Otto a Shults Foundation
The Otto A Shults Foundation is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York. Its 2025 filing reports grants to preselected charitable organizations, with all reported grant dollars going to recipients in New York.
Otto a Shults Foundation at a glance
In short: Otto a Shults Foundation gave $47K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in New York. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $46,781
- +6.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,678
- +6.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,339
- Total assets
- $892,662
- +4.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% 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 Otto a Shults Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1504, Buffalo, NY 14240
Phone: (239) 397-5002
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Otto a Shults Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Nazareth University ($12K). Together the top 10 received $47K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 50 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to organizations in New York. Recipients included organizations in Rochester and Wayland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Otto a Shults Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $44K (2024) to $54K (2022). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $47K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nazareth University Rochester, NY | General Support | $11,696 |
| St Bernards Sch Theology & Ministry Rochester, NY | General Support | $9,356 |
| St John Fisher College Rochester, NY | General Support | $9,356 |
| The University of Rochester Rochester, NY | General Support | $2,339 |
| Aquinas Institute of Rochester Rochester, NY | General Support | $2,339 |
| Office of Social Ministry Rochester, NY | General Support | $2,339 |
| St Josephs Church Wayland, NY | General Support | $2,339 |
| McQuaid Jesuit High School Rochester, NY | General Support | $2,339 |
| St Thomas More Church Rochester, NY | General Support | $2,339 |
| United Way of Greater Rochester Rochester, NY | General Support | $2,339 |
Ready to take the next step with Otto a Shults 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 | $892,662 | $106,277 | $67,464 | $46,781 | 10 | $48,434 | $89,116 | $49,962 |
| 2024 | $853,989 | $66,253 | $62,077 | $43,814 | 10 | $45,314 | $49,559 | $48,286 |
| 2023 | $850,762 | $29,966 | $64,008 | $46,894 | 10 | $48,394 | $14,454 | $45,314 |
| 2022 | $885,147 | $40,893 | $73,507 | $53,883 | 10 | $55,383 | $24,076 | $47,487 |
| 2021 | $918,805 | $100,721 | $69,036 | $48,656 | 10 | $48,656 | $80,429 | $54,789 |
| 2020 | $886,377 | $26,578 | $65,327 | $47,754 | 10 | — | $8,599 | $48,655 |
| 2019 | $924,986 | $28,689 | $65,480 | $49,797 | 10 | — | $13,806 | $48,672 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Otto a Shults Foundation reported a distributable amount of $50K for 2025 — 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 is provided. The 2025 grants were reported as general support for charitable organizations, including colleges and universities, religious organizations, a high school, and United Way of Greater Rochester.
Among the grantees, Nazareth University describes its mission as fostering integrated learning through action and reflection, educating whole persons guided by empathy and committed to equity. United Way of Greater Rochester describes its mission as uniting community goodwill and resources so everyone can thrive, while supporting human service organizations, community initiatives, and local strategies.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $46,781 across 10 grants. Grants ranged from $2,339 to $11,696, with a median of $2,339. The largest grants were $11,696 to Nazareth University, and $9,356 each to St. Bernard’s School of Theology & Ministry and St. John Fisher College. Each was listed for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists M T Trust Company as trustee.
Otto a Shults Foundation's only listed officer is M T Trust Company, Trustee on the 2025 filing (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
M T Trust Company
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$17K (2025)
Former officers (4)
- Former: M&T Bank (2024) — Trustee
- Former: M&t (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: M&T Trust CO (2020) — Trustee
- Former: M AND T Bank (2019) — Trustee
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 $17K, to M T Trust Company (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Otto a Shults Foundation
How much does Otto a Shults Foundation give each year?
Otto a Shults Foundation gave $47K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $44K across 10 grants.
What is Otto a Shults Foundation's typical grant size?
Otto a Shults Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,339, and its average grant was $4,678, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Otto a Shults Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Otto a Shults Foundation give grants?
Otto a Shults Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Rochester, NY (9 grants).
Does Otto a Shults Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Otto a Shults Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Otto a Shults Foundation's largest grantees?
Otto a Shults Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Nazareth University ($11,696), St Bernards Sch Theology & Ministry ($9,356) and St John Fisher College ($9,356), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Otto a Shults Foundation?
Otto a Shults Foundation reported $893K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $48K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $50K (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 does Otto a Shults Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants were reported as general support for charitable organizations, including colleges and universities, religious organizations, a high school, and United Way of Greater Rochester. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Otto a Shults Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Otto a Shults Foundation's EIN?
Otto a Shults Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-6042842. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Otto a Shults 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 22, 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
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Otto a Shults Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes Inc
Rochester, NY
United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes funds health and human services, with a focus on youth opportunity, financial security, health, and community resilience. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,001 to $871,769, with a median of $14,866; funding serves Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, and Wyoming counties in New York. The profile describes specific grant opportunities and application periods but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$183.2M
Grants
329
Total Given
$18.1M
Max and Marian Farash Charitable
Rochester, NY
The foundation funds Jewish life, out-of-school-time programs, arts, and community response, primarily supporting organizations in Monroe and Ontario counties, as well as Jewish organizations and initiatives locally and globally. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $2,156,000, with a median of $27,500. It accepts unsolicited requests through its online grant-management system.
Assets
$341.9M
Grants
139
Total Given
$13.0M
Greater Rochester Health Foundation
Rochester, NY
The Greater Rochester Health Foundation funds community-centered efforts to improve health and well-being, advance health equity, and address systemic barriers, primarily in nine New York counties around Rochester. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $969,998, with a median of $5,000; when its Responsive Grants Call for Ideas is open, it invites proposals from eligible nonprofits and government entities serving the region.
Assets
$273.8M
Grants
204
Total Given
$8.9M
Seneca Foods Foundation
Fairport, NY
Assets
$20.0M
Grants
227
Total Given
$2.3M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Duda Family Foundation
Rochester, NY
The Duda Family Foundation supports education, arts and culture, community programs, services for children with special needs, and homelessness services, with nearly all recent giving in New York. In 2025, grants ranged from $100 to $30,000, with a median of $3,750. It accepts no unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected charitable organizations.
Assets
$5.0M
Grants
20
Total Given
$165K
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Otto a Shults 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.
Otto a Shults Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?