Ames Family Foundation
Ames Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Traverse City, Michigan. In 2024, it gave $865,000 to 18 charitable organizations, with grants supporting organizations in Michigan, Georgia, Alabama, Washington, DC, and New York.
Ames Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Ames Family Foundation gave $865K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $48K), top state Michigan. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $865,000
- +17.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $48,056
- -1.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $47,500
- Total assets
- $10,369,947
- -5.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (40% 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 Ames Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 984, Traverse City, MI 49685
Phone: (251) 476-7685
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ames Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tuskegee University ($165K). Together the top 10 received $630K.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 45 grants of 76 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Michigan received 40% of grant dollars, Georgia 24%, Alabama 19%, Washington, DC 8%, and New York 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ames Family Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 18 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $51K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 114% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2019) to $865K (2024). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $865K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL | Charitable Contribution | $165,000 |
| Think of US Washington, DC | Charitable Contribution | $70,000 |
| 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 |
| Tart Trails Inc Traverse City, MI | Charitable Contribution | $50,000 |
| Leelanau Conservancy Leland, MI | Charitable Contribution | $50,000 |
| Soul Fire Farm Petersburg, NY | Charitable Contributions | $50,000 |
| Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy Marquette, MI | Charitable Contribution | $50,000 |
| The Atlanta Community Food Bank East Point, GA | Charitable Contributions | $45,000 |
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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 | $10,369,947 | $447,090 | $1,088,326 | $865,000 | 18 | $865,000 | $207,198 | $757,887 |
| 2023 | $11,011,183 | $593,471 | $960,406 | $735,000 | 15 | $735,000 | $185,130 | $734,976 |
| 2022 | $11,378,118 | $406,010 | $1,057,248 | $825,000 | 15 | $825,000 | $259,554 | $758,557 |
| 2021 | $12,029,356 | $380,234 | $1,048,061 | $800,000 | 15 | $800,000 | $250,727 | $789,514 |
| 2020 | $12,645,238 | $14,024,267 | $862,937 | $850,000 | 13 | — | $157,080 | $530,712 |
| 2019 | $1,891,552 | $1,978,331 | $100,653 | $100,000 | 5 | — | $333,328 | $83,078 |
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.
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 went to organizations working in areas including higher education, youth and family support, conservation, education, recreation, and the arts. For example, Tuskegee University describes its mission as providing postsecondary educational opportunities and contributing to society through research and development. The Clarkston Community Center says it connects Atlanta’s communities and cultures through education, recreation, and the arts. Conservation grantees include the Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy, which protects land in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and One Hundred Miles, which says it protects Georgia’s coast through advocacy, education, and community engagement.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $865,000. Grants ranged from $20,000 to $165,000, with a median of $47,500. The largest grant was $165,000 to Tuskegee University. Other notable grants included $70,000 to Think of Us; $50,000 each to Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Northwestern Michigan College, SEEDS, TART Trails, Leelanau Conservancy, Soul Fire Farm, and Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy; and $45,000 to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Barbara Jean Ames and John Clinton Ames as co-trustees.
Ames Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Barbara Jean Ames
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$100K (2021) → $100K (2024)
John Clinton Ames
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$100K (2021) → $100K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $100K, to Barbara Jean Ames (Co-Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ames Family Foundation
How much does Ames Family Foundation give each year?
Ames Family Foundation gave $865K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $735K across 15 grants.
What is Ames Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Ames Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $47,500, and its average grant was $48,056, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ames Family Foundation that year got $25K on average.
Where does Ames Family Foundation give grants?
Ames Family Foundation's top state is Michigan, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Georgia (24%) and Alabama (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Traverse City, MI (5 grants).
Who are Ames Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Ames Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Tuskegee University ($165,000), Think of US ($70,000) and Grand Traverse Regional Land Conser ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ames Family Foundation?
Ames Family Foundation reported $10.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $865K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $758K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ames Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including higher education, youth and family support, conservation, education, recreation, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ames Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Ames Family 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 15, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ames Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ames-family-foundation-morg_577547fb8cc649408223efd5547e01a0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_331011426_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ames Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ames-family-foundation-morg_577547fb8cc649408223efd5547e01a0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Ames Family 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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