Ames Charitable Foundation
Ames Charitable Foundation is a private foundation, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $217K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $23K. Net investment income was $6K.
Ames Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Ames Charitable Foundation gave $23K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $22,924
- +4.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,866
- +4.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,329
- Total assets
- $217,436
- -7.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Ames Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Central Synagogue ($12K). Together the top 8 received $23K.
Grant Size Distribution
47 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 47 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ames Charitable Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 157% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2020) to $23K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $23K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Central Synagogue Rockville Centre, NY | General Purposes | $12,200 |
| Sucede Inc Key Biscayne, FL | General Purposes | $4,100 |
| American Foundation for Suicide Prevention New York, NY | General Purposes | $2,500 |
| Temple Judea Manhasset, NY | General Purposes | $1,458 |
| Global Empowerment Fairfax, VA | General Purposes | $1,200 |
| Puppies Behind Bars New York, NY | General Purposes | $1,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | General Purposes | $250 |
| National Jewish Memorial Wall Coral Gables, FL | General Purposes | $216 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $217,436 | $9,837 | $27,864 | $22,924 | 8 | $23,824 | $5,797 | $15,154 |
| 2024 | $235,463 | $16,319 | $32,699 | $22,050 | 8 | $22,950 | $12,316 | $15,115 |
| 2023 | $251,843 | $138,417 | $23,720 | $18,800 | 9 | $19,784 | $134,585 | $13,375 |
| 2022 | $137,146 | $13,052 | $27,661 | $20,625 | 11 | $22,125 | $7,516 | $16,359 |
| 2021 | $150,755 | $8,630 | $25,015 | $20,000 | 11 | — | $4,286 | $17,581 |
| 2020 | $168,390 | $6,103 | $18,956 | $14,500 | 11 | — | $2,303 | $14,501 |
| 2019 | $179,993 | $-7,917 | $20,536 | $16,100 | 12 | — | $649 | $14,283 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ames Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ames Charitable Foundation's only listed officer is Janet Ames Scharf, Manager on every filing since 2022 (uncompensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Janet Ames Scharf
Manager
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Steven Ames (2019–2022) — Manager
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Ames Charitable Foundation
How much does Ames Charitable Foundation give each year?
Ames Charitable Foundation gave $23K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $22K across 8 grants.
What is Ames Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Ames Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,329, and its average grant was $2,866, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ames Charitable Foundation give grants?
Ames Charitable Foundation gives mostly in New York: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (19%) and Virginia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants).
Does Ames Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ames Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ames Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Ames Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Central Synagogue ($12,200), Sucede Inc ($4,100) and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ames Charitable Foundation?
Ames Charitable Foundation reported $217K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $24K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Ames Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Ames Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6123016. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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