The Ames Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1996 and headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan. The foundation was created by Chuck and Jay Ames to support charitable causes in their community and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.4M
-5.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$865K
+17.7% YoY
Grant Count
18
+20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
-1.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ames Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $758K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated consistent philanthropic activity with total giving of $865,000 recorded in Traverse City, Michigan. The foundation has provided over $200,000 in support to the Hillcrest Family YMCA in Cleveland over more than twenty years, helping to support the branch's programmatic and operating needs.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a presence in multiple regions, with documented activity in both Michigan (Traverse City) and Ohio (Cleveland area).
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,369,947 | $11,011,183 | $11,378,118 |
| Revenue | $447,090 | $593,471 | $406,010 |
| Expenses | $1,088,326 | $960,406 | $1,057,248 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $865,000 | $735,000 | $825,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $207,198 | $185,130 | $259,554 |
| Distributable Amount | $757,887 | $734,976 | $758,557 |
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
76 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Tuskegee University ($165,000), Think of Us ($70,000), Grand Traverse Regional Land Conser ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ONE HUNDRED MILES BRUNSWICK, GA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $40,000 |
| THE ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK EAST POINT, GA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $45,000 |
| GRAND TRAVERSE REGIONAL LAND CONSER TRAVERSE CITY, MI | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $50,000 |
| NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE TRAVERSE CITY, MI | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $50,000 |
| SEEDS TRAVERSE CITY, MI | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS | $50,000 |
| CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERKEEPER SMYRNA, GA | CHARITIABLE CONTRIBUTION | $45,000 |
| CLARKSTON COMMUNITY CENTER CLARKSTON, GA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $35,000 |
| TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY TUSKEGEE, AL | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $165,000 |
| TART TRAILS INC TRAVERSE CITY, MI | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
| LEELANAU CONSERVANCY LELAND, MI | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA JEAN AMES | CO-TRUSTEE | 20 | $100,000 |
| JOHN CLINTON AMES | CO-TRUSTEE | 20 | $100,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Ames Family Foundation?
The foundation has demonstrated consistent philanthropic activity with total giving of $865,000 recorded in Traverse City, Michigan. The foundation has provided over $200,000 in support to the Hillcrest Family YMCA in Cleveland over more than twenty years, helping to support the branch's programmatic and operating needs.
Where does Ames Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation maintains a presence in multiple regions, with documented activity in both Michigan (Traverse City) and Ohio (Cleveland area).
What size grants does Ames Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Ames Family Foundation awarded 18 grants totaling $865K — an average of about $48K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ames Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ames Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $758K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ames Family Foundation's EIN?
Ames Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-1011426. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ames Family Foundation'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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