Robert a Waller Foundation
The Robert a Waller Foundation is a private foundation based in Pasadena, California, and files Form 990-PF. In 2025, it made 126 grants totaling $455,915 to charitable organizations.
Robert a Waller Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert a Waller Foundation gave $456K across 126 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in California. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $455,915
- -4.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 126
- +5.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,618
- -8.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $7,037,315
- +3.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (29 of 126, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (57% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Robert a Waller Foundation
- 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: 177 E Colorado Blvd Suite 800, Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone: (626) 441-5111
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert a Waller Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sequoyah School ($26K). Together the top 10 received $120K.
Grant Size Distribution
579 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 577 grants of 579 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, California organizations received 57% of grant dollars, followed by organizations in Idaho and Montana at 7% each, New York at 5%, and Utah at 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 126 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Robert a Waller Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 29 of 126 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 37% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 74% 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 (2018–2025). 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 2018 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $332K (2022) to $611K (2021). In 2025 it made 126 grants totaling $456K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sequoyah School Pasadena, CA | Annual & Faculty Compensation Fund | $26,000 |
| Regenerative Ranch Foundation Fortuna, CA | General Operating Support | $15,000 |
| University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | Scholarship & USC Associates Fund | $14,500 |
| American Corporation of the Arts Los Angeles, CA | General Operating Support | $10,488 |
| Children of the Night Los Angeles, CA | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Operation Underground Railroad Inc Cedar City, UT | General Operarting Support | $10,000 |
| Make-a-Wish Greater Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | General Operating Support | $9,000 |
| Las Madrinas City of Industry, CA | General Operating Support | $8,500 |
| Boise Schools Foundation Boise, ID | Boosters Support | $8,200 |
| Alzheimer's Association CA Southla Los Angeles, CA | General Operating & Research Support | $8,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Robert a Waller Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,037,315 | $524,481 | $693,073 | $455,915 | 126 | $632,061 | $463,469 | $851,174 |
| 2024 | $6,802,014 | $805,529 | $711,459 | $475,415 | 120 | $650,859 | $744,929 | $758,778 |
| 2023 | $6,674,146 | $410,868 | $555,159 | $367,325 | 106 | $505,889 | $361,598 | $619,913 |
| 2022 | $6,818,813 | $209,405 | $581,477 | $331,800 | 109 | $468,879 | $96,807 | $612,217 |
| 2021 | $7,200,914 | $2,205,924 | $800,735 | $611,250 | 118 | $748,640 | $2,153,829 | $618,696 |
| 2020 | $5,793,850 | $118,364 | $634,208 | $456,000 | 131 | — | $118,264 | $529,158 |
| 2018 | $6,786,088 | $454,992 | $616,413 | $422,750 | 93 | — | $340,164 | $511,049 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert a Waller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $851K for 2025 — 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 foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2025 recipients illustrate a range of activities: Regenerative Ranch Foundation describes its work as supporting at-risk youth and families through trauma-informed, relationship-centered services; American Corporation of the Arts says it raises and distributes funds to further public cultural and artistic awareness; and Children of the Night describes providing intervention for children who are sexually exploited or vulnerable to exploitation.
Other recipients describe work in children’s health and medical research (Las Madrinas), older adults’ health and independence (Pasadena Senior Center), and veterans’ well-being (Wounded Warrior Project). These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their missions.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 126 grants totaling $455,915. Awards ranged from $250 to $26,000, with a median grant of $3,000. Its largest listed grants were $26,000 to Sequoyah School for its annual and faculty compensation fund; $15,000 to Regenerative Ranch Foundation for general operating support; and $14,500 to the University of Southern California for a scholarship and USC Associates Fund. Other listed grants included $10,488 to American Corporation of the Arts, $10,000 each to Children of the Night and Operation Underground Railroad, and $9,000 to Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert A Waller Jr as president; William J Waller, Sarah W Riddle, Mark W Waller, and Ellen W Hotchkis as directors; John G Waller as “Treasurer &”; and Greggory Millward as “Admininstrat.”
Robert a Waller Foundation is led by Robert A. Waller Jr., President on every filing since 2018; 6 of 7 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert A. Waller Jr.
President
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$7K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Ellen W. Hotchkis
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$7K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Mark W. Waller
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$7K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Sarah W. Riddle
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$7K (2020) → $10K (2025)
William J. Waller
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$7K (2020) → $10K (2025)
John G. Waller
Treasurer
Board Member → Director, 2023
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2018
1 hr/week
$7K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Greggory Millward
Admininstrat
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Judy T. Waller (2018–2024) — Director
- Former: Ashley Fontanetta (2020–2024) — Executive Di
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $10K, to Robert a Waller Jr (President). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Robert a Waller Foundation
How much does Robert a Waller Foundation give each year?
Robert a Waller Foundation gave $456K across 126 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $475K across 120 grants.
What is Robert a Waller Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert a Waller Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $3,618, across 126 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert a Waller Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Robert a Waller Foundation give grants?
Robert a Waller Foundation gives mostly in California: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Idaho (7%) and Montana (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (18 grants), Pasadena, CA (14 grants), Boise, ID (8 grants) and New York, NY (7 grants).
Does Robert a Waller Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 87% of Robert a Waller Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (110 of 126) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robert a Waller Foundation's largest grantees?
Robert a Waller Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Sequoyah School ($26,000), Regenerative Ranch Foundation ($15,000) and University of Southern California ($14,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert a Waller Foundation?
Robert a Waller Foundation reported $7.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $632K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $851K (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 Robert a Waller Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert a Waller Foundation?
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 Robert a Waller Foundation's EIN?
Robert a Waller Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4509776. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2025.
Does Robert a Waller Foundation 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS November 15, 2019)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robert a Waller Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
McKesson Foundation Inc
Dallas, TX
The McKesson Foundation funds cancer support and care, healthcare workforce pathways, and emergency response, with grants mainly supporting organizations in the United States and Canada. Its 2025 grants had a median of $100,000, though amounts ranged from $10,000 to about $2.47 million. Its filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests, while its application page describes an online application process with stated submission windows.
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
76
Total Given
$16.6M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
Pasadena Community Foundation
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena Community Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives across arts and culture, education, human services, health and safety, community development, and environmental and animal welfare, primarily in Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre. Its 2025 grants had a median award of $20,000, though amounts varied widely; it uses both competitive and invitation-only programs, and the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$225.2M
Grants
275
Total Given
$27.9M
The Ahmanson Foundation
Beverly Hills, CA
The Ahmanson Foundation funds Los Angeles County nonprofits in arts and humanities, education, health care, human services, homelessness, and environmental preservation, often for construction, equipment, or other one-time project costs. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $6.3 million, with a median of $50,000. It encourages applicants to submit a Letter of Inquiry, but the profile does not explicitly state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.5B
Grants
442
Total Given
$65.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert a Waller Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-a-waller-foundation-morg_f2eef596d8d644abba5847f70ca39592
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954509776_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert a Waller Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-a-waller-foundation-morg_f2eef596d8d644abba5847f70ca39592},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Robert a Waller Foundation'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.
Robert a Waller Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?