The Simmons Foundation
Preselected recipients only
The Simmons Foundation is a private foundation in Houston, Texas. In tax year 2025 it gave $1.7 million in 41 grants; the typical grant was $25,000 and the largest $250,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$1.7 million
- Number of grants41
- Typical grant$25,000
- Largest grant$250,000
- Assets$7.3 million
- New grantees77%
Giving in 2025 was down from $3.5 million the year before.
77% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $925,000 | 10 | $2.7 million |
| 2024 | $3.5 million | 13 | $4.6 million |
| 2025 | $1.7 million | 41 | $7.3 million |
How to apply
The Simmons Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The Simmons Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 2 states, the most to Colorado.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 37 | $1.3 million |
| Texas | 4 | $445,000 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kids' Meals Inc | Challenge grant for The Building Hope Capital Campaign | $250,000 |
| Northwest Colorado Health | Multi-Year grant towards support services and programs and Casey's Pond Senior Living Facility | $250,000 |
| Camp for All Foundation | Capital campaign for housing children and adults with special needs at Chappell Hill camp | $100,000 |
| Lift Up Routt County | Multi-year grant for Lift Up Our Future Capital Campaign to enlarge operational space | $100,000 |
| Yampa Valley Autism Program | Support for acquisition costs of new service location | $100,000 |
| Yampa Valley Sustainability Council | Support for acquisition of new administrative headquarters | $100,000 |
| YMCA of Greater Houston | Support for the Youth Trafficked Persons Assistance Program | $75,000 |
| Book Trails Inc | Support for food truck for Summer Reading Ranch to increase youth literacy rates in NW Colorado | $50,000 |
| Lift Up Routt County | Support for food bank and emergency fund | $50,000 |
| Northwest Colorado Health | Support for health programs to vulnerable populations regaqrdless of ability to pay | $50,000 |
| Northwest Colorado Health | Support for Home Services Campaign providing care to residents to age in place | $50,000 |
| Rocky Mountain Youth Corps | Support and event sponsorship for environmental stewardship through youth work programs | $50,000 |
| Steamboat Springs Discovery Learning Center | Support for Routt County Family Development Center and Childcare | $50,000 |
| United Way of the Yampa Valley | Support to assist with community giving programs | $50,000 |
| Yampa Valley Community Foundation | General support | $50,000 |
| Steamboat Reading Inc | Challenge Grant towards high intensity reading program to end illiteracy | $35,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Colorado | Support for after school programs in NW Colorado | $25,000 |
| Caring for Colorado Centennial Fund | Support for statewide reproductive health services at safety net clinics in Colorado | $25,000 |
| Colorado Mountain College Foundation | To support the Adult Education Literacy Program | $25,000 |
| Integrated Community | Support of legal services for immigrants | $25,000 |
| Old Town Hot Springs | Grant towards operations of community health and fitness programs | $25,000 |
| Partners for Youth | Support for youth mentoring programs | $25,000 |
| Houston Parks Board | Support for art installation at Weiss Park on North Post Oak Lane | $20,000 |
| Yampa Valley Community Foundation | Support for HOPE Initiative for Routt County behavioral health peer assistance program | $20,000 |
| Advocates-Crisis Trauma and Survivor Services | Support for domestic violence prevention in NW Colorado | $10,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Colorado | Support for development of Boys & Girls Club teen center | $10,000 |
| Routt County Council on Aging | Support for general and administration & establishement of animeals program | $10,000 |
| Strings Music Festival | Support for musical arts performances geared to low and moderate income youth and families | $10,000 |
| Yampa Valley Sustainability Council | Support for emvironmental stewardship, recycling, and global climate education | $10,000 |
| Yampatika Outdoor Awareness Association | Support of environmental education and youth summer programming in Routt and Moffat | $10,000 |
| Book Trails Inc | Support for outdoor literacy camp capital campaign | $5,000 |
| Colorado Mountain College Foundation | Support for Steamboat Springs Campus HERO Scholarship Fund | $5,000 |
| Community Agriculture Alliance | Support to create a resilient and thriving future for regional agriculture in the Yampa Valley | $5,000 |
| North Routt Community Charter School | Support of preschool | $5,000 |
| Opera Steamboat | Support for opera programming in NW Colorado | $5,000 |
| Senior Citizens Action Group Inc | To help older adults in need of services and programing in Moffat County | $5,000 |
| Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports | Support of adaptive summer sports programs for individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities | $5,000 |
| Steamboat Creates | Support for arts programming for youth of Routt County | $5,000 |
| Steamboat Reading Inc | Support for reading and tutoring programs for at risk and low income children in NW Colorado | $5,000 |
| Totally Kids IncTotally Tots Inc | Support for purchase of a 6 seater stroller and tuition assistance | $5,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Sue Birch
- Rebecca Young
- Ellen Cohen
- John P Durie
- Gay A Roane
Questions people ask
Does The Simmons Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does The Simmons Foundation give?
$1.7 million in tax year 2025, across 41 grants, with a typical grant of $25,000.
Who runs The Simmons Foundation?
Its 2025 filing lists Sue Birch (President / Grant Administrator), Rebecca Young (Vice President / Treasurer / Secretary), Ellen Cohen (Director) and John P Durie (Director) among 5 officers and trustees.
What does The Simmons Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly youth programs, health and food and hunger.