The Simmons Foundation concentrates its giving on place-based community infrastructure and preservation projects in the Yampa Valley (Routt County, CO) while also supporting social service capital campaigns and safety-net programs in Houston. Its largest investments are capital and campaign-oriented — public pool and pond preservation projects in Colorado — alongside multi-year support for domestic violence services and youth shelter/capital needs in Houston. The foundation favors tangible, community-facing projects (recreation, agriculture preservation, facilities) and makes transformational, often single-purpose gifts.
A $2 million gift to Old Town Hot Springs for Routt County’s public pool is the clearest marker of how The Simmons Foundation gives: large, place-specific, capital-oriented grants that support tangible community infrastructure. In Steamboat Springs and across the Yampa Valley, the foundation backs projects tied to recreation, land and water preservation, agriculture, and civic facilities. In Houston, it supports safety-net and advocacy organizations through campaign and capital funding, including repeated support for Houston Area Women's Center and Covenant House Texas. The recent record shows the foundation favoring defined projects over diffuse program support, with multi-year commitments appearing alongside one-time transformational grants. Several awards are sized to move a project forward rather than fund short operating cycles, such as the $1 million grant to Yampa Valley Community Foundation for Save Casey’s Pond and the $125,000 support for Campaign For Courage at Houston Area Women's Center. Its grantmaking connects community amenities, environmental stewardship, and social services in a relatively small set of recurring places and organizations.
In recreation infrastructure, The Simmons Foundation made a $2 million grant to Old Town Hot Springs to support It’s In The Water for Routt County’s public pool. Environmental and land stewardship is another visible theme: it gave $1 million to Yampa Valley Community Foundation for Save Casey’s Pond, and $100,000 to Community Agriculture Alliance to preserve agriculture in the Yampa Valley. Community facilities also appear in the portfolio, including a $250,000 grant to Yampa Valley Community Foundation to construct, maintain, and operate an office building at 4th & Oak St. In Houston, the foundation supports financial empowerment and advocacy for women through grants to The Women’s Resource and Houston Area Women’s Center.
The typical grant size sits at $32,500 at the 25th percentile, a median of $90,000, and $125,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows both repeat recipients and repeat project lines: Houston Area Women's Center appears in consecutive years for Campaign For Courage, The Women’s Resource received back-to-back support for Owning our Destiny, and Yampa Valley Community Foundation appears multiple times across 2024 and 2025. The foundation is not listed as funding individuals and does not make program-related investments. The pattern is largely project-based, with capital campaigns, construction, and support grants recurring alongside general support.
$3.5M
$2.5M
$8.7M
$3.5M
Most grants fall between $33K and $125K, with a median of $90K.
25th Percentile
$33K
Median
$90K
75th Percentile
$125K
About 22% of grants go to recipients in CO.
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Concentrated, high-dollar capital and campaign grants with the majority of funds going to a few place-based projects. Mix of repeat funding to local partners (multiple grants to Yampa Valley Community Foundation) and one-off transformational gifts; larger, multi-hundred-thousand to multi-million dollar commitments rather than many small operating grants.
Notable grantees: Old Town Hot Springs, Yampa Valley Community Foundation, Houston Area Women's Center, Covenant House Texas, Community Agriculture Alliance
Grant recipients are almost entirely in the United States, with 100% of recent grants landing there. The foundation gives most often in Texas, which accounts for 30% of grants, but a substantial share also goes to Steamboat Springs and the wider Routt County/Yampa Valley area in Colorado. Houston recipients include Houston Area Women's Center, Covenant House Texas, and The Women's Resource, while Steamboat Springs recipients include Old Town Hot Springs, Yampa Valley Community Foundation, and United Way of the Yampa Valley. The portfolio is regional rather than national.
The recent record centers on capital and place-based projects: a public pool in Routt County, pond preservation, an office building, and campaign support for housing, domestic violence services, and community facilities. The foundation also funds agriculture preservation, childcare, environmental stewardship, and support services for people facing financial or developmental challenges.
Yes. Houston Area Women's Center received support in both 2024 and 2025 for Campaign For Courage. The Women’s Resource also received grants in both years for Owning our Destiny, and Yampa Valley Community Foundation appears repeatedly across 2024 and 2025 for different purposes.
The typical grant size is $32,500 at the 25th percentile, $90,000 at the median, and $125,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent file also includes several much larger project gifts, including a $2 million award and a $1 million award.
Most grants go to Texas, which represents 30% of the grants in the recent data. Colorado is also a major recipient geography, especially Steamboat Springs and Routt County in the Yampa Valley.
