Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation
The Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation is a private foundation based in Charleston, South Carolina. Its 2024 filing reports 16 grants totaling $349,985, primarily to organizations in South Carolina, with additional grants to recipients in Georgia, Washington, DC, California, and Alabama.
Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation at a glance
In short: Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation gave $350K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), mostly in South Carolina. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $349,985
- +6.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +77.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,874
- -40.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,500
- Total assets
- $1,741,883
- -5.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (87% 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 Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 122 Church Street, Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 810-8017
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Pro Bono Leagal Services Inc ($196K). Together the top 10 received $336K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 84 grants of 90 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina, 9% to Georgia, 3% to Washington, DC, 1% to California, and 1% to Alabama.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 16 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−17%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $271K (2020) to $421K (2021). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $350K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Bono Leagal Services Inc Charleston, SC | Unrestricted | $196,485 |
| JCC Housing Corp Charleston, SC | Unrestricted | $35,000 |
| Jewish Endowment Foundation North Charleston, SC | Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| Girls on the Run Inc Atlanta, GA | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| The Charis Circle Inc Atlanta, GA | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Charleston Jewish Federation Charleston, SC | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| BSBI Synagogue Charleston, SC | Unrestricted | $12,000 |
| Jewish Family Services of Greater Charle Charleston, SC | Unrestricted | $8,000 |
| US Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Simon Wiesenthal Center Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,741,883 | $295,337 | $388,439 | $349,985 | 16 | $349,985 | $92,146 | $392,194 |
| 2023 | $1,839,393 | $301,318 | $354,716 | $329,400 | 9 | $329,400 | $71,283 | — |
| 2022 | $1,769,975 | $339,881 | $422,704 | $387,000 | 24 | $387,000 | $19,082 | — |
| 2021 | $1,852,798 | $311,396 | $444,452 | $421,000 | 21 | $421,000 | $159,199 | $324,279 |
| 2020 | $1,991,565 | $255,676 | $307,257 | $271,000 | 20 | — | $211,279 | $283,429 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $392K 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 grants included organizations whose stated missions address legal services for people with low incomes, affordable housing for older adults and people with disabilities, Jewish community life, girls’ social-emotional development, and social justice.
For example, Pro Bono Legal Services Inc says it works with local attorneys to provide legal services to poor and indigent people in the Charleston area. JCC Housing says it provides decent, safe, and affordable housing for older adults and people with disabilities. The Charleston Jewish Federation says its mission is to build, secure, and sustain Jewish life in Charleston, Israel, and around the world. Girls on the Run Georgia says it empowers girls with social-emotional skills, while The Charis Circle says it fosters sustainable feminist communities and works for social justice and the expression of diverse and marginalized voices.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $349,985. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $196,485, with a median of $6,500.
The largest reported grants included $196,485 to Pro Bono Legal Services Inc; $35,000 to JCC Housing Corp; $30,000 to Jewish Endowment Foundation; $15,000 each to Girls on the Run Inc, The Charis Circle Inc, and Charleston Jewish Federation; and $12,000 to BSBI Synagogue. The listed 2024 grant purposes were unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Gerald A. Kaynard and Mary Williams as trustees.
Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gerald A. Kaynard
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$13K (2020) → $26K (2024)
Mary Williams
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $10K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $26K, to Gerald a Kaynard (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation
How much does Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation give each year?
Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation gave $350K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $329K across 9 grants.
What is Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation's typical grant size?
Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,500, and its average grant was $21,874, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation give grants?
Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Georgia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, SC (8 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Atlanta, GA (2 grants).
Does Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation's largest grantees?
Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Pro Bono Leagal Services Inc ($196,485), JCC Housing Corp ($35,000) and Jewish Endowment Foundation ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation?
Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $350K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $392K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation's EIN?
Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-6069721. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bill-jennie-and-harry-ackerman-foundation-morg_22fae2398703434cb8212864e38ed871
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_206069721_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bill Jennie \& Harry Ackerman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bill-jennie-and-harry-ackerman-foundation-morg_22fae2398703434cb8212864e38ed871},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Bill Jennie & Harry Ackerman Foundation'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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