Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust
The Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Washington, DC. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in the District of Columbia.
Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust gave $1.3M across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $94K), mostly in District of Columbia. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,315,350
- -35.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- -46.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $93,954
- +19.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $38,750
- Total assets
- $38,754,416
- +4.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 1250 Connecticut Ave Nw 700, Washington, DC 20036-2657
Phone: (202) 419-1510
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Fight for Children ($633K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 92 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, recipients in DC received 84% of grant dollars, recipients in Maryland received 12%, recipients in Virginia received 3%, and recipients in Florida received 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 14 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $40K; repeat grants $98K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $38K repeat.
- 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 80% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2024) to $2.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fight for Children Washington, DC | Mission Purpose | $632,500 |
| Children's National Hospital Foundation Washington, DC | Mission Purpose | $225,000 |
| The Washington Ballet Washington, DC | Mission Purpose | $100,000 |
| Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School Takoma Park, MD | Mission Purpose | $80,000 |
| Bread for the City Washington, DC | Mission Purpose | $69,350 |
| Washington Nationals Philanthropies Washington, DC | Mission Purpose | $65,000 |
| The Black Feather Foundation Culpeper, VA | Mission Purpose | $40,000 |
| Connelly School of the Holy Child Potomac, MD | Mission Purpose | $37,500 |
| Athletes for Hope Bethesda, MD | Mission Purpose | $25,000 |
| Aleph Institute Surfside, FL | Mission Purpose | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $38,754,416 | $2,371,139 | $1,945,765 | $1,315,350 | 14 | $1,490,233 | $2,047,315 | $1,871,630 |
| 2023 | $37,019,506 | $1,581,924 | $2,482,162 | $2,043,185 | 26 | $2,204,786 | $1,226,989 | $1,724,519 |
| 2022 | $35,191,677 | $1,088,162 | $2,281,794 | $1,645,850 | 20 | $1,831,416 | $697,701 | $1,840,902 |
| 2021 | $42,248,898 | $5,586,606 | $2,268,653 | $1,489,870 | 13 | $1,667,034 | $5,209,109 | $1,866,839 |
| 2020 | $37,328,146 | $998,272 | $2,137,966 | $1,571,000 | 19 | — | $568,503 | $1,647,750 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose stated missions include youth development, arts education and performance, food access, and services for people with low incomes. For example, Fight for Children says it helps organizations and communities in the Washington, DC area use sports to improve the lives of underserved youth. The Washington Ballet says its mission includes presenting ballet, providing dance training, and serving the community through dance education. Bread for the City describes providing food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services to DC residents with low incomes.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the trust made 14 grants totaling $1,315,350. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $632,500, with a median of $38,750. Its largest reported grants included $632,500 to Fight for Children, $225,000 to Children’s National Hospital Foundation, $100,000 to The Washington Ballet, $80,000 to Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, and $69,350 to Bread for the City.
The filing states that the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
G David Fensterheim is listed as trustee on the 2024 filing.
Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust is led by G. David Fensterheim, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
G. David Fensterheim
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust
How much does Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust give each year?
Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust gave $1.3M across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 26 grants.
What is Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $38,750, and its average grant was $93,954, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust that year got $40K on average.
Where does Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust give grants?
Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust gives mostly in District of Columbia: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (7 grants).
Does Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Mission Purpose" (14 grants).
Who are Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Fight for Children ($632,500), Children's National Hospital Foundation ($225,000) and The Washington Ballet ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust?
Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust reported $38.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose stated missions include youth development, arts education and performance, food access, and services for people with low incomes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust?
Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check josephrobert.org for any change to that policy.
What is Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust's EIN?
Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3532602. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 16, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-e-robert-jr-charitable-trust-morg_399d44b3bdff4e3fac03f8912eeeb12c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_473532602_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-e-robert-jr-charitable-trust-morg_399d44b3bdff4e3fac03f8912eeeb12c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Joseph E Robert Jr Charitable Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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