The Ayers Foundation (officially the Ayers Foundation Trust) is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1999 and headquartered in Parsons, Tennessee. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life of rural Tennesseans through education, conservation, and social welfare initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.4M
-2.8% YoY
Revenue
$26K
-82.2% YoY
Qualifying Distributions
$12K
-99.5% YoY
Expenses
$256K
-90.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on helping students remove barriers to education, access quality education, and earn degrees or credentials leading to prosperous lives. The organization's signature initiative is the Ayers Scholars Program, which provides college access counseling and student success support.
The founder, Jim Ayers, envisioned a thriving rural Tennessee where all students understand and embrace opportunities after high school and succeed in their chosen paths, with the option to live and work in the communities that raised them.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Health Care
- Conservation and social welfare
Grantmaking
The foundation made 29 grants in 2023. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Ayers Scholars Program operates in 40 high schools across rural Tennessee, spanning 21 rural Tennessee counties. The foundation's work is concentrated in rural communities throughout the state.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $9.72 million
- Total Revenue: $146,732
- Total Expenses: $2.63 million
- Total Liabilities: $41,700
- Annual Revenue: $11.7 million
Funding Received: The foundation received $2.2 million from the National Philanthropic Trust in 2023.
Staffing: The organization employs 22 people as of the most recent reporting period.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,447,339 | $9,716,792 | $12,225,583 |
| Revenue | $26,114 | $146,732 | $8,450,649 |
| Expenses | $255,796 | $2,633,645 | $7,585,256 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $11,968 | $2,403,045 | $7,358,496 |
| Net Investment Income | $15,442 | $47,837 | $16,247 |
| 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 0 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
124 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founder & Vision: Jim Ayers, a successful banker and businessman from Parsons, Tennessee, and one of the first in his family to graduate from college.
President: Janet Ayers (named President in August 2007)
Chief Executive Officer: Dr. Burton Williams (appointed 2023). Dr. Williams is a veteran leader in business, development, and education with nearly 25 years in higher education administration. He holds a Doctor of Education from Lipscomb University, a Master of Science in financial planning, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Freed-Hardeman University. He serves on the Board of Jackson State Community College Foundation and is Vice Chair of The Foundation for the College System of Tennessee.
Leadership Team:
- Shawn Kimble, Chief Scholars Officer
- Blake Dill, Chief Operations Officer
- Shannon Haynes, Chief Prosperity Officer
- Lorisa Williams, Organizational Effectiveness Advisor
- Mike Meadows, Director of Financial Aid
- Taylor Dill, Director of Data Operations
- Jodi Lane Gilbert, Mountain Regional Director
- Recey Williamson, Northwest Regional Director
- Charles "Bubba" Long, Middle Tennessee Regional Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES W AYERS | CHAIRMAN | 4 | — |
| DR AGENIA CLARK | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JANET AYERS | PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| JOANN LYNN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KRISTY AYERS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LIN HOWARD ANDREWS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LEE ANN INGRAM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CASSIE LYNN FOOTE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR MICHAEL PRICE | VICE PRESIDENT | 16 | — |
| WINNIE BUNCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR BURTON WILLIAMS | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 6 | — |
| LORISA WILLIAMS | ORG EFFECTIVENESS ADVISOR | 4 | — |
| JAMES TROY GRANT | CHIEF SCHOLARS OFFICER | 6 | — |
| BLAKE DILL | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 6 | — |
| SHANNON HAYNES | CHIEF PROSPERITY OFFICER | 6 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Ayers Foundation Trust celebrated its 25th anniversary on September 17, 2024. The milestone was marked with a community-wide picnic and formal reception at the organization's headquarters in Parsons, attended by partners and special guests.
Ayers Foundation Trust Launches Jim Ayers Torchbearer AwardThe foundation has launched the Jim Ayers Torchbearer Award to recognize individuals who embody the vision and values of the organization's founder.
2025 Jim Ayers Torchbearer Award NomineesThe Ayers Scholars Program has expanded significantly since its inception at Riverside High School in 1999, now serving students across 40 high schools in rural Tennessee. The program has demonstrated measurable impact on college-going rates among students in Tennessee's most economically-challenged communities.
Ayers Scholars in Tennessee's Most Economically-Challenged ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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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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