Samuel B O'brien Foundation
Samuel B O'brien Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in DES MOINES, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $417K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 16 grants totaling $42K. Net investment income was $75K.
Key facts about Samuel B O'brien Foundation
- EIN
- 81-4616804
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $42,436
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- Average grant
- $2,652
- Median grant
- $250
- Total assets
- $417,073
- Primary geography
- Iowa (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated April 2026.
Who Samuel B O'brien Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Samuel B O'brien Foundation's 16 itemized 2024 grants were Iowa (96%). The most frequent recipient cities were Des Moines, IA (7 grants) and Indianola, IA (2 grants). None of its 16 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (14 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$417K
+34.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$42K
+8.3% YoY
Grant Count
16
+45.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-25.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Samuel B O'brien Foundation reported a distributable amount of $41K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Samuel B O'brien Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Samuel B O'brien Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in DES MOINES, IA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $417K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 16 grants totaling $42K. Net investment income was $75K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 16 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $417,073 | $311,256 | $332,379 |
| Revenue | $148,253 | $19,186 | $17,769 |
| Expenses | $42,436 | $40,309 | $37,498 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $42,436 | $39,166 | $34,700 |
| Net Investment Income | $75,193 | $19,186 | $17,769 |
| Distributable Amount | $40,949 | $31,855 | $33,868 |
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
73 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Historic Arnolds Park ($36,750), Shattuck St Mary's School ($1,050), Des Moines Metro Opera ($1,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HISTORIC ARNOLDS PARK ARNOLDS PARK, IA | CHARITABLE | $36,750 |
| SHATTUCK ST MARY'S SCHOOL FARIBAULT, MN | CHARITABLE | $1,050 |
| DES MOINES METRO OPERA INDIANOLA, IA | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| SIMPSON COLLEGE - IOWA HISTORY CENTER INDIANOLA, IA | EDUCATIONAL | $1,000 |
| MILL REEF FUND DETROIT, MI | CHARITABLE | $500 |
| FRIENDS OF THE DES MOINES PARKS DES MOINES, IA | CHARITABLE | $500 |
| BRENTON ARBORETUM DALLAS CENTER, IA | CHARITABLE | $256 |
| ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE DES MOINES, IA | CHARITABLE | $250 |
| BLANK PARK ZOO FOUNDATION DES MOINES, IA | CHARITABLE | $250 |
| DING DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY SANIBEL, FL | CHARITABLE | $250 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAMUEL B O'BRIEN | PRESIDENT, VP, SECRETARY, | 0.25 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Samuel B O'brien Foundation?
Samuel B O'brien Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in DES MOINES, IA. It holds $417K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Samuel B O'brien Foundation?
As of 2024, Samuel B O'brien Foundation holds $417K in total assets with $148K in annual revenue. It awarded 16 grants totaling $42K in 2024.
Where does Samuel B O'brien Foundation operate?
Samuel B O'brien Foundation has awarded grants in California, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon.
What size grants does Samuel B O'brien Foundation award?
In 2024, Samuel B O'brien Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $42K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Samuel B O'brien Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Samuel B O'brien Foundation reported a distributable amount of $41K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Samuel B O'brien Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.