Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation
The Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation is a private foundation based in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2025, it awarded grants to organizations in Arkansas and Mississippi, including a camp, a congregation, the Boy Scouts of America, and local human-service organizations.
Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation at a glance
In short: Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation gave $273K across 9 grants in 2026 (avg $30K), mostly in Arkansas. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $272,600
- +9.8% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 9
- -10.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $30,289
- +22.0% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $5,572,684
- -1.8% vs 2025
- Primary geography
- Arkansas (100% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated November 2026.
How to apply to Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Gus Blass III with a formal letter detailing the request. Awards are for major projects, except for small community grants, and are for the benefit of all ethnic and religious groups. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Gus Blass Iii
Mailing address: PO Box 3783, Little Rock, AR 72203
Phone: (501) 372-6167
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Uams University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences ($120K). Together the top 9 received $273K.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 44 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 55% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arkansas and 45% to recipients in Mississippi.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (−11%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 112% 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 2019 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $138K (2019) to $306K (2023). In 2026 it made 9 grants totaling $273K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Uams University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, AR | To Further Exempt Purpose | $120,000 |
| Our House LR, AR | To Further Exempt Purpose | $101,200 |
| Oakland Jewish Cemetary Little Rock, AR | To Further Exempt Purpose | $30,000 |
| Rotary Club of Little Rock Rotary of LR Little Rock, AR | To Further Exempt Purpose | $15,000 |
| Arkansas Food Bank LR, AR | To Further Exempt Purpose | $2,000 |
| Park Little Rock, AR | To Further Exempt Purpose | $1,200 |
| Potluck LR, AR | To Further Exempt Purpose | $1,200 |
| The Salvation Army Salvation Army Little Rock, AR | To Further Exempt Purpose | $1,000 |
| Union Rescue Mission LR, AR | To Further Exempt Purpose | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $5,572,684 | $248,191 | $347,565 | $272,600 | 9 | $310,633 | $190,484 | $278,260 |
| 2025 | $5,672,058 | $255,399 | $315,859 | $248,200 | 10 | $255,715 | $221,631 | $278,359 |
| 2024 | $5,735,035 | $233,174 | $288,545 | $226,300 | 10 | $246,616 | $133,711 | $269,287 |
| 2023 | $5,789,060 | $691,988 | $356,616 | $305,667 | 7 | $325,030 | $125,607 | $258,564 |
| 2022 | $5,457,907 | $188,085 | $311,662 | $229,833 | 8 | $248,498 | $108,654 | $291,481 |
| 2021 | $5,583,420 | $270,807 | $320,406 | $253,583 | 13 | — | $162,479 | $299,386 |
| 2019 | $5,740,558 | $216,864 | $211,453 | $138,460 | 9 | — | $147,731 | $277,879 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation reported a distributable amount of $278K for 2026 — 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 included support for organizations whose stated missions cover a range of activities. Congregation B’nai Israel Cemetery Foundation says its mission is to maintain the integrity of its cemetery. Our House says it empowers homeless and near-homeless people and families to succeed in the workforce, school, and life. Potluck says it works to alleviate hunger by connecting excess food with people experiencing hunger. Union Rescue Mission says it serves people facing difficulties including abuse and addiction. The Boy Scouts of America describes promoting scouting and teaching young people to do things for themselves and others.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $248,200. Grants ranged from $1,200 to $111,000, with a median grant of $4,350. The largest awards were $111,000 to URJ Henry S Jacobs Camp in Utica, Mississippi; $62,500 to Congregation B’nai Israel in Little Rock; and $56,000 to the Boy Scouts of America in Little Rock. The foundation also awarded $5,200 to Arkansas Food Bank and $5,000 to World Services for the Blind. Its 2026 filing, the latest on this page, reports 9 grants totaling $272,600.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Julianne D Grundfest as chairman, Steve Bauman as secretary, and Joe Selz as a board member. It also lists Larry Alman as “Finance Chai” and Gus Blass III as “Projects Cha.”
Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation is led by Gus Blass III, Grants Chair since 2026 (on filings since 2019); all 5 officers listed in 2026 are compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Gus Blass III
Grants Chair
Projects Cha → Grants Chair, 2026
On filings since 2019
$5K (2019) → $6K (2026)
Joe Selz
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2026
On filings since 2019
$5K (2019) → $6K (2026)
Julianne D. Grundfest
Board Member
Chairman → Board Member, 2026
On filings since 2019
$5K (2019) → $6K (2026)
Larry Alman
Finance Chai
On filings since 2019
$5K (2019) → $6K (2026)
Steve Bauman
Board Member
Secretary → Board Member, 2026
On filings since 2019
$5K (2019) → $6K (2026)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $6K, to Steve Bauman (Board Member). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation
How much does Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation give each year?
Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation gave $273K across 9 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $248K across 10 grants.
What is Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation's typical grant size?
Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $2,000, and its average grant was $30,289, across 9 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation give grants?
Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation gives mostly in Arkansas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Little Rock, AR (5 grants) and LR, AR (4 grants).
Who are Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation's largest grantees?
Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Uams University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences ($120,000), Our House ($101,200) and Oakland Jewish Cemetary ($30,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation?
Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation reported $5.6M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $311K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $278K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose stated missions cover a range of activities. Congregation B’nai Israel Cemetery Foundation says its mission is to maintain the integrity of its cemetery. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation?
Contact Gus Blass III with a formal letter detailing the request. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation's EIN?
Ottenheimer Brothers Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-6059988. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2026.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 16, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 16, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS September 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Other open foundation grants in Arkansas
Arkansas Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Millard Morris Founder's Scholarship (Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana) $1,000 per year for Years 1-3 and $2,000 for Year 4 (4-year program) · Due March 15, 2027
- Gwen Higgins English Scholarship (Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana) $2,000 (one-time) · Due March 15, 2027
- Richard O. and Frances E. Boisture Scholarship (Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana) $1,000 (one-time) · Due March 15, 2027
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