Charles and Marie Robertson Foundation
The Charles and Marie Robertson Foundation is a private foundation based in Carmel, California. Established in 2014, it is committed to American traditions of volunteerism and philanthropy, providing grant funding for projects that seek to make meaningful improvements to health and well-being in American communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+22.8% YoY
Grant Count
19
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$66K
+22.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on "Liberty. Virtue. Civil Society." It is committed to important American traditions of volunteerism and philanthropy.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Health Care
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
Grant Range
$2,500–$250,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds projects in:
- California
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $25,483,671–$27,185,469
- Total annual giving: $1,250,000
- Total revenues: $581,279
- Total expenses: $1,220,045
- Investment income and dividends: $414,560
- Number of employees: 0
- Giving rate: Approximately 4.0% of assets
EIN: 46-2161280
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Institute for World Politics ($200,000), Washington Latin Public Charter School ($125,000), Orange County Classical Academy ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ST MARY'S COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA MORAGA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP DENVER, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $55,000 |
| INTERCOLLEGIATE STUDIES INSTITUTE WILMINGTON, DE | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| WASHINGTON LATIN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN EXPRESSION PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $85,000 |
| INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| THE INSTITUTE FOR WORLD POLITICS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY GRAND RAPIDS, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| THE MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH PALO ALTO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $110,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Contact information is maintained through:
- Robert Ernst (listed as contact)
- Diana Ernst (listed as contact)
Address: 4500 Viejo Rd, Carmel, CA 93923-9437
Telephone: 831-206-5288
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIANA ERNST | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DAVID ERNST | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ROBERT ERNST | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| KATHERINE ERNST | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| KERI ERNST | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MICHAEL SANFORD | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with recent distributions documented in 2023 and 2024 IRS Form 990 filings. The foundation's most recent tax filing was updated in February 2026.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Charles and Marie Robertson Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on "Liberty. Virtue. Civil Society." It is committed to important American traditions of volunteerism and philanthropy. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Health Care • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Charles and Marie Robertson Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: $1,250,000 • Number of grants: 14–19 grants annually • Typical grant range: $2,500–$250,000 • Median grant amount: $40,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only. **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health ($110,000) • Moving Pictures Institute ($100,000) • Washington Latin Public Charter School ($100,000)
Where does Charles and Marie Robertson Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds projects in: • California • District of Columbia • Virginia
What size grants does Charles and Marie Robertson Foundation award?
In 2024, Charles and Marie Robertson Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $66K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Charles and Marie Robertson Foundation's EIN?
Charles and Marie Robertson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2161280. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Charles and Marie Robertson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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