The Simson Foundation
The Simson Foundation was a private foundation based in Bexley, Ohio. Its 2024 filing is marked as a final return and states that the foundation terminated operations and distributed its assets under section 507(b)(1)(A); it therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
The Simson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Simson Foundation gave $38K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 41% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $37,931
- +1158.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- -10.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,231
- +1306.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (7 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Simson Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 17 North Columbia Avenue, Bexley, OH 43209
Phone: (614) 487-7782
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Simson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National Philanthropic Trust ($36K). Together the top 10 received $38K.
Grant Size Distribution
162 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 162 grants of 162 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Pennsylvania (95%), followed by Ohio (4%) and Washington, D.C. (1%). Massachusetts and Illinois each accounted for 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Simson Foundation open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 17 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $140. How we count
Medians: $50 first-time, $100 repeat.
- 12% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 660% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2023) to $38K (2024). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $38K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Philanthropic Trust Jenkintown, PA | General Purpose | $36,058 |
| Wosu Public Media Columbus, OH | General Purpose | $750 |
| Augusta Chiwy Foundation Westerville, OH | General Purpose | $250 |
| Columbus School for Girls Columbus, OH | General Purpose | $100 |
| Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PA | General Purpose | $100 |
| Columbus Academy Gahanna, OH | General Purpose | $100 |
| Trees for Bexley Bexley, OH | General Purpose | $100 |
| US Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington, DC | General Purpose | $100 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | General Purpose | $100 |
| Temple Emanu-El Cincinnati, OH | General Purpose | $50 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing reported 17 grants; the 2023 filing reported 19, and the 2022 filing reported 40.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | $2,337 | $39,606 | $37,931 | 17 | $38,031 | — | $949 |
| 2023 | $37,269 | $754 | $3,115 | $3,015 | 19 | $3,115 | $754 | $1,852 |
| 2022 | $39,630 | $159 | $5,866 | $5,243 | 40 | $5,863 | $159 | $2,187 |
| 2021 | $45,337 | $203 | $5,617 | $4,988 | 40 | $5,608 | $203 | $2,450 |
| 2020 | $50,751 | $1,212 | $7,073 | $6,455 | 46 | — | $662 | $2,758 |
| 2019 | $56,612 | $1,721 | $5,780 | $5,080 | 46 | — | $1,171 | $2,943 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Simson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $949 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants included general-purpose contributions to organizations working in areas such as philanthropy, education, humanitarian response, volunteerism, and health. For example, World Central Kitchen describes its work as providing meals during humanitarian, climate, and community crises; Columbus School for Girls describes a focus on education, leadership, and social and civic responsibility. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $37,931. Grant amounts ranged from $25 to $36,058, with a median of $100. Its largest reported grants included $36,058 to National Philanthropic Trust, $750 to WOSU Public Media, and $250 to Augusta Chiwy Foundation. Other reported grants included $100 each to Columbus School for Girls, Bryn Mawr College, Columbus Academy, Trees for Bexley, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, World Central Kitchen, and other organizations.
The foundation’s filing states that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests. This policy is reported in the final filing and should not be treated as a current application opportunity.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing listed Douglas A. Simson as director and president; Joyce R. Simson as director, secretary, and treasurer; and Elizabeth Simson Weinstein and Alexander M. Simson as directors.
The Simson Foundation is led by Douglas A. Simson, Director & President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Douglas A. Simson
Director & President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Alexander M. Simson
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Simson Weinstein
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Joyce R. Simson
Director, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Simson Foundation
How much does The Simson Foundation give each year?
The Simson Foundation gave $38K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3K across 19 grants.
What is The Simson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Simson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100, and its average grant was $2,231, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Simson Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Simson Foundation give grants?
The Simson Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, OH (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does The Simson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Simson Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Simson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Simson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include National Philanthropic Trust ($36,058), Wosu Public Media ($750) and Augusta Chiwy Foundation ($250), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does The Simson Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants included general-purpose contributions to organizations working in areas such as philanthropy, education, humanitarian response, volunteerism, and health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Simson Foundation?
The Simson Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
How much is The Simson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Simson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $949 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Simson Foundation's EIN?
The Simson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3505303. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 9, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Simson 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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