Oshman Foundation
The Oshman Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its 2024 filing lists grants to charitable organizations, primarily in Houston, including an arts organization, a museum, a hospital foundation, a theater, and other charitable recipients.
Oshman Foundation at a glance
In short: Oshman Foundation gave $507K across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $72K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $506,500
- +39.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 7
- -41.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $72,357
- +138.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $745,753
- -21.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Oshman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 27969, Houston, TX 77227-7969
Phone: (713) 621-3800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Oshman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Orange Show Foundation ($473K). Together the top 7 received $507K.
Grant Size Distribution
77 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 77 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2024 grant dollars went to organizations in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Oshman Foundation gives
- Giving grew 276% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 213% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $102K (2020) to $507K (2024). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $507K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Orange Show Foundation Houston, TX | Charitable | $473,000 |
| Holocaust Museum Houston Houston, TX | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Methodist Hospital Foundation Houston, TX | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Stages Repertory Theater Houston, TX | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Christmas Bay Foundation Houston, TX | Charitable | $3,500 |
| Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Houston, TX | Charitable | $2,500 |
| American Visionary Arts Museum Baltimore, MD | Charitable | $2,500 |
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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 | $745,753 | $727,119 | $511,404 | $506,500 | 7 | $508,300 | $275,533 | $238,209 |
| 2023 | $947,813 | $99,757 | $369,900 | $364,500 | 12 | $366,250 | $124,525 | $230,577 |
| 2022 | $1,091,701 | $101,063 | $182,358 | $175,900 | 16 | $177,650 | $124,324 | $213,918 |
| 2021 | $1,172,996 | $178,460 | $138,222 | $134,600 | 22 | — | $175,523 | $169,441 |
| 2020 | $1,132,758 | $122,371 | $107,077 | $101,500 | 20 | — | $119,753 | $139,472 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Oshman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $238K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for The Orange Show Foundation, which says it preserves, promotes, and documents visionary art environments and creates opportunities for personal artistic expression. Holocaust Museum Houston says it educates about the Holocaust, remembers victims, honors survivors, and teaches about the dangers of hatred, prejudice, and apathy.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 7 grants totaling $506,500. The median grant was $5,000; grants ranged from $2,500 to $473,000. The largest grant was $473,000 to The Orange Show Foundation. Other listed grants included $10,000 each to Holocaust Museum Houston and Methodist Hospital Foundation, and $5,000 to Stages Repertory Theater.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Marilyn Oshman as president/treasurer, Karen Desenberg as vice president/secretary, and Andrew Lubetkin as vice president/assistant secretary/treasurer.
Oshman Foundation is led by Marilyn Oshman, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Marilyn Oshman
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Lubetkin
V.p., Assistant Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Desenberg
V.p. & Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/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 Oshman Foundation
How much does Oshman Foundation give each year?
Oshman Foundation gave $507K across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $365K across 12 grants.
What is Oshman Foundation's typical grant size?
Oshman Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $72,357, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Oshman Foundation give grants?
Oshman Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (6 grants).
Does Oshman Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Oshman Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (7 grants).
Who are Oshman Foundation's largest grantees?
Oshman Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Orange Show Foundation ($473,000), Holocaust Museum Houston ($10,000) and Methodist Hospital Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Oshman Foundation?
Oshman Foundation reported $746K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $508K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $238K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Oshman Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for The Orange Show Foundation, which says it preserves, promotes, and documents visionary art environments and creates opportunities for personal artistic expression. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Oshman Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Oshman Foundation's EIN?
Oshman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-6039864. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Oshman 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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