2012 Annual Report History of The Simmons Foundation 3 Board of Directors and Staff 4 Letter from Executive Director 5 Grant Spending 6 2012 Grant Allocations by: 7 Program Areas Type of Support Demographics Simmons Foundation/Redstone Scholarship Program 9 Grant Summary 10 Funding Organizations 30 Financial Statement for the year ending 12/31/12 35 To partner with organizations that strengthen women, youth and families while building an educated, tolerant and resilient community. 2 History of VISION The Simmons To help create a harmonious, dynamic and informed community, where all people have the opportunity to Foundation improve their lives. MISSION To partner with organizations that strengthen women, youth and families while building an educated, tolerant and resilient community. Background and Focus The granddaughter of Ola and L.B. Simmons founded The Simmons Foundation as a tribute to her grandparents’ lifelong tradition of contributing toward the betterment of any community in which they lived. Established in 1993, The Simmons Foundation expresses its values by funding organizations that help those whose resources are limited so they can lead productive, fulfilling and responsible lives with dignity and respect. In this manner, the Simmons Foundation honors the memory of Mr. and Mrs. Simmons. The Foundation’s primary interests are education, health and human services. 3 Board of Officers Directors & Linda K. May, President Bob Henricksen, Vice President Foundation Staff Amanda J. Cloud, Secretary FY2012 Directors John Durie Bob Henricksen Betty K. Mathis Linda K. May Jim T. Mills Gay A. Roane Staff Linda K. May, Executive Director Amanda J. Cloud, Senior Program Officer Kelli King-Jackson, Program Officer Kay Davis, Grant Coordinator/Administrative Assistant The Simmons Foundation Board of Directors meets quarterly. Review our website at www.thesimmonsfoundation.org for proposal deadlines. 4 To Friends of the Foundation… This 11th Annual Report is our “report card” to the community. Each year, we have attempted to refine our grantmaking to better reflect our donor’s intent, and focus our gifting on organizations that align with our mission of “… building an educated, tolerant and resilient community.” We envision a community “where all people have the opportunity to improve their lives.” Our asset size suggests a giving level considerably lower than the $3.4 million we distributed in 2012. However, our commitment to the community is high and our grantees are still feeling the impact of a difficult economy. As a result, we have continued to contribute at a level that helps our grant partners by providing the resources that enable them to fulfill their mission. In 2012, we welcomed a new Program Officer into The Simmons Foundation family – Kelli King-Jackson, formerly with the Children’s Defense Fund. She, along with Senior Program Officer, Amanda Cloud and our Grants Coordinator, Kay Davis, have melded into a strong team. Also in 2012, the Foundation welcomed a new Board Member – John Durie, Executive VP and CFO at Green Bank. John has been a longstanding friend of the Foundation. Over the course of the year, staff reviewed over 300 Letters of Inquiry (LOI). Ultimately, 176 organizations were funded, of which 16% were new to our foundation. General Operating support continues to represent the majority of our gifts, at over 60%. Realizing that Capacity Building funds are sometimes difficult for nonprofits to obtain, for the first time, staff earmarked funds specifically for Capacity Building projects. Further, we are proud that our grantmaking reflects the composition of greater Houston, which has become the most diverse city in the country. However, there is more to our work than reviewing LOIs and applications. For example, staff continues to be involved in critical issues that impact our community – we participated in important community conversations about homelessness and women’s health. We remain active with the Conference of Southwest Foundations – serving on the Board and participating on various committees. Additionally, we are frequently called upon to be panelists regarding the grantmaking process and other matters of concern and interest to nonprofit organizations and funders, alike. The 2012 year was both challenging and fulfilling. We are looking forward to 2013 when we will implement a new application procedure. However our goals remain the same – to be transparent regarding our processes while, simultaneously, having an open, honest and supportive relationship with our grant partners. We thank our grantees for their hard work to empower and assist vulnerable communities through education, healthcare, advocacy and enrichment opportunities, while respecting diversity. And we thank our colleagues for the opportunity to