WHO WE ARE
Carrying Forward a Legacy of Freedom, Choice, and Joy
Our Story
The AMA Dunn Foundation was born out of a simple but profound belief: that the most powerful thing you can give a person in crisis is their freedom, closely followed by the education to choose their own future.
Our foundation honors the life and enduring spirit of Mary Ann Dunn—affectionately known to her family as AMA (Aunt Mary Ann). Mary Ann was a woman of boundless generosity and had an innate ability to see the people who are so often overlooked. When she passed away in 2025, she left behind a blueprint for what it means to give back, not just with financial resources, but with your whole heart.
Today, we carry her light forward.
The Heart Behind the Foundation: Remembering Mary Ann "AMA" Dunn
Mary Ann didn't just donate to causes from a distance; she immersed herself in them. As a dedicated board member at Restore NYC, a non-profit making freedom real for survivors of human trafficking, she understood that the battle against exploitation requires an army of supported, energized people.
While she fought for survivors at the institutional level, she fiercely loved and nurtured the people working on the front lines. She knew that non-profit work in the domestic violence and trafficking space is incredibly heavy, and that the staff face immense burnout. To lift them up, Mary Ann became the ultimate champion of joy. She was the one who threw the staff Christmas party, hosted the vibrant pre-parties for major fundraisers, and made sure the tireless case workers, advocates, and administrators felt seen, celebrated, and valued.
Her generosity was also quiet and deeply personal. Believing completely in the liberating power of education, Mary Ann privately funded tuition for several women to go back to school – women who otherwise would not have had the financial means or opportunity to do so. She gave them a clean slate and the autonomy to build their own lives.
Our Evolution: From a Trust to a Foundation
A few years before her passing, Mary Ann asked her niece, Caitlin, to take charge of her charitable trust. It was an honor rooted in deep trust and a shared vision for a better world.
Following Mary Ann’s passing in 2025, Caitlin recognized that her aunt's dream was too big for a private trust alone. To maximize their reach, create systemic change, and partner more deeply with the non-profit community, Caitlin transitioned the trust into The AMA Dunn Foundation, a formal 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
By scaling Mary Ann's initial vision, the foundation can now do more meaningful, sustainable work: providing institutional grants to combat trafficking and domestic violence, creating wellness and support initiatives for non-profit staff, and establishing formal scholarship funds to grant women and youth the ultimate gift: freedom and choice.
A Message from Our Founder
"My aunt showed me that you can be a powerhouse in business and lead with heart. Her hard work brought her great financial success, but instead of indulging in luxury, she chose to give back every single day. I believe our shared entrepreneurial mindset coupled with a deep desire to lift others up is why she trusted me with her legacy. The AMA Dunn Foundation is our opportunity to build something truly beautiful, keeping her joyful, fierce, and loving spirit alive."
— Caitlin Ball, Founder & Executive Director