The Austin Memorial Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Cleveland, OH EIN: 34-6528879

The Austin Memorial Foundation is a private foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. Its 2024 filing reports 57 grants totaling $547,852 to charitable organizations, with grant purposes including education and educational activities.

The Austin Memorial Foundation at a glance

In short: The Austin Memorial Foundation gave $548K across 57 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), top state Tennessee. 42% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$547,852
-37.1% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
57
-20.8% vs 2023
Average grant
$9,611
-20.6% vs 2023
Median grant
$2,000
Total assets
$12,754,336
-1.0% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
42% first-time grantees (22 of 53, 2024)
Primary geography
Tennessee (27% 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 Austin Memorial Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing lists the contact as “Various”; form and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions are listed as “N/A.”

Contact

Application contact: Various
Mailing address: 127 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 566-5865

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Austin Memorial Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Naples Botanical Garden: $45KNaples Botanical Garden$45KAudubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: $38KAudubon's Corkscrew SwampSanctuary$38KNew Mexico Local News: $36KNew Mexico Local News$36KCocotree Kids Inc: $36KCocotree Kids Inc$36KShare Our Strength: $35KShare Our Strength$35KFlatbush Mixtape: $30KFlatbush Mixtape$30KWolf River Conservancy: $30KWolf River Conservancy$30KCompass Family Services: $29K across 2 grantsCompass Family Services$29K · 2 grantsHope House Day Care Center Inc: $27K across 2 grantsHope House Day Care Center Inc$27K · 2 grantsSt Jude Children's Research Hospital: $25KSt Jude Children's ResearchHospital$25K

The largest 2024 recipient was Naples Botanical Garden ($45K). Together the top 10 received $331K.

Grant Size Distribution

326 grants across all recorded years

313<$50K13$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 313 grants of 326 (96%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2024 grants went to organizations in multiple states. Tennessee received the largest share of grant dollars (27%), followed by Florida (16%), Massachusetts (11%), New York (8%), and New Mexico (7%).

Grant Distribution by State

31states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.

Cities

MemphisCharlestonAspenCharlottesvilleNatickMinneapolisCarbondaleWashingtonBasaltSan FranciscoClevelandAnn ArborCoconut CreekEdinaGambierLansingManchesterNew YorkRichmondNashville

Is The Austin Memorial Foundation open to new grantees?

42%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 22 of 53 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $10K. How we count

Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.

  • 51% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 86% 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

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M77 grants2020 67 grants2021 53 grants2022 72 grants2023 57 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $421K (2022) to $871K (2023). In 2024 it made 57 grants totaling $548K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Naples Botanical Garden Naples, FLEducational$45,000
Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Miami, FLEducational$37,500
New Mexico Local News Santa Fe, NMEducational$36,000
Cocotree Kids Inc Natick, MAEducation$36,000
Share Our Strength Philadelphia, PAEducational$35,000
Flatbush Mixtape Brooklyn, NYEducational$30,000
Wolf River Conservancy Memphis, TNEducational$30,000
St Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TNEducation$25,000
Compass Family Services San Francisco, CAEducational$25,000
Hope House Day Care Center Inc Memphis, TNEducational$25,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$12,754,336$559,942$693,402$547,85257$637,442$512,042$740,952
2023$12,887,796$916,171$1,089,060$871,05172$871,051$762,558$665,036
2022$13,060,685$624,725$536,718$421,48053$453,422$541,629$699,001
2021$12,972,678$2,355,836$690,993$470,48467$533,541$2,198,584$796,695
2020$11,307,835$723,491$871,753$696,95077—$596,470$709,508

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Austin Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $741K 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 available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in education, environmental conservation, health, family services, and community support. For example, Wolf River Conservancy describes its mission as conserving and enhancing the Wolf River and its environment for public education and low-impact recreation. Compass Family Services says it helps homeless families and families at imminent risk achieve housing stability, economic self-sufficiency, and well-being. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital describes its mission as advancing cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 57 grants totaling $547,852. Grants ranged from $400 to $45,000, with a median grant of $2,000.

Among the largest reported grants were $45,000 to Naples Botanical Garden, $37,500 to Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, $36,000 each to New Mexico Local News and Cocotree Kids, and $35,000 to Share Our Strength. Other notable grants included $30,000 to Wolf River Conservancy and Flatbush Mixtape, and $25,000 each to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Compass Family Services, and Hope House Day Care Center.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Donald G. Austin Jr. as president and trustee. Other listed officers and trustees are David A. Rodgers, Stewart G. Austin Jr., Gretchen Cole, Ellen Austin Smith, Samuel H. Austin, Sally Cole, Donald G. Austin III, Paul Austin, and Winnie Lerner.

The Austin Memorial Foundation is led by Donald G. Austin Jr., President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; none of the 25 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Donald G. Austin Jr.

    President & Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alexandra Loeffler Prothero

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ann Loeffer

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Charles Rodgers

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David A. Rodgers

    Vice President, Treasurer & Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Donald G. Austin III

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ellen Austin Smith

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gretchen Cole

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • James W. Austin

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • John C. Austin

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paul Austin

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Samuel H. Austin

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sarah C. Kingston

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Stewart G. Austin Jr.

    Secretary & Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Winnie Lerner

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Austin Corona

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Claire Kingston

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Hayley Austin

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Heather Austin

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jane Kingston

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lisa Chiles

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lydia Austin

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sally Cole

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sarah Alice Chiles

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sarah Austin

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (5)
  • Former: Margaret C. Chiles (2020–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Sarah R. Cole (2020–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Thomas G. Austin (2020–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: William R. Stewart (2020–2021) — Assistant Treasurer
  • Former: Lynne Rodgers (2020) — Trustee

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 Austin Memorial Foundation

How much does The Austin Memorial Foundation give each year?

The Austin Memorial Foundation gave $548K across 57 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $871K across 72 grants.

What is The Austin Memorial Foundation's typical grant size?

The Austin Memorial Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $9,611, across 57 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Austin Memorial Foundation that year got $11K on average.

Where does The Austin Memorial Foundation give grants?

The Austin Memorial Foundation's top state is Tennessee, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Florida (16%) and Massachusetts (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (8 grants), Charlottesville, VA (6 grants), Natick, MA (5 grants) and Nashville, TN (2 grants).

Does The Austin Memorial Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 57 grants with a stated purpose on The Austin Memorial Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational" (52 grants) and "Education" (5 grants).

Who are The Austin Memorial Foundation's largest grantees?

The Austin Memorial Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Naples Botanical Garden ($45,000), Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary ($37,500) and New Mexico Local News ($36,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Austin Memorial Foundation?

The Austin Memorial Foundation reported $12.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $637K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $741K (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 Austin Memorial Foundation fund?

The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in education, environmental conservation, health, family services, and community support. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Austin Memorial Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Austin Memorial Foundation's EIN?

The Austin Memorial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6528879. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Austin Memorial 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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Austin Memorial Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-austin-memorial-foundation-morg_e5c13c4bdd0b4454a4308b721d02f2e8

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_346528879_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Austin Memorial Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-austin-memorial-foundation-morg_e5c13c4bdd0b4454a4308b721d02f2e8},
  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 Austin Memorial 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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