The Ackerman Family Foundation concentrates on a small number of sizable grants that support wildlife and environmental conservation groups, youth-focused programs, and maritime education. Their giving favors organizations involved with outdoor, conservation, and experiential learning activities, often providing general operating support rather than project-specific funding. Grants are few but meaningful in size, and they sometimes give repeat awards to the same institutions.
Concentrated portfolio with a handful of mid-to-large general operating grants; tendency to repeat support for select grantees rather than many small awards.
Junglekeepers, VIPS for Kids Association, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Friends of the Environment, Shikar-Safari Club International
A $50,048 program-support grant to Junglekeepers in 2025 stands out in the Ackerman Family Foundation Inc’s recent giving, because it sits alongside other sizable awards to conservation, maritime education, and youth-serving organizations. The foundation’s pattern is to make a small number of meaningful grants, often with general operating or program support attached, rather than many small awards. Across the recent list, that includes support for Friends of the Environment in Delray Beach, Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, and Student Agencies Foundation in Ithaca. The portfolio also shows recurring relationships. Shikar-safari Club International appears in multiple years, and Junglekeepers received grants in both 2024 and 2025. That repetition suggests the foundation sometimes returns to organizations it already supports. Its giving reaches beyond one cause area, but wildlife conservation, outdoor and conservation groups, youth enrichment, and maritime education appear most often in the recent record. The foundation also made grants to organizations tied to higher education and community causes, including Cornell University, University of Rochester, and NY Abortion Access Fund.
Wildlife conservation is one of the clearest themes in the recent grants. The foundation gave $50,048 to Junglekeepers in 2025 for program support, after a $25,000 grant to the same organization in 2024 for general obligation. It also awarded $10,000 to Trust for Public Land in 2024 and $10,000 to Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in 2024. Maritime education is another visible area. Massachusetts Maritime Academy received $50,000 in 2024 for general obligation and $30,000 in 2025 for program support, showing support across consecutive years. Youth and student enrichment also appear in the record. The foundation gave $15,000 to Student Run Business Association in 2024 and $15,000 to Student Agencies Foundation in 2025, both in Ithaca. In addition, Bottom Line received $10,000 in 2024, indicating support for education-related services.
Typical grants cluster at the low-to-mid four figures, with a p25 of $1,000, a median of $2,577, and a p75 of $10,000. The recent record also includes several much larger awards, which pull the portfolio toward a small number of meaningful gifts rather than a broad spray of smaller checks. The foundation appears to revisit some recipients: Junglekeepers, Shikar-safari Club International, University of Rochester, and Cornell University each received more than one grant across the listed years. Its grant descriptions often use program support or general obligation language, pointing to flexible support rather than tightly restricted project funding. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals.
$148K
$4.6M
$427K
$170K
Most grants fall between $1K and $10K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$10K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Ackerman Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 36 | $337K | 97.3% |
| 2 | Bulgaria |
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The foundation gives nationally, but New York recipients appear most often. In the recent grants list, 44% of grants went to recipients in the HQ state of New York. Ithaca is a recurring place in the record, with grants to Student Run Business Association, Student Agencies Foundation, Amazon Research Conservation Collab, Beta Delta Foundation, and Cornell University. Other repeated recipient locations include Rochester and New York City. Outside the United States, one grant went to Sofia, Bulgaria, and the overall country mix is overwhelmingly U.S.-based.
Typical grants sit in the low-to-mid four figures: the p25 is $1,000, the median is $2,577, and the p75 is $10,000. The recent record also includes larger awards, including several at $25,000, $30,000, and $50,000.
Recent grants point to wildlife and environmental conservation, maritime education, youth enrichment, and student-focused programs. The list also includes support for education-related nonprofits and a few community or public-interest organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once in the recent data. Junglekeepers received grants in 2024 and 2025, Shikar-safari Club International appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and both Cornell University and University of Rochester received more than one grant.
New York is the top state by grant count, and 44% of grants went to recipients in New York. Ithaca shows up repeatedly among recipient cities, alongside Rochester and New York City.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals, and it is classified as a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $50K |
2.7% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JUNGLEKEEPERS | CUPERTINO, CA | $50,048 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADAMY | BUZZARDS BAY, MA | $30,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT | DELRAY BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| STUDENT AGENCIES FOUNDATION | ITHACA, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMAZON RESEARCH CONSERVATION COLLAB | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ELBOW REEF FOUNDATION | ERLANGER, KY | $3,346 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SHIKAR-SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL | HOUSTON, TX | $2,577 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| NY ABORTION ACCESS FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| KENMORE WEST ALUMNI FOUNDATION | KENMORE, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HFL YOUTH LACROSSE | LIMA, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CORNELL ORNITHOLOGY LAB | ITHACA, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| END OVERDOSE | PASADENA, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ALLEGANY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ANDOVER, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| VIPS FOR KIDS ASSOCIATION | SOFIA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY | BUZZARDS BAY, MA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| JUNGLEKEEPERS | CUPERTINO, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| STUDENT RUN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION | ITHACA, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| BETA DELTA FOUNDATION | ITHICA, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| BOTTOM LINEORG | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| SHIKAR-SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL | HOUSTON, TX | $1,555 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| THE HOUNDS FOUNDATION | EXTON, PA | $1,210 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| PAN MASS CHALLENGE | NEEDHAM, MA | $1,026 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| THE ABILITY EXPERIENCE | CHARLOTTE, NC | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| SHIKAR-SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL | HOUSTON, TX | $18,305 | 2023 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| BETA DELTA FOUNDATION | ITHICA, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHICA, NY | $2,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OBLIGATION |
JUNGLEKEEPERS
$50,048PROGRAM SUPPORT
MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADAMY
$30,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
STUDENT AGENCIES FOUNDATION
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
AMAZON RESEARCH CONSERVATION COLLAB
$10,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
ELBOW REEF FOUNDATION
$3,346PROGRAM SUPPORT
SHIKAR-SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAM SUPPORT
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$2,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
NY ABORTION ACCESS FUND
$2,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
$2,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
KENMORE WEST ALUMNI FOUNDATION
$1,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
HFL YOUTH LACROSSE
$1,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$1,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CORNELL ORNITHOLOGY LAB
$1,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
END OVERDOSE
$1,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
ALLEGANY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$1,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
VIPS FOR KIDS ASSOCIATION
$50,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY
$50,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
JUNGLEKEEPERS
$25,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
STUDENT RUN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
$15,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
BETA DELTA FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND
$10,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
BOTTOM LINEORG
$10,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
$10,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
SHIKAR-SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL
$1,555GENERAL OBLIGATION
THE HOUNDS FOUNDATION
$1,210GENERAL OBLIGATION
PAN MASS CHALLENGE
$1,026GENERAL OBLIGATION
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
$1,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
THE ABILITY EXPERIENCE
$1,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$1,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
SHIKAR-SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL
$18,305GENERAL OBLIGATION
BETA DELTA FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$2,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$1,000GENERAL OBLIGATION
UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
$1,000GENERAL OBLIGATION