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Roberts Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Roberts 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.

$85k
Granted FY2024still arriving
22
Grants FY2024still arriving
8
States reached
$15k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02Its granteesRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0189% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Education$86kHealth$42kScience & Tech$15kReligion$15kArts & Culture$13kEnvironment$10kHuman Services$8kYouth Development$6kOther$0
02FY2024 · 22 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k19 grants · $45k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $40k
$2,500
Median grant
8
States reached
$2.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Morgridge Institute for Research Inc$15,000
Sinclair Community College Foundation$15,000
University of Wisconsin Foundation$10,000
Sinclair Community College Foundation$5,000
Carleton College$5,000
Dayton Art Institute$5,000
The University of Alabama at Birmingham$5,000
Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy$2,500
Western Reserve Academy$2,500
Kenyon College$2,500
James M Cox Jr Arboretum Foundation$2,500
Bay View Association of the United Methodist Church$2,000
Kids in New Directions Inc$2,000
Air Force Museum Foundation$1,500
American Associates of the National Theater Inc$1,500
02Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

76%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$157k · 14 repeat orgs$51k to everyone else

14 repeat relationships: 11 still active in FY2024, 3 since wound down; 10 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

14
11

Total granted

$157k
$37k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+8%
+21%

Still filing today

86%
36%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 83% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $14k went to new ones.

50%100%’21’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’21’23’24
EducationArts & CultureHealthHuman ServicesFood & NutritionYouth DevelopmentOther
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

  • SC
    SINCLAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
    3× · 2021–2024 · $42k · revenue +8%
  • TM
    THE MORGRIDGE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH INC
    2× · 2021–2024 · $30k · revenue +167%
  • OH
    OHIO'S HOSPICE FOUNDATION
    2× · 2021–2023 · $10k · revenue +121%

Funded once

  • MI
    Morgridge Institute for Research Foundation
    one grant, 2023 · $15k
  • SJ
    St. John's Lutheran Church
    one grant, 2021 · $5k
  • PF
    PEO Foundationgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $5k · revenue +60%
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.

03Its 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
Wilson College

Wilson college empowers students to be confident and critical thinkers, creative visionaries, effective communicators, honorable leaders, and agents of justice.

Education
2
Augustana College

Rooted in the liberal arts & sciences & lutheran expression of the christian faith, & is committed to offering a challenging education that develops qualities of mind, spirit, & body necessary for a rewarding life of leadership & service…

Education
3
Wheaton College

Wheaton college provides a transformative liberal arts education, combining theory and practice, for intellectually curious students within a collaborative and vibrant extended community and network that values and strives to create an…

Education
4
University of New Haven

The University of New Haven is a student-centered comprehensive university with an emphasis on excellence in liberal arts and professional education. Our mission is to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a…

Education
5
State University of Iowa Alumni Association

Our mission is to strengthen the university of iowa through alumni engagement. we do this through our communications, alumni programs, and events.

—
6
Delaware Valley University

See schedule o.we are inspired by the ideals of our founder who, in 1896, emphasized respect for all people and ideas, who honored knowledge with practice, progress and the common good. our historical commitment to experiential learning…

—
7
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

—
8
Widener University

Empowering our community of learners to discover and create better futures.

Education
9
Furman University

The primary mission of furman as a liberal arts institution is to provide a distinctive education in fine arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and the sciences, as well as selected professional disciplines.

Education
10
Wartburg College

Wartburg college is dedicated to challenging and nurturing students for lives of leadership and service as a spirited expression of their faith and learning.