share educational experiences and work alongside a very dedicated group of foundation officers. Linda K. May Executive Director The Simmons Foundation 5 Grant Spending $4.0M $3,594,398 $3.5M $3,378,676 $3,248,243 $3,180,500 $2,980,938 $3.0M $2.5M $2,396,450 $2,075,500 $2.0M $1.5M $1.0M $0.5M $0M 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 The actual allocation amount for any given year will differ from the total grants approved and total grants paid during that year. Please see following explanation. In 2012: The Board of Directors The total amount paid in approved 176 grants FY2012 was $3,378,676 totaling $3,457,676 which included several multi-year some of which will be paid in grants originally approved in prior years future years 16% (29) of the grants The average grant paid by the approved in 2012 Foundation in 2012 was went to organizations not previously $15,000 funded by the Foundation 6 2012 Grant Allocation Civic & The Simmons Community $427,000 Foundation 13% funds primarily Human Services Education $744,417 $1,595,259 in four areas 22% 47% Health $612,000 18% Capacity Capital The majority of Capital & Building $169,986 Operating $50,000 the Foundation’s $101,260 contributions Program in 2012 were $1,003,430 for Operating Operating $2,054,000 expenses 7 Funding Demographics Harris County’s Most Recent Demographics 41% 33% 18% 8% African American Anglo Hispanic/Latino Asian/Other The statistics represent all residents of Harris County including adults and children. The Simmons Foundation 2010, 2011 & 2012 2010 2011 2012 36% 36% 36% 29% 29% 29% 26% 26% 25% 10% 9% 9% African American Anglo Hispanic/Latino Asian/Other The above information represents The Simmons Foundation’s funding in Harris and surrounding counties in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Although the majority of grants are made in the Greater Houston area, a small number of grants are made to organizations in pre-selected cities outside of Texas. NOTE: Due to our desire to serve the Greater Houston area, our funding demographics represent a larger population than what is represented in the Harris County census data. 8 In 2007, The Simmons Foundation was granted IRS The Simmons approval to institute a scholarship program in Foundation/ collaboration with The Redstone Companies. The Simmons Foundation/Redstone Scholarship Program is Redstone targeted to dependents of employees of The Redstone Scholarship Companies and affiliated entities. The scholarship program, which is administered by the Linda Lorelle Program Scholarship Fund, is available to eligible employees only. The mission of The Simmons Foundation/Redstone Scholarship Program is to provide scholarships for qualified employees’ dependents who need financial assistance and whose academic and personal potential may be unfulfilled due to circumstances beyond their control. A limited number of scholarships will be awarded yearly, based on a competitive process. 9 Grant Summary Civic and Community Community Advocacy & Research $27,000 ǀ 6% Community Development & Engagement $232,500 ǀ 55% Community Education $72,000 ǀ 17% Supporting & Improving $95,000 ǀ 22% Non-Profit Organizations Total: $427,000 (13% of Total Grants) 11 CIVIC AND COMMUNITY COMMUNITY ADVOCACY & RESEARCH Organization Purpose of Grant Year Awarded Total Grant 2012 Allocation (Program) Toward providing information, referrals Colorado Nonprofit Development and interpretation services for immigrants living in 2012 $10,000 $10,000 Center-Integrated Community Colorado's Routt and Mofatt counties (Operating) Toward providing information, referrals Colorado Nonprofit Development and interpretation services for immigrants living in 2012 $2,000 $2,000 Center-Integrated Community Colorado's Routt and Mofatt counties (Operating) Toward providing citizen education, Texas Freedom Network research and skills to support religious freedom, 2012 $15,000 $15,000 Education Fund individual liberties and public education COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & ENGAGEMENT (Program) Toward making loans to small ACCION Texas businesses that do not have access to traditional 2012 $20,000 $20,000 commercial sources of lending (Program) Toward THRIVE — an asset building program that assists low-to-moderate income families build financial stability by providing Chinese Community Center 2012 $40,000 $20,000 workforce development, financial literacy, homebuyer education and income support services (Program) Toward helping to restore the great Discovery Green 2012 $2,500 $2,500 lawn due to drought (Operating) Toward empowering communities by changing lives to ensure economic independence Houston Area Urban League 2011 $30,000 $15,000 through education, workforce and economic development and training (Operating) Toward “RSVP Program”