The Ability Experience
The Ability Experience is a public charity based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. It uses shared experiences to support people with disabilities and develop Pi Kappa Phi men as servant leaders.
The Ability Experience at a glance
In short: The Ability Experience gave $277K across 32 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), top state Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $277,037
- +105.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 32
- +190.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,657
- -29.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $4,930,387
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (10% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Ability Experience
- How to Apply
-
Organizations apply through the Ability Experience grant process; the Circle of Giving opportunity is for eligible Pi Kappa Phi chapters and their local volunteer partners.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3701 Arco Corporate Drive Ste 500, Charlotte, NC 28273
Phone: (704) 504-2400
Website: https://abilityexperience.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Ability Experience
Who The Ability Experience funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Best Buddies of Arizona ($19K). Together the top 10 received $125K.
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 53 grants of 54 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s website describes its programs as spanning the country, including local chapter projects on more than 160 college campuses and national initiatives. The Circle of Giving Grant is open to Pi Kappa Phi chapters nationwide in the United States. In filing year 2025, the largest reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Texas and Arizona at 10% each, Alabama at 9%, and California and South Carolina at 8% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Ability Experience gives
- 13% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2021) to $277K (2025). In 2025 it made 32 grants totaling $277K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Best Buddies of Arizona Phoenix, AZ | To promote the inclusivity of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through on-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development programs. | $19,000 |
| Camp Ascca Jacksons Gap, AL | To help eligible individuals with disabilities and/or health impairments achieve equality, dignity, and maximum independence | $15,000 |
| Rocky Mountain Village Camp Empire, CO | To create a place where every child and adult, regardless of ability, can experience adventure, friendship, and independence in the beautiful rocky mountains | $14,500 |
| Life HAS No Boundries West Lafayetee, IN | To foster independence as well as friendships in addition to improve the quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. | $14,000 |
| Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp Rush, NY | To provide summer camp services where children and adults with diabilities can have fun without any barriers. | $14,000 |
| Best Buddies Charleston, SC | To promote the inclusivity of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through on-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development programs. | $13,500 |
| Miracle League Opelika, AL | To provide opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to play baseball and participate in recreational activities, ensuring every individual has a chance to experience the joy of the game | $10,000 |
| Baddour Center Senatobia, MS | To provide a model residential community for adults with intellectual disabilities and autism in an environment that promotes maximum growth intellectually, spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally and vocationally. | $9,000 |
| Camp for All Houston, TX | To transform the world for children and adults with challenging illnesses, disabilities, or special needs | $8,000 |
| Camp Civitan Williams, AZ | Povide children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities unlimited experiences and memories | $7,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ability Experience?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The organization’s financial information page says that 83 cents of every dollar raised directly supports programs, services, and grants advancing its mission. It also reports that the organization has raised more than $30 million since its inception.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,930,387 | $3,736,571 | $3,203,901 | $277,037 | 32 | $538,034 |
| 2024 | $4,719,300 | $2,947,028 | $2,792,895 | $135,000 | 11 | $103,301 |
| 2023 | $3,726,167 | $2,366,290 | $2,203,585 | $87,500 | 10 | $190,873 |
| 2022 | $3,454,505 | $2,696,656 | $1,748,410 | $147,110 | Total only | $136,891 |
| 2021 | $3,220,412 | $2,139,385 | $1,483,642 | $5,000 | 1 | $153,436 |
| 2020 | $2,486,544 | $1,513,666 | $1,640,811 | $118,018 | 18 | $-73,102 |
| 2019 | $2,277,088 | $2,362,395 | $2,330,188 | $149,340 | 21 | $81,488 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that it uses shared experiences to support people with disabilities and develop the men of Pi Kappa Phi into servant leaders. Its grant program may support accessibility and inclusion projects, adaptive equipment, participation scholarships, program initiatives involving Pi Kappa Phi members, and capacity-building for service partnerships.
Grantees described in their own words illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. Camp Summit says it provides barrier-free outdoor experiences that promote personal growth and independence for people with disabilities. The Woodlands Foundation says its accessible, barrier-free facilities support programs for children and adults with disabilities and chronic illness. Golden Heart Ranch describes its work as providing an inclusive residential community where young adults with special needs can live, learn, work, and socialize.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, The Ability Experience reported 32 grants totaling $277,037. Grants ranged from $5,268 to $19,000, with a median of $7,000.
Among the largest reported 2025 grants were $19,000 to Best Buddies of Arizona for inclusion through one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development; $15,000 to Camp ASCCA to support equality, dignity, and independence for eligible people with disabilities or health impairments; and $14,500 to Rocky Mountain Village Camp for inclusive experiences involving adventure, friendship, and independence. Other reported awards included $14,000 to Life Has No Boundries, $14,000 to Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp, $13,500 to Best Buddies in Charleston, and $10,000 to Miracle League.
