James & Betty Jacobs Family
James & Betty Jacobs Family is a private foundation based in West Bath, Maine. It makes grants for qualifying charitable purposes, with 96% of its 2025 grant dollars going to recipients in Maine.
James & Betty Jacobs Family at a glance
In short: James & Betty Jacobs Family gave $349K across 78 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Maine. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $348,500
- +7.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 78
- +8.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,468
- -1.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $3,724,645
- -5.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (10 of 78, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Maine (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to James & Betty Jacobs Family
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Jeff Jacobs as the contact, gives forms and materials as N/A, and limits awards to eligible U.S. jurisdictions and qualifying charitable purposes. It states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Jeff Jacobs
Mailing address: 300 Houghton Pond Rd, West Bath, ME 04530
Phone: (207) 779-2252
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James & Betty Jacobs Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Maine Public Broadcasting Network ($25K). Together the top 10 received $145K.
Grant Size Distribution
345 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 345 grants of 345 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grant dollars were distributed primarily in Maine: 96% went to Maine recipients, with 1% each going to recipients in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 78 itemized grants.
Cities
Is James & Betty Jacobs Family open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 78 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 64% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 178% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $212K (2022) to $349K (2025). In 2025 it made 78 grants totaling $349K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Public Broadcasting Network Lewiston, ME | Donation to 501(C)(3) Programs | $25,000 |
| St Pauls Apostle Parish Bangor, ME | Donation to 501(C)(3) Programs | $24,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Bangor, ME | Donation to 501(C)(3) Programs | $16,000 |
| Brunswick Community Education Foundation Brunswick, ME | Donation to 501(C)(3) Programs | $15,000 |
| Red Cross Portland, ME | Donation to 501(C)(3) Programs | $14,000 |
| Salvation Army Bangor, ME | Donation to 501(C)(3) Programs | $11,000 |
| Design Wall Housing Hermon, ME | Donation to 501(C)(3) Programs | $10,000 |
| Maine Coastal Heritage Trust Topsham, ME | Donation to 501(C)(3) Programs | $10,000 |
| Sarah's House Holden, ME | Donation to 501(C)(3) Programs | $10,000 |
| Tree of Life Blue Hill, ME | Donation to 501(C)(3) Programs | $10,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,724,645 | $230,318 | $430,928 | $348,500 | 78 | $402,776 | $204,683 | $226,373 |
| 2024 | $3,925,255 | $313,181 | $405,248 | $325,000 | 72 | $380,684 | $290,721 | $214,394 |
| 2023 | $4,017,322 | $138,860 | $332,083 | $250,000 | 70 | $303,771 | $120,670 | $205,721 |
| 2022 | $4,210,545 | $659,626 | $306,556 | $212,000 | 62 | $266,718 | $629,605 | $218,269 |
| 2021 | $3,857,475 | $408,478 | $378,463 | $289,500 | 63 | $342,074 | $372,893 | $236,778 |
| 2020 | $3,827,460 | $226,224 | $308,352 | $227,500 | 60 | — | $195,448 | $220,338 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James & Betty Jacobs Family reported a distributable amount of $226K for 2025 — 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 separate mission statement is provided. The foundation’s filing describes eligible purposes as religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational.
Its 2025 recipients included organizations whose own stated missions span different kinds of work. Tree of Life describes its work as providing emergency and supplemental food, used clothing, and self-help and education on the Blue Hill Peninsula. Sarah’s House describes its mission as providing temporary housing and support to pregnant women in need. Shepherds Godparent Home says it offers a home and education for young women during and after pregnancy who lack housing. Bowdoin College describes its mission as providing a liberal arts education and supporting students’ intellectual, creative, social, and leadership development.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 78 grants totaling $348,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $25,000, with a median of $2,500. Other notable awards included $25,000 to Maine Public Broadcasting Network, $24,000 to St Pauls Apostle Parish, $16,000 to Habitat for Humanity, $15,000 to Brunswick Community Education Foundation, and $14,000 to the Red Cross.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John R Jacobs, Jeffery A Jacobs, and Thomas M Jacobs as trustees.
James & Betty Jacobs Family's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeffery A. Jacobs
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $17K (2025)
John R. Jacobs
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $17K (2025)
Thomas M. Jacobs
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $17K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $17K, to John R Jacobs (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about James & Betty Jacobs Family
How much does James & Betty Jacobs Family give each year?
James & Betty Jacobs Family gave $349K across 78 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $325K across 72 grants.
What is James & Betty Jacobs Family's typical grant size?
James & Betty Jacobs Family's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $4,468, across 78 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James & Betty Jacobs Family that year got $3K on average.
Where does James & Betty Jacobs Family give grants?
James & Betty Jacobs Family gives mostly in Maine: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Bangor, ME (9 grants), Bath, ME (9 grants), Brunswick, ME (5 grants) and Lewiston, ME (4 grants).
Does James & Betty Jacobs Family give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 78 grants with a stated purpose on James & Betty Jacobs Family's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation to 501(C)(3) Programs" (76 grants).
Who are James & Betty Jacobs Family's largest grantees?
James & Betty Jacobs Family's largest 2025 grantees include Maine Public Broadcasting Network ($25,000), St Pauls Apostle Parish ($24,000) and Habitat for Humanity ($16,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is James & Betty Jacobs Family?
James & Betty Jacobs Family reported $3.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $403K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $226K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does James & Betty Jacobs Family fund?
No separate mission statement is provided. The foundation’s filing describes eligible purposes as religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James & Betty Jacobs Family?
The filing lists Jeff Jacobs as the contact, gives forms and materials as N/A, and limits awards to eligible U.S. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is James & Betty Jacobs Family's EIN?
James & Betty Jacobs Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0511399. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). James & Betty Jacobs Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/james-and-betty-jacobs-family-morg_fed18da4e7e04cbe847a4dbdf3139fe2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_010511399_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{James \& Betty Jacobs Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/james-and-betty-jacobs-family-morg_fed18da4e7e04cbe847a4dbdf3139fe2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 James & Betty Jacobs Family'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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