Mcdonald Agape Foundation
The McDonald Agape Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Michigan, established in November 1989. It operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a focus on funding research and educational initiatives, particularly in theology and related disciplines.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$41.8M
-1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.0M
+8.7% YoY
Grant Count
55
-6.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$127K
+16.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is "Encouraging Distinguished Scholars for Christ." The organization funds research toward publications exploring Christian systematic theology, with particular emphasis on supporting distinguished scholars, chairs, centers, lecturers, and programs.
Primary funding areas include:
- Theology and theological research
- Bioethics
- Christian education and ministry
- Higher education initiatives with Christian focus
Grantmaking
The foundation indicates it is "preselected only," meaning it does not accept unsolicited applications and works with organizations it has identified or that come through established relationships.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $683,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across the United States and internationally. Domestic funding extends to multiple states including Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. International funding includes locations such as London and Heidelberg.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filing (2023-2024):
- Total Assets: $41.8 million to $42.5 million
- Annual Revenue: $2.3 million to $3.8 million
- Annual Expenses: $7.9 million to $8.0 million
- Total Liabilities: $1.02 million
The foundation's expenses exceed its annual revenue, indicating it draws from its asset base to support its grantmaking activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $41,769,894 | $42,498,174 | $40,797,389 |
| Revenue | $2,284,437 | $3,784,106 | $-3,849,418 |
| Expenses | $7,980,469 | $8,037,556 | $5,753,093 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,781,869 | $7,837,637 | $5,574,773 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,708,035 | $683,866 | $110,043 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,067,858 | $1,935,058 | $2,230,886 |
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
193 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
Key Personnel:
| Name | Title | Hours/Week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter McDonald | President/Chief Operating Officer | 35 | $343,000 |
| Mark Maurice | Treasurer/Assistant Secretary | 35 | $293,000 |
| Jonathan Aitken | Director | 5 | $10,000 |
| Walter Czarnecki | Director | 5 | $2,000 |
| Virginia Dunn-Biggar | Director | 5 | $2,000 |
| Jennifer Peters | Director | 5 | — |
The foundation has two full-time employees and operates with a board of directors.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARK MAURICE | TREASURER/ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 35 | $293,600 |
| JONATHAN AITKEN | DIRECTOR | 5 | $12,000 |
| PETER MCDONALD | PRESIDENT/CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 35 | $340,600 |
| WALTER CZARNECKI | DIRECTOR | 5 | $3,000 |
| VIRGINIA DUNN-BIGGAR | DIRECTOR | 5 | $3,000 |
| JENNIFER PETERS | DIRECTOR | 5 | $3,000 |
| GREGORY JONES | DIRECTOR | 5 | $3,000 |
| KENNETH CHURCHILL | DIRECTOR | 5 | $3,000 |
| R JAMISON WILLIAMS JR | RETIRED SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| ROBERT BICK | SUCCESSOR SECRETARY | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been actively engaged in funding theological and bioethical research initiatives. Recent notable grants include support for the Angelicum Scriptural Exegesis Project, bioethics fellowships at Georgetown University, and a significant $2 million award to Emory University's Center for the Study of Law and Religion. The foundation continues to support initiatives related to systematic theology, including work toward the "Theology Totale" trilogy.
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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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