Otto & Edna Neely Foundation
The Otto & Edna Neely Foundation is a private foundation established in 1988 and based in Gilbert, Arizona. The foundation carries forward the philanthropic legacy of Otto B. Neely (1900–1987) and Edna Trout Neely (1928–1993), who were committed to serving their community through charitable giving. The foundation funds a broad spectrum of programs across the Phoenix East Valley region and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.9M
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+23.7% YoY
Grant Count
60
+15.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
+7.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Otto & Edna Neely Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities reflect Otto and Edna's values of service, Christian principles, and care for those in need. Primary funding areas include:
- Education: Scholarships awarded to students attending Arizona's major universities and community colleges
- Social Services: Support for homeless shelters, food banks, youth leadership programs, and welfare organizations
- Cultural and Fine Arts: Museums and cultural associations
- Health Services: Medical clinics and health-related organizations
- Religious Organizations: Presbyterian and United Methodist churches and Christian ministries
- Community Support: Agricultural groups, summer camps, and other community-serving organizations
The foundation provides benevolence to shelter the indigent and awards scholarships paid directly to students.
Grantmaking
The foundation demonstrates consistent grant-making activity with recent grants reported in tax filings.
Grant Range
$10,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Phoenix East Valley region of Arizona. Grant-making also extends to Arizona's major universities and community colleges statewide. Limited giving has been reported in North Carolina and Idaho.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:
- Total Assets: $14,892,999
- Total Revenue: $1,046,169
- Total Expenses: $1,380,908
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $1,016,855
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2023:
- Total Assets: $15,200,000
- Total Revenue: $434,000
- Total Expenses: $1,170,000
The foundation maintains substantial assets and demonstrates consistent annual giving activity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,892,999 | $15,247,456 | $15,950,562 |
| Revenue | $1,046,169 | $433,897 | $856,061 |
| Expenses | $1,380,908 | $1,168,031 | $1,305,306 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,201,797 | $1,003,045 | $1,132,583 |
| Net Investment Income | $856,398 | $262,551 | $674,114 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,144,309 | $945,602 | $959,510 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Otto & Edna Neely Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Child Crisis Arizona Center ($125,500), Arizona State University ($88,000), Save the Family Fndn ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Club of Arizona Phoenix, AZ | Community Service Grant | $5,000 |
| Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels Phoenix, AZ | Health Services Grant | $20,000 |
| Arizona Agriculture Foundation FFA Phoenix, AZ | Educational Grant | $47,900 |
| Arizona Cactus Pine Girls Scouts Phoenix, AZ | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| Arizona Outdoor Adventures Maricopa, AZ | COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT | $12,000 |
| Arizona State University Tempe, AZ | SCHOLARSHIPS | $88,000 |
| Arizonians For Children Tempe, AZ | COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT | $5,000 |
| CHANDLER GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE CHANDLER, AZ | SCHOLARSHIPS | $16,000 |
| CHANDLER SERVICE CLUB CHANDLER, AZ | COMMUNITY SERVICE ASSOCIATION | $20,000 |
| CHILD CRISIS ARIZONA CENTER MESA, AZ | COMMUNITY SERVICE | $125,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation operates with limited staffing. Key personnel include:
- Cliff Saylor – President (4 hours/week, $33,000 compensation)
- Gregory L Bamford – Treasurer (4 hours/week, $57,000 compensation)
- Steven D Todd – Vice President (2 hours/week, $23,000 compensation)
- Walter Delecki – Vice President (2 hours/week, $12,000 compensation)
- Shelley Nelson – Director (2 hours/week, $12,000 compensation)
- John C Gemmill – Director (2 hours/week, $12,000 compensation)
- Ashley Trussell – Director (2 hours/week, $10,000 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cliff Saylor | President | 4 | $33,000 |
| Gregory L Bamford | Treasurer | 4 | $57,400 |
| Shelley Nelson | Director | 2 | $11,750 |
| Steven D Todd | Vice President | 2 | $23,350 |
| Walter Delecki | Vice President | 2 | $11,750 |
| John C Gemmill | Director | 2 | $11,750 |
| Ashley Trussell | Director | 2 | $10,400 |
Contact Information
- Address: 325 S Higley Rd Ste 110, Gilbert, AZ 85296-4311
- Phone: 480-917-0767
- Website: ottoandednaneelyfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Otto & Edna Neely Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities reflect Otto and Edna's values of service, Christian principles, and care for those in need. Primary funding areas include: • **Education**: Scholarships awarded to students attending Arizona's major universities and community colleges • **Social Services**: Support for homeless shelters, food banks, youth leadership programs, and welfare organizations • **Cultural and Fine Arts**: Museums and cultural associations • **Health Services**: Medical clinics and he…
How do I apply for a grant from Otto & Edna Neely Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 60–67 grants in recent fiscal years • Median grant size: $10,000 • Grant range: $450–$126,000 • Total giving in 2024: $1,016,855 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Arizona State University Enterprise Partners: $88,000 (scholarships) • The Arizona Agricultural Education FFA Foundation: $47,900 (educational grant) • Northern Arizona University Foundation: $40,000 (scholarship) The foundation demonstrates consistent grant-making activity with recent grants repo…
Where does Otto & Edna Neely Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Phoenix East Valley region of Arizona. Grant-making also extends to Arizona's major universities and community colleges statewide. Limited giving has been reported in North Carolina and Idaho.
What size grants does Otto & Edna Neely Foundation award?
In 2024, Otto & Edna Neely Foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Otto & Edna Neely Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Otto & Edna Neely Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Otto & Edna Neely Foundation's EIN?
Otto & Edna Neely Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0581770. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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