Open Foundations · Tennessee

Ayers Foundation Trust

Parsons, Tennessee · EIN 882961915. Its Form 990-PF says giving is not restricted to organizations picked in advance, which is how a private foundation files that it accepts unsolicited requests. It paid $10.8M across 36 grants in 2024, a median of $25K each.

All Tennessee foundations · All states

$10.8M
paid in 2024
36
grants paid
$25K
median grant
74%
to first-time recipients
$12.4M
assets on file

How to apply, as filed

Straight off Part XV of the return. Where the foundation left a line blank, this says so rather than guessing.

Send requests to
JANET AYERS
Address
643 TENNESSEE AVE, PARSONS, TN, 38363
Phone
7318474962
Email
Not stated in the filing
Form the request should take
NO SPECIFIC FORM IS REQUIRED.
Submission deadline
APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AT ANY TIME.
Restrictions on awards
DONATIONS ARE PRIMARILY, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY LIMITED TO ORGANIZATIONS LOCATED IN DAVIDSON, DECATUR, HENDERSON, LAWRENCE, PERRY, AND UNICOI COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.

As filed on the Form 990-PF for tax year 2024, IRS filing object id 202621359349102592. Printed word for word, including the entries that only say to see a website or an attachment.

What it funds, in its own words

The filing states only a general purpose, with nothing specific enough to pull out as recurring language.

Biggest grants in 2024

The 15 largest of the 36 grants paid in 2024, with the purpose the foundation wrote for each.

#RecipientStateAmountPurpose as filed
1Decatur Co Board of EducationTN$5,000,000GENERAL/OPERATING
2Community Foundation of Middle TnTN$1,784,000GENERAL/OPERATING
3Belmont UniversityTN$1,500,250GENERAL/OPERATING
4Unicoi County United WayTN$1,020,000GENERAL/OPERATING
5Bill Dance Friends and Family FoundationTN$250,000GENERAL/OPERATING
6Vanderbilt University Medical CenterTN$250,000GENERAL/OPERATING
7East Tennessee State University FoundationTN$200,000GENERAL/OPERATING
8Freed-hardeman UniversityTN$200,000GENERAL/OPERATING
9Lipscomb University College of LeadershipTN$106,600GENERAL/OPERATING
10State Collaborative on Reforming EducationTN$100,000GENERAL/OPERATING
11Girl Scouts of Middle TennesseeTN$50,000GENERAL/OPERATING
12St Judes Children's Research HospitalTN$50,000GENERAL/OPERATING
13Unicoi and Cocke CountiesTN$37,648GENERAL/OPERATING
14Second Harvest Food BankTN$35,500GENERAL/OPERATING
15First Baptist ChurchTN$32,905GENERAL/OPERATING

Giving by year, and who received it

Grants paid by year

Every year of this foundation's grants that Civly holds
Tax yearGrantsPaid
20223$113K
202330$4.9M
202436$10.8M

Where the money went

Share of 2024 grant dollars by recipient state
Tennessee100%

Who decides

Officers, directors and trustees as filed, with the year of the return they appeared on.

Blake DillCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER · 2024
Cassie Lynn FooteDIRECTOR · 2024
Chris LynnDIRECTOR FROM 3/19/2025 · 2024
Dr Agenia ClarkSECRETARY · 2024
Dr Burton WilliamsCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER · 2024
Dr Michael PriceVICE PRESIDENT · 2024
James Troy GrantC.S.O. UNTIL 9/3/2024 · 2024
James W AyersCHAIRMAN UNTIL 4/1/2025 · 2024
Janet AyersPRESIDENT · 2024
Jo Ann LynnDIRECTOR · 2024
Kristy AyersDIRECTOR UNTIL 3/19/2025 · 2024
Lee Ann IngramDIRECTOR · 2024
Lin Howard AndrewsDIRECTOR · 2024
Lorisa WilliamsORG EFFECTIVENESS ADVISOR · 2024
Shannon HaynesCHIEF PROSPERITY OFFICER · 2024
Shawn KimbleC.S.O. FROM 4/14/2025 · 2024
Winnie BunchDIRECTOR · 2024

Every figure on this page is that foundation's own latest filed year, which is 2022 or later. This foundation is listed because its Form 990-PF says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and it paid at least 5 grants totaling $100K or more that year. Latest-year grants and terms per foundation from IRS 990-PF e-file returns; the newest tax year is partial until the IRS finishes releasing it. Grants are de-duplicated on funder, year, recipient and amount, so identical repeat grants collapse into one and totals can run low. Full method.

Source: IRS Form 990-PF e-file releases (public domain). Analysis: Civly.

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