Ay Mcdonald Charitable Foundation
The AY McDonald Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1968 and based in Dubuque, Iowa. It operates as a company-sponsored foundation with a focus on supporting organizations in education, health, medical research, human services, orchestras, and recreation centers.
Key facts about Ay Mcdonald Charitable Foundation
- EIN
- 42-6119514
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $878,618
- Grants made (2024)
- 60
- Average grant
- $14,644
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Primary geography
- Iowa (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ay Mcdonald Charitable Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ay Mcdonald Charitable Foundation's 60 itemized 2024 grants were Iowa (92%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dubuque, IA (36 grants), Platteville, WI (3 grants) and Des Moines, IA (2 grants). None of its 60 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Public Affairs" (19 grants), "Educational" (13 grants) and "Human Services" (11 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$879K
+67.7% YoY
Grant Count
60
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+67.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations involved with:
- Education
- Health and medical research
- Human services
- Orchestras
- Recreation centers
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are awarded by invitation only.
Grant Range
$5,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary funding areas include:
- Dubuque, Iowa
- Sparks, Nevada
- Elizabethton, Tennessee
- Additional focus in Wisconsin and Illinois
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $8,577,638
- Total revenues: $1,351,547
- Total expenses: $930,332
- Total giving: $878,618
- Giving rate: 6.5% of assets
Historical comparison (2023):
- Total assets: $8.0 million
- Total giving: $519,000
- Number of grants: 49
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
297 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Ymca-ywca ($300,000), Holy Family Catholic School ($120,000), Hills & Dales ($56,200).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| YMCA-YWCA DUBUQUE, IA | PUBLIC AFFAIRS | $300,000 |
| HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL DUBUQUE, IA | EDUCATIONAL | $120,000 |
| HILLS & DALES DUBUQUE, IA | HUMAN SERVICES | $56,200 |
| ST COLUMBKILLE'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND PARISH DUBUQUE, IA | EDUCATIONAL | $50,000 |
| UNITED WAY DUBUQUE, IA | HUMAN SERVICES | $50,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE DUBUQUE, IA | EDUCATIONAL | $40,833 |
| FOUNDRY EDUCATION FOUNDATION SCHAUMBURG, IL | EDUCATIONAL | $28,500 |
| DICKEYVILLE PARK FOUNDATION DICKEYVILLE, WI | PUBLIC AFFAIRS | $25,000 |
| HILLCREST FAMILY SERVICES DUBUQUE, IA | PUBLIC AFFAIRS | $20,230 |
| LORAS COLLEGE DUBUQUE, IA | EDUCATIONAL | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Scott A Knapp – Trustee
- Chad A Huntington – Trustee
- Michael D Sullivan – Trustee
- Andy Wickham – Vice President of Finance
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT D MCDONALD II | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| CHAD A HUNTINGTON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SCOTT A KNAPP | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| ANDREW D WICKHAM | CFO, TREASURER & SECRETARY | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 4800 Chavenelle Road, Dubuque, IA 52002-2631
- Phone: 563-583-7311
- EIN: 42-6119514
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ay Mcdonald Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations involved with: • Education • Health and medical research • Human services • Orchestras • Recreation centers
How do I apply for a grant from Ay Mcdonald Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $519,000–$878,000 (varies by year) • Number of grants: 49–66 grants annually • Median grant size: $5,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$110,000 • Typical awards: $100,000–$300,000 **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are awarded by invitation only. **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA: $300,000 • United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States: $50,000 • University of Dubuque: $40,833
Where does Ay Mcdonald Charitable Foundation make grants?
Primary funding areas include: • Dubuque, Iowa • Sparks, Nevada • Elizabethton, Tennessee • Additional focus in Wisconsin and Illinois
What size grants does Ay Mcdonald Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Ay Mcdonald Charitable Foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $879K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Ay Mcdonald Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Ay Mcdonald Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-6119514. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ay Mcdonald Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.