Robben Foundation Inc
Robben Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 filing reports 17 grants totaling $1,291,237 to charitable organizations, including support for cancer research and general funds.
Robben Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Robben Foundation Inc gave $1.3M across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $76K), top state California. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,291,237
- -24.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- -32.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $75,955
- +11.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,865
- Total assets
- $8,890
- +2.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (6 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (24% 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 Robben Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Carter Ledyard 28 Liberty St 41Fl, New York, NY 10005
Phone: (212) 732-3200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robben Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Collective Israel Actie (CIA) - Weizmann Ekard Institute Cancer Research ($804K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 129 grants of 147 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
For 2024 grant dollars, 24% went to recipients in California and 5% to recipients in Arizona; 71% is listed with the recipient state unspecified.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Robben Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 17 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $65K; repeat grants $82K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 41% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $1.8M (2021). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Collective Israel Actie (CIA) - Weizmann Ekard Institute Cancer Research | Cancer research | $804,449 |
| Stepping Stones Wilderness Initiative Oakland, CA | General funds | $302,643 |
| The Orme School Mayer, AZ | General funds | $60,000 |
| Maccabi Nederland | General funds | $25,000 |
| Nonceba | General funds | $17,475 |
| Stichting Stedelijk Museum Fonds | General funds | $11,078 |
| Film Independent Beverly Hills, CA | General funds | $11,073 |
| Singer MuseumStiching Singer Memorial Foundation | General funds | $10,988 |
| Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development | General funds | $10,865 |
| Scalesia Foundation | General funds | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Robben Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $8,890 | $1,291,500 | $1,291,314 | $1,291,237 | 17 | $1,291,237 | $7,738 |
| 2023 | $8,704 | $1,313,580 | $1,706,165 | $1,705,909 | 25 | $1,705,909 | $14,635 |
| 2022 | $51,289 | $1,205,980 | $1,366,745 | $1,366,258 | 36 | $1,366,258 | $11,594 |
| 2021 | $212,054 | $1,895,861 | $1,750,728 | $1,750,212 | 38 | $1,750,212 | $15,228 |
| 2020 | $66,921 | $1,674,985 | $1,663,259 | $1,662,558 | 31 | — | $13,164 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robben Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included cancer research and general-fund support. Among its grantees, The Orme School describes its summer school and camp as helping campers grow, develop curiosity, and appreciate the natural environment. Film Independent describes its mission as championing creative independence in visual storytelling and fostering inclusion.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $1,291,237. Grants ranged from $1,094 to $804,449, with a median grant of $10,865.
The largest listed grants were $804,449 to Collective Israel Actie (CIA) – Weizmann Ekard Institute Cancer Research for cancer research; $302,643 to Stepping Stones Wilderness Initiative for general funds; and $60,000 to The Orme School for general funds. Other listed recipients included Maccabi Nederland ($25,000), Nonceba ($17,475), Stichting Stedelijk Museum Fonds ($11,078), Film Independent ($11,073), Singer MuseumStiching Singer Memorial Foundation ($10,988), Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development ($10,865), Scalesia Foundation ($10,000), Peninsula School Feeding Association ($7,181), and Museum Voorlinden ($5,538).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Daniel J McSwiggan as President and Director, Tswi Rodriques Pereira as Treasurer and Director, and Willem O Russell as Secretary and Director.
Robben Foundation Inc is led by Daniel J McSwiggan, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Daniel J McSwiggan
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tswi Rodriques Pereira
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Willem O Russell
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 Robben Foundation Inc
How much does Robben Foundation Inc give each year?
Robben Foundation Inc gave $1.3M across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.7M across 25 grants.
What is Robben Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Robben Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,865, and its average grant was $75,955, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robben Foundation Inc that year got $65K on average.
Where does Robben Foundation Inc give grants?
Robben Foundation Inc's top state is California, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Does Robben Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 94% of Robben Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robben Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Robben Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Collective Israel Actie (CIA) - Weizmann Ekard Institute Cancer Research ($804,449), Stepping Stones Wilderness Initiative ($302,643) and The Orme School ($60,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Robben Foundation Inc?
Robben Foundation Inc reported $9K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Robben Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included cancer research and general-fund support. Among its grantees, The Orme School describes its summer school and camp as helping campers grow, develop curiosity, and appreciate the natural environment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robben Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robben Foundation Inc's EIN?
Robben Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2872882. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Robben Foundation Inc 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robben Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robben-foundation-inc-morg_810a1a110c084e7e9bcf2dcd04f4cdc1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_812872882_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robben Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robben-foundation-inc-morg_810a1a110c084e7e9bcf2dcd04f4cdc1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Robben Foundation Inc'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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