The James I Freeman Charitable Trust is a private foundation located in Texarkana, Arkansas. Established in 2009, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees and functions as a grantmaking entity focused on community advancement and charitable giving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.8M
+37.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$324K
+22.6% YoY
Grant Count
32
-8.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+34.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James I Freeman Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $382K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust primarily funds initiatives in the following areas:
- Advancement of the community through the arts
- Advancement of children's health
- Promotion of higher education
- General education support
Grantmaking
The trust made 29 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily focuses on Arkansas, with particular emphasis on the Texarkana area and support for University of Arkansas initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending November 2024:
- Total Assets: $8,828,356
- Total Revenues: $2,725,814
- Total Expenses: $335,794
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,828,356 | $6,438,090 | $6,418,558 |
| Revenue | $2,725,814 | $287,971 | $2,485,520 |
| Expenses | $335,794 | $267,628 | $208,100 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $323,545 | $263,900 | $202,300 |
| Net Investment Income | $389,203 | $287,971 | $530,750 |
| Distributable Amount | $381,941 | $321,707 | $271,206 |
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
137 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bps Foundation ($62,500), The Church on Sugar Hill ($53,000), Uams Foundation ($45,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GARVIN WOODLAND GARDENS HOT SPRINGS, AR | TO PROVIDE CULTURAL ENRICHMENT RESEARCH AND LEARNING THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION | $500 |
| CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION HAGERSTOWN, MD | ADVANCEMENT OF CURE FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS | $2,000 |
| CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF ARKAN LITTLE ROCK, AR | RESTORE LIVES OF ABUSED CHILDREN | $20,000 |
| CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN BENTONVILLE, AR | ADVANCEMENT OF COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS | $21,585 |
| ARKANSAS STATE POLICE FOUNDATION LITTLE ROCK, AR | PUBLIC SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT | $16,600 |
| TEXARKANA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TEXARKANA, AR | ADVANCEMENT OF COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS | $1,000 |
| TRAHC TEXARKANA, TX | ADVANCEMENT OF COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS | $500 |
| MT HOLLY CEMETARY MT HOLLY, AR | TO PRESERVE, MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE HISTORICAL CEMETARY | $500 |
| CHRISTUS ST MICHAEL HEALTH SYSTEM F TEXARKANA, TX | MEDICAL SUPPORT | $18,860 |
| SALVATION ARMY TEXARKANA, AR | RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SUPPORT | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
James Freeman serves as trustee of the foundation. His wife, Barbara Yates Freeman (B.S.'70), is an alumna of the University of Arkansas. Freeman has indicated personal connections to Newton, Madison, and Johnson counties in Arkansas, where he and his brother grew up.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES I FREEMAN | Foundation Mgr. | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In May 2021, James Freeman and Barbara Yates Freeman made a $50,000 gift from the trust to establish an endowed memorial scholarship honoring the Honorable Harvey L. Yates (J.D. '72), Barbara's brother and a former Arkansas state judge who served 28 years on the judiciary. The scholarship supports first-generation college students from specific Arkansas counties, reflecting the founders' own background as first-generation college students.
Carl M. Freeman Foundation announces grant opportunity for Sussex CountySubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James I Freeman Charitable Trust fund?
The trust primarily funds initiatives in the following areas: • Advancement of the community through the arts • Advancement of children's health • Promotion of higher education • General education support
How do I apply for a grant from James I Freeman Charitable Trust?
**Recent Grant Activity (2024)** The trust made 29 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grants include: | Grantee | Purpose | Amount | |---------|---------|--------| | BPS Foundation | Supporting Education Through Charitable Service | $62,500 | | Razorback Foundation | Support for Athletic Endeavors of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks | $30,000 | | Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art | Advancement of Community Through the Arts | $21,585 | | Arkansas State Police Foundation | Pu…
Where does James I Freeman Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust primarily focuses on Arkansas, with particular emphasis on the Texarkana area and support for University of Arkansas initiatives.
What size grants does James I Freeman Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, James I Freeman Charitable Trust awarded 32 grants totaling $324K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James I Freeman Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James I Freeman Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $382K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is James I Freeman Charitable Trust's EIN?
James I Freeman Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-7202584. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in James I Freeman Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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