McDonald Agape Foundation
The McDonald Agape Foundation is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Michigan. Its 2024 grants supported educational projects in theology, medicine and ethics, religious history, and ministry and outreach.
McDonald Agape Foundation at a glance
In short: McDonald Agape Foundation gave $7.0M across 55 grants in 2024 (avg $127K), top state North Carolina. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,975,127
- +8.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 55
- -6.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $126,820
- +16.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $91,620
- Total assets
- $41,769,894
- -1.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (7 of 32, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (13% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to McDonald Agape Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 380 N Old Woodward Ave 212, Birmingham, MI 48009
Phone: (248) 594-6350
Website: https://mcdonaldagape.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who McDonald Agape Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Duke University - Divinity School ($750K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
207 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 207 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants listed include recipients in the United States and internationally. U.S. locations named among the larger awards include Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington, D.C., and Indiana. The filing also lists grants to the Lambeth Trust and St Mellitus College Trust, with no location specified in the grant entries, and to the University of Hong Kong and the University of Aberdeen.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is McDonald Agape Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 32 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $82K; repeat grants $256K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $175K repeat.
- 78% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 145% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 376% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2020) to $7.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 55 grants totaling $7.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Lambeth Trust | EDUCATION:THEOLOGY - Centre for Cultural Witness (Lambeth Palace) | $585,282 |
| International Dominican Foundation Meairie, LA | Education: Theology - Angelicum Scriptual Exegesis Project | $583,000 |
| Columbia University - Vagelos Medical College New York, NY | Education: Ethics/Medicine - Center for Clinical Medical Ethics | $400,000 |
| Duke University - Divinity School Durham, NC | Education: Theology/Arts - Dita Directorship Support | $400,000 |
| Emory University - Chandler Divinity School Atlanta, GA | Education: Theology/Law - New Testament Professorship | $300,000 |
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | Education: Theology/Medicine - Bioethics Fellowship | $298,000 |
| St Mellitus College Trust | Education: Theology - Nicaea 325TH Anniversary Project | $255,113 |
| Duke University - Divinity School Durham, NC | Education: Theology - Christian Informing Academic Medicine | $200,000 |
| Emory University - Law School Atlanta, GA | Education: Theology/Law - Senior Fellowship Program | $200,000 |
| University of Hong Kong | Education history of religion - faith and eurban civilizations in asia | $200,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $41,769,894 | $2,284,437 | $7,980,469 | $6,975,127 | 55 | $7,781,869 | $1,708,035 | $2,067,858 |
| 2023 | $42,498,174 | $3,784,106 | $8,037,556 | $6,418,151 | 59 | $7,837,637 | $683,866 | $1,935,058 |
| 2022 | $40,797,389 | $-3,849,418 | $5,753,093 | $4,324,028 | 47 | $5,574,773 | $110,043 | $2,230,886 |
| 2021 | $59,250,028 | $6,623,697 | $3,680,196 | $2,847,726 | 28 | $3,507,967 | $6,444,647 | $2,741,797 |
| 2020 | $55,708,086 | $8,287,661 | $2,774,839 | $1,798,705 | 18 | — | $2,391,278 | $2,205,200 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, McDonald Agape Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is “Encouraging Distinguished Scholars for Christ.” Its 2024 grant purposes include theology and religious history, as well as projects at the intersection of theology with medicine, ethics, law, and the arts. Examples include support for a clinical medical ethics center, a bioethics fellowship, and a theology-and-arts directorship.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. The International Dominican Foundation says it aids and supports projects of the Dominican Order of the Catholic Church. Georgetown University describes a commitment to serious discourse among people of different faiths, cultures, and beliefs. The Hippocratic Society says its purpose is to form and sustain clinicians in the practice and pursuit of good medicine. Sagamore Institute describes itself as a nonpartisan public-policy research organization.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 55 grants totaling $6,975,127. Grants ranged from $8,000 to $585,282, with a median of $91,620.
Among the largest awards were $585,282 to the Lambeth Trust for the Centre for Cultural Witness at Lambeth Palace; $583,000 to the International Dominican Foundation for the Angelicum Scriptural Exegesis Project; $400,000 to Columbia University’s Vagelos Medical College for its Center for Clinical Medical Ethics; and $400,000 to Duke University’s Divinity School for DITA directorship support. Other notable grants included $300,000 to Emory University’s Chandler Divinity School for a New Testament professorship and $298,000 to Georgetown University for a bioethics fellowship.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Peter McDonald as president and chief operating officer; Mark Maurice as treasurer and assistant secretary; and Jonathan Aitken, Walter Czarnecki, Virginia Dunn-Biggar, Jennifer Peters, Gregory Jones, and Kenneth Churchill as directors. It also lists R Jamison Williams Jr as retired secretary and Robert Bick as successor secretary.
McDonald Agape Foundation is led by Peter McDonald, President & Chief Operating Officer since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 8 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Peter McDonald
President & Chief Operating Officer
Director & President → President & Chief Operating Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$290K (2020) → $341K (2024)
Gregory Jones
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Jennifer Peters
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Jonathan Aitken
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Kenneth Churchill
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Walter Czarnecki
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $3K (2024)
Virginia Dunn-Biggar
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$2K (2022) → $3K (2024)
Mark Maurice
Treasurer & Assistant Secretary
Treasurer → Treasurer & Assistant Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$123K (2020) → $294K (2024)
R. Jamison Williams Jr.
Retired Secretary
Secretary → Retired Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Bick
Successor Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Suzanne McDonald (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $341K, to Peter McDonald (President/Chief Operating Officer). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about McDonald Agape Foundation
How much does McDonald Agape Foundation give each year?
McDonald Agape Foundation gave $7.0M across 55 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.4M across 59 grants.
What is McDonald Agape Foundation's typical grant size?
McDonald Agape Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $91,620, and its average grant was $126,820, across 55 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from McDonald Agape Foundation that year got $82K on average.
Where does McDonald Agape Foundation give grants?
McDonald Agape Foundation's top state is North Carolina, with 13% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Georgia (11%) and District of Columbia (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (7 grants), Washington, DC (7 grants), Durham, NC (5 grants) and New York, NY (4 grants).
Does McDonald Agape Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 18% of McDonald Agape Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 55) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are McDonald Agape Foundation's largest grantees?
McDonald Agape Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Duke University - Divinity School ($750,000 across 4 grants), The Lambeth Trust ($685,732 across 3 grants) and International Dominican Foundation ($638,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is McDonald Agape Foundation?
McDonald Agape Foundation reported $41.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does McDonald Agape Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is “Encouraging Distinguished Scholars for Christ.” Its 2024 grant purposes include theology and religious history, as well as projects at the intersection of theology with medicine, ethics, law, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from McDonald Agape Foundation?
The foundation 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 McDonald Agape Foundation's EIN?
McDonald Agape Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2840692. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does McDonald Agape Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). McDonald Agape Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mcdonald-agape-foundation-morg_1db912acfd714bb7bdf38f8ee13987bd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382840692_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{McDonald Agape Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mcdonald-agape-foundation-morg_1db912acfd714bb7bdf38f8ee13987bd},
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 McDonald Agape 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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