Ajax Foundation
Ajax Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including community-support organizations in Montana and organizations involved in scientific research, homelessness services, river conservation, and education.
Ajax Foundation at a glance
In short: Ajax Foundation gave $390K across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), mostly in Montana. 40% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $390,000
- +358.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- +200.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $26,000
- +52.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $22,450,789
- +345.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (6 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Montana (73% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ajax Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 800 5Th St 101 179, Seattle, WA 98104-3176
Phone: (406) 208-5002
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ajax Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tumbleweeds ($75K). Together the top 10 received $325K.
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 49 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went primarily to organizations in Montana (73%), followed by California (13%), Texas (6%), Colorado (3%), and Massachusetts (3%). The listed grants include recipients in Montana, California, and Texas, as well as American Whitewater in Oregon and Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ajax Foundation open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 15 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $28K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 33% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 94% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 203% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $85K (2023) to $390K (2024). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $390K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tumbleweeds Billings, MT | Community Support | $75,000 |
| Caltech Associates Pasadena, CA | Scientific Research Support | $50,000 |
| Young Families Billings, MT | Community Support | $25,000 |
| Red Lodge Area Community Foundation Red Lodge, MT | Community Support | $25,000 |
| Baretooth Cupboards Red Lodge, MT | Community Support | $25,000 |
| Red Lodge Fire Rescue Foundation Red Lodge, MT | Community Support | $25,000 |
| Boys Girls Club of Red Lodge Red Lodge, MT | Community Support | $25,000 |
| Boys Girls Club of Billings Billings, MT | Community Support | $25,000 |
| Montana Rescue Mission Billings, MT | Community Support | $25,000 |
| CLDI Billlings, MT | Community Support | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ajax Foundation?
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 | $22,450,789 | $14,838,806 | $856,470 | $390,000 | 15 | $856,470 | — | $421,157 |
| 2023 | $5,041,428 | $223,370 | $144,953 | $85,000 | 5 | $144,953 | $163,417 | $225,478 |
| 2022 | $4,903,087 | $253,306 | $78,519 | — | — | $319,719 | $174,787 | $225,313 |
| 2021 | $4,876,152 | $210,313 | $244,263 | $201,200 | 13 | $244,263 | $167,250 | $183,975 |
| 2020 | $3,224,322 | $146,504 | $199,969 | $165,000 | 16 | — | $111,535 | $155,095 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ajax Foundation reported a distributable amount of $421K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for community organizations, a scientific research organization, and groups whose own missions include addressing homelessness and poverty, supporting fire and emergency medical services, protecting rivers, and educating students. For example, Vogel Alcove describes its mission as helping young children and families prevent and overcome the effects of homelessness and poverty; Red Lodge Fire Rescue Foundation says it supports fire and emergency medical service organizations and providers serving the greater Red Lodge community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $390,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $75,000, with a median of $25,000. Notable grants included $75,000 to Tumbleweeds, $50,000 to Caltech Associates for scientific research support, and $25,000 each to Young Families, Red Lodge Area Community Foundation, Red Lodge Fire Rescue Foundation, Montana Rescue Mission, and Vogel Alcove.
The foundation’s filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Alan Bressler and Suzanne Bressler as trustees.
Ajax Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alan Bressler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$20K (2023) → $200K (2024)
Suzanne Bressler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$13K (2023) → $200K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Richard Bressler (2020–2022) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $200K, to Alan Bressler (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ajax Foundation
How much does Ajax Foundation give each year?
Ajax Foundation gave $390K across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $85K across 5 grants.
What is Ajax Foundation's typical grant size?
Ajax Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $26,000, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ajax Foundation that year got $23K on average.
Where does Ajax Foundation give grants?
Ajax Foundation gives mostly in Montana: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (13%) and Texas (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Billings, MT (5 grants) and Red Lodge, MT (4 grants).
Does Ajax Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Ajax Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Support" (13 grants).
Who are Ajax Foundation's largest grantees?
Ajax Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Tumbleweeds ($75,000), Caltech Associates ($50,000) and Young Families ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ajax Foundation?
Ajax Foundation reported $22.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $856K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $421K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ajax Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ajax Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ajax Foundation's EIN?
Ajax Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1503626. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ajax Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ajax Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ajax-foundation-morg_81bf513ef40b4147a307ec2d56ab4b3e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911503626_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ajax Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ajax-foundation-morg_81bf513ef40b4147a307ec2d56ab4b3e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Ajax Foundation'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.
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