Amherst Foundation
Amherst Foundation is a private foundation based in Austin, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in education, health research, housing, inclusion, and support for military families.
Amherst Foundation at a glance
In short: Amherst Foundation gave $166K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $166,088
- -53.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- -57.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $15,099
- +9.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,550,446
- -1.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (59% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Amherst 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: 1141 Shady Lane 201, Austin, TX 78721
Phone: (512) 342-3000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Amherst Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Capital City Fund for Eductation ($50K). Together the top 8 received $93K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($73,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 76 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 59% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 40% to recipients in Virginia, and 1% to recipients in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Amherst Foundation gives
- Giving fell 36% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 135% 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $166K (2024) to $1.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $166K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 3 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $73,000 |
| Capital City Fund for Eductation Austin, TX | To help provide educational opportunities for at risk students | $50,000 |
| Firefly Fund Austin, TX | Sponsorship for an annual event benefitting the research to help find a cure for Neimann-Pick Type C1 NPC1. | $25,000 |
| Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspir Pearland, TX | Is a powerful worldwide network of inclusive, sensory- and literacy-rich playgrounds with more on the way. Our mission has taken us to Mexico, Israel, Canada, Ecuador, Russia, Argentina, South Africa, Armenia, the Dominican Republic and beyond. Once the playgrounds open, we continue working with communities to bring social inclusion programs onto the playground and into schools | $5,000 |
| The Univesity of Texas Austin, TX | The mission of the University of Texas Foundation is to advance education by providing financial support to The University of Texas System, including its branches, departments, schools, and colleges across the fourteen institutions, to enhance research, teaching, scholarship, faculties, and facilities, ensuring excellence in education | $5,000 |
| Donee's under 500 - 16 total Austin, TX | Amherst Foundation provided various amounts to organizations: 20 donees of $500.00 or less totaling $6,193.00 | $3,088 |
| The Rise School Austin, TX | Education of special needs children | $2,500 |
| Hurricanes Baseball Inc Franklin, VA | Organizations for any of the following purposes: religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition (as long as it doesn't provide athletic facilities or equipment), or the prevention of cruelty to children or animals | $1,500 |
| Bear Hug Foundation Southfield, MI | Provides a supportive summer camp experience to at-risk and under-served children, by partnering with community organizations and delivering a unique outdoor opportunity. Our broad range of programming and camp activities help foster personal growth and strengthen self-image, while building and developing positive friendship,skills and meaningful relationships. | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Amherst 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 | $2,550,446 | $128,858 | $177,002 | $166,088 | 11 | $166,088 | $117,944 | $123,389 |
| 2023 | $2,586,791 | $87,581 | $365,184 | $360,080 | 26 | $360,080 | $82,477 | $124,285 |
| 2022 | $2,867,594 | $3,940,000 | $1,280,825 | $1,276,775 | 12 | $1,276,775 | — | $168,739 |
| 2021 | $234,719 | $310,000 | $260,100 | $260,100 | 14 | $260,100 | — | $5,843 |
| 2020 | $154,719 | $456,112 | $434,957 | $433,377 | 13 | — | — | $1,275 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Amherst Foundation reported a distributable amount of $123K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its reported 2024 grants include support for educational opportunities, research into Niemann-Pick Type C1, affordable housing, inclusive playgrounds, and support for Naval Special Warfare warriors, veterans, and families.
Hurricanes Baseball Inc. received a $1,500 grant in 2024. The organization describes its mission as fostering amateur sports competition to help students obtain college scholarships or professional contracts through a traveling baseball team.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Amherst Foundation reported 11 grants totaling $166,088. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $65,000, with a median of $5,000. Among the largest reported grants were $65,000 to the Navy SEAL Foundation Inc., $50,000 to Capital City Fund for Eductation, and $25,000 to Firefly Fund. Other recipients included Foundation Communities Inc. ($5,000), Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspir ($5,000), The Univesity of Texas ($5,000), Project Schoolhouse ($3,000), and The Rise School ($2,500).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sean Dobson and Steve Gorman as directors.
Amherst Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sean Dobson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Gorman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Amherst Foundation
How much does Amherst Foundation give each year?
Amherst Foundation gave $166K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $360K across 26 grants.
What is Amherst Foundation's typical grant size?
Amherst Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $15,099, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Amherst Foundation give grants?
Amherst Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (40%). The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (5 grants).
Does Amherst Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Amherst Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Amherst Foundation's largest grantees?
Amherst Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Capital City Fund for Eductation ($50,000), Firefly Fund ($25,000) and Inclusion Matters by Shane's Inspir ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($73,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Amherst Foundation?
Amherst Foundation reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $166K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $123K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Amherst Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its reported 2024 grants include support for educational opportunities, research into Niemann-Pick Type C1, affordable housing, inclusive playgrounds, and support for Naval Special Warfare warriors, veterans, and families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Amherst 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 Amherst Foundation's EIN?
Amherst Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-1559309. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Amherst 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Amherst Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/amherst-foundation-morg_973bb2a304204ce4912e4a9d18107809
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_451559309_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Amherst Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/amherst-foundation-morg_973bb2a304204ce4912e4a9d18107809},
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 Amherst 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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