Established a fund through the Northern Texas PGA to help junior golfers with financial needs pay for tournament fees or NTPGA membership dues. Nominations for recipients of a grant from the Ryan Palmer Foundation are funneled through the NTPGA. In November 2009, the Palmer Foundation gave $100,000 to The Children's Hospital at Northwest Texas Healthcare System in Amarillo, Texas, to build the Ryan Palmer Foundation Healing Garden, which includes a nine-hole putting green. He also donated $50 per birdie and $100 per eagle to the hospital in 2010 as a part of Birdies 4 "Brighter Smiles." The Ryan Palmer Foundation hosted the United Rentals Battle at the Byron on the Monday after the AT&T Byron Nelson to raise funds for the Brighter Smiles Initiative, which provides dental services for those kids who otherwise could not afford it. Website is ryanpalmerfoundation.org.

One of six inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame's Class of 2022 in October.

It was announced by the Mayor Pro Tem of Amarillo, Freda Powell, that October 17, 2022 was officially "Ryan Palmer Day" in his hometown.

Played practice round with Payne Stewart at the 1998 U.S. Open where he posted rounds of 82-73 but missed the cut.