Ayres Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Indianapolis, IN EIN: 35-6018437

Ayres Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana. In its 2024 filing, it reported making 55 grants totaling $291,700, with recipients including community-service, cultural, educational, food-access, and disability-support organizations.

Ayres Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Ayres Foundation Inc gave $292K across 55 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Indiana. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$291,700
+56.6% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
55
+34.1% vs 2023
Average grant
$5,304
+16.8% vs 2023
Median grant
$4,000
Total assets
$4,594,405
+8.6% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
25% first-time grantees (14 of 55, 2024)
Primary geography
Indiana (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Ayres Foundation Inc

How to Apply

The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Contact John Ed Peacock Jr and provide the applicant’s name, address, and telephone number; exempt foundation status; nature of the request; and financial data. Awards are subject to restrictions and limitations that would jeopardize the foundation’s exempt status.

Contact

Application contact: John Ed Peacock Jr
Mailing address: 545 W 93Rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260
Phone: (317) 443-1868

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Ayres Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Central Indiana Community Found: $18KCentral Indiana CommunityFound$18KEasterseals Crossroads: $15KEasterseals Crossroads$15KJoy's House: $15KJoy's House$15KWheeler Mission: $15KWheeler Mission$15KIndiana Historical Society: $13KIndiana Historical Society$13KAmerican Red Cross: $10KAmerican Red Cross$10KDress for Success Indianapolis: $10KDress for Success Indianapolis$10KFletcher Place Community Center: $10KFletcher Place CommunityCenter$10KGleaners Food Bank of Indiana: $10KGleaners Food Bank of Indiana$10KHome Repairs for Good: $10KHome Repairs for Good$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was Central Indiana Community Found ($18K). Together the top 10 received $126K.

Grant Size Distribution

239 grants across all recorded years

239<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 239 grants of 239 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana, 1% to Florida, and 1% to Connecticut. Listed Indiana recipients include organizations in Indianapolis and Carmel.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.

Cities

IndianapolisZionsvilleCarmelFishersLebanonBloomingtonGreencastleMooresvilleChampaignChicagoCrown PointAvonChapel HillCulverFort MeyersHesselNoblesvilleNorth ManchesterPalmetto BaySouthport

Is Ayres Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

25%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 14 of 55 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $4K repeat.

  • 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 67% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K51 grants2020 48 grants2021 44 grants2022 41 grants2023 55 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $175K (2021) to $292K (2024). In 2024 it made 55 grants totaling $292K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Central Indiana Community Found Indianapolis, INWomen's Fund$18,000
Easterseals Crossroads Indianapolis, INGeneral Funds$15,000
Joy's House Indianapolis, INGeneral Funds$15,000
Wheeler Mission Indianapolis, INGeneral Funds$15,000
Indiana Historical Society Indianapolis, INGeneral Funds$12,500
American Red Cross Indianapolis, INGeneral Funds$10,000
Dress for Success Indianapolis Indianapolis, INGeneral Funds$10,000
Fletcher Place Community Center Indianapolis, INGeneral Funds$10,000
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana Indianapolis, INGeneral Funds$10,000
Home Repairs for Good Indianapolis, INGeneral Funds$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$4,594,405$141,828$295,074$291,70055$291,700$138,884$222,900
2023$4,232,296$120,070$192,614$186,25041$186,250$118,828$197,996
2022$3,830,771$181,275$223,816$218,05044$218,050$180,825$200,837
2021$4,695,286$293,731$187,982$174,70048$174,700$281,192$222,299
2020$4,362,759$155,023$193,164$182,40051—$144,259$201,607

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ayres Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $223K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 recipients illustrate the range of organizations it supported. For example, Dress for Success Indianapolis says its mission is to empower women toward economic independence; Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana describes its work as improving equitable access to nutritious food and addressing food insecurity; and New Hope of Indiana says it provides services and resources to people with disabilities and their families.

Other 2024 recipients include the Indiana Historical Society, which says it collects, preserves, interprets, and shares Indiana’s history, and Rock Steady Boxing, which says it uses a boxing-based fitness curriculum to improve quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 55 grants totaling $291,700. Grants ranged from $200 to $18,000, with a median of $4,000. Notable grants included $18,000 to Central Indiana Community Foundation for the Women’s Fund; $15,000 each to Easterseals Crossroads, Joy’s House, and Wheeler Mission; and $12,500 to the Indiana Historical Society. Other recipients received $10,000 each, including Dress for Success Indianapolis, Fletcher Place Community Center, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, New Hope of Indiana, and Rock Steady Boxing. The Oaks Academy received $10,000, and The Children’s TherapyPLAY Foundation received $7,500.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists John Ed Peacock Jr as president; David S Evans as assistant secretary/treasurer; Bert M Wilhoite as secretary; Nancy Ayres as vice president; and Alma Lathrop as director.

Ayres Foundation Inc is led by John Ed Peacock Jr., President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • John Ed Peacock Jr.

    President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Alma Lathrop

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Bert M. Wilhoite

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • David S. Evans

    Assistant Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Nancy Ayres

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    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 Ayres Foundation Inc

How much does Ayres Foundation Inc give each year?

Ayres Foundation Inc gave $292K across 55 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $186K across 41 grants.

What is Ayres Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Ayres Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $4,000, and its average grant was $5,304, across 55 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ayres Foundation Inc that year got $6K on average.

Where does Ayres Foundation Inc give grants?

Ayres Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (42 grants), Zionsville, IN (2 grants) and Fishers, IN (2 grants).

Does Ayres Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 98% of Ayres Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (54 of 55) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Ayres Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Ayres Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Central Indiana Community Found ($18,000), Easterseals Crossroads ($15,000) and Joy's House ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Ayres Foundation Inc?

Ayres Foundation Inc reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $292K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $223K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Ayres Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 recipients illustrate the range of organizations it supported. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Ayres Foundation Inc?

The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Ayres Foundation Inc's EIN?

Ayres Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-6018437. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Funders that support many of the same organizations

Lilly Endowment Inc

Indianapolis, IN

Lilly Endowment funds community development, education and youth, and religion, with priority given to Indianapolis and Indiana and some national support, especially for religion. Its 2025 grants had a median of $100,000, though awards varied widely; for community development requests, it suggests starting with a brief preliminary letter.

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Central Indiana Community Foundation Inc

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Through its funds and collaborative entities, CICF supports a broad range of charitable work, including equity, food access, childcare, arts, nature, and youth programs, primarily in Central Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $25,000; some funds offer competitive applications, while others are invitation-only, and CICF itself does not directly award grants.

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United Way of Central Indiana Inc

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United Way of Central Indiana funds nonprofits addressing basic needs, early learning, economic mobility, safe and affordable housing, and organizational capacity in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, and Putnam counties. Its 2025 grants ranged from $86 to $1.74 million, with a median of $16,238. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

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The Brave Heart Foundation Inc

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The Brave Heart Foundation supports programs for underserved populations, especially children and families, in education, health and wellness, and grassroots community development, primarily in Indiana. Typical grants are about $5,000; its $25,000 Big Heart capacity-building award is by invitation. Although its website describes application periods, its 2024 filing says it funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

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Duke Energy Foundation

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The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.

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$1.9M

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Total Given

$25.6M

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Ayres Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ayres-foundation-inc-morg_cf4b9455dce24fbb8bd68a0db594cd39

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_356018437_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Ayres Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/ayres-foundation-inc-morg_cf4b9455dce24fbb8bd68a0db594cd39},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Ayres Foundation Inc'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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