The Orr Family Foundation
The Orr Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Austin, Texas, established in 2013. The foundation was created by Joseph Orr in his final months of life and is structured as a 501(c)(3) organization. It operates with no employees and is managed by a trustee.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+73.5% YoY
Grant Count
14
+7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$131K
+61.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was established to support causes that reflected Joseph Orr's lifelong passions and interests. Primary funding areas include:
- Astronomy and observatories
- Archaeological studies of Maya culture
- Big Bend National Park and conservation
- Grand Canyon National Park and conservation
- Cancer research
- Land preservation
- Dark skies initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation made 16 grants in 2023.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Arizona, Texas, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $29,276,288
- Total revenues: $5,408,645
- Total expenses: $1,514,794
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $31,072,251
- Total giving: $1,830,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 include University of Texas ($500,000), Lowell Observatory ($400,000), The V Foundation for Cancer Research ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LOWELL OBSERVATORY FLAGSTAFF, AZ | CHARITABLE | $400,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN, TX | CHARITABLE | $500,000 |
| WITTE MUSEUM SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $60,000 |
| GRAND CANYON CONSERVANCY GRAND CANYON, AZ | CHARITABLE | $120,000 |
| GRAND CANYON TRUST FLAGSTAFF, AZ | CHARITABLE | $130,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION TUSCON, AZ | CHARITABLE | $60,000 |
| SUL ROSS UNIVERSITY - CENTER FOR BIG BEND STUDIES ALPINE, TX | CHARITABLE | $80,000 |
| THE V FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH CARY, NC | CHARITABLE | $200,000 |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AUSTIN, TX | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| GRAND CANYON YOUTH FLAGSTAFF, AZ | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sam Bassett serves as Trustee of the foundation. He was designated by Joseph Orr to manage the foundation following Orr's death in 2013.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAM BASSETT | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Orr Family Foundation fund?
The foundation was established to support causes that reflected Joseph Orr's lifelong passions and interests. Primary funding areas include: • Astronomy and observatories • Archaeological studies of Maya culture • Big Bend National Park and conservation • Grand Canyon National Park and conservation • Cancer research • Land preservation • Dark skies initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from The Orr Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $1,830,000 • Typical award range: $10,000–$500,000 • Recent grants (2023) include: • Lowell Observatory: $200,000 • Grand Canyon Conservancy: $100,000 • Sul Ross State University Friends of the Center for Big Bend Studies: $80,000 The foundation made 16 grants in 2023.
Where does The Orr Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Arizona, Texas, and New York.
What size grants does The Orr Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Orr Family Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $131K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Orr Family Foundation's EIN?
The Orr Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3317225. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Orr Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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