William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust

Private foundation · Grantmaker Pennington, NJ EIN: 65-6406252

William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust is a private foundation, based in Pennington, NJ. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $301K. Net investment income was $640K.

Key facts about William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust

In short: William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust gave $301K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $100K), mostly in Connecticut. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
65-6406252
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$301,176
Grants made (2025)
3
Average grant
$100,392
Median grant
$100,392
Total assets
$6,800,581
Primary geography
Connecticut (67% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$6.8M

+4.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$301K

+5.7% YoY

Grant Count

3

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$100K

+5.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $390K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−3%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.

Cities

MysticWorcester

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K3 grants2019 3 grants2020 3 grants2021 3 grants2022 3 grants2023 3 grants2024 3 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $271K (2021) to $310K (2022). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $301K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2025

Worcester Polytechnic Inst: $100KWorcester Polytechnic Inst$100KMystic Seaport Inc: $100KMystic Seaport Inc$100KMystic and Noank Library: $100KMystic and Noank Library$100K

The largest 2025 recipient was Worcester Polytechnic Inst ($100K). Together the top 3 received $301K.

Grant Size Distribution

15 grants across all recorded years

<$50K9$50–100K6$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 9 grants of 15 (60%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Worcester Polytechnic Inst Worcester, MAGeneral Operating$100,392
Mystic Seaport Inc Mystic, CTGeneral Operating$100,392
Mystic and Noank Library Mystic, CTGeneral Operating$100,392

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$6,800,581$6,517,724$6,370,539
Revenue$710,398$561,504$369,916
Expenses$425,489$411,171$403,567
Qualifying Distributions$345,555$355,297$355,610
Net Investment Income$639,570$508,778$319,572
Distributable Amount$389,854$371,416$343,336

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 30, 2020)
  2. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust's only listed officer is Bank Of America N A, Trustee on every filing since 2019 (compensated).

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Bank Of America N A

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    $92K (2019) → $111K (2025)

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

Bank of America N a — Trustee: $111KBank of America N aTrustee$111K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $111K, to Bank of America N a (Trustee).

Frequently asked questions about William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust

How much does William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust give each year?

William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust gave $301K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $285K across 3 grants.

What is William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust's typical grant size?

William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $100,392, and its average grant was $100,392, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust give grants?

William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust gives mostly in Connecticut: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (33%). The most frequent recipient cities were Mystic, CT (2 grants).

Does William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

How large is William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust?

William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust reported $6.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $346K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $390K (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 is William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust's EIN?

William & Ellen E Ames Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-6406252. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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