Robert and Ardis James Foundation Inc
The Robert and Ardis James Foundation Inc is a private family foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Established in 1986 and granted tax-exempt status in August 2014, the foundation reflects the philanthropic vision of Robert and Ardis James, Nebraska natives who built significant careers in international affairs, education, and business.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$18.2M
Grant Count
110
Avg Grant Size
$165K
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities reflect the founders' deep commitment to:
- Higher education
- International affairs
- Presbyterian churches
- Arts and culture
- Nebraska heritage
Primary funding focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected basis only and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. It makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
$50,000
Average Grant
amount: $193,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains national grantmaking with particular connections to:
- Nebraska
- Westchester County, New York
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income (2024):
- Total assets: $169.6 million
- Annual income: $51.3 million
Assets & Income (2023):
- Total assets: $159 million
- Total revenues: $14 million
- Total expenses: $22.4 million
- Annual grants: $17.5 million
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $10,000 in 2013 to $169.6 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $159,041,712 | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Carleton College ($2,500,000), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace ($2,000,000), Carleton College ($1,375,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABILIS INC GREENWICH, CT | General & Unrestricted | $60,000 |
| ACEING AUTISM INC LOS ANGELES, CA | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR AMERICAN QUILTS INC ASHEVILLE, NC | The Quilt Alliance's five-year initiative Quilter's SOS - Save Our Stories. | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN QUILT STUDY GROUP LINCOLN, NE | Mary Fonz Paper Presentation Sponsorship | $2,600 |
| BOB WOODRUFF FAMILY FOUNDATION INC LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| BOSTON FOUNDATION INC BOSTON, MA | Initiative to establish the King Center for Social Justice. | $50,000 |
| BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER CORPORATION BOSTON, MA | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| BRAC USA INC NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| BUILDING ONE COMMUNITY CORP STAMFORD, CT | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| CANCER SUPPORT TEAM INC PURCHASE, NY | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is currently managed by the children of Robert and Ardis James:
- Ralph James – Director, Secretary, Treasurer
- Robert James Jr. – Director, President
- Catherine James Paglia – Director, President
The foundation operates with limited staffing and no paid employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph James | Dir, Sec, Treas | 1 | — |
| Robert James | Dir, Pres* | 10 | — |
| Catherine James Paglia | Dir, Pres | 10 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Robert and Ardis James Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities reflect the founders' deep commitment to: • Higher education • International affairs • Presbyterian churches • Arts and culture • Nebraska heritage Primary funding focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
How do I apply for a grant from Robert and Ardis James Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 108 grants totaling approximately $17.5 million in 2023 • Made 110 grants in 2024 • Total historical grants: 398 grants totaling $77 million across available records • Median grant size: $50,000 • Grant range: $10,000 to $7,000,000 • Average grant amount: $193,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2023):** • Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: $2,000,000 (fourth installment of $10 million pledge) • University of Nebraska Foundation: $1,000,000 (second installment for I…
Where does Robert and Ardis James Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation maintains national grantmaking with particular connections to: • Nebraska • Westchester County, New York • Massachusetts • Minnesota • Connecticut • District of Columbia
What size grants does Robert and Ardis James Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Robert and Ardis James Foundation Inc awarded 110 grants totaling $18.2M — an average of about $165K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Robert and Ardis James Foundation Inc's EIN?
Robert and Ardis James Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3298762. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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