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Robert Leroy Atwell and Lucy Williams Atwell Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Robert Leroy Atwell and Lucy Williams Atwell Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$282k
Granted FY2024still arriving
19
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$1.3MHuman Services$188kRecreation & Sports$165kEnvironment$85kHealth$70kArts & Culture$45kHousing & Shelter$40kYouth Development$25kOther$0
02FY2024 · 19 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k2 grants · $7k
  • $10k–50k15 grants · $175k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $100k
$10,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$4.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
HAMPDEN SYDNEY COLLEGE$50,000
VIRGINIA ATHLETICS FOUNDATION$50,000
FRIENDS OF BELLEMEADE PARK$20,000
ELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMY$15,000
Individual grant recipient$15,000
THE READ CENTER$15,000
ST JOHN'S CHURCH FOUNDATION$10,000
PETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER$10,000
CRISTO REY RICHMOND$10,000
ST JAMES'S CHILDREN'S CENTER$10,000
PARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE$10,000
ANNA JULIA COOPER EPISCOPAL SCHOOL$10,000
CARITAS$10,000
SPORTSBACKERS$10,000
SACRED HEART CENTER$10,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–24, $115k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%PETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $20k → 9%PETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $15k → 9%PETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $15k → 9%PETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $15k → 9%PETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $15k → 9%PETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $15k → 9%PETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $10k → 9%PETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $10k → 9%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

94%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.8M · 23 repeat orgs$115k to everyone else

23 repeat relationships: 19 still active in FY2024, 4 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

23
15

Total granted

$1.8M
$115k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+51%
+305%

Still filing today

87%
33%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
EducationArts & CultureEnvironmentHuman ServicesRecreation & SportsHealthOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • HC
    HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE
    7× · 2017–2024 · $550k · revenue +76%
  • RA
    READING AND EDUCATION FOR ADULT DEVELOPMENT
    8× · 2017–2024 · $110k · revenue +61%
  • EH
    ELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMY
    8× · 2017–2024 · $103k · revenue +89%

Funded once

  • SM
    SCIENCE MUSEUM OF RICHMOND
    one grant, 2017 · $15k
  • CI
    CODEVA INCgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $10k · revenue +325%
  • NC
    NOAH'S CHILDREN
    one grant, 2018 · $10k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Good Shepherd Episcopal School

The mission of Good Shepherd Episcopal School is to inspire each child to achieve academic excellence within a diverse, nurturing community that builds character and fosters respect for one another and our shared environment, locally and…

Education
2
Academy of Richmond County
—
3
Rise Richmond Inc

Rise richmond's mission is to cultivate the god-given potential of students in richmond's east end through learning opportunities that equip them to flourish.

Crime & Legal
4
Richmond Waldorf School

Our approach to a holistic Waldorf education lays the foundation for a life full of meaning and purpose. (See 4a)

—
5
The Richmond Symphony

The richmond symphony performs, teaches and champions music to inspire and unite our communities.

Arts & Culture
6
Chesterton Academy of Saint John the Evangelist

The mission of Chesterton Academy is to help parents raise up a new generation of joyful leaders and saints, educated in the classical tradition and the truths of the Catholic faith.

Education
7
Regents School of Charlottesville Inc

Regents' mission is to provide a classical and christian education, founded upon and informed by a biblical worldview, that equips our students to know, love, and practice that which is true, good, and the beautiful and challenges them to…

Education
8
Richmond Friends School Inc

Committed to providing a quality educational experience for each child, creating an environment that nurtures individual intellectual, emotional, creative, spiritual, and physical gifts within a community

Education
9
The Richmond Forum

To present powerful voices so richmond can learn. to empower local voices so richmond can lead.

—
10
Hunter Classical Christian School

Provide an education to children in lower and middle school using classical christian methodology.

Education
11
Richard Wright Public Charter School for Journalism and Media Art

The mission of richard wright public charter school for journalism and media arts is to transform students in grades 8-12 into well-versed medial contributors by providing a student-centered environment that connects them to the classic…

Education
12
Corporation of the Washington Latin School

To provide a rigorous, classical education to public school middle and high school students from across the district of columbia.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Anna Julia Cooper School; the most unlike its peers is Friends of Bellemeade Park. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

