Private foundation · Des Moines, IA

Samuel B O'brien Foundation

View org profile →Find similar funders →Invitation only
Typical grant size
$150 – $500 – $1K
25th · median · 75th percentile
Unique recipients
11
Repeat grantees
10
funded 2+ years

Application procedures · from 2024 990-PF

Leadership · from 2024 990-PF

Samuel B O'brien
PRESIDENT, VP, SECRETARY,

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part VII. Officers, directors, and trustees as reported by the foundation.

Payout rate · TY 2024
10.2%
grants paid ÷ assets · ~5% IRS minimum
'19
'20
'21
'22
'23
'24
86
Total grants awarded
$205K
Total amount
$2K
Average grant
$37K
Largest grant

Giving by year

2024
$42K
16 grants
2023
$39K
11 grants
2022
$35K
17 grants
2021
$26K
13 grants
2020
$34K
16 grants
2019
$29K
13 grants

Top recipients

2 grants · IA · ✓ Exact match
$72K
6 grants · IA · ≈ likely match
$62K
6 grants · MN · ≈ likely match
$13K
6 grants · IA · ✓ Exact match
$9K
Simpson College - Iowa History Center
6 grants · IA
$9K
6 grants · IA · ✓ Exact match
$7K
Dickinson County Trails Board
3 grants · IA
$6K
2 grants · FL · ✓ Exact match
$5K
Univeristy of Iowa
1 grant · IA
$5K
Mill Reef Fund
6 grants · MI
$3K

Recipient names are as reported on the 990-PF. ✓ Exact match = EIN matched to IRS records by exact name + state; ≈ likely match = EIN inferred from a closely similar name. The recipient EIN is never stated on the form — it is DoubleNine’s match.

Recent grants · most recent filings first

Historic Arnolds Park
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2024
$37K
Shattuck St Mary's School
CHARITABLE
MN · TY 2024
$1K
Simpson College - Iowa History Center
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2024
$1K
Des Moines Metro Opera
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2024
$1K
Mill Reef Fund
CHARITABLE
MI · TY 2024
$500
Friends of the Des Moines Parks
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2024
$500
Brenton Arboretum
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2024
$256
Blank Park Zoo Foundation
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2024
$250
Animal Rescue League
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2024
$250
Ding Darling Wildlife Society
CHARITABLE
FL · TY 2024
$250
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2024
$140
Des Moines Art Center
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2024
$140
Des Moines Botanical Center
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2024
$125
Heritage Carousel of Des Moines
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2024
$100
Pearson Lakes Art Center
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2024
$75
Lewis and Clark College
EDUCATIONAL
OR · TY 2024
$50
Historic Arnolds Park
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2023
$35K
Shattuck St Mary's School
CHARITABLE
MN · TY 2023
$1K
Des Moines Metro Opera
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2023
$1K
Simpson College - Iowa History Center
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2023
$1K
Mill Reef Fund
CHARITABLE
MI · TY 2023
$500
Animal Rescue League
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2023
$150
Des Moines Art Center
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2023
$140
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2023
$100
Des Moines Botanical Center
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2023
$100
Pearson Lakes Art Center
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2023
$75
Brenton Arboretum
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2023
$51
Des Moines Metro Opera
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2022
$10K
Shattuck St Mary's School
CHARITABLE
MN · TY 2022
$5K
Ding Darling Wildlife Society
CHARITABLE
FL · TY 2022
$5K
Brenton Arboretum
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2022
$5K
Simpson College - Iowa History Center
EDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2022
$2K
Dickinson County Trails Board
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2022
$2K
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2022
$2K
Des Moines Botanical Center
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2022
$1K
Mill Reef Fund
CHARITABLE
MI · TY 2022
$500
Animal Rescue League
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2022
$500
Blank Park Zoo Foundation
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2022
$500
Des Moines Art Center
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2022
$250
Lewis and Clark College
EDUCATIONAL
OR · TY 2022
$200
Pearson Lakes Art Center
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2022
$150
Heritage Carousel of Des Moines
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2022
$150
Friends of Iowa Casa
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2022
$100
Pacific Crest Trail Association
CHARITABLE
CA · TY 2022
$50
Des Moines Metro Opera
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2021
$17K
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2021
$5K
Simpson College - Iowa History Center
CHARITABLEEDUCATIONAL
IA · TY 2021
$1K
Brenton Arboretum
CHARITABLE
IA · TY 2021
$756
Mill Reef Fund
CHARITABLE
MI · TY 2021
$500
Shattuck St Mary's School
CHARITABLE
MN · TY 2021
$500

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV. Up to 50 most recent grants shown.