JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Pasadena, CA EIN: 95-6031465

The JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation is a private foundation based in Pasadena, California. Its 2025 filing reports grants to nonprofit organizations, including organizations working in areas such as homelessness services, education, health research, and youth development.

JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation at a glance

In short: JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation gave $745K across 41 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in California. 7% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$745,000
-0.7% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
41
+5.1% vs 2024
Average grant
$18,171
-5.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$15,000
Total assets
$12,978,762
-2.2% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
7% first-time grantees (3 of 41, 2025)
Primary geography
California (89% 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 JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation

How to Apply

The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Requests should include the purpose for which funds will be used, the amount requested, and evidence of IRS section 501(c)(3) status. Recipients must be nonprofit organizations and provide evidence of that status. The filing lists Bill Betz as the contact.

Review Cycle
Requests should be received by the first week of March each year. The 2026 cycle deadline has passed.
Deadline
Requests should be received by the first week of March each year.
Contact

Application contact: Bill Betz Jw And Ida Jameson Founda
Mailing address: PO Box 5010, Pasadena, CA 91117
Phone: (626) 578-1530

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Door of Hope: $60KDoor of Hope$60KPasadena City College Foundation: $50KPasadena City CollegeFoundation$50KYoung Life: $43KYoung Life$43KLa Canada Presbyterian Church: $40KLa Canada Presbyterian Church$40KAzusa Pacific University: $35KAzusa Pacific University$35KLa Canada Flintridge Education Foundation: $35KLa Canada Flintridge EducationFoundation$35KLa Canada High School Boosters: $35KLa Canada High School Boosters$35KIntercollegiate Studies Institute Inc: $30KIntercollegiate StudiesInstitute Inc$30KCity Blessing Church: $25KCity Blessing Church$25KClaremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy: $25KClaremont Institute for theStudy of Statesmanship and…$25K

The largest 2025 recipient was Door of Hope ($60K). Together the top 10 received $378K.

Grant Size Distribution

212 grants across all recorded years

191<$50K21$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 191 grants of 212 (90%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in California. The remaining shares went to Virginia (4%), Delaware (4%), Washington, DC (2%), and Washington state (1%).

Grant Distribution by State

11states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 41 itemized grants.

Cities

PasadenaLos AngelesLa CanadaClaremontArlingtonLa Canada FlintridgeValenciaAzusaWashington DcCovinaLancasterSan FranciscoSun ValleyTacomaWilmingtonRiversideSanta MonicaAnn ArborChino HillsMonrovia

Is JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation open to new grantees?

7%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 41 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $19K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $15K repeat.

  • 93% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K47 grants2021 47 grants2022 38 grants2023 39 grants2024 41 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $740K (2023) to $790K (2022). In 2025 it made 41 grants totaling $745K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Door of Hope Pasadena, CASupport for General Operations$60,000
Pasadena City College Foundation Pasadena, CASupport for General Operations$50,000
Young Life Pasadena, CASupport for General Operations$42,500
La Canada Presbyterian Church La Canada Flintridge, CASupport for General Operations$40,000
Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CASupport for General Operations$35,000
La Canada Flintridge Education Foundation La Canada Flintridge, CASupport for General Operations$35,000
La Canada High School Boosters La Canada, CASupport for General Operations$35,000
Intercollegiate Studies Institute Inc Wilmington, DESupport for General Operations$30,000
City Blessing Church Walnut, CASupport for General Operations$25,000
Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy Claremont, CASupport for General Operations$25,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$12,978,762$793,766$1,069,244$745,00041$806,739$613,120$857,523
2024$13,273,071$1,269,671$1,076,446$750,00039$811,172$1,092,219$816,920
2023$13,069,189$1,941,415$1,098,900$740,00038$803,662$1,763,295$765,804
2022$12,218,484$1,357,434$1,110,191$790,00047$852,868$1,174,085$859,028
2021$12,034,887$1,872,120$1,089,389$790,00047—$1,715,339$749,346

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $858K 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Door of Hope describes its work as providing transitional housing and services to families facing homelessness; Pasadena City College Foundation says it develops funding and community support to enhance teaching and learning; and Huntington Medical Research Institutes says it advances scientific discovery through biomedical research.

Other 2025 recipients describe work in areas including education and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (Villa Esperanza Services), homelessness services and housing solutions (Union Station Homeless Services), and wilderness education, leadership, and mentorship for underserved boys (RM Pyles Boys Camp).

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation made 41 grants totaling $745,000. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $60,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest listed awards included $60,000 to Door of Hope, $50,000 to Pasadena City College Foundation, $42,500 to Young Life, and $40,000 to La Canada Presbyterian Church. The listed grants generally specify support for general operations.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Bill B Betz as secretary/treasurer, Jamen Wurm as president, and Kristin Creighton as vice president.

JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation is led by Jamen Wurm, President since 2023 (on filings since 2021); all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Jamen Wurm

    President

    Vice President → President, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    10 hrs/week

    $56K (2021) → $64K (2025)

  • Bill B. Betz

    Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2021

    15 hrs/week

    $56K (2021) → $64K (2025)

  • Kristin Creighton

    Vice President

    Director → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    10 hrs/week

    $8K (2023) → $64K (2025)

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Fred L. Leydorf (2021–2024) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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

Bill B Betz — Secretary/Treasurer: $64KBill B BetzSecretary/Treasurer$64KJamen Wurm — President: $64KJamen WurmPresident$64KKristin Creighton — Vice President: $64KKristin CreightonVice President$64K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $64K, to Bill B Betz (Secretary/Treasurer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation

How much does JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation give each year?

JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation gave $745K across 41 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $750K across 39 grants.

What is JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation's typical grant size?

JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $18,171, across 41 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation that year got $9K on average.

Where does JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation give grants?

JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation gives mostly in California: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Pasadena, CA (11 grants), Los Angeles, CA (5 grants), La Canada, CA (4 grants) and Claremont, CA (3 grants).

Does JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (41 of 41) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation's largest grantees?

JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Door of Hope ($60,000), Pasadena City College Foundation ($50,000) and Young Life ($42,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation?

JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation reported $13.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $807K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $858K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation fund?

No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation?

The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation's EIN?

JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6031465. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/jw-and-ida-m-jameson-foundation-morg_296d10e3eb304f248b78828228b33622

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_956031465_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/jw-and-ida-m-jameson-foundation-morg_296d10e3eb304f248b78828228b33622},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 JW and Ida M Jameson 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.

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