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Robert And Ardis James Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$17.5M
Grant Range
$10K - $7.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $17,539,400 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Estimated $10,000 - $7,000,000
  • Total Assets: $170 million (2024)
  • Number of Awards: 108 grants (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: National, with connections to Nebraska and Westchester County, NY

Contact Details

Foundation Address: Wilmington, DE

Note: Contact information (phone, email, website) is not publicly available. This is a private family foundation.

Overview

Established in 1986, the Robert And Ardis James Foundation Inc is a private family foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware, with total assets of $170 million. The foundation made $17.5 million in grants to 108 organizations in 2023, maintaining charitable disbursements at approximately 84% of annual expenses. Founded by Robert and Ardis James—Nebraska natives who built significant careers in international affairs, education, and business—the foundation reflects the couple's deep commitment to higher education, international affairs, Presbyterian churches, arts and culture, and Nebraska heritage. Robert James (1925-2024) served as a CIA branch chief overseeing trade and finance intelligence on the Soviet Union and China, and earned degrees from Northwestern, MIT, and Harvard. The foundation is currently managed by their children: Ralph James, Robert James Jr., and Catherine James Paglia. The couple's most significant legacy includes establishing the International Quilt Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln through a donation of nearly 1,000 quilts valued at over $6 million.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formally structured grant programs with set tiers. Instead, it operates as a private foundation making grants across its priority areas, with awards ranging significantly based on project scope and institutional relationships.

Known Grant Examples:

  • Major institutional support: $7 million (International Quilt Museum expansion)
  • Endowment gifts: $250,000 - $1 million
  • Program support: $81,065 (Quilt Alliance three-year grant)
  • Average grant size: Approximately $162,400 based on 2023 data

Priority Areas

Higher Education

  • University endowments and capital projects
  • Scholarships and fellowships, particularly for international students
  • Academic research and study centers
  • Multiple gifts across Harvard University (Business School, Kennedy School, Divinity School, Radcliffe Institute, Art Museums, Medical School, Graduate School of Education, School of Public Health)

International Affairs

  • Programs supporting international understanding and diplomacy
  • Eastern European student support (Robert and Ardis James Fellowship at Harvard)
  • International education initiatives

Presbyterian Churches

  • Support for Presbyterian congregations and related ministries
  • Religious education and community programs

Arts and Culture

  • Quilt studies and textile arts (International Quilt Museum, Quilt Alliance)
  • Literary heritage (Willa Cather Foundation)
  • Arts education and programming
  • Museum collections and exhibitions

Nebraska Heritage

  • Organizations connected to Nebraska history and culture
  • Educational institutions in Nebraska

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, the foundation's focused giving pattern suggests they do not typically fund:

  • Organizations outside their established priority areas
  • General operating support for organizations without strong mission alignment
  • Projects unrelated to education, international affairs, religion, or arts/culture

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

  • Robert James (Director/President) - Son of founders, carries forward family philanthropic vision
  • Ralph James (Director) - Son of founders; has stated the family's goal is to "inspire people to produce meaningful and beautiful work"
  • Catherine James Paglia (Director/Secretary/Treasurer) - Daughter of founders

Founders:

  • Robert G. James (1925-2024): Born in Ord, Nebraska; U.S. Navy veteran (WWII); earned B.S. in economics from Northwestern, M.B.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard; taught at MIT; served as CIA branch chief; retired as Rear Admiral from U.S. Naval Reserve; lived in Chappaqua, New York
  • Ardis Maree Butler James (1925-2011): Born in Lincoln, Nebraska; passionate about quilts, textiles, and needlework; owned a fabric store; built an internationally significant quilt collection with Robert

Philanthropic Philosophy:

Ralph James has articulated the family's approach: "Part of what we want to do is inspire people to produce meaningful and beautiful work" and "They supported what was important to them, and as we grow older, we bring our own perspectives into family philanthropy."

The foundation reflects the founders' belief in being "careful custodians" rather than owners, particularly evident in their approach to their quilt collection. Robert James noted they "never felt that we owned the quilts, but we were careful custodians," emphasizing preservation, research, and public access over private possession.

Foundation Structure:

  • Officers receive no compensation
  • Operates as 501(c)(3) private foundation since August 2014
  • EIN: 46-3298762

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Robert And Ardis James Foundation operates as a private family foundation that makes grants based on trustee discretion and established relationships. They do not accept unsolicited grant proposals through a formal application portal or process.

