The Simmons Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on education, channeling most of its assets to a small set of recurring beneficiaries. Grants are dominated by large, targeted awards to K–12 institutions (both independent prep schools and charter networks) and to university-affiliated fundraising (notably athletics), suggesting a preference for capital and program support that strengthens institutional capacity. The foundation favors repeat, high-dollar investments in organizations it has an ongoing relationship with rather than many small, one-off gifts.
Highly concentrated: a small number of very large grants account for the bulk of giving, with multiple repeat grants to the same organizations rather than broad, distributed funding.
A defining feature of Simmons Family Foundation grantmaking is its repeated use of large awards to a small set of education-related beneficiaries. The foundation’s recent grants show multi-year support for institutions such as The Linsly School and the University of Alabama- Crimson Tide Foundation, with payments appearing in several consecutive years and at high dollar levels. That pattern points to relationship-based funding rather than one-off gifts. The foundation’s portfolio is centered on K–12 schools, charter-school expansion, and university-affiliated fundraising, especially athletics. Some of its largest grants support school programs and facilities, while others strengthen collegiate athletics organizations tied to universities. Alongside those core education commitments, the foundation also backs a smaller set of community-serving organizations and student-related causes. The result is a grantmaking profile that favors institutional capacity and targeted support for organizations the family appears to know well. Because the giving is concentrated, individual grantees can receive materially different awards over time, including both six-figure and smaller operating-style gifts. Recent examples include The Linsly School in Wheeling, West Virginia, and Zeta Charter Schools in the Bronx, each appearing multiple times across the grant list. Those repeat grants are a strong signal of the foundation’s preference for continuing partnerships over broad dispersal.
In independent preparatory school funding, Simmons Family Foundation gave $780,000 in 2025 to The Linsly School in Wheeling, West Virginia, and also recorded $780,000 in 2024 plus $600,000 in 2025 to the same institution. That pattern fits its emphasis on repeated institutional support. Charter-school funding is another clear lane. In 2025, the foundation gave $250,000 to Zeta Charter Schools in the Bronx, continuing similar gifts made in 2024 and 2023. The repeated awards suggest an ongoing relationship with a charter network rather than isolated project support. It also supports school-related community needs in North Carolina. Grants include $65,000 in 2025 and $65,000 in 2024 to Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC in Raleigh, plus $65,000 in 2025 and $60,000 in 2023 to Crossnore School-foster Home in Crossnore. These gifts show that the foundation’s education focus extends beyond classrooms to surrounding support services.
$8.7M
$19.4M
$2.1M
$2.8M
Most grants fall between $3K and $65K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$65K
About 22% of grants go to recipients in NC.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Simmons Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 91 | $8.7M | 97.8% |
| 2 | Canada | 2 | $500 |
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Notable grantees: University of Alabama – Crimson Tide Foundation, The Linsly School, Zeta Charter Schools, Caliber Foundation
Typical grant size is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $65,000 at the 75th percentile, which sits below the foundation’s largest recent six-figure awards. The pattern is highly relationship-based: several recipients appear across multiple years, including The Linsly School, University of Alabama- Crimson Tide Foundation, Zeta Charter Schools, and Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC. That repetition indicates ongoing commitments rather than a broad one-time application flow. The foundation is a family foundation and does not make program-related investments. The grant record also includes both large capital- or program-oriented gifts and smaller support grants, suggesting flexible award sizing within a focused portfolio.
Most grants land in the United States, with 91 grants there and 2 in Canada. North Carolina is the top state by grant count, and 22% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state of Florida. Recent recipient cities include Wheeling, West Virginia; Bronx, New York; Raleigh, North Carolina; Crossnore, North Carolina; and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The geographic spread is regional rather than national, with a noticeable concentration in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
The foundation focuses on education-related organizations, especially independent preparatory schools, K–12 charter school networks, university-affiliated fundraising tied to collegiate athletics, and school program or capital support. Recent grants also include community-serving organizations connected to students and schools.
Yes. Multiple recipients appear in several years of the grant list, including The Linsly School, University of Alabama- Crimson Tide Foundation, Zeta Charter Schools, Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, and Crossnore School-foster Home. That pattern shows ongoing relationships rather than mostly one-time gifts.