Education
11
Ashland University

Ashland university, guided by our christian heritage, is a comprehensive, private university that provides a transformative learning experience, shaping graduates who work, serve and lead with integrity in their local, national, and global…

Education
12
Lakeland University

Lakeland university educates individuals of diverse backgrounds, preparing them to think critically, to communicate effectively, to succeed professionally, and to lead ethical, purposeful, and fulfilling lives. rooted in the values of the…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Air Force Museum Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is The German Society of Pennsylvania. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
03the 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 36 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.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/26
Grantees still filing
16/26
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

SINCLAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $42,000 · EducationSINCLAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATIONUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION: $12,500 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATIONCARLETON COLLEGE: $10,000 · EducationCARLETON COLLEGEWESTERN RESERVE ACADEMY: $6,500 · EducationWESTERN RESERVE ACADEMYPEO Foundation: $5,000 · EducationPEO Foundation+4 more: $7,500 · Education+4 moreMorgridge Institute for Research Foundation: $15,000 · OtherMorgridge Institute for Resea…The University of Alabama at Birmingham: $10,000 · OtherThe University of Alabama at …EPIPHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH: $7,500 · OtherEPIPHANY LUTHERAN CHURCHSt. John's Lutheran Church: $5,000 · OtherSt. John's Lutheran ChurchUniversity of Wisconsin: $2,000 · OtherTHE JAMES M COX JR ARBORETUM FOUNDATION: $3,500 · OtherTHE JAMES M COX JR ARBORETUM …THE BAY VIEW ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: $2,000 · OtherKansas Lions Foundation: $2,000 · Other+7 more: $7,500 · Other+7 moreTHE MORGRIDGE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH INC: $30,000 · HealthTHE MORGRIDGE INSTITUT…OHIO'S HOSPICE FOUNDATION: $10,000 · HealthOHIO'S HOSPICE FOUNDAT…Lane Thomas Foundation: $2,000 · HealthTHE DAYTON ART INSTITUTE: $7,000 · Arts & CultureTHE AIR FORCE MUSEUM FOUNDATION INC: $1,500 · Arts & CultureTHE WILMA THEATER: $1,000 · Arts & CultureSTUDIO BY THE TRACKS INC: $1,000 · Arts & CultureGRACEWORKS LUTHERAN SERVICES: $6,500 · Human ServicesYOUNG WOMENS CHRISTIAN ASSN OF BIRMINGHAM: $1,000 · Human ServicesWALLOON LAKE ASSOCIATION AND CONSERVANCY: $5,000 · Food & NutritionSECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TN INC: $1,000 · Food & NutritionKids in New Directions: $4,000 · Youth Development
Education$83,500Other$54,500Health$42,000Arts & Culture$10,500Human Services$7,500Food & Nutrition$6,000Youth Development$4,000

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetSINCLAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $42,000 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetTHE MORGRIDGE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH INC: $30,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION: $12,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetOHIO'S HOSPICE FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCARLETON COLLEGE: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE DAYTON ART INSTITUTE: $7,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetGRACEWORKS LUTHERAN SERVICES: $6,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetWESTERN RESERVE ACADEMY: $6,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPEO Foundation: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWALLOON LAKE ASSOCIATION AND CONSERVANCY: $5,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetKids in New Directions: $4,000 over 3y, 0.9% of budgetTHE JAMES M COX JR ARBORETUM FOUNDATION: $3,500 over 2y, 1.6% of budgetKENYON COLLEGE: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetINDIAN SPRINGS SCHOOL: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetLane Thomas Foundation: $2,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetSTATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE BAY VIEW ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKansas Lions Foundation: $2,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetTHE AIR FORCE MUSEUM FOUNDATION INC: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TN INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE WILMA THEATER: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHIGHLANDS DAY SCHOOL FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSTUDIO BY THE TRACKS INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetYOUNG WOMENS CHRISTIAN ASSN OF BIRMINGHAM: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% 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.

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.

Dayton Foundation Dep…The Dayton FoundationDayton Foundation Plu…Kettering Family Foun…The CareSource Founda…Synchrony FoundationIbm International Fou…Ge Aerospace Foundati…The Bank of America C…Vanguard Charitable E…Natl Christian Charit…American Endowment Fo…
Dayton Foundation DepositoryOH24.9× affinity10 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Dayton Foundation Depository · The Dayton Foundation · Dayton Foundation Plus Inc · Kettering Family Foundation · The CareSource Foundation · Synchrony Foundation · Ibm International Foundation · Ge Aerospace Foundation · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · American Endowment Foundation

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.
04Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Roberts Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Roberts Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

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 36 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 Roberts’ 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