The O'Brien Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2002 and based in San Mateo, California. Also known as the Dennis and Gloria O'Brien Foundation, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN 52-2390855. The foundation makes grants across multiple focus areas including education, scholarships, human services, and religious organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$442K
-42.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$721K
+24.6% YoY
Grant Count
51
+2.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+22.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The O'brien Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $48K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving primarily supports Roman Catholic agencies and churches, with additional funding directed toward human services and higher education. Specific funding interests include:
- General support for charitable organizations
- Scholarship programs and educational initiatives
- Tutoring programs
- Hunger relief and community support services
- Youth education
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$250 to $200,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with some giving extending to Texas and Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $441,571
- Total Revenues: $428,152
- Total Expenses: $756,434
- Total Giving: $578,000 (approximately)
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $770,000
- Total Revenues: $216,136
- Total Expenses: $613,611
- Total Giving: $587,097
Giving Rate: Approximately 60.6% of assets (2023)
The foundation operates with zero employees and maintains a giving rate that frequently exceeds annual asset levels, indicating it distributes accumulated resources.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $441,571 | $769,853 | $1,167,328 |
| Revenue | $428,152 | $216,136 | $350,507 |
| Expenses | $756,434 | $613,611 | $1,001,611 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $730,448 | $587,097 | $965,009 |
| Net Investment Income | $252,979 | $106,340 | $56,306 |
| Distributable Amount | $48,288 | $67,991 | $103,531 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of San Francisco ($125,000), Bay Scholars ($100,000), Mercy High School ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARCHDIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL 2024 SAN FRANCISCO, CA | ANNUAL APPEAL | $5,000 |
| RAVENSWOOD EDUCATION FOUNDATION MENLO PARK, CA | ROCK 'N' ROAR SPRING EVENT | $10,000 |
| ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREPARATORY SAN FRANCISCO, CA | SCHOLARSHIP | $25,950 |
| UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO, CA | UNIVERSITY MINISTRY TUTORING PROGRAM | $125,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | LOAVES AND FISHES | $37,500 |
| KAMUKAMA FOUNDATION AUSTIN, TX | MAJ FOR A MISSION | $10,000 |
| HERS BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION FREMONT, CA | IN MEMORY OF CARLA AQUINO | $10,000 |
| HANNA CENTER GOLF CLASSIC SONOMA, CA | GOLF CLASSIC | $4,200 |
| PANETTA INSTITUTE SEASIDE, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ST FRANCIS CENTER REDWOOD CITY, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Dennis C. O'Brien – President (0.5 hrs/week)
- Gloria A. O'Brien – Secretary
- Susan Frimel – Director
- Chris O'Brien – Director (0.5 hrs/week)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENNIS C O'BRIEN | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| GLORIA A O'BRIEN | SECRETARY | — | — |
| SUSAN FRIMEL | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CHRIS O'BRIEN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The O'brien Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving primarily supports Roman Catholic agencies and churches, with additional funding directed toward human services and higher education. Specific funding interests include: • General support for charitable organizations • Scholarship programs and educational initiatives • Tutoring programs • Hunger relief and community support services • Youth education
How do I apply for a grant from The O'brien Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Recent annual giving ranges from approximately $348,000 to $720,900 • Grant range: $250 to $200,000 • Median grant size: $5,000 to $10,000 • Number of grants awarded annually: 38 to 67 grants **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • University of San Francisco (University Ministry Tutoring Program): $125,000 • Bay Scholars (Sponsorship of Thanksgiving Luncheon and Scholarships): $100,000 • Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy (Capital Campaign): $50,000 **Application Polic…
Where does The O'brien Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with some giving extending to Texas and Hawaii.
What size grants does The O'brien Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The O'brien Family Foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $721K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The O'brien Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The O'brien Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $48K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The O'brien Family Foundation's EIN?
The O'brien Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2390855. 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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