Hobart Ames Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Research and educational programs at ames plantation focus on the preservation, interpretation, and understanding of the agricultural and cultural heritage of southwestern Tennessee. Work is conducted under a cooperative program between the ames plantation trustees and the university of Tennessee.research efforts include beef cattle biotechnologies, agricultural field studies, forestry management, and wildlife habitat development. Studies are designed to improve production efficiencies, improve land stewardship practices, enhance sustainability, and advance understanding of rural land use in the lower Mississippi valley region. Findings from these projects contribute to university research programs, statewide extension outreach, and professional training for students and land managers.educational programs at ames plantation are centered on connecting the public, students, and researchers with the region's historical and environmental resources. School field trips and university partnerships provide hands-on learning opportunities in agriculture, archaeology, ecology, and historic preservation. Visiting students learn about agricultural production, forest conservation, and the lifestyles of early Tennessee settlers through interpretive tours and interactive activities.the ames plantation also provides research materials and support for scholars from academic programs across the mid-south and beyond. Institutions include the university of Tennessee, the university of memphis, rhodes college, Mississippi state university, the university of Missouri, and others.the collaboration between tall timbers research station & land conservancy and ames agresearch and education center (via ames plantation) centers on restoring wild northern bobwhite quail habitat across the plantation's 6,000-acre field trial area in grand junction, Tennessee. The partnership applies tall timbers' decades of expertise in prescribed fire and quail management to create open-canopy savanna and grass-forb habitats where wild quail can thrive, aiming to transition awayfrom reliance on pen-raised birds. Leveraging both organizations' strengths, the project will also serve as a regional demonstration and research hub for upland habitat management in the mid-south.the national field trial championship for all-age bird dogs, which began in 1896, has been hosted annually on the plantation since 1915. Running on about 6,000 acres, the usual entry of 42 english pointers and/or english setters that are winners or placers in 70 qualifying trials throughout the u.s. Compete. Several thousand field trial enthusiasts from all over the world attend the event each year.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 97.2%; rating input score 97
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Limited
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 86.4%; rating input score 99; 99th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 11.49; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 96; 96th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0.7%; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.3% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 50.1% per year; rating input score 100; 98th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 18.8% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings