Mr Owl Foundation
Mr Owl Foundation is a private foundation based in Waltham, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports 11 grants totaling $176,000 to organizations working in areas that include ocean conservation, education, homelessness services, humanitarian aid, and community support.
Mr Owl Foundation at a glance
In short: Mr Owl Foundation gave $176K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Massachusetts. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $176,000
- +8.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,000
- +8.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,613,238
- +1.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (83% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Mr Owl Foundation
- 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: 1075 Main Street 200, Waltham, MA 02451
Phone: (617) 423-3900
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mr Owl Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was New England Aquarium ($55K). Together the top 10 received $171K.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 53 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts. The reported shares for California, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia were 6% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Mr Owl Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 11 grantees (0%) 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. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $158K (2020) to $183K (2022). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $176K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New England Aquarium Boston, MA | Seeks to be a catalyst for global change in protecting the oceans through public engagement, commitment to marine animal conservation, leadership in education, innovative scientific research and advocacy for vital and vibrant oceans. | $55,000 |
| Noticeability Inc Cambridge, MA | Helps students with dyslexia identify their unique strengths and build self-esteem | $25,000 |
| St Francis House Boston, MA | Rebuilds lives by providing refugeand pathways to stability for homeless adults | $16,000 |
| Flying Kites Inc Boston, MA | Equips early childhood educators and primary teachers in kenya's communities with the skills they need | $15,000 |
| Pine Street Inn Boston, MA | Helps homeless individuals move from the streets and shelter to a home | $15,000 |
| Crossroads for Kids Inc Boston, MA | Provides guidance, resources, and confidence to all of our young people | $10,000 |
| Direct Relief Santa Barbara, CA | Improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emegerncy situations | $10,000 |
| Wings of America Santa Fe, NM | Builds Healthy Native Communities Using Youth Running Initiatives | $10,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | Using the power of food to empower communities and strengthen economies | $10,000 |
| Precious Project Inc Brookline, MA | Offers high quality education and care to orphaned and vulnerable children in rural tanzania | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Mr Owl Foundation?
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 | $2,613,238 | $254,364 | $221,663 | $176,000 | 11 | $186,650 | $219,351 | $207,004 |
| 2024 | $2,580,537 | $202,135 | $207,092 | $162,000 | 11 | $168,203 | $163,246 | $186,407 |
| 2023 | $2,585,494 | $113,553 | $193,514 | $162,000 | 11 | $172,035 | $92,074 | $167,694 |
| 2022 | $2,665,455 | $139,787 | $235,104 | $183,000 | 11 | $201,235 | $105,918 | $188,666 |
| 2021 | $2,760,772 | $270,064 | $198,727 | $158,000 | 9 | — | $239,572 | $186,338 |
| 2020 | $2,689,435 | $187,180 | $195,293 | $158,000 | 9 | — | $187,180 | $164,830 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mr Owl Foundation reported a distributable amount of $207K for 2025 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied missions. The New England Aquarium describes its work as advancing public engagement and education, marine animal conservation, scientific research, and advocacy for a vibrant ocean. NoticeAbility says it improves the educational development of dyslexic individuals through project-based courses for educators. Pine Street Inn says it partners with homeless individuals to help them move into and retain housing.
Other 2025 recipients include Flying Kites, which says it is transforming primary education in rural Kenya; Crossroads for Kids, which serves youth from low-income communities through year-round programming; and World Central Kitchen, which provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 11 grants totaling $176,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $55,000, with a median of $10,000. Notable awards included $55,000 to the New England Aquarium, $25,000 to NoticeAbility, $16,000 to St. Francis House, and $15,000 each to Flying Kites and Pine Street Inn.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Anthony Hixon is listed as a trustee on the 2025 filing.
Mr Owl Foundation is led by Anthony Hixon, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anthony Hixon
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 Mr Owl Foundation
How much does Mr Owl Foundation give each year?
Mr Owl Foundation gave $176K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $162K across 11 grants.
What is Mr Owl Foundation's typical grant size?
Mr Owl Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,000, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Mr Owl Foundation give grants?
Mr Owl Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (6%) and New Mexico (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (6 grants).
Does Mr Owl Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 9% of Mr Owl Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Mr Owl Foundation's largest grantees?
Mr Owl Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include New England Aquarium ($55,000), Noticeability Inc ($25,000) and St Francis House ($16,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mr Owl Foundation?
Mr Owl Foundation reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $187K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $207K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Mr Owl Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied missions. The New England Aquarium describes its work as advancing public engagement and education, marine animal conservation, scientific research, and advocacy for a vibrant ocean. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mr Owl Foundation?
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 Mr Owl Foundation's EIN?
Mr Owl Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0397570. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Mr Owl Foundation 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 March 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mr Owl Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Massachusetts
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
Eastern Bank Foundation
Wakefield, MA
Eastern Bank Foundation supports economic inclusion and mobility, including small businesses, early childhood development, affordable housing, and workforce development. Its 2025 grants ranged from $50 to $2,002,500, with a median of $2,500, primarily in Massachusetts and also in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It accepts online applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$266.7M
Grants
1,786
Total Given
$19.0M
Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
Liberty Mutual Foundation funds basic needs such as food and shelter, education and workforce development, and climate and community infrastructure, including homelessness and community preparedness programs. Its 2024 grants had a median of $35,000, and most funding supports organizations or programs serving the Boston area, though it also gives elsewhere. It accepts unsolicited online requests on a rolling basis, with no submission deadlines.
Assets
$46.1M
Grants
706
Total Given
$50.6M
GivenGain Foundation USA
Fort Lauderdale, FL
GivenGain Foundation USA makes donor-directed grants to US-based registered charities, supporting a range of charitable programs; its 2024 grants included health care, cancer, heart disease, and rehabilitation. In 2024, itemized grants ranged from $5,066 to $1.6 million, with a median of about $35,800, and most grant dollars went to Massachusetts. Grants are based on donor recommendations through its platform; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.9M
Grants
294
Total Given
$22.8M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Barr Foundation
Boston, MA
The Barr Foundation funds arts and creativity, climate, education, and New England’s social sector, primarily through long-term support for organizations in New England. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $3.275 million, with a median of $80,000. Its filing says it accepts only requests from preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests, though its website describes program-page inquiries and occasional open calls.
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
903
Total Given
$123.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mr Owl Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mr-owl-foundation-morg_f3e2c923f5394a9f90317495c9ee678d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_320397570_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mr Owl Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mr-owl-foundation-morg_f3e2c923f5394a9f90317495c9ee678d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Mr Owl Foundation'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.
Mr Owl Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?