Simpson Family Foundation
The Simpson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its 2025 filing describes direct charitable activity providing essential support to teachers in need; its 2025 grants also included support for organizations and individual recipients.
Simpson Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Simpson Family Foundation gave $226K across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Minnesota. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $225,539
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- -5.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,835
- +1.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $759,466
- +0.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (6 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (82% 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 Simpson Family Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
Candidates must be invited to apply. Application instructions and materials are supplied with the invitation.
- Review Cycle
- Deadlines are supplied with the invitation.
- Deadline
- Deadlines are supplied with the invitation.
- Contact
Application contact: William Simpson
Mailing address: 4501 E Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55418
Phone: (612) 399-0500
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Simpson Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Summit Academy OIC ($49K). Together the top 10 received $127K.
Organizations only. It also paid 13 grants to individuals ($90,740), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
177 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 173 grants of 177 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 13% to Florida, 4% to Colorado, and 1% to Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Simpson Family Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 21 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 52% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 221% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $101K (2021) to $254K (2022). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $226K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Summit Academy OIC Minneapolis, MN | Support Individuals in the Community | $49,496 |
| Mightycause Charitable Foundation Marianna, FL | General Support | $29,072 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Support u of m twin cities and u of m duluth | $27,512 |
| 13 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $90,740 |
| Northeast Youth and Family Services St. Paul, MN | General Support | $5,021 |
| Summit Foundation Breckenridge, CO | Support Summit County Communities | $4,124 |
| Washburn High School Foundation Minneapolis, MN | General Support | $3,000 |
| Academy of the Holy Angels Richfield, MN | Support the School | $2,591 |
| National Repertory Orchestra Breckenridge, CO | General Support | $2,500 |
| Andean Community Partners Minneapolis, MN | Support Health Services in Peru | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Simpson Family Foundation?
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 | $759,466 | $157,871 | $233,842 | $225,539 | 33 | $227,565 | $151,717 | $102,895 |
| 2024 | $752,430 | $108,981 | $272,344 | $236,074 | 35 | $258,388 | $102,873 | $128,888 |
| 2023 | $860,535 | $503,793 | $197,523 | $188,834 | 37 | $192,133 | $319,993 | $81,027 |
| 2022 | $650,880 | $136,515 | $283,014 | $254,177 | 36 | $277,306 | $112,542 | $92,329 |
| 2021 | $778,202 | $61,907 | $119,465 | $101,105 | 36 | $109,356 | $56,350 | $98,017 |
| 2020 | $868,005 | $57,824 | $119,649 | $106,453 | 30 | — | $247,801 | $74,837 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Simpson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $103K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated direct charitable activity is to provide essential support to teachers in need. Its 2025 grant purposes included general support, community support, and assistance to individuals facing financial hardship or education expenses.
Grantees’ own descriptions indicate a range of supported work. Summit Academy OIC says it helps people develop their ability to earn and become contributing community members. The University of Minnesota Foundation describes its role as supporting the University of Minnesota. Other 2025 grantees include the Washburn High School Foundation, which says it sustains excellence at Washburn High School, and FilmNorth, which says it creates opportunities for filmmakers and media artists in the North, with a commitment to addressing disparities in the film industry.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 33 grants totaling $225,539. Grants ranged from $150 to $49,496, with a median of $2,500.
The largest reported grants included $49,496 to Summit Academy OIC for community support, $29,072 to Mightycause Charitable Foundation for general support, and $27,512 to the University of Minnesota Foundation to support the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Duluth. The foundation also reported grants to individual recipients for housing, transportation, loan repayment, dental, and education expenses. Other organizational grants included $5,021 to Northeast Youth and Family Services and $3,000 to the Washburn High School Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William A. Simpson as president, Carin M. Simpson as vice president, and Abigail A. Lane as secretary.
Simpson Family Foundation is led by William A. Simpson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William A. Simpson
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abigail A. Lane
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Carin M. Simpson
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $20K, to Abigail a Lane (Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about Simpson Family Foundation
How much does Simpson Family Foundation give each year?
Simpson Family Foundation gave $226K across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $236K across 35 grants.
What is Simpson Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Simpson Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $6,835, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Simpson Family Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Simpson Family Foundation give grants?
Simpson Family Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (5 grants), St. Paul, MN (4 grants) and Breckenridge, CO (2 grants).
Does Simpson Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 36% of Simpson Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Financial Need - Education Expense" (3 grants) and "Financial Hardship - Housing & Transportation Expenses" (3 grants).
Who are Simpson Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Simpson Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Summit Academy OIC ($49,496), Mightycause Charitable Foundation ($29,072) and University of Minnesota Foundation ($27,512), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 13 grants to individuals ($90,740), which are not listed by name. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Simpson Family Foundation?
Simpson Family Foundation reported $759K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $228K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $103K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Simpson Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated direct charitable activity is to provide essential support to teachers in need. Its 2025 grant purposes included general support, community support, and assistance to individuals facing financial hardship or education expenses. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Simpson Family Foundation?
Candidates must be invited to apply. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Simpson Family Foundation's EIN?
Simpson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4035780. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 3, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Simpson Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Simpson Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/simpson-family-foundation-morg_bbc95871716f414d8f36aaaa835b2036
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_454035780_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Simpson Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/simpson-family-foundation-morg_bbc95871716f414d8f36aaaa835b2036},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Simpson 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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