Ackerman Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1996 and granted charitable status in July 1997, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on philanthropic giving across multiple states and cities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.9M
+7.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$450K
+20.0% YoY
Grant Count
22
+29.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
-7.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ackerman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $598K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to provide grants to improve the quality of K-12 educational curriculum and systems. The foundation also supports organizations in health and human services, community development, and education. Additionally, the foundation aims to increase cash balances through interest earned to fund scholarships for Colorado residents.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications on a continuous basis with no confirmed application deadline. Interested organizations are encouraged to approach the foundation directly for more information.
Grant Range
reported at $90, though individual grants vary significantly
Average Grant
reported at $90, though individual grants vary significantly
Review Cycle
. Interested organizations are encouraged to approach the foundation directly for more information.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
- Denver, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
- States with funding activity include California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, New York, Texas, and Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $8,874,538
- Annual Revenue: $1,174,755
- Annual Expenses: $531,842
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Context: The foundation has maintained consistent financial growth, with assets increasing 2.6% from the previous year.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,874,538 | $8,245,430 | $7,424,581 |
| Revenue | $1,174,755 | $1,235,221 | $1,272,303 |
| Expenses | $531,842 | $414,372 | $297,914 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $452,350 | $377,110 | $267,275 |
| Net Investment Income | $190,288 | $252,670 | $272,462 |
| Distributable Amount | $598,457 | $480,049 | $429,360 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
99 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Partners Creating Community Inc ($50,000), Navy Seal Foundation ($30,000), Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective ($26,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE EDUCATION GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COLORADO | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN INDIAN CHILD RESOURCE CENTER OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $21,000 |
| BLACK EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH COLLECTIVE CULVER CITY, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $26,000 |
| COOPERATION JACKSON JACKSON, MS | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| ECDC AFRICAN COMMUNITY CENTER DENVER, CO | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| FIREBIRD COMMUNITY ARTS CHICAGO, IL | PROJECT FIRE | $21,000 |
| FLORENCE CRITTENTON SERVICES DENVER, CO | TO FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE OF DONEE ORGANIZATION | $15,000 |
| HEARTSPRING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WICHITA, KS | TO FURTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE OF DONEE ORGANIZATION | $25,000 |
| JANE PLACE NEIGHBORHOOD SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE NEW ORLEANS, LA | PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS | $10,000 |
| MERCY SHIPS GARDEN VALLEY, TX | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michael A. Ackerman – President and Director (serves without compensation)
- Steven J. Ackerman – Director (serves without compensation)
- Cherilyn Lawrence – Director (serves without compensation)
- Don E. Ackerman – Major donor
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL A ACKERMAN | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEVEN J ACKERMAN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CHERILYN LAWRENCE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ackerman Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to provide grants to improve the quality of K-12 educational curriculum and systems. The foundation also supports organizations in health and human services, community development, and education. Additionally, the foundation aims to increase cash balances through interest earned to fund scholarships for Colorado residents.
How do I apply for a grant from Ackerman Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • In 2024, the foundation awarded 17 grants totaling approximately $375,000 • Average grant size reported at $90, though individual grants vary significantly • Typical award ranges from $800–$2,500 based on recent activity • Recent grants include $50,000 to Partners Creating Community for a Clinical Director Position, $30,000 to Navy Seal Foundation, and $26,000 to Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective for general operations **Application Process:** The foundation acc…
Where does Ackerman Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: • Denver, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco • States with funding activity include California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, New York, Texas, and Virginia
What size grants does Ackerman Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Ackerman Foundation Inc awarded 22 grants totaling $450K — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ackerman Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ackerman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $598K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ackerman Foundation Inc's EIN?
Ackerman Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2284728. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ackerman Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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