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Iowa · Private foundation

Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$879k
Granted FY2024(still arriving)
60
Grants FY2024
59
Organizations funded FY2023
37%
First-time grantees FY2023
Read the full brief
Median grant, FY2024
$2,500
Largest grant, FY2024
$300,000
Organizations funded a year
44 to 59
FY2020 to FY2023
States reached, FY2024
7
Total assets, FY2024
$8.6M
Applications
Preselected organizations only
Per its most recent filing; check its own site

How open it is to new grantees

In FY2023, 37% of the organizations Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation funded were first-time grantees, receiving 22% of its grant dollars.

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 78% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $111k went to new ones.

50%100%’21’22’23
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’21’22’23
EducationHealthPhilanthropyAnimalsReligionHuman ServicesOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.
The numbers by year
Fiscal yearOrganizations fundedTo those organizationsFirst-time grantees
FY2024still arriving59$850k32%
FY202359$495k37%
FY202252$429k42%
FY202144$317k36%
FY202050$547kn/a
98% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Education$990kPublic Benefit$332kArts & Culture$267kPhilanthropy$237kHuman Services$232kRecreation & Sports$165kEmployment$124kYouth Development$96kOther$0

Where its grants go

Grant dollars by states, across the years we hold.

Which US states its grants reach

MN
IL
WI
IA
OH
PA
NJ
TN
NC
DC
TX

Top grantees

Largest recipients by total granted, FY2020 to FY2024, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.

GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Holy Family Catholic Schools$470,5005n/a
Miracle League of Dubuque$125,235315%
Dubuque County Historical Society$125,00012%
University of Dubuque$94,41640%
Hillcrest Family Services Inc$92,44050%
Dubuque Museum of Art$80,00043%
Friends of St Mary's$69,50054%
Clarke University of Dubuque Iowa$67,50050%
Iowa College Foundation$45,50051%
Loras College$41,50050%
Show all 67 grantees
All grantees of Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation by total granted
GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Holy Family Catholic Schools$470,5005n/a
Miracle League of Dubuque$125,235315%
Dubuque County Historical Society$125,00012%
University of Dubuque$94,41640%
Hillcrest Family Services Inc$92,44050%
Dubuque Museum of Art$80,00043%
Friends of St Mary's$69,50054%
Clarke University of Dubuque Iowa$67,50050%
Iowa College Foundation$45,50051%
Loras College$41,50050%
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra$30,25051%
Opening Doors$27,50041%
Dickeyville Park Foundation Inc$25,000120%
Outrun the Rays Inc$25,0001n/a
The Grand Opera House$25,00052%
River Valley Initiative Foundation$23,53047%
St Mark Youth Enrichment$23,50041%
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa Inc$21,55950%
American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches$20,00020%
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dubuque$17,55050%
Dubuque Regional Humane Society$17,50031%
Compass to Care$11,00021%
Centennial Cross Incorporated$10,000220%
Dubuque Community School District$10,0001n/a
Elizabethton City Schools$10,0001n/a
Variety - the Children's Charity of Iowa$6,80010%
Dubuque Arts Council$6,50041%
Hospice of Dubuque$6,40040%
Area Residential Care Inc$6,23520%
Legion-Aires Drum and Bugle Corps$5,23510%
Avery Foundation$5,23513%
American Heart Association Inc$5,00050%
Water Well Trust Inc$5,00010%
State University of Iowa Foundation$5,00010%
Inspiring Communty Inc$5,00010%
Riverview Center Inc$4,00040%
Special Olympics Iowa Inc$3,50010%
Four Oaks Family and Children's Services$3,50010%
Wasda Scholarship Fund$3,0003n/a
Habitat for Humanity - Quad Cities Inc$2,50010%
March of Dimes Inc$2,50030%
City of Epworth$2,5001n/a
Benefit the Vets$2,00023%
Boys and Girls Club of Elizabethton Carter County Inc$2,00020%
Dubuque County Early Childhood Inc$2,00030%
The Fountain of Youth Program$2,00020%
Dubuque Main Street Ltd$2,00040%
Veterans Freedom Center Inc$2,00021%
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa Inc$1,50020%
University of Wisconsin$1,2502n/a
Epworth Elementary Parent Teacher Organization$1,0001n/a
Multicultural Family Center$1,00011%
Albia Booster Club$1,00010%
Platteville Fire Department Inc$1,00011%
The Uw-Platteville Foundation and Alumni Association Inc$1,00010%
Crescent Community Health Center$1,00010%
Eagles Autism Challenge Inc$1,00020%
Northeast Iowa Council Boy Scouts$1,00020%
Kiwanis Club of Dubuque Foundation$1,0001n/a
Leadership Texarkana$75010%
Society of St Vincent de Paul$75030%
Little Heroes League$50010%
New Vienna Tractor Pullers Association Inc$5001n/a
Dubuque Food Pantry$50010%
Mile Monsters Inc$5001n/a
National Multiple Sclerosis Society$50010%
Dubuque Areas Labor Harvest$25010%

What it could do for these grantees

Plus 62 recipients with no EIN on record ($1.0M), not named here.

