The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc
The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in 1993 under the will of Kathryn Ames. Based in Towson, Maryland, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a single employee. The foundation was created to honor Kathryn Ames' parents, Max Freedland and Ida Freedland, through charitable giving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.0M
+4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$467K
-31.1% YoY
Grant Count
29
-34.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+4.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $683K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to benefit organizations located in Israel working for charitable and benevolent purposes. The foundation focuses on:
- Social and economic welfare
- Religious and ethnic pluralism
- Social justice
- Education
- Emergency relief
- Poverty relief
- Environmental initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation has been actively supporting charitable organizations in Israel for more than twenty years. Based on recent activity:
Grant Range
** $5,000–$75,000
Ready to take the next step with The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations located in Israel, with secondary focus areas in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total assets (2023): $4,765,768
- Total revenues (2023): $371,067
- Total expenses (2023): $764,803
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,981,942 | $4,765,768 | $5,159,504 |
| Revenue | $758,948 | $371,067 | $1,137,892 |
| Expenses | $542,776 | $764,803 | $524,559 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $499,217 | $711,212 | $470,460 |
| Net Investment Income | $720,319 | $332,844 | $1,100,417 |
| Distributable Amount | $682,534 | $583,484 | $560,394 |
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
172 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Friends of Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism ($50,000), New Israel Fund ($35,000), Friends of the Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PEF Israel Endowment Funds New York, NY | Pluralism | $12,500 |
| Friends of the Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism Chevy Chase, MD | Pluralism | $20,000 |
| PEF Israel Endowment Funds New York, NY | Pluralism | $15,000 |
| New Israel Fund Philadelphia, PA | Pluralism | $17,500 |
| American Friends of Tenufa Bakehila Baltimore, MD | Poverty Relief | $7,500 |
| American Friends of ELI Merion Station, PA | Emergency Relief | $10,000 |
| PEF Israel Endowment Funds New York, NY | Social Welfare | $12,500 |
| PEF Israel Endowment Funds New York, NY | Pluralism | $15,000 |
| PEF Israel Endowment Funds New York, NY | Pluralism | $7,000 |
| PEF Israel Endowment Funds New York, NY | Pluralism | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| W Michel Pierson | President | 1 | — |
| Robert L Pierson | Sec./Treas. | 10 | $60,000 |
| Julia S Pierson | Vice-Pres. | 3 | $6,000 |
Contact Information
- Website: www.kathrynames.org
- Address: 102 W Pennsylvania Ave, Towson, MD 21204-4526
- Telephone: 410-821-3006
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to benefit organizations located in Israel working for charitable and benevolent purposes. The foundation focuses on: • Social and economic welfare • Religious and ethnic pluralism • Social justice • Education • Emergency relief • Poverty relief • Environmental initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc?
The foundation has been actively supporting charitable organizations in Israel for more than twenty years. Based on recent activity: • **Total giving (2023):** $525,000 across 37 grants • **Typical grant range:** $5,000–$75,000 • **Recent notable grants include:** • Friends of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism: $75,000 • American Friends of Leket Israel: $25,000 • Pef Israel Endowment Funds: $25,000 The foundation maintains grant guidelines and application procedures available on its …
Where does The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations located in Israel, with secondary focus areas in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
What size grants does The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc awarded 29 grants totaling $467K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $683K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1828472. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Jewish Communal Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$3.0B
Grants
4,673
Total Given
$953.3M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Fjc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$430.3M
Grants
706
Total Given
$40.6M
Jewish Community Federation of San
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Assets
$1.5B
Grants
991
Total Given
$123.7M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
839
Total Given
$176.8M
The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation
TULSA, OK
Assets
$17.4M
Grants
164
Total Given
$2.0M
Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston Inc
BOSTON, MA
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
1,105
Total Given
$322.3M
Nash Family Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$13.2M
Grants
231
Total Given
$11.1M
Seed the Dream Foundation
GLADWYNE, PA
Assets
$16.3M
Grants
152
Total Given
$10.2M
The Jewish Federation of Greater
NORTH BETHESDA, MD
Assets
$354.3M
Grants
401
Total Given
$36.6M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Kathryn Ames Foundation Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities