Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation
The Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Malibu, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations working in areas including health research and care, humanitarian relief, housing, food assistance, and the arts.
Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation gave $800K across 72 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $800,100
- +9.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 72
- +10.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,113
- -1.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $12,411,753
- +1.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (59% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Robert & Joan Blackman Family 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: 6949 Dume Drive, Malibu, CA 90265
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United States Fund for UNICEF ($10K). Together the top 2 received $15K.
Organizations only. It also paid 70 grants to individuals ($785,100), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
292 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 287 grants of 292 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California recipients received 59% of grant dollars. New York received 9%, Georgia 6%, Massachusetts 6%, and the District of Columbia 5%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 72 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $730K (2023) to $895K (2022). In 2024 it made 72 grants totaling $800K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 48 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $675,100 |
| United States Fund for UNICEF New York, NY | Financial Support | $10,000 |
| American Red Cross Washington, DC | Financial Support | $5,000 |
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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 | $12,411,753 | $1,081,813 | $946,646 | $800,100 | 72 | $800,100 | $947,214 | $771,417 |
| 2023 | $12,198,994 | $644,612 | $857,924 | $730,000 | 65 | $730,000 | $524,851 | $665,800 |
| 2022 | $12,410,823 | $756,842 | $1,034,560 | $895,000 | 59 | $895,000 | $630,103 | $694,718 |
| 2021 | $12,619,452 | $1,802,094 | $906,142 | $765,000 | 50 | $765,000 | $1,661,609 | $801,303 |
| 2020 | $11,472,448 | $593,473 | $842,905 | $741,000 | 46 | — | $526,109 | $746,745 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $771K 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
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its grants include support for organizations addressing medical research and treatment, disaster and humanitarian aid, housing, hunger, mental health, and cultural programming.
The grantees describe their own missions in varied terms. Race to Erase MS says it funds research and promotes awareness related to multiple sclerosis treatment and a cure; the Michael J. Fox Foundation says it funds Parkinson’s research and works to improve therapies; and the Carter Center says it seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health. Direct Relief describes its work as humanitarian aid for people affected by poverty or emergencies. Habitat for Humanity says it works to address poverty housing, while Meals on Wheels West says it delivers meals and provides wellness checks to people who have difficulty providing for themselves.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $800,100 through 72 grants. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $30,100, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest reported grants were $30,100 to GriefHaven, and $30,000 each to Race to Erase MS, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, California Hospital Medical Center, Community Organized Relief Effort, and the Carter Center. Other reported grants included $25,000 to the Trustees of Tufts University and $20,000 each to the two individual recipients, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Service, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and an individual recipient The foundation also gave $20,000 to Direct Relief and $15,000 each to Habitat for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity – North Central Georgia, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Meals on Wheels West.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert A. Blackman and Joan S. Blackman as directors.
Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joan S. Blackman
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert A. Blackman
Director
On filings since 2020
4 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 Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation
How much does Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation give each year?
Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation gave $800K across 72 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $730K across 65 grants.
What is Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,113, across 72 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation give grants?
Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (9%) and Georgia (6%).
Does Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 72 grants with a stated purpose on Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support" (72 grants).
How large is Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation?
Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation reported $12.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $800K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $771K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its grants include support for organizations addressing medical research and treatment, disaster and humanitarian aid, housing, hunger, mental health, and cultural programming. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert & Joan Blackman Family 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 & Joan Blackman Family Foundation's EIN?
Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1630096. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Robert & Joan Blackman Family 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert & Joan Blackman Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-and-joan-blackman-family-foundation-morg_384b44f2604c4375a277a695afa5568a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461630096_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert \& Joan Blackman Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-and-joan-blackman-family-foundation-morg_384b44f2604c4375a277a695afa5568a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 & Joan Blackman Family 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.
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