How Grants Are Typically Awarded:

  • Through pre-existing relationships with organizations aligned with the founders' interests
  • By invitation from the foundation's board of directors
  • Through family connections to institutions (particularly Harvard University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Nebraska-based organizations)
  • Via direct outreach from the foundation to organizations they wish to support

Getting on Their Radar

Known Pathways to Foundation Support:

The foundation has demonstrated support for organizations connected to:

  • Nebraska roots: Organizations based in or serving Nebraska, particularly those related to the founders' home communities of Ord and Lincoln
  • Harvard University: Multiple schools and programs at Harvard have received support, reflecting Robert James's educational background (M.B.A. 1948, Ph.D. 1953)
  • Quilt and textile arts: Organizations focused on quilt history, preservation, and scholarship (International Quilt Museum, Quilt Alliance)
  • Literary heritage: Support for the Willa Cather Foundation demonstrates interest in preserving Nebraska literary legacy
  • Presbyterian communities: Organizations connected to Presbyterian churches where the family has had relationships
  • International education: Programs supporting international students, particularly from Eastern Europe

Foundation Discovery Process: The foundation appears to identify grant recipients through:

  • Board members' personal knowledge and connections (the three James siblings serve as directors)
  • Long-term relationships built through the founders' lifetimes
  • Institutions where family members studied, worked, or lived (Harvard, CIA connections, Chappaqua community)
  • Organizations advancing causes the founders championed (quilt preservation, Nebraska heritage, international understanding)

If Your Organization Aligns: While the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, organizations with strong alignment to their mission areas may benefit from:

  • Establishing relationships with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Harvard University, or other institutions in their grant portfolio
  • Participating in networks related to their priority areas (quilt scholarship, Presbyterian church networks, Nebraska heritage organizations)
  • Being aware that the foundation makes annual gifts to select organizations, suggesting ongoing rather than one-time relationships

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates by invitation only, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their grantmaking pattern reveals what attracts their support:

Strong Alignment Indicators:

  1. Personal Connection to Founders' Passions: Organizations supported demonstrate clear ties to Robert and Ardis James's documented interests—quilts, Nebraska heritage, international affairs, education, and Presbyterian faith.

  2. Institutional Excellence and Impact: Major grants flow to well-established institutions with national reputations (Harvard, University of Nebraska-Lincoln) or organizations demonstrating excellence in specialized fields (International Quilt Museum, Quilt Alliance).

  3. Preservation and Legacy Focus: Multiple grants support preserving cultural heritage, whether through museum collections, oral history projects, or endowed programs that will continue in perpetuity.

  4. Educational Mission: Whether supporting university scholarships, museum research programs, or the Ardis James QSOS Scholars program, the foundation prioritizes projects that educate and inspire future generations.

  5. Nebraska Connection: Organizations serving Nebraska or preserving Nebraska heritage have received consistent support, honoring the founders' roots.

  6. Long-term Relationships: Evidence suggests the foundation makes repeat grants to organizations, including annual gifts to select institutions, indicating they value sustained partnerships over one-time transactions.

  7. Inspiring Creativity: Ralph James's statement about inspiring "meaningful and beautiful work" suggests the foundation is drawn to projects that spark creativity, innovation, and artistic excellence.

Examples of Funded Projects:

  • International Quilt Museum: $7 million expansion gift plus $1 million endowment for executive director position
  • Quilt Alliance: $81,065 over three years to digitize oral history archives and support the Ardis James QSOS Scholars program
  • Willa Cather Foundation: $250,000 endowment gift plus annual support for educational programming
  • Harvard University: Established Robert and Ardis James Fellowship for Eastern European students; gifts across multiple schools

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications—they operate by trustee discretion and invitation only, making it inappropriate for standard grant prospecting
  • The foundation's giving is deeply personal, reflecting Robert and Ardis James's life experiences, professional background (CIA, Harvard, MIT), and passions (quilts, Nebraska, education, international affairs)
  • With 108 grants totaling $17.5 million in 2023 and average grants around $162,000, they make numerous awards annually, but recipients are selected through established relationships
  • Major gifts ($1-7 million) go to institutions with direct founder connections; medium-sized grants ($50,000-$500,000) support organizations advancing specific aspects of their mission
  • The foundation prioritizes legacy projects—endowments, capital campaigns, and programs named to honor Ardis James's memory (Ardis James QSOS Scholars)
  • Family leadership continues the founders' vision while bringing new perspectives, as Ralph James noted: "we bring our own perspectives into family philanthropy"
  • Geographic focus includes Nebraska (founders' birthplace), Westchester County NY (family home in Chappaqua), and institutions of national significance
  • Organizations in quilt/textile arts, Nebraska heritage, international education, and Presbyterian churches align most closely with documented giving patterns

References

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