Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation
Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation is a private foundation, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $342K. Net investment income was $602K.
Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation at a glance
In short: Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation gave $342K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $38K), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $341,989
- +14.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -35.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $37,999
- +78.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $5,125,067
- +4.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (37% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Facing History & Ourselves Inc ($75K). Together the top 9 received $342K.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 57 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation gives
- Giving grew 73% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $107K (2021) to $342K (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $342K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Facing History & Ourselves Inc Boston, MA | Combating Contemporary Antisemitism in the 21st Century | $75,000 |
| New Israel Fund Philadelphia, PA | to support the Nasij civil society capacity building program and the Seizing the Moment Program to build a vision for peace and security | $60,000 |
| Pollinate Group Los Altos, CA | Empowering 200 Women Entrepreneurs Through Financial Literacy in India | $54,848 |
| Center for Civilians in Conflict Washington, DC | US EWIPA Policy and Community-Based Amends Guiding Principles Project | $50,000 |
| Center for Higher Education in the Middle East Inc Cambridge, MA | Oleander Project for Lebanese Students | $50,000 |
| MJR Love Inc Brooklyn, NY | NYC Teach Fabulous! program expansion | $22,000 |
| Oligo Nation Sebastopol, CA | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Hofstra University Hempstead, NY | 2025 Summer Journalism Institute | $9,891 |
| Neo Philanthropy Inc New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $5,250 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,125,067 | $628,032 | $393,308 | $341,989 | 9 | $361,152 | $601,526 | $349,713 |
| 2024 | $4,888,932 | $435,087 | $350,108 | $298,594 | 14 | $322,730 | $407,376 | $345,650 |
| 2023 | $4,782,953 | $12,944 | $352,232 | $308,453 | 13 | $325,759 | $85,646 | $302,105 |
| 2022 | $5,122,241 | $360,845 | $258,216 | $198,020 | 14 | $228,675 | $333,404 | $327,257 |
| 2021 | $5,019,612 | $272,542 | $152,632 | $106,641 | 7 | — | $246,141 | $318,036 |
| 2020 | $4,899,702 | $105,889 | $170,048 | $118,833 | 9 | — | $93,083 | $272,317 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $350K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation is led by Sandra Otterman, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sandra Otterman
Director & President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Otterman Agashiwala
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Otterman
Director & Vice Chair
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Otterman
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Michelle Emmett (2020–2023) — Director & Vice Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation
How much does Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation give each year?
Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation gave $342K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $299K across 14 grants.
What is Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation's typical grant size?
Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $37,999, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation give grants?
Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (20%) and Pennsylvania (18%).
Does Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 22% of Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation's largest grantees?
Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Facing History & Ourselves Inc ($75,000), New Israel Fund ($60,000) and Pollinate Group ($54,848), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation?
Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation reported $5.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $361K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $350K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation's EIN?
Bernard and Sandra Otterman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0705785. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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