O'Brate Foundation
O’Brate Foundation is a private foundation based in Garden City, Kansas. It supports disadvantaged Kansas youth, including young people with limited resources and those who have been in foster care or are transitioning to independent living, through educational scholarships and assistance with immediate needs.
Key facts about O'Brate Foundation
In short: O'Brate Foundation gave $709K across 206 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Kansas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 46-1631934
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $709,029
- Grants made (2024)
- 206
- Average grant
- $3,442
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Primary geography
- Kansas (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- The website lists December 1 for Immediate Needs applications.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$709K
+1.6% YoY
Grant Count
206
-6.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
+8.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, O'Brate Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How O'Brate Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it strives to improve opportunities for disadvantaged Kansas youth by helping with emergency needs, providing scholarships, and addressing obstacles to success.
Its traditional college scholarships are need-based and renewable. The foundation’s website lists eligibility requirements that include being 17 to 25, having a 2.5 GPA or higher, graduating from a Kansas high school or equivalent, pursuing full-time study at an accredited institution, and demonstrating work experience and commitment to work while in school. Awards range from $500 to $5,000 annually.
The Immediate Needs program considers short-term assistance for eligible Kansas residents ages 17 to 25 when no other resources are available. Assistance is limited to food, shelter or utilities, and clothing; the program does not consider requests related to medical or transportation challenges. The foundation also reports providing dual-credit scholarships to high school students.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 206 grants totaling $709,029. The grants ranged from $150 to $11,190, with a median of $4,000. The largest listed grant was $11,190 to Cecil O’Brate Family Scholarship Fund in Garden City, Kansas, for higher-education scholarships. Other listed awards included $5,000 scholarships to individual students, including two individual recipients.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says grant applications are completed online. It describes application materials as including an essay detailing the applicant’s immediate or emergency needs and the purpose of the requested aid. Financial need is verified through school free- or reduced-meal participation, tax returns showing income at the poverty level, or monthly income statements showing income at or below that level. The filing states that there were no restrictions on awards at that time and that decisions are based on need documented in individual applications.
The website says traditional scholarship applications open in January and are due by May 1. It describes screening in early May, interviews for applicants selected for a second round, and scholar notifications at the beginning of July. For Immediate Needs assistance, the website says applications open in early January and close December 1; an adult sponsor must start the application.
Review Cycle
The website lists December 1 for Immediate Needs applications. The foundation’s 2024 filing states a December 10 deadline for those applications.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from O'Brate Foundation
Ready to take the next step with O'Brate Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated programs serve Kansas youth. In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kansas; 1% went to Colorado, 1% to Texas, and less than 1% to Nebraska.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 206 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $653K (2022) to $740K (2019). In 2024 it made 206 grants totaling $709K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cecil O'Brate Family Scholarship Fund ($11K).
Organizations only. It also paid 205 individual scholarships ($697,839), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,059 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,059 grants of 1,059 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cecil O'Brate Family Scholarship Fund Garden City, KS | Scholarship for Higher Education | $11,190 |
| 49 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $245,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants reported | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $709,029 | 206 |
| 2023 | $697,838 | 220 |
| 2022 | $652,638 | 222 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $169,361 | $186,707 |
| Revenue | $830,001 | $956,775 | $1,165,038 |
| Expenses | $1,007,987 | $994,406 | $969,885 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $983,389 | $969,686 | $927,097 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,638 | $4,083 | $3,464 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 9, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 27, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jennifer O’Brate, Mark O’Brate, Thomas M. Willis, Edward Condon, and Steve O’Brate as trustees.
O'Brate Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Edward Condon
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer O'Brate
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark O'Brate
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve O'Brate
Trustee
Alternate → Trustee, 2020
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas M. Willis
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Cecil O'Brate (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Joseph L. Erskin (2019–2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Jayre Zimmerman
Mailing address: PO Box 1271, Garden City, KS 67846-1271
Phone: (620) 408-8381
Email: jayre@obratefoundation.org
Website: https://www.obratefoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about O'Brate Foundation
How much does O'Brate Foundation give each year?
O'Brate Foundation gave $709K across 206 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $698K across 220 grants.
What is O'Brate Foundation's typical grant size?
O'Brate Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,000, and its average grant was $3,442, across 206 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does O'Brate Foundation give grants?
O'Brate Foundation gives mostly in Kansas: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does O'Brate Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 206 grants with a stated purpose on O'Brate Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship for Higher Education" (206 grants).
What does O'Brate Foundation fund?
The foundation says it strives to improve opportunities for disadvantaged Kansas youth by helping with emergency needs, providing scholarships, and addressing obstacles to success. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from O'Brate Foundation?
O'Brate Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check obratefoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
How much is O'Brate Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, O'Brate Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is O'Brate Foundation's EIN?
O'Brate Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1631934. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching O'Brate Foundation by hand.
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