The organization’s website says eligible organizations submit an application describing need, impact, and chapter involvement. The Grants Committee reviews applications, and the Board of Directors approves funding recommendations. Applicants must provide recent audited or certified, board-approved financial statements, a board list, a program summary with intended outcomes, and a W-9. Recipients must report actual outcomes within 60 days. Cash grants require IRS tax-exempt status; individual cash grants must have a sponsoring organization or company. The organization says it does not fund private charities or foundations, cash payments to individuals, capital campaigns, political causes or organizations primarily seeking to influence legislation, organizations that only raise funds for others, or meals and events for Journey of Hope or Gear Up Florida teams.
The Circle of Giving Grant is described as a current opportunity for Pi Kappa Phi chapters to support local disability-serving organizations. A chapter must fundraise at least $25 per member or $2,500, whichever is less, and have an active volunteer relationship with a local organization. Awards may be up to 25% of the chapter’s fundraising total for the semester; not all chapters are guaranteed an award. Consideration also reflects chapter fundraising, participation in national Ability Experience events, and interaction through the local volunteer relationship. Awards are made as a check to the chapter and volunteer relationship organization.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing were Dwayne Todd, Liaison; Phillip Hamilton, Chairman; Michael Davis, Vice Chairman; Phillip Leslie, Treasurer; Shane Mulrooney, Secretary; and members Michael Carter, Joel Borellis, Mark Urrutia, Jim Karlovec, and Scott Thomas.
The Ability Experience is led by Jake Henderson, CEO on every filing since 2022; 2 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jake Henderson
CEO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$112K (2022) → $287K (2025)
Basil Lyberg
President & Executive Director
CEO → President & Executive, 2022
President & Executive → President & Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$112K (2019) → $147K (2025)
Phillip Lloyd Hamilton
Chairman
Secretary → Vice Chair & Chair Elect, 2023
Vice Chair & Chair Elect → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Joel Borellis
Member
Chariman → Chairman, 2024
Chairman → Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Mark Urrutia
Member
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Michael Davis
Vice Chairman
Member → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Vice Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Jim Karlovec
Member
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Scott Thomas
Member
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Shane Mulrooney
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Anne Havard
Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Jackson Escamilla
Student Representative
Member → Student Representative, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Leslie Conrad
Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Michael Carter
Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Phillip Leslie
Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Dwayne Todd
Liaison
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Russ Faulkner (2019–2024) — Member
- Former: Tom Carter (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Erik Estrada (2022–2024) — Member
- Former: Andrae Turner (2023–2024) — Liaison
- Former: Brad Jensen (2019–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Chad Perce (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Corey Dillon (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Michael Loy (2021–2022) — Liaison
- Former: Alan Duesterhaus (2019–2020) — National Council Liaison
- Former: Cathy Harrison (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: John Schumacher (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Layton Rogers (2019–2020) — Student Representative
- Former: Regina Moody (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: Jeff Wahlen (2020) — Member at Large
- Former: Dillon Corey (2019) — Member
- Former: John Wahlen (2019) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $287K, to Jake Henderson (CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Ability Experience
How much does The Ability Experience give each year?
The Ability Experience gave $277K across 32 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $135K across 11 grants.
What is The Ability Experience's typical grant size?
The Ability Experience's median grant in 2025 was $7,000, and its average grant was $8,657, across 32 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Ability Experience give grants?
The Ability Experience's top state is Texas, with 10% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Arizona (10%) and Alabama (9%).
Does The Ability Experience give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 32 grants with a stated purpose on The Ability Experience's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Ability Experience's largest grantees?
The Ability Experience's largest 2025 grantees include Best Buddies of Arizona ($19,000), Camp Ascca ($15,000) and Rocky Mountain Village Camp ($14,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ability Experience?
The Ability Experience reported $4.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.7M.
What does The Ability Experience fund?
The organization states that it uses shared experiences to support people with disabilities and develop the men of Pi Kappa Phi into servant leaders. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ability Experience?
Organizations apply through the Ability Experience grant process; the Circle of Giving opportunity is for eligible Pi Kappa Phi chapters and their local volunteer partners. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ability Experience's EIN?
The Ability Experience's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1588777. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ability Experience funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ability-experience-morg_fabb1cc500f8481b8ed9c5627880b706
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581588777_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ability Experience funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ability-experience-morg_fabb1cc500f8481b8ed9c5627880b706},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-03. 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 The Ability Experience'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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