Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc
The Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. The foundation was established to address hunger prevention and peace, reflecting the philanthropic priorities of its founders, Otto and Fran Walter.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.5M
+409.2% YoY
Grant Count
3
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.2M
+409.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Hunger prevention
- Peace and peacebuilding
- Education
- Human services
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily directs its grantmaking toward organizations in Illinois, though it has made significant national commitments.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total assets: $0 (as of 2024 filing)
- Total distributions: $3.6 million
- Total giving (2024): $3,531,615
- Tax-exempt status: Since June 1954
- EIN: 13-1625529
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $3,832,135 | $4,642,453 |
| Revenue | $-209,019 | $-6,684 | $1,043,508 |
| Expenses | $3,622,696 | $796,587 | $11,738,153 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,597,006 | $768,866 | $11,111,921 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | $69,916 |
| Distributable Amount | $55,992 | $178,702 | $451,690 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Rotary Foundation-in Kind Donation ($3,035,585), The Rotary Foundation-cash Donation ($469,030), The Rotary Foundation-cash Donation ($27,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE ROTARY FOUNDATION-CASH DONATION EVANSTON, IL | TO FUND OTTO AND FRAN WALTER ROTARY PEACE CENTER IN MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA | $469,030 |
| THE ROTARY FOUNDATION-IN KIND DONATION EVANSTON, IL | TO FUND OTTO AND FRAN WALTER ROTARY PEACE CENTER IN MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA | $3,035,585 |
| THE ROTARY FOUNDATION-CASH DONATION EVANSTON, IL | TO FUND OTTO AND FRAN WALTER ROTARY PEACE CENTER IN MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA | $27,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Martha H Peak — President (30 hours/week, $25,000 annual compensation)
- Kenneth R Bradsell — Treasurer (10 hours/week, $16,000 annual compensation)
- Carl R Griffin — Secretary (10 hours/week, $16,000 annual compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARTHA H PEAK | PRESIDENT | 30 | $24,500 |
| KENNETH R BRADSELL | TREASURER | 10 | $16,000 |
| CARL R GRIFFIN | SECRETARY | 10 | $16,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation pledged $15.5 million to The Rotary Foundation to establish the Otto and Fran Walter Rotary Peace Center in the Middle East or North Africa. The center will offer a professional development certificate program focused on peacebuilding and development issues in the region. The gift funds startup costs, operating expenses, and an endowment providing peace fellowships for up to 40 students annually. The Rotary Foundation selected a partner institution to host the center in 2024, with the first Rotary Peace Fellows expected to begin their studies thereafter.
Otto Schoitz Foundation Awards $12,000 Grant to Support Waterloo Middle SchoolsThe foundation has also supported educational institutions, including a significant gift to Muskingum University for the construction of Otto and Fran Walter Hall, a facility dedicated to music education.
Thank you, Otto and Fran Walter, for our new home for music | Muskingum UniversityFrequently Asked Questions
What does Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary focus areas include: • Hunger prevention • Peace and peacebuilding • Education • Human services • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. **Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $3,531,615 • Recent grants have ranged from $27,000 to $3,000,000 • Median grant amount: $469,000 • The foundation filed a final return as of 2024
Where does Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily directs its grantmaking toward organizations in Illinois, though it has made significant national commitments.
What size grants does Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc awarded 3 grants totaling $3.5M — an average of about $1.2M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $56K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc's EIN?
Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1625529. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Otto & Fran Walter Foundation Inc'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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