B Charles and Jay G Ames Foundation
The B Charles and Jay G Ames Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Established in 1995 and tax-exempt since April 1996, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.1M
-1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$721K
-23.2% YoY
Grant Count
40
+21.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-36.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, B Charles and Jay G Ames Foundation reported a distributable amount of $867K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for education, health care, and human services. The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to supporting entrepreneurship education, as evidenced by its recent support of Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management and its Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition program.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants to preselected charitable organizations. Based on recent activity:
Grant Range
**: Individual grants have ranged from $200 to $460,000, with an average award of approximately $26,000 and a median grant of $5,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in Ohio, with additional activity in Florida and North Carolina. Grantmaking reaches organizations across seven states, with Ohio, Florida, and North Carolina accounting for approximately 92% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $16,095,065 (2024)
- Total Giving: $720,779 (2024)
- Total Revenues: $702,469 (2024)
- Total Expenses: $876,692 (2024)
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,095,065 | $16,282,537 | $17,249,807 |
| Revenue | $702,469 | $144,257 | $511,167 |
| Expenses | $876,692 | $1,115,109 | $937,439 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $720,779 | $938,372 | $790,967 |
| Net Investment Income | $574,429 | $215,669 | $392,191 |
| Distributable Amount | $866,735 | $869,385 | $869,900 |
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
147 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cleveland Museum of Natural History ($130,000), Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Ricing Center ($65,500), Boys Hope Girls Hope ($56,496).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE GARFIELD HTS, OH | $43,600 DRIVE FORE HOPE$12,896 GENERAL | $56,496 |
| CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CLEVELAND, OH | $120,000 TRANSFORMING THE WORLD OF DISCOVERY CAMPAIGN$10,000 ANNUAL FUND | $130,000 |
| CLEVELAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| FIELDSTONE FARM THERAPEUTIC RICING CENTER CHAGRIN FALLS, OH | $500 CHEFS UNBRIDLED EVENT$50,000 RIDERSHIP PROGRAM$15,000 STUDENT SPONSORSHIP | $65,500 |
| GILMOUR ACADEMY WEBER STADIUM RENO GATES MILLS, OH | LANCER ATHLETICS | $18,667 |
| HATHAWAY BROWN SCHOOL SHAKER HTS, OH | $3,000 UNRESTRICTED FUND$3,000 PLAYGROUND FUND - LIGHTING THE WAY | $6,000 |
| HILLCREST YMCA LYNDHURST, OH | $10,000 REPLACING LOBBY HVAC UNIT$5,000 UPGRADING FAMILY CHANGING ROOM | $15,000 |
| HOSPICE OF THE WESTERN RESERVE CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| JOHNS'S ISLAND FOUNDATION INDIAN RIVER SHORES, FL | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| KENT STATE UNIVERSITY KENT, OH | $500 THE HANK BROWNELL FUND$10,000 FASHION DESIGN AND MERCHANDISING ANNUAL FASHION SHOW | $10,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by trustees including Richard S Ames and Cynthia Ames Huffman, who are the children of B. Charles (Chuck) Ames. The foundation is administered through Cornerstone Family Office. The Ames family legacy of entrepreneurship spans three generations, beginning with Daniel Ames, who acquired a milk processing plant in Illinois in 1938, continuing through B. Charles Ames who built a portfolio of small businesses in Cleveland, and now through his children who continue the family's commitment to education and entrepreneurship support.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD S AMES | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| CYNTHIA AMES HUFFMAN | VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY | — | — |
| PRESTON AMES HOGE | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation recently announced support for Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management, specifically funding the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) program. This initiative provides aspiring business leaders with an alternative to launching startups by teaching them how to identify, acquire, operate, and grow existing companies with investor guidance. The gift reflects the foundation's commitment to furthering education and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, continuing a family tradition established by B. Charles Ames' support of the Weatherhead School.
New Grants Totaling $9 Million Support Workforce Systems, Homeownership,\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does B Charles and Jay G Ames Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for education, health care, and human services. The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to supporting entrepreneurship education, as evidenced by its recent support of Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management and its Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition program.
How do I apply for a grant from B Charles and Jay G Ames Foundation?
The foundation makes grants to preselected charitable organizations. Based on recent activity: • **Grant Range**: Individual grants have ranged from $200 to $460,000, with an average award of approximately $26,000 and a median grant of $5,000 • **Annual Giving**: The foundation made 23 grants in 2024, with total giving of $720,779. Historical giving has grown from $613,000 in 2020 to $1.6 million in 2022 • **Total Grants**: The foundation has made 109 grants totaling $2.9 million across its his…
Where does B Charles and Jay G Ames Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in Ohio, with additional activity in Florida and North Carolina. Grantmaking reaches organizations across seven states, with Ohio, Florida, and North Carolina accounting for approximately 92% of all grants.
What size grants does B Charles and Jay G Ames Foundation award?
In 2024, B Charles and Jay G Ames Foundation awarded 40 grants totaling $721K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is B Charles and Jay G Ames Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, B Charles and Jay G Ames Foundation reported a distributable amount of $867K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is B Charles and Jay G Ames Foundation's EIN?
B Charles and Jay G Ames Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1809978. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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