The Richard and Shirley Otto Foundation (RSO Foundation) is a private foundation located in Incline Village, Nevada. Established in 2022, the foundation was created to honor the legacy of Richard and Shirley Otto, who were deeply committed to animal welfare and recognized the importance of the human-animal bond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.7M
-10.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$902K
-2.9% YoY
Grant Count
34
-22.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
+25.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Richard and Shirley Otto Foundation is dedicated to helping animals nationwide. Through innovative veterinary care initiatives and charitable giving efforts, the foundation aims to improve the lives of countless animals and advance animal welfare causes.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Affordable veterinary care access
- Animal rescue and welfare programs
- Education and training for animal rescues
- Collaboration between animal rescues, animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, and pet owners
- Innovative programs that improve animal welfare
The foundation supports programs addressing the financial barriers that force pet owners to relinquish their animals due to cost constraints.
Grantmaking
The foundation made additional grants to animal welfare organizations, with 17 additional grants documented beyond those listed above.
Grant Range
approximately $40,900
Average Grant
approximately $40,900
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds programs across multiple U.S. states, with documented giving in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Utah. Funding reaches both major metropolitan areas and smaller communities nationwide.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of December 2023):
- Total assets: $8,633,426
- Total revenues: $39,975
- Total expenses: $1,439,999
- Investment income and dividends: $229,065
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $229,065
- Net loss from sale of non-inventory assets: -$189,090
- Total grants and contributions: $0 (compared to $11,678,149 in 2022)
Staffing:
- Number of employees: 0 (foundation operates with volunteer leadership)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,722,394 | $8,633,426 | $10,171,625 |
| Revenue | $439,961 | $39,975 | $11,709,634 |
| Expenses | $1,350,994 | $1,439,999 | $1,676,184 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $901,757 | $928,223 | $1,564,775 |
| Net Investment Income | $439,961 | $229,065 | $49,274 |
| Distributable Amount | $332,771 | $564,006 | $383,126 |
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
111 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joseph Bourdeau — President and Founder A former banker with over 36 years of experience in Incline Village, Nevada. Bourdeau served as President and Board member of 10 local nonprofit organizations and founded the Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe and Lake Tahoe Community Trust. He met Shirley Otto in 2000 and served as trustee for five families before becoming Trustee and President of the RSO Foundation following Shirley Otto's death in 2021. Works 35 hours per week with annual compensation of $71,500.
Mirna Bourdeau — Executive Director and Founder Previously worked as household manager and caregiver for Shirley Otto for 18 years, during which she cared for Shirley's pets including Great Danes and cats. Following Shirley's passing, Mirna partnered with Joseph Bourdeau to honor Shirley's wishes to help animals in need. Mirna organizes funding requests and makes decisions on all foundation grants.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Bordeau | President | 35 | $65,000 |
Contact
Email: RSOFund@gmail.com
Location: Incline Village, Nevada
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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