26 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 26 of the 38 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
11
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/26
Grantees still filing
20/26
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE: $550,000 · EducationHAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGEANNA JULIA COOPER SCHOOL: $90,000 · EducationANNA JULIA COOPER SCHOOLSt Andrew's School: $76,305 · EducationSt Andrew's SchoolVIRGINIA STUDENT AID FOUNDATION INC: $75,000 · EducationVIRGINIA STUDENT AID FOUNDATION INCCristo Rey Richmond High School Inc: $75,000 · EducationCristo Rey Richmond High School IncST JAMES'S CHILDREN'S CENTER: $40,000 · Education+2 more: $20,000 · EducationIndividual grant recipient: $135,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientREADING AND EDUCATION FOR ADULT DEVELOPMENT: $110,000 · OtherREADING AND EDUCATION FOR ADULT DEV…ELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMY: $102,500 · OtherELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMYSACRED HEART CENTER INC: $40,000 · OtherSACRED HEART CENTER INCCARITAS: $40,000 · OtherCARITASJacob's Ladder Inc: $25,000 · Other+17 more: $153,000 · Other+17 morePETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC: $115,000 · Human ServicesFRIENDS OF BELLEMEADE PARK: $30,000 · EnvironmentCAPITAL TREES: $30,000 · EnvironmentJAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION: $25,000 · EnvironmentMETROPOLITAN RICHMOND SPORTS BACKERS: $70,000 · Recreation & SportsTHE MCSHIN FOUNDATION: $65,000 · HealthPARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE: $50,000 · Philanthropy
Education$926,305Other$605,500Human Services$115,000Environment$85,000Recreation & Sports$70,000Health$65,000Philanthropy$50,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetHAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE: $550,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetPETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC: $115,000 over 8y, 0.8% of budgetREADING AND EDUCATION FOR ADULT DEVELOPMENT: $110,000 over 8y, 3.0% of budgetELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMY: $102,500 over 8y, 0.7% of budgetANNA JULIA COOPER SCHOOL: $90,000 over 8y, 0.6% of budgetSt Andrew's School: $76,305 over 7y, 0.7% of budgetVIRGINIA STUDENT AID FOUNDATION INC: $75,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCristo Rey Richmond High School Inc: $75,000 over 6y, 0.6% of budgetMETROPOLITAN RICHMOND SPORTS BACKERS: $70,000 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetTHE MCSHIN FOUNDATION: $65,000 over 7y, 0.4% of budgetPARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE: $50,000 over 5y, 1.3% of budgetST JAMES'S CHILDREN'S CENTER: $40,000 over 4y, 1.1% of budgetCARITAS: $40,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetSACRED HEART CENTER INC: $40,000 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetFRIENDS OF BELLEMEADE PARK: $30,000 over 2y, 29% of budgetCAPITAL TREES: $30,000 over 6y, 2.0% of budgetJAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION: $25,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetJacob's Ladder Inc: $25,000 over 3y, 2.6% of budgetST JOHN'S CHURCH FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 2y, 1.2% of budgetTHE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MUSEUM: $15,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetCODEVA INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetENRICHMOND FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetCOMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetART 180 Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetThe Byrd Theatre Foundation: $5,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds PETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC ↗
  • Who funds READING AND EDUCATION FOR ADULT DEVELOPMENT ↗
  • Who funds ELIJAH HOUSE ACADEMY ↗
  • Who funds ANNA JULIA COOPER SCHOOL ↗
  • Who funds St Andrew's School ↗
  • Who funds VIRGINIA STUDENT AID FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds Cristo Rey Richmond High School Inc ↗
  • Who funds METROPOLITAN RICHMOND SPORTS BACKERS ↗
  • Who funds THE MCSHIN FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds PARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE ↗
  • Who funds ST JAMES'S CHILDREN'S CENTER ↗
  • Who funds CARITAS ↗
  • Who funds SACRED HEART CENTER INC ↗
  • Who funds FRIENDS OF BELLEMEADE PARK ↗
  • Who funds CAPITAL TREES ↗
  • Who funds JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION ↗
  • Who funds Jacob's Ladder Inc ↗
  • Who funds ST JOHN'S CHURCH FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MUSEUM ↗
  • Who funds CODEVA INC ↗
  • Who funds ENRICHMOND FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS ↗
  • Who funds RICHMOND CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STUDY ↗
  • Who funds ART 180 Inc ↗
  • Who funds The Byrd Theatre Foundation ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Community Foundat…The Mary Morton Parso…Wilbur Moreland Haven…Herndon FoundationThe Pauley Family Fou…Robins FoundationTesco FoundationRichard S Reynolds Fo…Dominion Energy Chari…Shelton H Short Jr Tr…Windsor Fdn Trust Uw …Estes Foundation Co M…
The Community Foundation IncVA43× affinity19 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Community Foundation Inc · The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation · Wilbur Moreland Havens Charitable Foundation · Herndon Foundation · The Pauley Family Foundation · Robins Foundation · Tesco Foundation · Richard S Reynolds Foundation · Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation · Shelton H Short Jr Trust · Windsor Fdn Trust Uw Quincy Cole · Estes Foundation Co Matthew Breidenbach Pitcairn

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Robert Leroy Atwell and Lucy Williams Atwell Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Robert Leroy Atwell and Lucy Williams Atwell Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%2%8%17%30%funder's share of their income ↑0%23%45%68%90%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    12report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–90%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 38 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Robert Leroy Atwell and Lucy Williams Atwell’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home