Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation
Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation is a private foundation, based in Des Moines, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $237K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $40K. Net investment income was $17K.
Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation at a glance
In short: Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation gave $40K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $40,000
- +17.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,000
- +17.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,500
- Total assets
- $236,904
- +18.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% 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 Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was John Stoddard Cancer Center ($28K). Together the top 4 received $40K.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 15 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation gives
- Giving grew 43% from 2022 to 2025. 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
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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $17K (2020) to $40K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $40K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| John Stoddard Cancer Center Des Moines, IA | Pink day program, nurse navigator, compassion fund and meals that matter programs | $28,000 |
| Edmundson Art Foundaton Inc Des Moines, IA | Ben Millett Exhibition | $5,000 |
| The Brenton Arboretum Dallas Center, IA | O'Brien Nature Play Area | $4,000 |
| Animal Rescue League of Iowa Inc Des Moines, IA | Care of Animals in Community | $3,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $236,904 | $79,265 | $42,041 | $40,000 | 4 | $41,820 | $17,224 | $46,268 |
| 2024 | $199,680 | $48,226 | $36,319 | $34,000 | 4 | $34,000 | $15,907 | $37,077 |
| 2023 | $187,773 | $86,212 | $34,132 | $32,000 | 3 | $32,000 | $14,096 | $27,496 |
| 2022 | $135,693 | $14,791 | $30,383 | $28,000 | 2 | $28,000 | $12,408 | $28,060 |
| 2021 | $151,285 | $40,227 | $32,165 | $30,000 | 2 | $30,000 | $16,011 | $27,172 |
| 2020 | $143,223 | $15,057 | $19,470 | $17,000 | 2 | — | $10,117 | $21,283 |
| 2019 | $147,636 | $69,475 | $35,167 | $33,500 | 5 | — | $16,142 | $26,436 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation is led by Carolyn J. O'Brien, President on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carolyn J. O'Brien
President
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation
How much does Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation give each year?
Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation gave $40K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $34K across 4 grants.
What is Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation's typical grant size?
Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,500, and its average grant was $10,000, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation give grants?
Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (3 grants).
Does Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation?
Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation reported $237K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $42K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $46K (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 is Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation's EIN?
Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4616607. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 21, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Obrien Courage and Hope Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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