Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit
Adams Legacy Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Peter Adams and his wife Rebecca funded the foundation in 2006 after the sale of the family business, Adams Rite Manufacturing Co. The foundation supports organizations that connect people with nature, research on nature’s health benefits, and efforts to preserve outdoor spaces.
Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit at a glance
In short: Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit gave $905K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $905K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $905,000
- -8.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -97.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $905,000
- +3468.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $905,000
- Total assets
- $21,567,794
- +21.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit
- Contact
Application contact: Blair Carty
Mailing address: 5300 E Vista Street, Long Beach, CA 90803
Phone: (562) 431-0011
Website: https://adamslegacyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit
Who Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
134 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 118 grants of 134 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website identifies Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County in California, and Franklin County, Ohio, as the communities served in the current funding cycle. It also expresses interest in collaborative initiatives that increase access to green spaces in those communities.
The 2025 filing reports that all grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. Separately, it reports direct charitable activity in the form of a below-market-interest-rate loan for the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit gives
- Giving grew 122% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 196% 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $202K (2020) to $989K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $905K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| See Attached See Attached, IL | General Support | $905,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,567,794 | $8,599,066 | $1,262,253 | $905,000 | 1 | $2,161,458 | $3,291,374 | $1,103,529 |
| 2024 | $17,752,088 | $4,372,616 | $1,277,471 | $989,000 | 39 | $1,211,958 | $804,050 | $976,755 |
| 2023 | $15,951,044 | $2,230,465 | $1,118,025 | $903,500 | 37 | $1,030,389 | $806,472 | $737,910 |
| 2022 | $15,051,021 | $-89,037 | $647,958 | $407,275 | 26 | $549,346 | $287,832 | $718,912 |
| 2021 | $15,789,136 | $3,368,310 | $808,143 | $564,000 | 31 | $675,428 | $3,237,406 | $736,561 |
| 2020 | $13,209,613 | $11,290,832 | $285,009 | $202,000 | 27 | — | $205,670 | $209,005 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it invests in organizations that get people outdoors, researchers studying the health benefits of time in nature, and organizations preserving outdoor space for future generations. Its website also highlights collaborative initiatives that increase access to green spaces in the communities included in its current funding focus.
The 2024 grantees illustrate several kinds of work represented in its giving. For example, Wilderness Youth Project says its mission is to foster confidence, health, and a lifelong love of learning through outdoor experiences and mentoring. Ground Education describes its work as outdoor environmental education for children, while Los Padres ForestWatch says it works to protect the Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument through education, advocacy, and, when necessary, legal action. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported one grant totaling $905,000. The filing identifies the recipient as “SEE ATTACHED” and gives the purpose as general support. In 2024, it reported 39 grants totaling $989,000; in 2023, it reported 37 grants totaling $903,500.
Among the 2024 grants described here, awards included $200,000 to City Fabrick, $105,000 to Wilderness Youth Project Inc., $25,000 to Outward Bound California, and $16,000 to Hillside House.
The foundation’s 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists a letter of inquiry submitted through the website as the application material and limits awards to Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties in California and Ohio. The website describes the current funding focus as communities in Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County, California, and Franklin County, Ohio. Deadline: The 2025 filing listed September 15; that date has passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Peter D. Adams as president, Rebecca B. Adams as vice president, Blair Carty as treasurer, executive director, and chairman of the board, and Marlee Snowdon as secretary.
Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit is led by Blair Carty, Treasurer, Executive Director & Chairman of Board since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Blair Carty
Treasurer, Executive Director & Chairman of Board
Executive Director → Treasurer, Executive Director & Chairman of Board, 2022
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$34K (2020) → $63K (2025)
Peter D. Adams
President
President → President & Treasurer, 2021
President & Treasurer → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rebecca B. Adams
Vice President
Vice President → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marlee Snowdon
Secretary
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $63K, to Blair Carty (Treasurer/Executive Director/Chairman of Board).
Frequently asked questions about Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit
How much does Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit give each year?
Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit gave $905K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $989K across 39 grants.
How large is Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit?
Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit reported $21.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit fund?
The foundation says it invests in organizations that get people outdoors, researchers studying the health benefits of time in nature, and organizations preserving outdoor space for future generations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit?
Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check adamslegacyfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit make grants?
The website identifies Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County in California, and Franklin County, Ohio, as the communities served in the current funding cycle. It also expresses interest in collaborative initiatives that increase access to green spaces in those communities.
What is Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit's EIN?
Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3373791. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Santa Barbara Foundation
Santa Barbara, CA
The Santa Barbara Foundation supports a wide range of community needs in Santa Barbara County, including behavioral and physical health, food and shelter, education, conservation, and arts programs. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of $25,000, though individual awards varied widely. It invites applicants to review program opportunities and eligibility requirements and apply through each program’s stated process; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$503.6M
Grants
447
Total Given
$107.7M
Orange County Community Foundation
Irvine, CA
The Orange County Community Foundation supports a wide range of causes, including human services, education, health, arts, the environment, and community development, primarily in Orange County and also beyond. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$743.6M
Grants
975
Total Given
$120.4M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Adams Legacy Foundation a Delaware Nonprofit down — hundreds of funders to go?