Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc
Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in Indiana, California, New York, and Illinois, supporting activities that include animal conservation, education, health services, and other organizational purposes.
Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc gave $626K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $57K), top state Indiana. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $625,950
- +18.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- -8.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $56,905
- +29.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $10,220,139
- +10.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (3 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (48% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 40857, Indianapolis, IN 46240-0857
Phone: (317) 636-1600
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc ($250K). Together the top 10 received $576K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($50,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 51 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana (48%), California (34%), New York (16%), and Illinois (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $37K; repeat grants $64K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $38K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $528K (2023) to $696K (2020). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $626K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc Indianapolis, IN | To promote animal conservation; contribution in honor of spike & friends | $250,000 |
| American Friends of the Hebrew University New York, NY | To provide academic and capital support to the hebrew university | $100,000 |
| Children's Museum of Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN | To Provide Children with Exceptional Learning Experiences | $50,000 |
| Marymount High School Los Angeles, CA | Operations | $50,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $50,000 |
| VNA Health Foundation Santa Barbara, CA | Operations | $50,000 |
| Cesar Millan Foundation Sherman Oaks, CA | To support the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of abused and abandoned dogs. | $25,000 |
| Ganna Walska Lotusland Santa Barbara, CA | To support the preservation and enhancement of the historic estate of madame ganna walska. | $25,000 |
| Los Angeles Police Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Operations | $10,950 |
| American Bar Foundation Chicago, IL | Donation in Honor of Sandra Chan | $10,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,220,139 | $1,359,454 | $751,375 | $625,950 | 11 | $625,950 | $719,541 | $580,704 |
| 2023 | $9,260,556 | $1,600,846 | $652,555 | $527,500 | 12 | $535,975 | $635,802 | $486,320 |
| 2022 | $8,670,279 | $1,677,644 | $683,788 | $567,000 | 8 | $569,750 | $501,841 | $446,365 |
| 2021 | $8,126,358 | $1,703,828 | $782,227 | $676,000 | 10 | $677,292 | $544,064 | $445,004 |
| 2020 | $8,023,816 | $354,658 | $868,360 | $696,000 | 10 | — | $237,618 | $433,370 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $581K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants include support for animal conservation, academic and capital support, children’s learning, tuition and education expenses, health services, and general operations.
Among its grantees, the Indianapolis Zoological Society says its mission is to protect nature and inspire people to care for the world. VNA Health Foundation describes its mission as fundraising to support VNA Health’s charitable mission. Ganna Walska Lotusland says it preserves and enhances Madame Ganna Walska’s botanical gardens and estate, and educates and inspires visitors through its collections, sustainable horticulture practices, and plant conservation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 11 grants totaling $625,950. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $250,000, with a median of $50,000. Notable awards included $250,000 to Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc. for animal conservation, $100,000 to American Friends of the Hebrew University for academic and capital support, and $50,000 each to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Marymount High School, an individual recipient City College Foundation, and VNA Health Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Porntip Bui Simon as president, Herbert Simon as vice president, Robyn L Freedman as secretary, and Mark N Bernstein as treasurer.
Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc is led by Porntip Bui Simon, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Porntip Bui Simon
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Herbert Simon
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark N. Bernstein
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robyn L. Freedman
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc
How much does Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc give each year?
Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc gave $626K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $528K across 12 grants.
What is Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $56,905, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc that year got $37K on average.
Where does Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc give grants?
Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc's top state is Indiana, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (34%) and New York (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (2 grants), Santa Barbara, CA (2 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 9% of Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (3 grants).
Who are Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc ($250,000), American Friends of the Hebrew University ($100,000) and Children's Museum of Indianapolis ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($50,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc?
Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc reported $10.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $626K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $581K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants include support for animal conservation, academic and capital support, children’s learning, tuition and education expenses, health services, and general operations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc's EIN?
Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2577284. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/herbert-and-bui-simon-foundation-inc-morg_5c412362ed514f15b4037174641f7c6d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_462577284_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Herbert \& BUI Simon Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/herbert-and-bui-simon-foundation-inc-morg_5c412362ed514f15b4037174641f7c6d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Herbert & BUI Simon Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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