Robertson Family Foundation Inc
Robertson Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Roanoke, Virginia, that supports organizations and community needs through philanthropic grants. Founded in 2001 as the Louise R. Lester Foundation, it adopted the Robertson Family Foundation name in January 2026.
Key facts about Robertson Family Foundation Inc
In short: Robertson Family Foundation Inc gave $879K across 44 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Virginia. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 54-2036566
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $879,378
- Grants made (2025)
- 44
- Average grant
- $19,986
- Median grant
- $12,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (11 of 44, 2025)
- Total assets
- $12,651,452
- Primary geography
- Virginia (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Review the application and guidelines, then submit an application by email. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The 2026 spring cycle opens February 12, with applications due March 17 at 9:00 a.m.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.7M
-5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$879K
+38.7% YoY
Grant Count
44
+12.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
+22.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robertson Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $755K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Robertson Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 44 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 57% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 140% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to effect positive change in the communities and lives of the people served through its philanthropic support. It aims to connect resources and provide leadership in areas of need that are not adequately served by local charitable organizations.
Its website says grant awards are for tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charities under section 509(a)(1). Its 2025 grants illustrate support for a range of activities. For example, the Frankie Lemmon Foundation says it supports the Frankie Lemmon School and Developmental Center and Lemmon Tree Academy; Renewanation says it equips families, churches, and schools to give children a biblical worldview; and Restoration Housing says it develops projects focused on historic preservation and the needs of limited-income families. Other 2025 awards included support for children’s mental health services, elderly affordable housing, animal-welfare services, home repairs, scholarships, and equine-assisted services.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $879,378. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $200,000, with a median of $12,500. Notable awards included $200,000 to Eastlake Community Church for bleachers for a football field; $63,000 to the Frankie Lemmon Foundation for a grades 1–3 expansion; $50,000 to Renewanation for church, family, and Christian education programs; and $39,169 to the SPCA of Martinsville Henry County for a new van. Other awards included $30,000 to Carilion Foundation for children’s mental health services and $30,000 to Restoration Housing for elderly affordable housing.
Review Cycle
** The 2026 spring cycle opens February 12, with applications due March 17 at 9:00 a.m. The fall cycle opens August 6, with applications due September 8 at 9:00 a.m. Decisions are usually made within six weeks after a cycle closes.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Robertson Family Foundation Inc
Ready to take the next step with Robertson Family Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its current geographic interests include select areas of Virginia and North Carolina, including the greater Roanoke Valley and Smith Mountain Lake areas in Virginia, and the special-needs community of Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Other areas are at the board’s discretion. In 2025, 81% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia, 15% to North Carolina, and 5% to West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 44 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
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
237 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EASTLAKE COMMUNITY CHURCH Moneta, VA | BLEACHERS FOR FOOTBALL FIELD | $200,000 |
| FRANKIE LEMMON FOUNDATION Raleigh, NC | 1-3 GRADE EXPANSION | $63,000 |
| RENEWANATION Roanoke, VA | CHUCH/FAMILY AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROGRAMS | $50,000 |
| SPCA OF MARTINSVILLE HENRY CO Martinsville, VA | NEW VAN | $39,169 |
| CARILION FOUNDATION Roanoke, VA | MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES CHILDREN | $30,000 |
| RESTORATION HOUSING Roanoke, VA | ELDERLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING | $30,000 |
| HOPE NC Chapel Hill, NC | COMMUNITY ACCESS FUND AND PAVILION CONSTRUCTION | $25,000 |
| MILL MOUNTAIN ZOO Roanoke, VA | VETERINARY CLINIC EQUIPMENT PROJECT | $25,000 |
| SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Moneta, VA | SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FRANKLIN CO Rocky Mount, VA | CRITICAL HOME REPAIRS | $21,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $12,651,452 | $562,055 | $1,204,964 | $879,378 | 44 |
| 2024 | $13,318,525 | $890,859 | $946,084 | $634,040 | 39 |
| 2023 | $13,374,043 | $512,837 | $938,919 | $633,301 | 43 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,651,452 | $13,318,525 | $13,374,043 |
| Revenue | $562,055 | $890,859 | $512,837 |
| Expenses | $1,204,964 | $946,084 | $938,919 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,057,319 | $805,859 | $799,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $426,153 | $756,549 | $375,377 |
| Distributable Amount | $754,947 | $753,533 | $718,346 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 28, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Elaine R. Zopp as president, Barry Robertson as vice president, B. J. Robertson as executive director, Suzanne R. Jones and Laura B. Robertson as directors, and Lindsey A. Coley as secretary.
Robertson Family Foundation Inc is led by B. J. Robertson, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
B. J. Robertson
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$84K (2019) → $106K (2025)
Elaine R. Zopp
President
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura B. Robertson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne R. Jones
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barry Robertson
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lindsey A. Coley
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: J. Lee Osborne (2019–2021) — Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
Contact
Application contact: Bj Robertson Executive Director
Mailing address: 3130 Chaparral Drive Ste 108, Roanoke, VA 24018
Phone: (540) 595-7876
Email: robertsonfamilyfound@gmail.com
Website: https://therobertsonfamilyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Robertson Family Foundation Inc
How much does Robertson Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Robertson Family Foundation Inc gave $879K across 44 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $634K across 39 grants.
What is Robertson Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Robertson Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $12,500, and its average grant was $19,986, across 44 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robertson Family Foundation Inc that year got $13K on average.
Where does Robertson Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Robertson Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Virginia: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Roanoke, VA (18 grants), Moneta, VA (4 grants), Salem, VA (4 grants) and Martinsville, VA (3 grants).
Does Robertson Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 16% of Robertson Family Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 44) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robertson Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Robertson Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Eastlake Community Church ($200,000), Frankie Lemmon Foundation ($63,000) and Renewanation ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robertson Family Foundation Inc?
Robertson Family Foundation Inc reported $12.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $755K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Robertson Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to effect positive change in the communities and lives of the people served through its philanthropic support. It aims to connect resources and provide leadership in areas of need that are not adequately served by local charitable organizations. Its website says grant awards are for tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charities under section 509(a)(1). Its 2025 grants illustrate support for a range of activities. For example, the Frankie Lemmon Foundation says it supports th…
How do I apply for a grant from Robertson Family Foundation Inc?
Review the application and guidelines, then submit an application by email. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robertson Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Robertson Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-2036566. 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. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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