Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation
The Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2007 and granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in June 2008. Located in Wilmington, Delaware, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization guided by Christian faith principles. Named after Sacramento businessman and philanthropist Marvin "Buzz" Oates (1923-2013), the foundation carries forward his legacy of charitable giving to preselected organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.5M
-1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
+12.5% YoY
Grant Count
26
+188.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$66K
-61.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to faith-based giving and community support. Primary funding priorities include:
- Education
- Homelessness
- Faith-based organizations
- Youth and women's services
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and does not operate formal grant programs with defined application cycles. All grants are awarded through trustee discretion to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
$7,500 to $930,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with some national grants.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $29.4 million
- Total revenues: $2.3 million
- Total expenses: $3.4 million
- Total liabilities: $0
As of December 2023:
- Total assets: $30.5 million
- Total revenues: $1.47 million
- Total expenses: $2.01 million
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,490,252 | $31,028,430 | $31,351,528 |
| Revenue | $1,468,739 | $1,470,425 | $1,991,382 |
| Expenses | $2,006,917 | $1,793,523 | $1,511,240 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,772,684 | $1,580,060 | $1,324,830 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,262,695 | $1,266,550 | $1,811,395 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,641,486 | $1,665,124 | $1,801,935 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Destiny Community Services ($970,000), The New Horizons Foundation Inc ($375,000), Capital Christian Center ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALTERNATIVES PREGNANCY CENTER SACRAMENTO, CA | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN COUNCIL FOUNDATION FOLSOM, CA | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN INITIATIVES FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDA NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| BAY AREA SCHOOL OF MINISTRY INC REDWOOD CITY, CA | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| BETHELS ROCK RICHFIELD, MN | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP SAN ANTONIO, TX | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| CAPITAL CHRISTIAN CENTER SACRAMENTO, CA | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| CITY OF REFUGE SACRAMENTO SACRAMENTO, CA | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| DESTINY COMMUNITY SERVICES ROCKLIN, CA | General & Unrestricted | $970,000 |
| DON NAVA KINGDOM MINISTRIES INC INDIO, CA | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Allbaugh | Sec, Treas, VP, Dir | 1 | — |
| Kathryn Fairrington | Dir, VP | 1 | — |
| Philip D Oates | Pres, Dir | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Foundation Source 501 Silverside Road Wilmington, DE 19809 Telephone: 800-839-1754
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation is committed to faith-based giving and community support. Primary funding priorities include: • Education • Homelessness • Faith-based organizations • Youth and women's services
How do I apply for a grant from Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Annual giving: approximately $3.1 million (2024) • Grant range: $7,500 to $930,000 • 2024: 21 grants awarded with a median grant of $15,000 • 2023: 31 grants awarded **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and does not operate formal grant programs with defined application cycles. All grants are awarded through trustee discretion to preselected charitable organizations. **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Destiny Community Servi…
Where does Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with some national grants.
What size grants does Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation award?
In 2023, Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $66K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1481981. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Marvin Buzz Oates Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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