The Ayers Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established in 2005. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on grantmaking to support underserved populations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.9M
+2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$408K
+0.9% YoY
Grant Count
23
-4.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+5.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ayers Foundation reported a distributable amount of $501K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's focus is to support organizations that provide services to poverty-stricken and underserved children. Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept applications.
Grant Range
$4,000–$110,000
Average Grant
amount: $4,360–$110,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- Colorado
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $6,919,746
- Total revenue: $620,330
- Total expenses: $515,638
- Net income: $104,692
- Total liabilities: $0
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $6,776,665
- Total revenue: $423,376
- Total expenses: $503,750
- Investment income and dividends: $216,770
Historical Giving Trends:
- 2022: $386,000 in grants across 18 awards
- 2021: $367,000 in grants across 18 awards
- 2020: $372,000 in grants across 19 awards
- 2019: $353,000 in grants across 19 awards
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,919,746 | $6,776,665 | $6,845,160 |
| Revenue | $620,330 | $423,376 | $373,587 |
| Expenses | $515,638 | $503,750 | $601,592 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $437,190 | $434,628 | $513,693 |
| Net Investment Income | $547,703 | $358,960 | $303,077 |
| Distributable Amount | $501,164 | $441,158 | $447,775 |
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
103 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Agahozo-shalomn Youth Village ($57,265), Peruvian Hearts ($50,000), Angels' Place Inc ($36,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AGAHOZO-SHALOMN YOUTH VILLAGE NEW YORK, NY | VILLAGE TIME GALA SPONSHORSHIP (ISHEMA LEVEL) | $57,265 |
| ANGELS' PLACE INC PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $36,000 |
| COMMUNITY PARK ASSOCIATION ZELIENOPLE, PA | GENERAL | $6,000 |
| CORAZON DE ESPERANZA INC GYPSUM, CO | LUZ DE VIDA/THIRD FLOOR YOUTH TRANSITIONAL HOME | $30,000 |
| HERITAGE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES BRADDOCK, PA | HERITAGE EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
| HOMELESS CHILDREN'S EDUCATION FUND PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| HOSANNA HOUSE WILKINSBURG, PA | 2024-2025 HOPE ACADEMY | $10,000 |
| INDUSTRIAL ARTS WORKSHOP INC PITTSBURGH, PA | INCREASING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IMPACT | $10,000 |
| JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICE OF PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| PEOPLE OF PERU PROJECT WALLA WALLA, WA | GENERAL | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James A Ayers – President
- Bruce Bickel – Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES A AYERS II | CHAIRMAN | — | — |
| PNC BANK NA | AGENT | — | — |
| RENEE AYERS | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| BRUCE BICKEL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CYNTHIA HAMORSKY | SECRETARY | — | — |
| FLORENCE AYERS | VICE CHAIRMAN | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 300 5th Ave Fl 27, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- Telephone: 412-762-3502
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ayers Foundation fund?
The foundation's focus is to support organizations that provide services to poverty-stricken and underserved children. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Ayers Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $475,000 across 20 grants • Total giving in 2024: $408,265 • Grant range: $4,000–$110,000 • Median grant size: $13,000 • Average grant amount: $4,360–$110,000 **Recent Grant Recipients (2022-2023):** • Agahozo-Shalomn Youth Village ($110,000) • Peruvian Hearts ($50,000–$59,000) • Peru Champs Association ($75,000) • Angels Place ($30,000) • Corazon de Esperanza ($25,000–$30,000) • Pittsburgh Glass Center ($20,000) • Hamburger Home ($20,000) • Jewish Fa…
Where does Ayers Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Pennsylvania • New York • Colorado
What size grants does Ayers Foundation award?
In 2024, Ayers Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $408K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ayers Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ayers Foundation reported a distributable amount of $501K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ayers Foundation's EIN?
Ayers Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3272241. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ayers 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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