Adams Charitable Foundation
Adams Charitable Foundation is a private foundation, based in Falls Church, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $63.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $3.5M. Net investment income was $4.1M.
Adams Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Adams Charitable Foundation gave $3.5M across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $888K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,550,000
- +18.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- +100.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $887,500
- -40.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $650,000
- Total assets
- $63,511,390
- +15.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (85% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Adams Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Folger Shakespeare Library ($2.0M). Together the top 4 received $3.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 9 grants of 21 (43%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Adams Charitable Foundation gives
- Giving grew 31% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 126% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2021) to $3.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $3.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Folger Shakespeare Library Washington, DC | Operating Support | $2,000,000 |
| National Capital Poison Center Washington, DC | Operating Support | $1,000,000 |
| Public Resources Org Inc Healdsburg, CA | Opperating Support | $300,000 |
| Reclaim the Records Mill Valley, CA | Operating Support | $250,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $63,511,390 | $4,528,231 | $3,940,402 | $3,550,000 | 4 | $3,550,000 | $4,140,329 | $2,827,743 |
| 2023 | $55,128,658 | $3,128,159 | $3,328,468 | $3,000,000 | 2 | $3,000,000 | $2,802,216 | $2,502,129 |
| 2022 | $48,029,343 | $-475,655 | $3,794,492 | $3,500,000 | 3 | $3,500,000 | $807,784 | $2,696,058 |
| 2021 | $61,911,197 | $5,911,238 | $3,061,796 | $2,700,000 | 6 | $2,700,000 | $5,551,967 | $2,785,694 |
| 2020 | $54,347,337 | $10,902,633 | $3,330,808 | $2,972,063 | 6 | — | $10,546,263 | $2,237,482 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Adams Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Adams Charitable Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Allan Frey
Vp-Dir
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Donnalyn Frey Adams
Pres-Dir
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Richard L. Adams Jr.
Sec-Tr-Dir
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Adams Charitable Foundation
How much does Adams Charitable Foundation give each year?
Adams Charitable Foundation gave $3.5M across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.0M across 2 grants.
What is Adams Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Adams Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $650,000, and its average grant was $887,500, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Adams Charitable Foundation give grants?
Adams Charitable Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Adams Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of Adams Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Adams Charitable Foundation?
Adams Charitable Foundation reported $63.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Adams Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Adams Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2002510. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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