Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone
Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. In filing year 2024, it reported 120 grants totaling $3,834,339, all to recipients in Tennessee. Its grants supported organizations working in areas including the arts, housing, financial services, health, food assistance, and services for children and families.
Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone at a glance
In short: Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone gave $3.8M across 120 grants in 2024 (avg $32K), mostly in Tennessee. 19% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,834,339
- +34.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 120
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $31,953
- +11.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $19,497,877
- -6.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (17 of 88, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (100% 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 Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Tivoli Theatre Foundation Inc ($807K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.3M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($972), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
470 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 373 grants of 470 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported grant dollars in filing year 2024 went to recipients in Tennessee. The filing’s state breakdown lists 0% for Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 120 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 88 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $47K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 73% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 287% of 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 $1.0M (2020) to $3.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 120 grants totaling $3.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Tivoli Theatre Foundation Inc Chattanooga, TN | Tivoli Theatre Renovation Project | $750,000 |
| Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise Inc Chattanooga, TN | CNE Homes Project | $250,000 |
| Betterfi Coalmont, TN | To support Betterfi expansion into the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Market | $200,000 |
| Childrens Nutrition Program of Haiti Inc Chattanooga, TN | General & Unrestricted | $200,000 |
| Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association Chattanooga, TN | Rebuilding and Debt Relief | $177,000 |
| Chambliss Center for Children Chattanooga, TN | Building Futures Campaign | $166,667 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN | Chattanooga Home Build | $120,000 |
| Chattanooga Area Food Bank Inc Chattanooga, TN | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition Inc Chattanooga, TN | Flexible Housing Fund | $100,000 |
| Medicos Mission Fund Chattanooga, TN | Primary Care and Behavioral Health Facility | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $19,497,877 | $2,718,991 | $4,139,964 | $3,834,339 | 120 | $3,986,342 | $2,702,353 | $1,389,264 |
| 2023 | $20,918,850 | $6,880,413 | $3,127,742 | $2,859,794 | 100 | $3,013,987 | $426,368 | $1,240,257 |
| 2022 | $17,166,179 | $1,630,356 | $2,855,572 | $2,539,413 | 86 | $2,729,244 | $1,284,399 | $1,017,407 |
| 2021 | $18,391,395 | $1,845,122 | $2,504,818 | $2,215,083 | 97 | $2,390,997 | $1,686,565 | $1,160,013 |
| 2020 | $19,051,091 | $13,815,829 | $1,261,814 | $1,037,583 | 67 | — | $603,648 | $1,013,946 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone reported a distributable amount of $1.4M 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, the Tivoli Theatre Foundation describes its work as operating, maintaining, renovating, and improving performing-arts venues in Chattanooga. Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise says its mission is to create economically diverse neighborhoods and expand access to safe housing. BetterFi describes providing affordable financial products, education, and coaching to low-income individuals and families.
Other 2024 recipients include organizations whose stated missions address early childhood education and residential care for children (Chambliss Center for Children), medical and social services for underserved communities (Medicos Mission Fund), hunger relief (Chattanooga Area Food Bank), youth development (Boys and Girls Clubs of Chattanooga), and services focused on disabilities, early childhood education, and self-sufficiency (Signal Centers).
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 120 grants totaling $3,834,339. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $750,000, with a median grant of $5,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $750,000 to the Tivoli Theatre Foundation for its renovation project; $250,000 to Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise for the CNE Homes Project; and $200,000 to BetterFi to support expansion into the Chattanooga/Hamilton County market. Other large grants included $200,000 to Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti for general and unrestricted support, $177,000 to Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association for rebuilding and debt relief, and $166,667 to Chambliss Center for Children for its Building Futures Campaign.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Thomas H Hopper as president; Lee Towery as director and secretary; and Danna Bailey, David Brock, Bryan Patten, Michael Pollock, and Keith Sanford as directors.
Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone is led by Thomas H Hopper, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Thomas H Hopper
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lee Towery
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$16K (2021) → $0 (2024)
Michael Pollock
Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$93K (2020) → $93K (2024)
Bryan Patten
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danna Bailey
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Brock
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keith Sanford
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $93K, to Michael Pollock (Dir).
Frequently asked questions about Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone
How much does Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone give each year?
Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone gave $3.8M across 120 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.9M across 100 grants.
What is Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone's typical grant size?
Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $31,953, across 120 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone that year got $27K on average.
Where does Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone give grants?
Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone gives mostly in Tennessee: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chattanooga, TN (103 grants), Lookout Mountain, TN (3 grants) and Nashville, TN (3 grants).
Does Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone give general operating support?
Yes: 42% of Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (50 of 120) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Event" (11 grants), "BSF Music Fund" (3 grants) and "BSF Local Music Fund" (3 grants).
Who are Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone's largest grantees?
Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone's largest 2024 grantees include The Tivoli Theatre Foundation Inc ($807,000 across 3 grants), Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise Inc ($250,000) and Betterfi ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($972), which are not listed by name. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone?
Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone reported $19.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, the Tivoli Theatre Foundation describes its work as operating, maintaining, renovating, and improving performing-arts venues in Chattanooga. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone?
The foundation states that it 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 F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone's EIN?
Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2115462. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone 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). Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-f-stone-foundation-aka-bobby-stone-morg_08e98b5f2a3c472eac57826f0c5dc280
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_832115462_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-f-stone-foundation-aka-bobby-stone-morg_08e98b5f2a3c472eac57826f0c5dc280},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone'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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