Otter Island Foundation
Otter Island Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its 2025 filing reports 86 grants totaling $191,400 to charitable organizations, including educational institutions, arts organizations, and community groups.
Otter Island Foundation at a glance
In short: Otter Island Foundation gave $191K across 86 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state Maine. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $191,400
- +5.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 86
- +4.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,226
- +0.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $2,895,598
- +3.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (11 of 85, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Maine (29% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Otter Island Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1405 North Blvd, Houston, TX 77006-6325
Phone: (713) 220-4482
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Otter Island Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Connecticut College ($27K). Together the top 10 received $99K.
Grant Size Distribution
478 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 478 grants of 478 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine (29%), Texas (17%), Connecticut (15%), California (10%), and Maryland (6%). These figures describe the locations of recipients, not necessarily the foundation’s full geographic focus.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 86 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Otter Island Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 85 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 74% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $173K (2019) to $196K (2022). In 2025 it made 86 grants totaling $191K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut College New London, CT | Education Fund | $27,000 |
| Island Institute Rockland, ME | Annual Fund Campaign | $13,500 |
| Strand Theater Baltimore, MD | Annual Fund | $12,000 |
| Girls Foundation of Tanzania Portland, ME | Annual Fund | $11,000 |
| Farnsworth Art Museum Rockland, ME | Annual Fund Campaign | $10,000 |
| Hermann Park Conservancy Houston, TX | Annual Fund Campaign | $5,500 |
| First Congregational Society of Gilmanton Gilmanton, NH | Annual Fund | $5,000 |
| Penobscot Bay YMCA Rockport, ME | Sustaining Campaign | $5,000 |
| Poe Elementary School PTO Houston, TX | General Fund | $5,000 |
| San Francisco Day School San Francisco, CA | Annual Fund Campaign | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Otter Island Foundation?
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 | $2,895,598 | $336,705 | $229,616 | $191,400 | 86 | $214,844 | $325,537 | $190,945 |
| 2024 | $2,788,509 | $262,783 | $208,957 | $181,320 | 82 | $203,975 | $259,251 | $182,754 |
| 2023 | $2,734,683 | $114,611 | $230,003 | $194,563 | 101 | $219,048 | $104,296 | $166,509 |
| 2022 | $2,823,689 | $56,194 | $232,986 | $196,401 | 104 | $219,642 | $46,024 | $180,216 |
| 2021 | $2,981,563 | $236,346 | $213,860 | $181,365 | 105 | $205,514 | $228,438 | $204,324 |
| 2020 | $2,897,713 | $43,863 | $215,803 | $182,381 | 99 | — | $31,480 | $181,094 |
| 2019 | $3,039,406 | $221,485 | $204,999 | $173,342 | 90 | — | $212,833 | $177,624 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Otter Island Foundation reported a distributable amount of $191K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission. Its 2025 grants included support for education funds, annual fund campaigns, and general and sustaining campaigns. Among its grantees, Connecticut College says it educates students to put the liberal arts into action as citizens of a global society. Island Institute says it works with island and coastal communities on climate and economic change. Hermann Park Conservancy describes its work as stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Other supported organizations describe work in education and community services. San Francisco Day School says it educates and nurtures students from diverse backgrounds; Penobscot Bay YMCA describes programs focused on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility; and United Midcoast Charities says it supports a network of Midcoast Maine nonprofits working on food, housing, health and safety, and economic security.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 86 grants totaling $191,400. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $27,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest grants included $27,000 to Connecticut College for an education fund, $13,500 to Island Institute for its annual fund campaign, $12,000 to Strand Theater for its annual fund, $11,000 to Girls Foundation of Tanzania for its annual fund, and $10,000 to Farnsworth Art Museum for its annual fund campaign. Other grants included $5,500 to Hermann Park Conservancy and $5,000 each to Poe Elementary School PTO and Penobscot Bay YMCA.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ellen Cl Simmons as president, vice president, and treasurer; Wheeler ES Griffith as executive director; and Abby S Walker, Emma A Simmons Anselmi, Winnie B Simmons Phillips, and Lydia F Simmons as directors.
Otter Island Foundation is led by Wheeler Es Griffith, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wheeler Es Griffith
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$20K (2019) → $25K (2025)
Ellen Cl Simmons
President, Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Abby S. Walker
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Emma A. Simmons Anselmi
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Lydia F. Simmons
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Winnie B. Simmons Phillips
Director
On filings since 2019
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $25K, to Wheeler Es Griffith (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Otter Island Foundation
How much does Otter Island Foundation give each year?
Otter Island Foundation gave $191K across 86 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $181K across 82 grants.
What is Otter Island Foundation's typical grant size?
Otter Island Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,226, across 86 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Otter Island Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Otter Island Foundation give grants?
Otter Island Foundation's top state is Maine, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (17%) and Connecticut (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (15 grants), San Francisco, CA (9 grants), New York, NY (7 grants) and Boulder, CO (5 grants).
Does Otter Island Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 88% of Otter Island Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (76 of 86) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Education Fund" (3 grants).
Who are Otter Island Foundation's largest grantees?
Otter Island Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Connecticut College ($27,000), Island Institute ($13,500) and Strand Theater ($12,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Otter Island Foundation?
Otter Island Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $215K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $191K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Otter Island Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission. Its 2025 grants included support for education funds, annual fund campaigns, and general and sustaining campaigns. Among its grantees, Connecticut College says it educates students to put the liberal arts into action as citizens of a global society. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Otter Island Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Otter Island Foundation's EIN?
Otter Island Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0421104. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Otter Island 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 13, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Otter Island Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Otter Island Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/otter-island-foundation-morg_4844c92dde2a4792993082bf47225fe3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760421104_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Otter Island Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/otter-island-foundation-morg_4844c92dde2a4792993082bf47225fe3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Otter Island Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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