Samuel B O'Brien Foundation
The Samuel B O'Brien Foundation is a private foundation based in Des Moines, Iowa. It made 14 grants totaling $40,821 in filing year 2025, supporting charitable organizations including an Iowa amusement park, an environmental organization, a school, and arts organizations.
Samuel B O'Brien Foundation at a glance
In short: Samuel B O'Brien Foundation gave $41K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Iowa. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $40,821
- -3.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,916
- +9.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $278
- Total assets
- $464,947
- +11.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (2 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (96% 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 Samuel B O'Brien 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. No application process or materials are specified.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1303 Bell Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315
Phone: (515) 238-3737
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Samuel B O'Brien Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Historic Arnolds Park ($30K). Together the top 10 received $40K.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 71 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa, 3% to Minnesota, 1% to Michigan, and less than 1% to Oregon. The listed recipients included organizations in Des Moines and other Iowa communities, as well as grantees in Minnesota and Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Samuel B O'Brien Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 14 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $241 repeat.
- 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 81% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $26K (2021) to $42K (2024). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $41K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Historic Arnolds Park Arnolds Park, IA | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Iowa Great Lakes Foundation Des Moines, IA | Charitable | $6,000 |
| Shattuck St Mary's School Faribault, MN | Charitable | $1,050 |
| Des Moines Metro Opera Indianola, IA | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Heritage Carousel of Des Moines Des Moines, IA | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Mill Reef Fund Detroit, MI | Charitable | $500 |
| U of Okoboji Junior Tennis Okoboji, IA | Charitable | $300 |
| Brenton Arboretum Dallas Center, IA | Charitable | $256 |
| Animal Rescue League Des Moines, IA | Charitable | $225 |
| Des Moines Art Center Des Moines, IA | Charitable | $140 |
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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 | $464,947 | $91,260 | $43,386 | $40,821 | 14 | $40,821 | $91,260 | $50,648 |
| 2024 | $417,073 | $148,253 | $42,436 | $42,436 | 16 | $42,436 | $75,193 | $40,949 |
| 2023 | $311,256 | $19,186 | $40,309 | $39,166 | 11 | $39,166 | $19,186 | $31,855 |
| 2022 | $332,379 | $17,769 | $37,498 | $34,700 | 17 | $34,700 | $17,769 | $33,868 |
| 2021 | $351,948 | $23,260 | $29,364 | $26,006 | 13 | $26,006 | $23,260 | $34,187 |
| 2020 | $358,052 | $25,752 | $35,706 | $33,706 | 16 | — | $16,381 | $26,000 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Samuel B O'Brien Foundation reported a distributable amount of $51K 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 for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated missions include preserving family recreation and the Iowa Great Lakes, supporting education, creating theatrical experiences, and protecting Iowa’s land, water, and wildlife. These are the grantees’ missions, not stated priorities of the foundation.
For example, Historic Arnolds Park says its mission is to provide and preserve family fun in the Iowa Great Lakes area through its amusement park, excursion boat, and maritime museum. The Iowa Great Lakes Foundation says it works to protect and enhance the lakes’ water and air quality. The Des Moines Metro Opera says it creates theatrical experiences and learning opportunities for artists and audiences.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $40,821. Grants ranged from $50 to $30,000, with a median grant of $278. The largest awards included $30,000 to Historic Arnolds Park and $6,000 to the Iowa Great Lakes Foundation. Other listed grants included $1,050 to Shattuck-St. Mary’s School, $1,000 to Des Moines Metro Opera, and $1,000 to Heritage Carousel of Des Moines. The Pearson Lakes Art Center also reported receiving $75 from the foundation in 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Samuel B O’Brien as president, vice president, and secretary.
Samuel B O'Brien Foundation is led by Samuel B. O'Brien, President, Vice President & Secretary on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Samuel B. O'Brien
President, Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Samuel B O'Brien Foundation
How much does Samuel B O'Brien Foundation give each year?
Samuel B O'Brien Foundation gave $41K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $42K across 16 grants.
What is Samuel B O'Brien Foundation's typical grant size?
Samuel B O'Brien Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $278, and its average grant was $2,916, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Samuel B O'Brien Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Samuel B O'Brien Foundation give grants?
Samuel B O'Brien Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (6 grants) and Okoboji, IA (2 grants).
Does Samuel B O'Brien Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Samuel B O'Brien Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (13 grants).
Who are Samuel B O'Brien Foundation's largest grantees?
Samuel B O'Brien Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Historic Arnolds Park ($30,000), Iowa Great Lakes Foundation ($6,000) and Shattuck St Mary's School ($1,050), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Samuel B O'Brien Foundation?
Samuel B O'Brien Foundation reported $465K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $41K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $51K (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 Samuel B O'Brien Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated missions include preserving family recreation and the Iowa Great Lakes, supporting education, creating theatrical experiences, and protecting Iowa’s land, water, and wildlife. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Samuel B O'Brien 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 Samuel B O'Brien Foundation's EIN?
Samuel B O'Brien Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4616804. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Samuel B O'Brien 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Samuel B O'Brien 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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