Oshman Foundation
The Oshman Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1958 and based in Houston, Texas. The foundation operates as a company-sponsored foundation with a focus on supporting charitable organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$746K
-21.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$507K
+39.0% YoY
Grant Count
7
-41.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$72K
+138.2% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations involved with:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Hospitals and healthcare
- Cancer research and services
- Human services
- Judaism
Grantmaking
| Year | Total Assets | Total Giving | Number of Grants | Median Grant |
Grant Range
$2,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Houston, Texas and the surrounding region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Financial Position (2024):
- Total assets: $948,000
- Total giving: $365,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $745,753 | $947,813 | $1,091,701 |
| Revenue | $727,119 | $99,757 | $101,063 |
| Expenses | $511,404 | $369,900 | $182,358 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $508,300 | $366,250 | $177,650 |
| Net Investment Income | $275,533 | $124,525 | $124,324 |
| Distributable Amount | $238,209 | $230,577 | $213,918 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
77 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Orange Show Foundation ($473,000), Holocaust Museum Houston ($10,000), Methodist Hospital Foundation ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHRISTMAS BAY FOUNDATION HOUSTON, TX | CHARITABLE | $3,500 |
| HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| THE ORANGE SHOW FOUNDATION HOUSTON, TX | CHARITABLE | $473,000 |
| SUSAN SMITH BLACKBURN PRIZE HOUSTON, TX | CHARITABLE | $2,500 |
| METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION HOUSTON, TX | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| STAGES REPERTORY THEATER HOUSTON, TX | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN VISIONARY ARTS MUSEUM BALTIMORE, MD | CHARITABLE | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARILYN OSHMAN | PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 10 | — |
| KAREN DESENBERG | V.P./SECRETARY | 10 | — |
| ANDREW LUBETKIN | V.P./ASST. SECRETARY/TREAS | 10 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 27969, Houston, TX 77227-7969
- Telephone: 713-621-3800
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Oshman Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations involved with: • Arts and culture • Education • Hospitals and healthcare • Cancer research and services • Human services • Judaism
How do I apply for a grant from Oshman Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $365,000 • Number of grants: 12 • Median grant size: $2,000 • Grant range: $500–$323,000 **Historical Giving Trends:** | Year | Total Assets | Total Giving | Number of Grants | Median Grant | |------|--------------|--------------|------------------|--------------| | 2024 | $948,000 | $365,000 | 12 | $2,000 | | 2023 | $1.1M | $176,000 | 16 | $2,000 | | 2022 | $1.2M | $135,000 | 22 | $3,000 | | 2021 | $1.1M | $102,000 | 20 | $2,000 | **Application Proces…
Where does Oshman Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Houston, Texas and the surrounding region.
What size grants does Oshman Foundation award?
In 2024, Oshman Foundation awarded 7 grants totaling $507K — an average of about $72K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Oshman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Oshman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $238K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Oshman 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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