Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation
The Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation is a family foundation established in 1994 in Florida and based in St. Petersburg. The foundation was founded by Thomas A. James, Executive Chairman and former CEO of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., and his wife Mary S. James. The foundation supports arts and culture, education, and social services.
Key facts about Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation
- EIN
- 59-3288143
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,605,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 89
- Average grant
- $18,039
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $25,484,957
- Primary geography
- Florida (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation's 89 itemized 2024 grants were Florida (90%). The most frequent recipient cities were St Petersburg, FL (29 grants), Tampa, FL (18 grants), Clearwater, FL (8 grants) and Boston, MA (4 grants). None of its 89 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charities use in their programs" (89 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.5M
+3.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+10.7% YoY
Grant Count
89
-1.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+12.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving focuses on:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Social services
The founders share a particular passion for supporting living artists, especially those who portray subjects of American Western history, American Indian cultures, and wildlife from around the world.
Ready to take the next step with Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a primary focus on the St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay region of Florida, though grantmaking extends beyond this area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 89 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,484,957 | $24,574,022 | $24,085,449 |
| Revenue | $2,610,690 | $2,016,286 | $955,744 |
| Expenses | $1,699,755 | $1,527,713 | $1,070,574 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,605,500 | $1,450,000 | $1,002,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,558,846 | $1,468,810 | $916,861 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,436,246 | $1,305,605 | $1,327,538 |
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
182 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Fdtn ($285,000 across 2 grants), Moffitt Cancer Center ($270,000), United Way ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL | Charities use in their programs | $270,000 |
| Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Fdtn Clearwater, FL | Charities use in their programs | $235,000 |
| United Way Tampa, FL | Charities use in their programs | $150,000 |
| American Red Cross TB Chapter Tampa, FL | Charities use in their programs | $100,000 |
| Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Fdtn Clearwater, FL | Charities use in their programs | $50,000 |
| Metropolitan Ministries Tampa, FL | Charities use in their programs | $50,000 |
| Eckerd College St Petersburg, FL | Charities use in their programs | $40,000 |
| Florida Orchestra St Petersburg, FL | Charities use in their programs | $40,000 |
| Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Tampa, FL | Charities use in their programs | $35,000 |
| Salvador Dali Museum St Petersburg, FL | Charities use in their programs | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders:
- Thomas A. James (Executive Chairman and former CEO of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.)
- Mary S. James
The James family includes two sons, Huntington and James, and their families, who reside in the Tampa Bay region.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas A James | President | 1 | — |
| Mary S James | Secretary | — | — |
| Hunt James | Trustee | — | — |
| Court James | Trustee | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, Tom and Mary James donated $2 million to Parc Center for Disabilities
Tom and Mary James Donate $2 Million to Parc Center for Disabilities - ParcThe foundation offered a grant a day throughout 2023
The James Foundation offering a grant a day in 2023 | Thestar | kpcnews.comA $2 million donation was made to a local healthcare organization, noted as the largest in that organization's history
St. Petersburg Resident\u2019s $2 Million Donation is the Largest in Local\Contact Information
Address: 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1102
Telephone: 727-567-5002
EIN: 59-3288143
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary giving focuses on: • Arts and culture • Education • Social services The founders share a particular passion for supporting living artists, especially those who portray subjects of American Western history, American Indian cultures, and wildlife from around the world.
Where does Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a primary focus on the St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay region of Florida, though grantmaking extends beyond this area.
What size grants does Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation award?
In 2024, Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation awarded 89 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation's EIN?
Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-3288143. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thomas A & Mary S James Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.