No. The foundation is listed as not funding individuals and not making program-related investments. The recent grants instead show organizational support through capital campaigns, project grants, and general support.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town Hot Springs | Steamboat Springs, CO | $2,000,000 | 2025 | To support "It's In The Water" for Routt County's public pool |
| Yampa Valley Community Foundation | Steamboat Springs, CO | $1,000,000 | 2025 | To support the "Save Casey's Pond" |
| Yampa Valley Community Foundation | Steamboat Springs, CO | $125,000 | 2025 | General support |
| Houston Area Women's Center | Houston, TX | $125,000 | 2025 | Support for Campaign For Courage |
| The Women's Resource | Houston, TX | $80,000 | 2025 | Owning our Destiny Campaign |
| Yampa Valley Autism Program | Steamboat Springs, CO | $40,000 | 2025 | To support families living with developmental disabilities |
| Partners for Youth | Steamboat Springs, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | General support |
| LiftUp Routt County | Steamboat Springs, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | Grant for HVAC System at donation center |
| Yampa Valley Sustainability Council | Steamboat Springs, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | General support |
| Rocky Mountain Youth Corps | Steamboat Springs, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General support |
| Yampatika | Steamboat Springs, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | To inspire environmental stewardship through education |
| United Way of the Yampa Valley | Steamboat Springs, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | Support for Northwest Colorado resident needs |
| Routt County Humane Society | Steamboat Springs, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | To provide care, shelter, and advocacy for animals in need |
| Yampa Valley Community Foundation | Steamboat Springs, CO | $250,000 | 2024 | To construct, maintain, and operate an office building at 4th & Oak St |
| Houston Area Women's Center | Houston, TX | $125,000 | 2024 | Support for Campaign For Courage |
| Yampa Valley Community Foundation | Steamboat Springs, CO | $125,000 | 2024 | Toward linking community, education and environment through service |
| Covenant House Texas | Houston, TX | $125,000 | 2024 | Support for Building for Life Capital Campaign |
| Community Agriculture Alliance | Steamboat Springs, CO | $100,000 | 2024 | To preserve agriculture in the Yampa Valley |
| The Women's Resource | Houston, TX | $80,000 | 2024 | Owning our Destiny Campaign for women navigating financial challenges |
| Steamboat Springs Discovery Learning Center | Steamboat Springs, CO | $40,000 | 2024 | To promote child care to over 450 children per year in Colorado |
| LiftUp Routt County | Steamboat Springs, CO | $30,000 | 2024 | Grant for air conditioning/HVAC System at donation center |
| United Way of the Yampa Valley | Steamboat Springs, CO | $25,000 | 2024 | Support database for UW clients served |
| United Way of the Yampa Valley | Steamboat Springs, CO | $25,000 | 2024 | Support for Northwest Colorado resident needs |
Old Town Hot Springs
$2,000,000To support "It's In The Water" for Routt County's public pool
Yampa Valley Community Foundation
$1,000,000To support the "Save Casey's Pond"
Yampa Valley Community Foundation
$125,000General support
Houston Area Women's Center
$125,000Support for Campaign For Courage
The Women's Resource
$80,000Owning our Destiny Campaign
Yampa Valley Autism Program
$40,000To support families living with developmental disabilities
Partners for Youth
$25,000General support
LiftUp Routt County
$25,000Grant for HVAC System at donation center
Yampa Valley Sustainability Council
$25,000General support
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps
$10,000General support
Yampatika
$10,000To inspire environmental stewardship through education
United Way of the Yampa Valley
$10,000Support for Northwest Colorado resident needs
Routt County Humane Society
$10,000To provide care, shelter, and advocacy for animals in need
Yampa Valley Community Foundation
$250,000To construct, maintain, and operate an office building at 4th & Oak St
Houston Area Women's Center
$125,000Support for Campaign For Courage
Yampa Valley Community Foundation
$125,000Toward linking community, education and environment through service
Covenant House Texas
$125,000Support for Building for Life Capital Campaign
Community Agriculture Alliance
$100,000To preserve agriculture in the Yampa Valley
The Women's Resource
$80,000Owning our Destiny Campaign for women navigating financial challenges
Steamboat Springs Discovery Learning Center
$40,000To promote child care to over 450 children per year in Colorado
LiftUp Routt County
$30,000Grant for air conditioning/HVAC System at donation center
United Way of the Yampa Valley
$25,000Support database for UW clients served
United Way of the Yampa Valley
$25,000Support for Northwest Colorado resident needs