Where it is load-bearing

Each grantee by its size and the share of its budget Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation supplied at peak.

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetMiracle League of Dubuque: $125,235 over 3y, 15% of budgetDubuque County Historical Society: $125,000 over 1y, 2.0% of budgetUniversity of Dubuque: $94,416 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetHillcrest Family Services Inc: $92,440 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetDubuque Museum of Art: $80,000 over 4y, 2.9% of budgetFriends of St Mary's: $69,500 over 5y, 4.0% of budgetClarke University of Dubuque Iowa: $67,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetIowa College Foundation: $45,500 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetLoras College: $41,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetDubuque Symphony Orchestra: $30,250 over 5y, 0.8% of budgetOpening Doors: $27,500 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetDickeyville Park Foundation Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 20% of budgetThe Grand Opera House: $25,000 over 5y, 1.7% of budgetRiver Valley Initiative Foundation: $23,530 over 4y, 7.3% of budgetSt Mark Youth Enrichment: $23,500 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetJunior Achievement of Eastern Iowa Inc: $21,559 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $20,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBoys and Girls Club of Greater Dubuque: $17,550 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetDubuque Regional Humane Society: $17,500 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetCompass to Care: $11,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetCentennial Cross Incorporated: $10,000 over 2y, 20% of budgetVariety - the Children's Charity of Iowa: $6,800 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetDubuque Arts Council: $6,500 over 4y, 1.2% of budgetHospice of Dubuque: $6,400 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetArea Residential Care Inc: $6,235 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetLegion-Aires Drum and Bugle Corps: $5,235 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetAvery Foundation: $5,235 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetWater Well Trust Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetState University of Iowa Foundation: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetInspiring Communty Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetRiverview Center Inc: $4,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSpecial Olympics Iowa Inc: $3,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFour Oaks Family and Children's Services: $3,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHabitat for Humanity - Quad Cities Inc: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMarch of Dimes Inc: $2,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetBenefit the Vets: $2,000 over 2y, 2.5% of budgetBoys and Girls Club of Elizabethton Carter County Inc: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetDubuque County Early Childhood Inc: $2,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetThe Fountain of Youth Program: $2,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetDubuque Main Street Ltd: $2,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetVeterans Freedom Center Inc: $2,000 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetMake-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa Inc: $1,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMulticultural Family Center: $1,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetAlbia Booster Club: $1,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPlatteville Fire Department Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetThe Uw-Platteville Foundation and Alumni Association Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCrescent Community Health Center: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget

Tap a dot to name the grantee.

How this is measured
Share of budget is the funder’s grant in a year over the grantee’s total revenue that year, at its highest across the years we hold; revenue is from all sources. Only grantees confirmed against their own filings, whose grants do not exceed their revenue, are plotted: the largest 56.

Nonprofits that may fit its grantmaking

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Dubuque Racing Association LtdIA67.1× affinity30 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Dubuque Racing Association Ltd · Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque · Spahn & Rose Lumber Co Charitable Fdtn · James B & Melita a McDonough Foundation · Heartland Charitable Trust · Alliant Energy Foundation Inc · Sirk Family Foundation · Falb Family Charitable Foundation · Flynn Family Foundation · The Butler Family Foundation · The Klauer Foundation Trust Xxxxx5009 · Gantz Foundation Charitable Trust

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Compare Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation with peer funders

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

About Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation

How much does Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation give?
Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation reported 60 grants totaling $878,618 in its FY2024 IRS filing. It funded between 44 and 59 organizations a year over FY2020 to FY2023.
What does Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation fund?
By grant dollars over FY2020 to FY2024, its largest causes are Education (36%), Public Benefit (12%), Arts & Culture (10%).
Who are Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
By total granted over FY2020 to FY2024: Holy Family Catholic Schools ($471k), Miracle League of Dubuque ($125k), Dubuque County Historical Society ($125k).
Does Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation fund new organizations?
In FY2023, 37% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
Does Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Its most recent filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and does not take unsolicited requests. Check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.
Which funders back the same organizations as Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation?
Its strongest co-funders, measured against what their size predicts, include Dubuque Racing Association Ltd, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Spahn & Rose Lumber Co Charitable Fdtn.
Where is Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation based?
Ay McDonald Charitable Foundation is based in IA.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 130 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

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