James C Acheson Foundation
The James C. Acheson Foundation is a private foundation established in 1999 and based in Port Huron, Michigan. The foundation is dedicated to the cultural and economic enhancement of the City of Port Huron, Michigan, and Lighthouse Point, Florida. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$475K
+29.2% YoY
Grant Count
16
-30.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
+85.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to provide funding to support community development, general support, and community programs. Key focus areas include:
- Port Huron Police Department — operational support
- Community Foundation of St. Clair County — operational support and grants for local programming
- Youth Services — support for homeless youth programs and transitional living facilities
- Arts and Culture — support for cultural institutions and creative spaces
- Community Development — revitalization projects and neighborhood enhancement
- Social Services — support for organizations serving vulnerable populations including low-income families and individuals with developmental disabilities
- Education — student support and scholarships
- Maritime Heritage — support for Great Lakes maritime education and history
Grantmaking
The foundation made 31 grants in 2023. Typical grant awards range from $500 to $300,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Port Huron, Michigan, with a particular focus on the south side of Port Huron. Secondary focus includes Lighthouse Point, Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $9,897,320
- Total Revenues: $504,629
- Total Expenses: $868,074
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $10,254,245
- Total Giving: $475,338
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
123 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Dr. James C. Acheson — Chairman and Founder (passed away April 2, 2023, at age 87)
Donna Niester — Vice Chair of the James C. Acheson Foundation and Community Foundation of St. Clair County trustee
The foundation is part of a multi-generational philanthropic legacy. Dr. Acheson's father, Howard Acheson, was one of the founding fathers of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County in 1944 and served as its first Vice President. Dr. Acheson served as a trustee of the Community Foundation from 1972 to 1990 and was the grandson of the founder of Acheson Colloids.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM OLDFORD | TRUSTEE/DIRE | — | — |
| FRANK TRANZOW | TRUSTEE/DIRE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Dr. James C. Acheson passed away on April 2, 2023, at age 87. Following his death, the James C. Acheson Donor Advised Fund continued his philanthropic legacy with significant grant distributions throughout late 2023 and early 2024, totaling over $250,000 in grants to Port Huron area organizations.
Port Huron philanthropist James Acheson dies | WPHMThe foundation's endowment funds, managed by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, continue to support ongoing initiatives. The Howard Acheson Scholarship Fund, originally established in 1984, remains one of the Community Foundation's most prestigious awards for students pursuing degrees in engineering.
Dr. Acheson received the Russell Mawby Award for Philanthropy from the Council of Michigan Foundations in 2004 and the Distinguished Service Award from the Community Foundation of St. Clair County in 2009, both honoring extraordinary lifetime achievement in philanthropy.
$1.5M in grant awards - JBMFSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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