Jw and Ida M Jameson Foundation
The JW and Ida M Jameson Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in California in 1956 and designated as tax-exempt since May 1957. Based in Pasadena, California, the foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.0M
-2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$745K
-0.7% YoY
Grant Count
41
+5.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-5.5% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides giving primarily for:
- Higher education
- Medical research
- Cultural programs and arts
- Human services
- Protestant and Roman Catholic church support
- Social services
- Healthcare
- Sports
- Civic affairs
- Christian organizations
Types of support include general operating support and project support.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications and is open to receiving proposals.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $60,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations primarily in California, though grants have been awarded to organizations in other states including Texas, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $13.3 million
- Total Revenue: $1,269,671
- Total Expenses: $1,076,446
- Total Liabilities: $19,400
- Giving Rate: 5.7% to 6.2% of assets
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $17 million
- Total Distributions: $811,000
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,978,762 | $13,273,071 | $13,069,189 |
| Revenue | $793,766 | $1,269,671 | $1,941,415 |
| Expenses | $1,069,244 | $1,076,446 | $1,098,900 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $806,739 | $811,172 | $803,662 |
| Net Investment Income | $613,120 | $1,092,219 | $1,763,295 |
| Distributable Amount | $857,523 | $816,920 | $765,804 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
212 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Door of Hope ($60,000), Pasadena City College Foundation ($50,000), Young Life ($42,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A PLACE FOR YOUTH LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS | $20,000 |
| ABILITY FIRST PASADENA, CA | SUPPORT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS | $15,000 |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF PASADENA PASADENA, CA | SUPPORT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY AZUSA, CA | SUPPORT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS | $35,000 |
| CATO INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS | $15,000 |
| CITY BLESSING CHURCH WALNUT, CA | SUPPORT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
| CLAREMONT INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF STATESMANSHIP AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY CLAREMONT, CA | SUPPORT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
| DOOR OF HOPE PASADENA, CA | SUPPORT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS | $60,000 |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LANCASTER LANCASTER, CA | SUPPORT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| FOOTHILL FAMILY PASADENA, CA | SUPPORT FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jamen Wurm – President (10 hours/week, $64,000 compensation)
- Bill B Betz – Secretary/Treasurer (15 hours/week, $64,000 compensation)
- Kristin Creighton – Vice President (10 hours/week, $32,000 compensation)
- Fred L Leydorf – Director, Part-Year (5 hours/week, $32,000 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BILL B BETZ | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 15 | $64,000 |
| JAMEN WURM | PRESIDENT | 10 | $64,000 |
| KRISTIN CREIGHTON | VICE PRESIDENT | 10 | $64,000 |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 5010, Pasadena, CA 91117-0010
- Phone: 626-578-1530
- EIN: 95-6031465
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jw and Ida M Jameson Foundation fund?
The foundation provides giving primarily for: • Higher education • Medical research • Cultural programs and arts • Human services • Protestant and Roman Catholic church support • Social services • Healthcare • Sports • Civic affairs • Christian organizations Types of support include general operating support and project support.
How do I apply for a grant from Jw and Ida M Jameson Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $750,000 to $811,000 • Number of grants: 39-57 grants annually (varies by year) • Grant range: $5,000 to $60,000 • Median grant size: $15,000 to $18,387 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Door of Hope: $60,000 • Pasadena City College Foundation: $50,000 • La Canada Flintridge Educational Foundation: $35,000 **Application Process:** The foundation accepts applications and is open to receiving proposals.
Where does Jw and Ida M Jameson Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations primarily in California, though grants have been awarded to organizations in other states including Texas, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and New York.
What size grants does Jw and Ida M Jameson Foundation award?
In 2025, Jw and Ida M Jameson Foundation awarded 41 grants totaling $745K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Jw and Ida M Jameson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Jw and Ida M Jameson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $858K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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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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