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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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