The Ryan Foundation was established in October 2017 in Cape Town (South Africa) by Gavan and Brendan Ryan in memory of their parents, Benjamin and Patricia Ryan. The foundation is completely financed by the Ryan family and is not a fund-raising entity.

The objective of The Ryan Foundation is to provide financial support to worthy institutions, programs and projects. Specific areas of interest include human and social services, education, job training, social research and child services. The Ryan Foundation is particularly interested in supporting projects involving members of previously disadvantaged groups. Our primary area of concentration is South Africa, but we have provided support to suitable projects outside South Africa and will continue to do so.

The Ryan Foundation does not provide financial support to individuals but rather to programs and projects. Given the strong Catholic faith of Benjamin and Patricia Ryan, The Ryan Foundation is highly desirous of supporting projects of a Catholic ethos both in South Africa and abroad.