Octavia Foundation

## Approach Strategy

The Octavia Foundation is a private non-operating foundation (NTEE code T20) incorporated and headquartered in Reno, Nevada (427 W Plumb Ln, Reno, NV 89509). Established in 2007, the Foundation operates under the management of Rosewood Family Advisors LLP, a family office and wealth management firm in Reno — a clear indicator that this is a family foundation stewarded through professional advisors.

With approximately $1.16 million in assets and annual income around $247,000, the Octavia Foundation is a small, privately managed grantmaking vehicle. Its investment portfolio is heavily equity-based ($1.11M in corporate stock as of FY2023), generating dividends and capital gains that fund charitable distributions.

Key strategic considerations for applicants: - As a professionally managed family foundation with no public application portal (website is a placeholder), the Octavia Foundation operates through invitation or referral rather than open solicitation. - The Foundation is administered by Rosewood Family Advisors LLP; approaching this firm directly is the most viable pathway to a grant conversation. - Reno and northern Nevada nonprofits are likely priority recipients, though family foundations sometimes support causes beyond the local area based on trustee interests. - In FY2023, the Foundation contributed $143,500 in grants — significantly above the minimum distribution requirement of ~$64,735 — signaling a philanthropically active posture.

## Funding Patterns

Based on IRS 990-PF filings and available data:

• Total assets (FY2024): ~$1,156,662
• Total assets (FY2023): ~$1,203,002
• Fair market value of assets (FY2023): ~$1,301,227
• Investment securities (FY2023): $1,111,561 in corporate stock
• Net investment income (FY2023): $31,295
• Dividends received (FY2023): $34,305
• Capital gains (FY2023): $14,992
• Charitable contributions paid (FY2023): $143,500
• Total expenses (FY2023): $179,888 (includes $160,836 in exempt-purpose expenditures)
• Minimum distribution requirement (FY2023): ~$64,735
• Officer compensation: $0 (FY2023) — the Foundation pays no officer compensation, with management handled by Rosewood Family Advisors

Typical grant profile: - The $143,500 in FY2023 giving — more than double the mandatory 5% distribution — suggests the trustees are actively committed to charitable giving rather than simply meeting minimums. - Likely 5–15 individual grants per year, in the $5,000–$25,000 range based on the total giving volume. - No public grantee disclosure has been identified; specific recipients are listed in the 990-PF Part XV (not yet digitized in this record).

Asset trend: Assets declined slightly from $1.203M (FY2023) to $1.157M (FY2024), likely due to charitable distributions exceeding investment returns in a mixed market year.

## Peer Comparison

The Octavia Foundation sits among small Nevada private foundations, a category that includes many family-managed vehicles associated with Reno's technology and gaming industry wealth. Below is a comparison with similar-sized Nevada foundations:

Takeaways: - The Octavia Foundation's $143,500 in FY2023 giving is outsized relative to its asset base (~12% payout vs. the 5% minimum), making it one of the more actively giving small foundations in Nevada on a payout-rate basis. - Managed by a family office (Rosewood Family Advisors), it follows a high-touch, relationship-driven model rather than open solicitation. - Unlike community foundations, it cannot accept donor-advised fund (DAF) contributions and focuses on its own grantmaking agenda. - The William N. Pennington Foundation is the dominant local funder for larger asks; the Octavia Foundation is better suited for small-to-mid requests ($10K–$30K range).

## Recent Activity

IRS Filing History: - Most recent tax period on record: December 2024 (FY2024) - Latest 990-PF filing object ID: 202501259349101930 (filed approximately early 2025) - FY2023 990-PF filed June 2024: reflected $143,500 in charitable contributions and total exempt-purpose expenditures of $160,836

Charitable Giving Above Minimum: The Foundation's FY2023 contributions of $143,500 were approximately 2.2x the mandatory minimum distribution of $64,735. This "excess distribution" posture indicates active grantmaking intent and possibly pre-positioning for a larger philanthropic push or response to specific opportunities.

Professional Management: The care-of designation ("% Rosewood Family Advisors LLP") confirms the Foundation is professionally managed. Rosewood Family Advisors is a Reno-based registered investment advisor and family office. Their involvement signals that the Foundation's grantmaking decisions may be driven by a family principal with long-term philanthropic goals.

Website Status: The Foundation's listed website (octavia.org) displays a "Coming Soon" placeholder page with no content. This strongly suggests the Foundation is either dormant online or in the process of establishing a public presence. It has no active application portal.

No Public Grants Database Listings: No specific grantee-level data has been identified in public databases, which is typical for small private foundations whose 990-PF Part XV data has not been extracted in structured form.

## Application Tips

The Octavia Foundation's private, advisor-managed structure means standard grant-seeking tactics will not work. Here is how to approach it effectively:

1. Go through Rosewood Family Advisors. The Foundation is administered by Rosewood Family Advisors LLP at 427 W Plumb Ln, Reno, NV 89509. A letter of inquiry addressed to the Foundation care of this firm is the most direct pathway. Research the firm's principals to identify the right contact.

2. Do not wait for a website or RFP. The octavia.org domain shows only a "Coming Soon" placeholder with no content. The Foundation is not actively soliciting via the web. Relationship-based outreach is essential.

3. Leverage local Reno networks. The Foundation's Reno address and Nevada-based management strongly suggest a preference for northern Nevada nonprofits. Organizations embedded in the Reno community — through the Chamber of Commerce, University of Nevada Reno, or local civic networks — are better positioned to identify trustee connections.

4. Align your ask with the Foundation's giving volume. With $143,500 given in FY2023 across likely 5–15 grants, a request of $10,000–$25,000 is well-calibrated. Requests above $50,000 are unlikely given the Foundation's total asset base.

5. Emphasize impact and accountability. Professionally managed family foundations managed by investment advisors (like Rosewood) often emphasize measurable outcomes, stewardship, and donor intent. Lead with clear metrics and specific use of funds.

6. Review the 990-PF for grantee intelligence. The FY2023 990-PF (available via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer at EIN 20-3393226) may contain a grantee schedule in Part XV. Identifying past grantees can reveal the Foundation's actual focus areas and trustees' philanthropic priorities.

7. Be patient and persistent. Family foundations often grant to organizations they know personally or have observed over time. A multi-year relationship-building strategy — sharing annual updates, inviting site visits — is more effective than a one-time cold ask.