Typical grant size is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $65,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes much larger awards, including several in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
North Carolina is the top state by grant count. The recipient geography is regional overall, with 91 grants to U.S. organizations and 2 to Canadian organizations. Florida accounts for 22% of grants to recipients.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA- CRIMSON TIDE FOUNDATION | TUSCALOOSA, AL | $917,533 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| THE LINSLY SCHOOL | WHEELING, WV | $780,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| THE LINSLY SCHOOL | WHEELING, WV | $600,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA- CRIMSON TIDE FOUNDATION | TUSCALOOSA, AL | $500,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CALIBER FOUNDATION | COS COB, CT | $415,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| ZETA CHARTER SCHOOLS | BRONX, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| ZETA CHARTER SCHOOLS | BRONX, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CONGAREE FOUNDATION | RIDGELAND, SC | $150,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CHRISTOPHER REEVE FOUNDATION | SHORT HILLS, NJ | $97,400 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CHRISTOPHER REEVE FOUNDATION | SHORT HILLS, NJ | $95,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CROSSNORE SCHOOL-FOSTER HOME | CROSSNORE, NC | $65,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NC | RALEIGH, NC | $65,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| MIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $60,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CROSSNORE SCHOOL-FOSTER HOME | CROSSNORE, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CONGAREE FOUNDATION | RIDGELAND, SC | $50,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION | TULSA, OK | $50,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NC | RALEIGH, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CALIBER FOUNDATION | COS COB, CT | $46,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA- TIDE PRIDE | TUSCALOOSA, FL | $32,430 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CAMP SCHREIBER FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, NC | $30,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA- TIDE PRIDE | TUSCALOOSA, FL | $21,987 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| PAWS 4 PEOPLE FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CAMP SCHREIBER FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| PAWS 4 PEOPLE FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| AYN RAND INSTITUTE | SANTA ANA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| AYN RAND INSTITUTE | SANTA ANA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| GOODSHEPERD-HOMELESS SUPPORT | WILMINGTON, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| GOODSHEPERD-HOMELESS SUPPORT | WILMINGTON, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| WEST ALABAMA FOOD BANK | TUSCALOOSA, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| NEW HORIZONS OF NORTH TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| NEW HORIZONS OF NORTH TEXAS | DALLAS, TX | $6,490 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES | TAMPA, FL | $5,145 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $4,200 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION | NEW YORK, NY | $4,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| SFPGA FOUNDATION & NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $2,575 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| SFPGA FOUNDATION & NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $2,575 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| FIRST TEE | PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| ST PATRICK CATHOLIC CHURCH | PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION | NORTH PALM BEACH, FL | $1,259 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| ST JOHN CENTRAL ACADEMY | BELLAIRE, OH | $1,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR EATING DISORDERS | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| NEW HANOVER REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | WILMINGTON, NC | $1,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| MIDDLESEX SCHOOL | CONCORD, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| UNDERDOG ANIMAL RESCUE | LAFAYETTE, CA | $515 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| DESTINY FOR DOGS | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $500 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| BENEVITY | CALGARY | $250 | 2025 | CIVIC |
| THE LINSLY SCHOOL | WHEELING, WV | $780,000 | 2024 | CIVIC |
| UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA- CRIMSON TIDE FOUNDATION | TUSCALOOSA, AL | $500,000 | 2024 | CIVIC |
| ZETA CHARTER SCHOOLS | BRONX, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | CIVIC |
| CONGAREE FOUNDATION | RIDGELAND, SC | $150,000 | 2024 | CIVIC |
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA- CRIMSON TIDE FOUNDATION
$917,533CIVIC
THE LINSLY SCHOOL
$780,000CIVIC
THE LINSLY SCHOOL
$600,000CIVIC
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA- CRIMSON TIDE FOUNDATION
$500,000CIVIC
CALIBER FOUNDATION
$415,000CIVIC
ZETA CHARTER SCHOOLS
$250,000CIVIC
ZETA CHARTER SCHOOLS
CIVIC
CONGAREE FOUNDATION
$150,000CIVIC
CHRISTOPHER REEVE FOUNDATION
$97,400CIVIC
CHRISTOPHER REEVE FOUNDATION
$95,000CIVIC
CROSSNORE SCHOOL-FOSTER HOME
$65,000CIVIC
FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NC
$65,000CIVIC
MIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
$60,000CIVIC
CROSSNORE SCHOOL-FOSTER HOME
$50,000CIVIC
CONGAREE FOUNDATION
$50,000CIVIC
FOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION
$50,000CIVIC
FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NC
$50,000CIVIC
CALIBER FOUNDATION
$46,000CIVIC
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA- TIDE PRIDE
$32,430CIVIC
CAMP SCHREIBER FOUNDATION
$30,000CIVIC
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA- TIDE PRIDE
$21,987CIVIC
PAWS 4 PEOPLE FOUNDATION
$20,000CIVIC
CAMP SCHREIBER FOUNDATION
$20,000CIVIC
PAWS 4 PEOPLE FOUNDATION
$15,000CIVIC
AYN RAND INSTITUTE
$15,000CIVIC
AYN RAND INSTITUTE
$15,000CIVIC
GOODSHEPERD-HOMELESS SUPPORT
$10,000CIVIC
GOODSHEPERD-HOMELESS SUPPORT
$10,000CIVIC
WEST ALABAMA FOOD BANK
$10,000CIVIC
NEW HORIZONS OF NORTH TEXAS
$10,000CIVIC
NEW HORIZONS OF NORTH TEXAS
$6,490CIVIC
METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES
$5,145CIVIC
TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
$4,200CIVIC
CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION
$4,000CIVIC
SFPGA FOUNDATION & NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION
$2,575CIVIC
SFPGA FOUNDATION & NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION
$2,575CIVIC
FIRST TEE
$2,500CIVIC
ST PATRICK CATHOLIC CHURCH
$2,500CIVIC
NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION
$1,259CIVIC
ST JOHN CENTRAL ACADEMY
$1,000CIVIC
NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR EATING DISORDERS
$1,000CIVIC
NEW HANOVER REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
$1,000CIVIC
MIDDLESEX SCHOOL
$1,000CIVIC
UNDERDOG ANIMAL RESCUE
$515CIVIC
DESTINY FOR DOGS
$500CIVIC
BENEVITY
$250CIVIC
THE LINSLY SCHOOL
$780,000CIVIC
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA- CRIMSON TIDE FOUNDATION
$500,000CIVIC
ZETA CHARTER SCHOOLS
$250,000CIVIC
CONGAREE FOUNDATION
$150,000CIVIC