Robert Nelson Foundation
The Robert Nelson Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. It supports projects intended to enhance communities and promote service, innovation, and excellence, in keeping with its “To Give and to Grow” mission.
Robert Nelson Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert Nelson Foundation gave $568K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in California. 56% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $567,700
- +49.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,769
- +12.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,250
- Total assets
- $17,220,142
- +7.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (20 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (76% 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 Nelson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 761398, Los Angeles, CA 90076-1398
Phone: (213) 386-7777
Website: https://robertnelsonfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert Nelson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was California State University Los Angeles ($80K). Together the top 10 received $385K.
Grant Size Distribution
148 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 135 grants of 148 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 24% to recipients in Michigan. The listed grants include organizations in Los Angeles and elsewhere in California, as well as recipients in Grand Rapids and Grandville, Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Robert Nelson Foundation open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 20 of 36 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 33% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 39% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 73% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $105K (2020) to $930K (2022). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $568K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California State University Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Educational Support | $80,000 |
| Grand Valley State University Grand Rapids, MI | Educational Support | $80,000 |
| Los Angeles Mission Los Angeles, CA | Homeless Support | $35,000 |
| Happy Trails for Kids Santa Monica, CA | At Risk Youth Support | $35,000 |
| Union Rescue Mission Los Angeles, CA | Homeless Support | $30,000 |
| Jovenes Inc Los Angeles, CA | Homeless Support | $30,000 |
| Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation Commerce, CA | Underserved Community Support | $30,000 |
| The Music Center Los Angeles, CA | Disability Support | $25,000 |
| HCRI Inc (Health Communication Research) Davis, CA | Healthcare Support | $20,000 |
| Childrens Law Center of CA Monterey Park, CA | Prevent Child Abuse | $20,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17,220,142 | $1,883,388 | $778,277 | $567,700 | 36 | $609,245 | $524,338 | $833,559 |
| 2024 | $16,036,567 | $4,252,670 | $560,091 | $379,995 | 27 | $426,682 | $876,091 | $672,967 |
| 2023 | $13,282,126 | $1,367,475 | $615,973 | $360,000 | 22 | $434,979 | $240,432 | $606,573 |
| 2022 | $12,252,617 | $2,643,582 | $1,135,774 | $929,500 | 47 | $972,707 | $266,051 | $612,637 |
| 2021 | $10,650,316 | $3,754,916 | $431,931 | $248,000 | 16 | — | $400,019 | $473,933 |
| 2020 | $6,529,923 | $2,688,551 | $256,173 | $105,000 | 11 | — | $49,677 | $282,046 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert Nelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $834K 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
The foundation’s mission is to enhance communities by funding projects that promote service, innovation, and excellence, and to invest in ideas that help people reach their full potential. Its stated focus areas include education—particularly helping young people pursue media and broadcasting careers or interests centered on giving back to the community—support for people who are homeless, hungry, or economically disadvantaged, support for people with disabilities, and organizations reflecting Robert Nelson’s historical giving.
Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in these areas. For example, the Los Angeles Mission says it works to break cycles of homelessness and poverty; Happy Trails for Kids says it provides children in foster care with outdoor experiences, mentorship, and a year-round community; and the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation says it provides equipment, training, and public outreach programs to supplement city resources. The foundation also announced a scholarship through an individual recipient State University for students entering multimedia journalism.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 36 grants totaling $567,700. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $80,000, with a median of $6,250. Its largest listed grants were $80,000 each to California State University Los Angeles for educational support and an individual recipient State University for educational support. Other notable grants included $35,000 to the Los Angeles Mission for homeless support and $35,000 to Happy Trails for Kids for at-risk youth support; $30,000 each to Union Rescue Mission and Jovenes Inc for homeless support; and $30,000 to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation for underserved community support.
The foundation’s website says it is not currently accepting unsolicited grant applications. Its 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bryant Domina as president; Jeffrey Siegel as treasurer; Anne Hayes CPA as secretary; and Ralph Palmieri and Sarah Talei as directors.
Robert Nelson Foundation is led by Bryant Domina, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bryant Domina
President
Director → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$10K (2023) → $8K (2025)
Ralph Palmieri
Director
President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$30K (2020) → $8K (2025)
Sarah Talei
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$4K (2021) → $8K (2025)
Anne Hayes CPA
Secretary
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Jeffrey Siegel
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$48K (2020) → $48K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $48K, to Jeffrey Siegel (Treasurer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Robert Nelson Foundation
How much does Robert Nelson Foundation give each year?
Robert Nelson Foundation gave $568K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $380K across 27 grants.
What is Robert Nelson Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert Nelson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,250, and its average grant was $15,769, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert Nelson Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does Robert Nelson Foundation give grants?
Robert Nelson Foundation gives mostly in California: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Michigan (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (14 grants), Grand Rapids, MI (5 grants), Santa Monica, CA (2 grants) and Davis, CA (2 grants).
Does Robert Nelson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on Robert Nelson Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Homeless Support" (10 grants), "Indigent Support" (6 grants) and "Disability Support" (5 grants).
Who are Robert Nelson Foundation's largest grantees?
Robert Nelson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include California State University Los Angeles ($80,000), Grand Valley State University ($80,000) and Los Angeles Mission ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert Nelson Foundation?
Robert Nelson Foundation reported $17.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $609K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $834K (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 Nelson Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to enhance communities by funding projects that promote service, innovation, and excellence, and to invest in ideas that help people reach their full potential. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert Nelson Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert Nelson Foundation's EIN?
Robert Nelson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-1673538. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Robert Nelson 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert Nelson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-nelson-foundation-morg_d395ae47b9704f8aaa3a0d6d76ea049d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_821673538_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert Nelson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-nelson-foundation-morg_d395ae47b9704f8aaa3a0d6d76ea049d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Nelson 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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