The Simons Family Foundation
The Simons Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. In 2025, it reported 23 grants totaling $18,000 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in history and education, health, the arts, animal welfare, and environmental conservation.
The Simons Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Simons Family Foundation gave $18K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $782.609), top state District of Columbia. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $18,000
- +28.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $783
- +28.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $250
- Total assets
- $194,285
- +0.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (29% 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 The Simons Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2211 Dryden Rd, Houston, TX 77030
Phone: (281) 687-2678
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Simons Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Nehgs ($5K). Together the top 10 received $15K.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 120 grants of 120 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC (29%), Massachusetts (29%), Texas (25%), Minnesota (6%), and Montana (4%). The listed grants also included recipients in Illinois and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Simons Family Foundation open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 23 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $250; repeat grants $807. How we count
Medians: $250 first-time, $250 repeat.
- 87% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 44% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 85% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2020) to $18K (2025). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $18K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nehgs Boston, MA | General | $5,000 |
| The Society of the Cincinnati Washington DC, DC | General | $3,000 |
| MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX | General | $2,000 |
| Houston Grand Opera Houston, TX | General | $1,750 |
| International Rescue Committee Albert Lea, MN | General | $1,000 |
| Yellowstone Forever Gardiner, MT | General | $750 |
| Alzheimers Association Chicago, IL | General | $500 |
| African Wildlife Foundation Washington DC, DC | General | $250 |
| American Battlefield Trust Washington DC, DC | General | $250 |
| American Kidney Fund Rockville, MD | General | $250 |
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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 | $194,285 | $16,923 | $16,564 | $18,000 | 23 | $13,250 | $9,258 | $15,544 |
| 2024 | $193,926 | $15,173 | $15,587 | $14,000 | 23 | $14,000 | $10,723 | $13,706 |
| 2023 | $194,340 | $12,807 | $15,579 | $14,500 | 24 | $14,500 | $9,857 | $13,910 |
| 2022 | $197,112 | $12,463 | $13,841 | $12,500 | 24 | $12,500 | $9,263 | $13,055 |
| 2021 | $198,490 | $12,112 | $11,890 | $10,000 | 26 | $10,000 | $8,366 | $9,723 |
| 2020 | $198,268 | $12,855 | $11,307 | $9,500 | 23 | — | $10,355 | $9,793 |
| 2019 | $196,651 | $13,178 | $12,482 | $10,750 | 25 | — | $10,289 | $10,685 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Simons Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $16K 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 show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, The Society of the Cincinnati says it promotes the memory and ideals of the American Revolution through museum, library, and educational programs. Yellowstone Forever describes its role as providing grants and in-kind support to Yellowstone National Park through philanthropic and educational initiatives. Houston Humane Society says it works to prevent cruelty to animals, relieve animal suffering, and educate the public about animal welfare.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $18,000 through 23 grants. Grants ranged from $250 to $5,000, with a median grant of $250. Its largest grants included $5,000 to NEHGS, $3,000 to The Society of the Cincinnati, $2,000 to MD Anderson Cancer Center, and $1,750 to Houston Grand Opera. Other grants included $1,000 to the International Rescue Committee and $750 to Yellowstone Forever.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Herbert D. Simons, David B. Simons, and Michael W. Hilliard as directors.
The Simons Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David B. Simons
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Herbert D. Simons
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Michael W. Hilliard
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Simons Family Foundation
How much does The Simons Family Foundation give each year?
The Simons Family Foundation gave $18K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $14K across 23 grants.
What is The Simons Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Simons Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $250, and its average grant was $783, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Simons Family Foundation that year got $250 on average.
Where does The Simons Family Foundation give grants?
The Simons Family Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (29%) and Texas (25%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington DC, DC (10 grants) and Houston, TX (5 grants).
Does The Simons Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Simons Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Simons Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Simons Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Nehgs ($5,000), The Society of the Cincinnati ($3,000) and MD Anderson Cancer Center ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Simons Family Foundation?
The Simons Family Foundation reported $194K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $13K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $16K (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 The Simons Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, The Society of the Cincinnati says it promotes the memory and ideals of the American Revolution through museum, library, and educational programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Simons Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 The Simons Family Foundation's EIN?
The Simons Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0537712. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Simons Family 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 3, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Simons Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from The Simons Family 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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