Jams Foundation
JAMS Foundation is a private foundation based in Irvine, California, that funds conflict prevention and dispute resolution initiatives. Founded in 2002, it says its work includes providing financial assistance for initiatives with national and international impact and sharing dispute resolution expertise for public benefit.
Jams Foundation at a glance
In short: Jams Foundation gave $1.1M across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $51K), top state California. 28% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,119,000
- +24.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- -24.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $50,864
- +64.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $1,333,441
- -1.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (5 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (33% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Jams Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. For the NAFCM Mini-Grant Program, inquiries and proposals go to NAFCM; for the ACR Initiative, they go to ACR.
- Contact
Mailing address: 18881 Von Karman Suite 350, Irvine, CA 92612
Phone: (949) 224-1810
Website: https://jamsadr.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Jams Foundation
Who Jams Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ray Corollary Initiative ($188K). Together the top 10 received $915K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($124,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
116 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 95 grants of 116 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website describes programs and grants in the United States and internationally. In 2024, 46% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 24% to Kentucky, 7% to Maryland, 6% to Ohio, and 4% to the District of Columbia. Its website also describes international fellowship support for dispute resolution in countries outside the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Jams Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 18 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $45K; repeat grants $69K. How we count
Medians: $32K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 83% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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 $594K (2020) to $1.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ray Corollary Initiative Columbia, MD | Diversity in ADR Initiative | $187,500 |
| Pepperdine University Malibu, CA | Beyond the Dialogue Initiative | $150,000 |
| Community Boards San Francisco, CA | Police-Community Mediation Program | $120,000 |
| Ohio State University Foundation Columbus, OH | Divided Community Project | $100,000 |
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $124,500 |
| National Assoc for Community Mediation Cumming, GA | Community Mediation - Mini-Grant Funding, Track a | $77,500 |
| Convergence Center for Policy Resolution Washington, DC | Covergence Compass Program | $75,000 |
| National Assoc for Community Mediation Cumming, GA | Community Mediation - Program Administration Fee | $45,000 |
| National Assoc for Community Mediation Cumming, GA | Community Mediation - Mini-Grant Funding, Track B | $38,500 |
| Civic Nation Washington, DC | Change Collective Initiative | $35,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Jams Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation’s filing type is Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,333,441 | $1,412,879 | $1,456,471 | $1,119,000 | 22 | $1,431,341 | $13,411 | $67,868 |
| 2024 | $1,346,539 | $1,349,480 | $1,477,468 | $898,500 | 29 | $1,365,351 | — | $69,198 |
| 2023 | $1,452,329 | $1,271,506 | $1,170,057 | $786,750 | 27 | $1,100,677 | $3,549 | $70,076 |
| 2022 | $1,322,244 | $1,318,537 | $969,194 | $610,112 | 24 | $948,391 | — | $56,769 |
| 2021 | $933,845 | $991,350 | $869,676 | $697,500 | 14 | $847,915 | $21,793 | $52,088 |
| 2020 | $814,916 | $825,356 | $779,624 | $594,250 | 11 | — | — | $41,873 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jams Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to provide financial assistance for conflict resolution initiatives with national and international impact and to share dispute resolution expertise for the benefit of the public.
Its programs include community mediation grants developed with the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM); conflict prevention and dispute resolution programs for K–12 students and adults working with youth, developed with the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR); and major projects in dispute resolution education, training, or services. Its website also describes support for police-community mediation and de-escalation training, international dispute resolution through the Weinstein JAMS International Fellowship, and community efforts to address conflict.
Among its 2024 grantees, Community Board Program describes its mission as promoting peaceful conflict resolution. Ray Corollary Initiative says it encourages ADR providers and selectors to increase use of neutrals with a wide range of work and life experiences while preserving the parties’ autonomy in selecting a neutral. Convergence Center for Policy Resolution describes its work as bringing people together across ideological, political, and identity lines to solve critical issues. These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 29 grants totaling $898,500. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $208,000, with a median of $14,000. The largest 2024 grants included $208,000 to the Weinstein Fellowship Program for a program advancing dispute resolution in countries outside the United States; $75,000 to Pepperdine University; $62,500 to Ray Corollary Initiative; $60,000 to Community Board Program for a CPRA/OPD mediation program; and $60,000 to NAFCM for Zoom licenses for 2024–26. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 22 grants totaling $1.1 million.
The Foundation’s NAFCM Mini-Grant Program offers awards of up to $15,000 for innovative community mediation programs. The Foundation and NAFCM select a subject area each year; eligible community-based mediation programs and organizations must be NAFCM members. The program anticipates selecting four to five applicants per subject area for grants of $15,000 per year for up to two years. Proposals are reviewed by NAFCM, with final approval by the Foundation.
Through the JAMS Foundation/ACR Initiative for Students and Youth, the Foundation anticipates selecting one or two applicants each year for Year 1 grants of up to $20,000. Recipients may be eligible for Year 2 funding of up to $40,000, contingent on meeting Year 1 benchmarks and goals. ACR reviews initial project ideas and proposals before the Foundation’s final review and approval.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kim Taylor as board president and member; Nate Brooks as treasurer; Larry Mills as board secretary and member; David Brandon as managing director and board member; Michael Lewis as board chair and member; and Gary Birnberg, Monica Bowen, Lisbeth Bulmash, Bruce Friedman, and Terry Friedman as board members.
Jams Foundation is led by Kim Taylor, Board President & Member on every filing since 2024; 1 of 15 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kim Taylor
Board President & Member
On filings since 2024
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Lewis
Board Chair & Member
Board Member → Board Chair, 2021
Board Chair → Board Chair & Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Brandon
Managing Director & Board Member
Managing Director → Managing Director & Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$77K (2020) → $91K (2025)
Ann Kough
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Birnberg
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Larry Mills
Board Secretary & Member
Board Member → Board Secretary & Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nate Brooks
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deirdre McCarthy Gallagher
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Gise
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisbeth Bulmash
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Monica Bowen
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Friedman
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gail Tusan
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Miller
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terry Friedman
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Cecilia Morgan (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Chris Poole (2020–2023) — Board President & Member
- Former: Eric Van Loon (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Patrick Mahoney (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Viggo Boserup (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jay Folberg (2020–2021) — Board Chair & Member
- Former: John J. Welsh (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Karen Shields (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Mark Smalls (2020–2021) — Board Member
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 $91K, to David Brandon (Managing Director & Board Member).
Frequently asked questions about Jams Foundation
How much does Jams Foundation give each year?
Jams Foundation gave $1.1M across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $899K across 29 grants.
What is Jams Foundation's typical grant size?
Jams Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $50,864, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jams Foundation that year got $45K on average.
Where does Jams Foundation give grants?
Jams Foundation's top state is California, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Georgia (20%) and Maryland (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cumming, GA (5 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Jams Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Jams Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Jams Foundation's largest grantees?
Jams Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ray Corollary Initiative ($187,500), National Assoc for Community Mediation ($161,000 across 3 grants) and Pepperdine University ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($124,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Jams Foundation?
Jams Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $68K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Jams Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to provide financial assistance for conflict resolution initiatives with national and international impact and to share dispute resolution expertise for the benefit of the public. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jams Foundation?
The Foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Jams Foundation's EIN?
Jams Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-2147141. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Jams Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Jams Foundation funds
Crime & Legal Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Jams Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Jams Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/jams-foundation-morg_d71881eba1c746dbac971996c90aeaba
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_912147141_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Jams Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/jams-foundation-morg_d71881eba1c746dbac971996c90aeaba},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-06. 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 Jams 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.
Jams Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?