The Ackerman Foundation
The Ackerman Foundation is a private foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Established as a charitable trust in 1992 by Jim and Lois Ackerman, it supports organizations and initiatives intended to improve the vitality of central Indiana.
The Ackerman Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ackerman Foundation gave $810K across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in Indiana. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $810,000
- +3.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- +2.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,500
- +1.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $16,688,803
- -2.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (6 of 36, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (96% 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 The Ackerman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests from eligible organizations. The filing lists John F. Ackerman as the contact and says to provide the amount requested and the purpose for which the funds will be used. The foundation’s guidelines say trustees meet annually, with decisions expected in early December.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation’s website lists August 15 as the grant submission deadline and advises checking back in early June 2026 for updated application instructions. Its 2024 filing lists no deadlines.
- Deadline
- The foundation’s website lists August 15 as the grant submission deadline and advises checking back in early June 2026…
- Contact
Application contact: John F Ackerman
Mailing address: 401 Pennsylvania Parkway Suite 115, Indianapolis, IN 46280
Phone: (317) 663-0205
Website: https://ackermanfoundation.com
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 Ackerman Foundation
Who The Ackerman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Purdue Foundation ($100K). Together the top 10 received $545K.
Grant Size Distribution
180 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 159 grants of 180 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana and 4% to recipients in Ohio. The foundation’s stated mission focuses on central Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Ackerman Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 36 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 90% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $397K (2020) to $810K (2024). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $810K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Purdue Foundation West Lafayette, IN | General Operations | $100,000 |
| Oaks Academy Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $75,000 |
| Conner Prairie Museum Fishers, IN | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Gleaners Food Bank Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Indianapolis Zoo Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $50,000 |
| United Way of Central Indiana Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Providence Cristo Rey Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $50,000 |
| First Baptist Athletics Indianapolis, IN | General Operations | $40,000 |
| Parent Project MD Middletown, OH | General Operations | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ackerman Foundation?
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 | $16,688,803 | $1,057,660 | $1,263,808 | $810,000 | 36 | $814,985 | $609,939 | $889,046 |
| 2023 | $17,068,960 | $515,184 | $1,249,980 | $780,000 | 35 | $784,925 | $357,829 | $823,010 |
| 2022 | $17,809,664 | $4,481,611 | $834,592 | $524,000 | 34 | $528,780 | $4,196,932 | $778,484 |
| 2021 | $16,790,761 | $9,363,146 | $580,140 | $425,250 | 38 | $429,805 | $512,811 | $529,915 |
| 2020 | $8,001,494 | $129,912 | $529,090 | $396,500 | 37 | — | $107,747 | $422,698 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ackerman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $889K 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 mission is to improve the vitality of central Indiana by supporting organizations that better the lives of underprivileged people through self-sufficiency, initiatives that lead to strong educational outcomes for Hoosiers, and initiatives that build and sustain local cultural and health institutions.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Conner Prairie describes its work as inspiring curiosity and fostering learning through engaging experiences. United Way of Central Indiana says it works on systems to accelerate financial stability and upward mobility for people living in or near poverty. Brightlane Learning describes providing tutoring and academic support to students affected by homelessness and housing instability. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 36 grants totaling $810,000 in 2024. Individual awards ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000. Its largest 2024 grants included $100,000 to Purdue Foundation; $75,000 to Oaks Academy; and $50,000 each to Conner Prairie Museum, Gleaners Food Bank, Indianapolis Zoo, Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, United Way of Central Indiana, and Providence Cristo Rey.
The foundation considers requests for operating funds and capital campaigns. Eligible applicants are organizations exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its 2024 filing describes anticipated areas of focus as scientific and medical research, care including housing for the aged, and gifts to entities such as museums, zoos, United Way, and the Red Cross. It states that no scholarship program is currently planned.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John F. Ackerman is listed as a trustee on the 2024 filing.
The Ackerman Foundation is led by John F. Ackerman, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John F. Ackerman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Ackerman Foundation
How much does The Ackerman Foundation give each year?
The Ackerman Foundation gave $810K across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $780K across 35 grants.
What is The Ackerman Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ackerman Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $22,500, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ackerman Foundation that year got $23K on average.
Where does The Ackerman Foundation give grants?
The Ackerman Foundation gives mostly in Indiana: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (29 grants) and Carmel, IN (4 grants).
Does The Ackerman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Ackerman Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ackerman Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ackerman Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Purdue Foundation ($100,000), Oaks Academy ($75,000) and Conner Prairie Museum ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ackerman Foundation?
The Ackerman Foundation reported $16.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $815K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $889K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Ackerman Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to improve the vitality of central Indiana by supporting organizations that better the lives of underprivileged people through self-sufficiency, initiatives that lead to strong educational outcomes for Hoosiers, and initiatives that build and sustain local cultural and health institutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ackerman Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests from eligible organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ackerman Foundation's EIN?
The Ackerman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-6567579. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Ackerman Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ackerman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ackerman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ackerman-foundation-morg_0d2e7dbe8eca46b48be0eb36a8bf2d94
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_356567579_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ackerman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ackerman-foundation-morg_0d2e7dbe8eca46b48be0eb36a8bf2d94},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Ackerman 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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