and larger awards such as $220,000 and $100,000.
The geographic scope is national, with 24 recent grants to U.S. recipients. New York is the top state by grant count, and Florida recipients also appear frequently, including organizations in Fort Myers, Niceville, and Naples-area giving.
A smaller set of grants supports poverty relief, wounded soldiers, fair housing, cancer research, and friar recruitment and mission work. Examples include Ladies of Charity, Eod Warrior Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Play for Pink, and Province of St Mary.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MONTINI CATHOLIC HS | LOMBARD, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| CARLOS BELTRAN BASEBALL ACADEMY FOUNDATION | FLORIDA, PR | $45,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY | FT MEYERS, FL | $25,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| CRISTO REY BROOKLYN HIGN SCHOOL | BROOKLYN, NY | $22,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL ADVANCES |
| LORAS COLLEGE | DUBUQUE, IA | $11,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA | FT MYERS, FL | $10,600 | 2026 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| PROVINCE OF MARY | YONKERS, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO FURTHER SUPPORTTHE RECRUITMENT,EDUCATION AND MISSIONWORK OF FRIARS |
| EOD WARRIOR FOUNDATION | NICEVILLE, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO FURTHERASSIST WOUNDEDSOLDIERS |
| MISERACORDIA HEART OF MERCY | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GRANT TO FURTHER SUPPORTTHE RECRUITMENT,EDUCATION AND MISSIONWORK OF FRIARS |
| ARTIS OF NAPLES | NAPLES, FL | $2,500 | 2026 | GRANT TO FURTHER SUPPORT THE MISSIONSOF THE ARTS |
| LADIES OF CHARITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2026 | GRANT TO FURTHERASSIST THE POOR |
| CRISTO REY BROOKLYN HIGH SCHOOL | BROOKLYN, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERTSITY | FT MEYERS, FL | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| ST AQUINAS COLLEGE | SPARKHILL, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA | FT MYERS, FL | $7,500 | 2025 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| LADIES OF CHARITY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GRANTTO FURTHER ASSIST THE POOR |
| EOD WARRIOR FOUNDATION | NICEVILLE, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO FURTHER ASSIST WOUNDEDSOLDIERS |
| PROVENCE OF ST MARY | YONKERS, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO FURTHER SUPPORTTHE RECRUITMENT,EDUCATION AND MISSIONWORK OF FRIARS |
| CRISTO REY BROOKLYN HIGH SCHOOL | BROOKLYN, NY | $56,500 | 2024 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| URSULINE SCHOOL | NEW ROCHELLE, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERTSITY | FT MEYERS, FL | $15,000 | 2024 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| EOD WARRIOR FOUNDATION | NICEVILLE, FL | $5,000 | 2024 | GRANT TO FURTHER ASSIST WOUNDEDSOLDIERS |
| LADIES OF CHARITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,815 | 2024 | GRANTTO FURTHER ASSIST THE POOR |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | AMERICUS, GA | $1,000 | 2024 | GRANT TO FURTHERPROMOTE FAIR HOUSING |
| PLAY FOR PINK | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2024 | GRANT TO FURTHERCANCER RESEARCH |
| CRISTO REY BROOKLYN HIGH SCHOOL | BROOKLYN, NY | $220,000 | 2023 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2023 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| URSULINE SCHOOL | NEW ROCHELLE, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| MONTINI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | LOMBARD, IL | $25,000 | 2023 | GRANTTO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL ADVANCES |
| FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERTSITY | FT MEYERS, FL | $5,000 | 2023 | GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES |
| EOD WARRIOR FOUNDATION | NICEVILLE, FL | $5,000 | 2023 | GRANT TO FURTHER ASSIST WOUNDEDSOLDIERS |
| ALEXANDRA DESANTIS TRUST | NEW ROCHELLE, NY | $2,000 | 2023 | GRANTTO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL ADVANCES |
| LADIES OF CHARITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2023 | GRANTTO FURTHER ASSIST THE POOR |
| PRIESTS OF THE SACRED HEART | HALES CORNERS, WI | $50 | 2023 | GRANT TO FURTHERASSIST THEPOOR |
MONTINI CATHOLIC HS
$50,000GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES
CARLOS BELTRAN BASEBALL ACADEMY FOUNDATION
$45,000GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES
FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY
$25,000GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES
PROVINCE OF MARY
$5,000GRANT TO FURTHER SUPPORTTHE RECRUITMENT,EDUCATION AND MISSIONWORK OF FRIARS
GRANT TO FURTHER SUPPORTTHE RECRUITMENT,EDUCATION AND MISSIONWORK OF FRIARS
ARTIS OF NAPLES
$2,500GRANT TO FURTHER SUPPORT THE MISSIONSOF THE ARTS
LADIES OF CHARITY
$1,500GRANT TO FURTHERASSIST THE POOR
FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERTSITY
$20,000GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES
ST AQUINAS COLLEGE
$10,000GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
$7,500GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES
LADIES OF CHARITY
$5,000GRANTTO FURTHER ASSIST THE POOR
PROVENCE OF ST MARY
$5,000GRANT TO FURTHER SUPPORTTHE RECRUITMENT,EDUCATION AND MISSIONWORK OF FRIARS
URSULINE SCHOOL
$25,000GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES
FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERTSITY
$15,000GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES
LADIES OF CHARITY
$1,815GRANTTO FURTHER ASSIST THE POOR
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$1,000GRANT TO FURTHERPROMOTE FAIR HOUSING
PLAY FOR PINK
$500GRANT TO FURTHERCANCER RESEARCH
URSULINE SCHOOL
$50,000GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES
MONTINI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$25,000GRANTTO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL ADVANCES
FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERTSITY
$5,000GRANT TO FURTHEREDUCATIONALADVANCES
ALEXANDRA DESANTIS TRUST
$2,000GRANTTO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL ADVANCES
LADIES OF CHARITY
$1,500GRANTTO FURTHER ASSIST THE POOR
PRIESTS OF THE SACRED HEART
$50GRANT TO FURTHERASSIST THEPOOR