Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf
Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Hilton Head Island, SC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 18 grants totaling $66K. Net investment income was $237K.
Key facts about Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf
In short: Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf gave $66K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Indiana. 67% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 26-3604223
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $65,750
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- Average grant
- $3,653
- Median grant
- $1,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 67% first-time grantees (12 of 18, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,638,481
- Primary geography
- Indiana (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.6M
+10.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$66K
+14.0% YoY
Grant Count
18
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+14.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf reported a distributable amount of $80K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf open to new grantees?
67%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 18 grantees (67%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $500 repeat.
- 17% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% 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 (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Ready to take the next step with Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 18 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT FOUNDATION Los Angeles, CA | PALISADES FIRE RELIEF EFFORT | $16,250 |
| INDIAN RIVER HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Vero Beach, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BEACON HEALTH South Bend, IN | NURSING EDUCATION | $7,500 |
| STUDEBAKER NATIONAL MUSEUM South Bend, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| BETHEL UNIVERSITY Miskawaka, IN | SCHOLARSHIP GRANT | $5,000 |
| CONGREGATION OF THE HOLY CROSS Notre Dame, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| SOUTH BEND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA South Bend, IN | ANNUAL FUND | $4,500 |
| CORVILLA South Bend, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| PBS MICHIANA South Bend, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| WOMEN'S CARE CENTER OF IRC Vero Beach, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,638,481 | $1,482,348 | $1,431,014 |
| Revenue | $243,013 | $134,400 | $97,006 |
| Expenses | $80,841 | $83,066 | $88,221 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $74,197 | $71,917 | $78,614 |
| Net Investment Income | $237,454 | $124,351 | $88,699 |
| Distributable Amount | $79,879 | $78,939 | $71,248 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 5, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 5, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 14, 2024)
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf is led by Robert F. Zielsdorf, President & Vice President since 2025 (on filings since 2019); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert F. Zielsdorf
President & Vice President
Vice President, President, Director & Secretary → President & Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth D. Alexander
Vice President & Director
Vice President → Vice President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frances J. Zielsdorf
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Z. Schwartz
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret M. Zielsdorf
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew J. Zielsdorf
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 L & Frances J Zielsdorf
How much does Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf give each year?
Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf gave $66K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $58K across 18 grants.
What is Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf's typical grant size?
Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $3,653, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf that year got $4K on average.
Where does Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf give grants?
Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf gives mostly in Indiana: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (25%) and Florida (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were South Bend, IN (6 grants), Vero Beach, FL (2 grants) and Kansas City, MO (2 grants).
Does Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf give general operating support?
Yes: 72% of Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf's largest grantees?
Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf's largest 2025 grantees include Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation ($16,250), Indian River Hospital Foundation ($10,000) and Beacon Health ($7,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf?
Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $74K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $80K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf?
Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Hilton Head Island, SC. It holds $1.6M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf's EIN?
Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3604223. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Here's the math on researching Robert L & Frances J Zielsdorf by hand.
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