The Simmons Foundation
The Simmons Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. Its website says it has partnered with nonprofit organizations for more than two decades to strengthen women, youth, and families while building an educated, tolerant, and resilient community.
The Simmons Foundation at a glance
In short: The Simmons Foundation gave $1.7M across 41 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,712,100
- -50.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 41
- +215.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $41,759
- -84.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $4,957,969
- +94.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Colorado (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Simmons Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 109 N Post Oak Lane 220, Houston, TX 77024
Phone: (713) 580-1800
Website: https://thesimmonsfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Simmons Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northwest Colorado Health ($350K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
114 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 114 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing shows that 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado and 26% to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 41 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Simmons Foundation gives
- 23% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 758% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $925K (2023) to $3.5M (2024). In 2025 it made 41 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kids' Meals Inc Houston, TX | Challenge grant for The Building Hope Capital Campaign | $250,000 |
| Northwest Colorado Health Steamboat Springs, CO | Multi-Year grant towards support services and programs and Casey's Pond Senior Living Facility | $250,000 |
| Camp for All Foundation Houston, TX | Capital campaign for housing children and adults with special needs at Chappell Hill camp | $100,000 |
| Lift Up Routt County Steamboat Springs, CO | Multi-year grant for Lift Up Our Future Capital Campaign to enlarge operational space | $100,000 |
| Yampa Valley Autism Program Steamboat Springs, CO | Support for acquisition costs of new service location | $100,000 |
| Yampa Valley Sustainability Council Steamboat Springs, CO | Support for acquisition of new administrative headquarters | $100,000 |
| YMCA of Greater Houston Houston, TX | Support for the Youth Trafficked Persons Assistance Program | $75,000 |
| Book Trails Inc Steamboat Springs, CO | Support for food truck for Summer Reading Ranch to increase youth literacy rates in NW Colorado | $50,000 |
| Lift Up Routt County Steamboat Springs, CO | Support for food bank and emergency fund | $50,000 |
| Northwest Colorado Health Steamboat Springs, CO | Support for health programs to vulnerable populations regaqrdless of ability to pay | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Simmons 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 | $4,957,969 | $7,095,902 | $1,977,474 | $1,712,100 | 41 | $1,895,774 | $2,957,616 | $249,960 |
| 2024 | $2,548,456 | $8,735,777 | $3,542,062 | $3,485,000 | 13 | $3,528,394 | $3,714,943 | $208,608 |
| 2023 | $865,040 | $2,134,681 | $1,027,749 | $925,000 | 10 | $1,009,649 | $1,088,341 | $147,239 |
| 2022 | $761,738 | $120,719 | $130,846 | — | — | $129,246 | $120,719 | $130,713 |
| 2021 | $771,865 | $1,637,816 | $2,234,318 | $1,564,500 | 50 | $2,217,997 | $847,808 | $125,975 |
| 2020 | $1,999,841 | $2,298,635 | $3,822,745 | $3,096,300 | 2 | — | $1,287,185 | $194,445 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Simmons Foundation reported a distributable amount of $250K 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 objective is to strengthen women, youth, and families while building an educated, tolerant, and resilient community. Its 2025 grants included support for health services, youth programs, literacy, food assistance, environmental stewardship, and capital campaigns.
The supported organizations describe their own work in a range of ways. Yampa Valley Sustainability Council says it works to build a sustainable and resilient region through programs, partnerships, and education. Yampa Valley Autism Program says it provides services and resources for neurodivergent youth and their families. BookTrails says it fosters literacy and access to literacy programs for children. An individual recipient Youth Corps says it engages young people in outdoor experiences, teamwork, and service to their communities and the environment.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 41 grants totaling $1,712,100. Grant amounts ranged from $2,100 to $250,000, with a median of $25,000. Its largest awards included $250,000 to Kids’ Meals Inc. for a capital campaign challenge grant and $250,000 to Northwest Colorado Health for support services, programs, and Casey’s Pond Senior Living Facility. Other notable grants included $100,000 each to Camp For All Foundation for a camp capital campaign, Lift Up Routt County for a capital campaign, Yampa Valley Autism Program for acquisition costs for a new service location, and Yampa Valley Sustainability Council for a new administrative headquarters.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sue Birch as President and Grant Administrator; Rebecca Young as Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary; and Ellen Cohen, John P Durie, and Gay A Roane as directors.
The Simmons Foundation is led by Sue Birch, President & Grant Administrator since 2024 (on filings since 2022); 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sue Birch
President & Grant Administrator
Director → Director & Grant Administrator, 2023
Director & Grant Administrator → President & Grant Administrator, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$60K (2023) → $141K (2025)
Gay A Roane
Director
Director → Vice President, Secretary & Director, 2022
Vice President, Secretary & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John P Durie
Director
Chair & Director → President, Treasurer & Director, 2022
President, Treasurer & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Cohen
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Young
Vice President, Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Amanda J Cloud (2020–2021) — President & CEO · Filing note: Resigned 113021
- Former: Robert F Henricksen (2020–2021) — Vice Chair & Director
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 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $141K, to Sue Birch (President / Grant Administrator).
Frequently asked questions about The Simmons Foundation
How much does The Simmons Foundation give each year?
The Simmons Foundation gave $1.7M across 41 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.5M across 13 grants.
What is The Simmons Foundation's typical grant size?
The Simmons Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $41,759, across 41 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Simmons Foundation give grants?
The Simmons Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (26%). The most frequent recipient cities were Steamboat Springs, CO (30 grants), Houston, TX (4 grants) and Craig, CO (2 grants).
Does The Simmons Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of The Simmons Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 41) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Simmons Foundation's largest grantees?
The Simmons Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Northwest Colorado Health ($350,000 across 3 grants), Kids' Meals Inc ($250,000) and Lift Up Routt County ($150,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Simmons Foundation?
The Simmons Foundation reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $250K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Simmons Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated objective is to strengthen women, youth, and families while building an educated, tolerant, and resilient community. Its 2025 grants included support for health services, youth programs, literacy, food assistance, environmental stewardship, and capital campaigns. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Simmons Foundation?
The Simmons Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check thesimmonsfoundation.org for any change to that policy.
What is The Simmons Foundation's EIN?
The Simmons Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0398915. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Simmons 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Simmons Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Simmons Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-simmons-foundation-morg_129ca3c4ff1f4e7cba814ea14228241d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760398915_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Simmons Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-simmons-foundation-morg_129ca3c4ff1f4e7cba814ea14228241d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 The Simmons 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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