Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation
The Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1997 and based in Seattle, Washington. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation focuses on philanthropic initiatives with a particular emphasis on early childhood development and education in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.1M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$438K
-28.6% YoY
Grant Count
16
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
+7.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $790K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed, with particular recognition of the critical importance of a child's first eight years of life. The foundation aims to ensure that every child in its region has the ability to realize their full potential.
Primary funding areas include:
- Skills support and literacy development
- Mentoring relationships and programs
- Initiatives that connect school and home environments
- Early learning and early intellectual development
- Education and human services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 24 grants in 2023. The foundation maintains a website at www.ackerleyfoundation.org and can be reached at 206-624-2888.
Grant Range
$800–$255,200
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations primarily in Washington, New York, and Massachusetts, with grant activity extending to multiple cities including Birmingham, Cambridge, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $16,131,196
- Total Revenue: $348,218
- Total Expenses: $1,301,784
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,131,196 | $15,957,234 | $15,690,993 |
| Revenue | $712,520 | $348,218 | $-1,573,347 |
| Expenses | $1,129,031 | $1,301,784 | $1,253,395 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $681,628 | $857,144 | $994,912 |
| Net Investment Income | $373,987 | $114,147 | $1,984,074 |
| Distributable Amount | $790,193 | $772,290 | $795,728 |
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
63 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include New York University ($139,200), Seattle Academy ($52,500), Hotchkiss Endowment Fund ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GLOBAL LYME ALLIANCE STAMFORD, CT | GENERAL | $800 |
| HOTCHKISS ENDOWMENT FUND LAKEVILLE, CT | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| JOHN WAYNE BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM WINTERSET, IA | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME SPRINGFIELD, MA | GENERAL | $2,000 |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $139,200 |
| SEATTLE ACADEMY SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL | $52,500 |
| THE SEATTLE ACQUARIUM SOCIETY SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| THE UCLA FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA TUCSON, AZ | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL | $11,200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Current Leadership:
- Kimberly Cleworth – President ($100,000 annual compensation)
- Ted Ackerley – Co-Vice President ($100,000 annual compensation)
- Chris Ackerley – Co-Vice President ($100,000 annual compensation)
- Elizabeth Mann – Senior Executive Administrator ($56,000 annual compensation)
The foundation employs four staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIMBERLY CLEWORTH | PRESIDENT | 40 | $100,000 |
| TED ACKERLEY | CO-VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $100,000 |
| CHRIS ACKERLEY | CO-VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $100,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has a notable history of supporting educational initiatives in the Pacific Northwest. In 2004, the Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation created the Ackerley Partner School Network at the University of Washington College of Education. This network has grown to annually serve more than 250 teacher candidates placed in over 100 schools across Washington state, with a focus on supporting underserved students.
Seattle Storm founder, former Sonics owner Ginger Ackerley dies at 79 | king5.comGinger Ackerley, the foundation's namesake, was a prominent civic leader and philanthropist in the Seattle region. She played an instrumental role in bringing the Seattle Storm WNBA franchise to the city in 1999 and served as the team's chairperson from 1999-2001. The Seattle Storm established the annual Ginger Ackerley Community Service Award in her honor, given to individuals who have had a measurable impact on improving quality of life in the Puget Sound region through volunteer service to youth. Ginger Ackerley passed away in 2018 at age 79.
Seattle Storm founder, former Sonics owner Ginger Ackerley dies at 79 | king5.comSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed, with particular recognition of the critical importance of a child's first eight years of life. The foundation aims to ensure that every child in its region has the ability to realize their full potential. Primary funding areas include: • Skills support and literacy development • Mentoring relationships and programs • Initiatives that connect school and home environments • Early learning and early intel…
How do I apply for a grant from Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $438,400 • Total distributions in 2023: $857,000 • Typical grant range: $800–$255,200 • Median grant amount: $11,000 • Maximum grant amount: $133,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • New York University (NYU): $133,000 • UCLA Foundation: $100,000 • Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences: $55,000 The foundation made 24 grants in 2023. The foundation maintains a website at www.ackerleyfoundation.org and can be reached at 206-624-2888.
Where does Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations primarily in Washington, New York, and Massachusetts, with grant activity extending to multiple cities including Birmingham, Cambridge, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle.
What size grants does Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation award?
In 2024, Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $438K — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $790K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation's EIN?
Ginger and Barry Ackerley Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1800463. 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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