Simón Bolívar Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Simón Bolívar Foundation, based in Houston, names Venezuela and the United States as its priorities and funds health work for vulnerable people, especially children and mothers, through programmes run by qualified charities, so a health-focused project in either place is the clearest fit.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $440,000, with a median of about $125,000, so a request near that middle is realistic, although its largest grant was about $1,450,000.
- In its most recent filing, 94% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so expect a relationship-led process and aim for an invitation or use its open call, which runs on a rolling basis.
- Proposals should set out achievable milestones, show that budgets are cost-effective, and measure impact against clear goals and indicators.
- Do not apply for individual aid, capital projects or endowments, sports sponsorships, political causes or lobbying, or if you are a family member of, or an organisation belonging to, CITGO or PDVSA, or are related to officials of any government in the broadest sense.
Overview
Simón Bolívar Foundation is a US private foundation based in Houston, TX.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Simón Bolívar Foundation works to improve the health of vulnerable people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty, with special attention to children and mothers in and from Venezuela. Its initiatives address immediate and long-term health needs among vulnerable people in Venezuela, the United States and other countries. It funds programmes delivered by qualified charitable organisations with boots on the ground and the capacity to carry them out. Its objectives are to increase access to medicine and nutrition, strengthen the capacity of medical professionals and caregivers through education and support, and empower community organisations to serve the health needs of vulnerable people. Its grantmaking also supports healthcare services and supplies, food security, nutrition programmes, and knowledge transfer, networking and education.
Themes
- Humanitarian health
- Medicine and nutrition
- Medical capacity building
- Community organisation capacity
Geographic Focus
Priority: Venezuela; United States.
What They Don't Fund
- Family member or organization belonging to CITGO, PDVSA, or the arm of the Venezuelan government that controls PDVSA or National Assembly
- Grant applicants related, in its broadest scope, with officials of any government
- Individual needs, including sponsorships, and other forms of financial aid
- Fundraisers through third party organizations
- Goodwill advertising, souvenir journals, or dinner programs
- Sectarian activities of religious organizations
- Political causes, candidates, organizations or campaigns or lobbying
- Books, magazines, or articles in professional journals
- Capital projects and/or endowments (exceptions made for professorships and scholarships related to endowments in selected universities)
- Sports sponsorships
- Door prizes for raffles
How to apply
Grant proposals are received by invitation or open call, with proposals considered on a rolling basis each year until funds are awarded and expended.
Deadlines: Rolling proposals each year until funds are awarded and expended.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 94% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 90 grants to organisations were about $125,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Proposals should address the grant programme priorities.
- Budgets are assessed for cost-effectiveness.
- Project plans should set out achievable milestones and deliverables.
- Project impact is measured against goals, objectives and relevant indicators.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: 17%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 12%
- The largest single recipient received 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to organisations Simón Bolívar Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 2% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Venezuela).
- 42% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 32 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Pan American Development Foundation · Medium/large grants program of Humanitarian Health$1,470,0002024 tax year
- Texas Children's Hospital · Medium/large grants program of Humanitarian Health$745,5002024 tax year
- Medical Teams International · Medium/large grants program of Humanitarian Health$437,5002024 tax year
- Project HOPE · Medium/large grants program of Humanitarian Health$437,5002024 tax year
- GlobalGiving Foundation · Medium/large grants program of Humanitarian Health$295,0002024 tax year
- Fundahigado America Foundation · Donation of Equipment, supplies and services to hospitals$281,5982024 tax year
- Scalabrini International Migration Network · Medium/large grants program of Humanitarian Health$270,0002024 tax year
- International Federation of Red Cross · Medium/large grants program of Humanitarian Health$250,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Bob Shoemaker — Controller & Assistant Treasurer
- Yollyfrancis Castellanos — Assistant Secretary
- Stephen McNabb — Treasurer
- David Weaver — Director
- Pablo Perez — Director
- Andres Padilla — Director
- Steve Scarpino — Chief Compliance & Ethics Officer
- Mariela Poleo — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $4,063,935 | $4,975,963 | $2,781,022 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $8,188,294 | $7,021,536 | $3,591,933 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $7,037,931 | $6,650,944 | $4,767,339 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
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Applying to Simón Bolívar Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required