Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc
The Simón Bolívar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private foundation established in 2006 as the charitable arm of CITGO Petroleum Corporation. Based in Houston, Texas, the Foundation operates as a corporate foundation dedicated to humanitarian health initiatives serving vulnerable populations affected by disaster, conflict, and poverty.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.8M
+32.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.7M
-5.3% YoY
Grant Count
39
-4.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$171K
-0.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $250K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Improve the health of vulnerable individuals affected by disaster, conflict and poverty, with special attention to children and mothers in and from Venezuela.
Vision: A future where access to basic health care is a valued human right.
Strategic Goals:
- Access – Increase access to medicine and nutrition, improving wellbeing for low-income and vulnerable individuals and communities
- Capacity – Enhance the capacity of medical professionals and caregivers to serve and treat patients through education and support
- Empowerment – Increase the effectiveness of community organizations and actors by empowering them to serve the health needs of the most vulnerable individuals in their communities, particularly children and mothers
Primary Funding Areas:
- Humanitarian health programs
- Nutrition programs (emphasizing children under age 5, pregnant and lactating women)
- Medical assistance and healthcare access
- Knowledge transfer, networking and education grants
- Capacity building initiatives
- Equipment donation
- Hospital support
Grantmaking
The Foundation funds programs implemented by qualified charitable organizations with demonstrated capacity to execute initiatives aligned with the Foundation's objectives.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's work spans 12 countries with particular emphasis on:
- Venezuela (primary focus)
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
- United States
- Latin America broadly
In 2022, the Foundation launched a Colombia-Ecuador-Peru Humanitarian Health Grants program, awarding up to $1.68 million to seven qualified charitable organizations to address health needs of Venezuelan and other migrants in these countries.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $3,591,933
- Total Revenues: $7,817,067
- Total Expenses: $8,188,294
- Number of Employees: 0
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $4,767,339
- Total Giving: $6,650,944
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,767,339 | $3,591,933 | $2,781,022 |
| Revenue | $7,560,163 | $7,817,067 | $3,907,429 |
| Expenses | $7,037,931 | $8,188,294 | $4,063,935 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,745,556 | $7,115,316 | $5,119,513 |
| Net Investment Income | $52,863 | $34,750 | $3,751 |
| Distributable Amount | $250,033 | $94,136 | $70,678 |
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
181 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pan American Development Foundation ($1,470,000), Texas Children's Hospital ($745,500), Medical Teams International ($437,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Adelianny Rodriguez Houston, TX | Medical assistance for liver transplant | $42,993 |
| Isabella Guevara Houston, TX | Medical assistance for liver transplant | $45,058 |
| Luis Fernando Beltran Houston, TX | Medical Assistant to Patients Residing in Venezuela for Treament not Available in Venezuela | $62,958 |
| Marco Bello Houston, TX | Medical assistance for liver transplant | $151,798 |
| Maria de los Angeles Amaya Houston, TX | Medical assistance for liver transplant | $44,408 |
| Nelson Useche Houston, TX | Medical assistance for liver transplant | $317,937 |
| Ximena Longa Houston, TX | Medical assistance for liver transplant | $33,161 |
| Aid for Aids New York, NY | Small grants program | $100,000 |
| Aid for Aids New York, NY | Medium/large grants program of Humanitarian Health | $100,000 |
| Asociacion Cardiovascular Centro Occidental | Medical Assistant to Patients Residing in Venezuela for Treament not Available in Venezuela | $45,938 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Mariela Poleo – President of the Simón Bolívar Foundation
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mariela Poleo | President | 40 | — |
| Stephen McNabb | Treasurer | 0.1 | — |
| Yollyfrancis Castellanos | Assistant Secretary | 0.7 | — |
| Bob Shoemaker | Controller & Ast. Treasurer | 0.1 | — |
| Steve Scarpino | Chief Compliance & Ethics Officer | 0.1 | — |
| Andres Padilla | Director | 1 | — |
| Pablo Perez | Director | 1 | — |
| David Weaver | Director | 0.6 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**October 2025:** The Foundation released its 2024 Annual Report, announcing that over one million lives have been impacted in five years. In 2024 alone, the Foundation benefited more than 342,000 vulnerable individuals.
CITGO Sim\xF3n Bol\xEDvar Foundation Releases 2024 Annual Report | CITGO**April 2024:** The Simón Bolívar Foundation and Texas Children's Hospital, as fiscal sponsor for Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation Colombia, extended their grant agreement to continue strengthening the health of children, adolescents, and families in need in La Guajira, Colombia.
CITGO Sim\xF3n Bol\xEDvar Foundation Releases 2024 Annual Report | CITGO**January 2024:** The Foundation issued a statement categorically rejecting false accusations regarding its purpose and charitable activities.
**2023:** The Foundation significantly increased its activity through grant programs. As migrant numbers increased, the Foundation's outreach extended throughout Latin America and the United States, benefitting thousands of Venezuelans and other migrants living in vulnerable conditions. The Foundation reinforced existing collaborations with organizations demonstrating satisfactory performance and requested proposals for project extensions and expansions.
CITGO Sim\xF3n Bol\xEDvar Foundation Releases 2024 Annual Report | CITGO**2022:** The Foundation announced support for health programs for Venezuelan and other migrants in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru through its Colombia-Ecuador-Peru Humanitarian Health Grants program.
Simon Bolivar Foundation announces support for health programs for VenezuelanSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** Improve the health of vulnerable individuals affected by disaster, conflict and poverty, with special attention to children and mothers in and from Venezuela. **Vision:** A future where access to basic health care is a valued human right. **Strategic Goals:** • **Access** – Increase access to medicine and nutrition, improving wellbeing for low-income and vulnerable individuals and communities • **Capacity** – Enhance the capacity of medical professionals and caregivers to serve and…
How do I apply for a grant from Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc?
The Foundation funds programs implemented by qualified charitable organizations with demonstrated capacity to execute initiatives aligned with the Foundation's objectives. **Grant Types:** • Medium to Large Humanitarian Health Grants • Knowledge Transfer, Networking and Education Grants • Capacity Building initiatives • Equipment Donations • Hospital Donations • Small grants **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2024, the Foundation committed $6.14 million to high-impact and NGO grants, plus $867,124 i…
Where does Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc make grants?
The Foundation's work spans 12 countries with particular emphasis on: • Venezuela (primary focus) • Colombia • Ecuador • Peru • United States • Latin America broadly In 2022, the Foundation launched a Colombia-Ecuador-Peru Humanitarian Health Grants program, awarding up to $1.68 million to seven qualified charitable organizations to address health needs of Venezuelan and other migrants in these countries.
What size grants does Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc awarded 39 grants totaling $6.7M — an average of about $171K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $250K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc's EIN?
Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5787382. 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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