Robertson Family Foundation Inc logo

Robertson Family Foundation Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker Roanoke, VA EIN: 54-2036566 Website

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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

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

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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

4states

Share of all 44 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

RoanokeSalemMartinsvilleWashingtonLewisburgMonetaDanvilleRaleighRichmondRainelleRocky MountBoones MillBooneRenickRupertFrankfordCaryPatrick SpringsRonceverteBekley

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M51 grants201950 grants202054 grants202157 grants202243 grants202339 grants202444 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Eastlake Community Church: $200KEastlake Community Church$200KFrankie Lemmon Foundation: $63KFrankie Lemmon Foundation$63KRenewanation: $50KRenewanation$50KSpca of Martinsville Henry CO: $39KSpca of Martinsville Henry CO$39KCarilion Foundation: $30KCarilion Foundation$30KRestoration Housing: $30KRestoration Housing$30KHope NC: $25KHope NC$25KMill Mountain Zoo: $25KMill Mountain Zoo$25KSmith Mountain Lake Christian Academy: $25KSmith Mountain Lake ChristianAcademy$25KHabitat for Humanity Franklin CO: $21KHabitat for Humanity FranklinCO$21K

Grant Size Distribution

237 grants across all recorded years

225<$50K11$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
EASTLAKE COMMUNITY CHURCH Moneta, VABLEACHERS FOR FOOTBALL FIELD$200,000
FRANKIE LEMMON FOUNDATION Raleigh, NC1-3 GRADE EXPANSION$63,000
RENEWANATION Roanoke, VACHUCH/FAMILY AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROGRAMS$50,000
SPCA OF MARTINSVILLE HENRY CO Martinsville, VANEW VAN$39,169
CARILION FOUNDATION Roanoke, VAMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES CHILDREN$30,000
RESTORATION HOUSING Roanoke, VAELDERLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING$30,000
HOPE NC Chapel Hill, NCCOMMUNITY ACCESS FUND AND PAVILION CONSTRUCTION$25,000
MILL MOUNTAIN ZOO Roanoke, VAVETERINARY CLINIC EQUIPMENT PROJECT$25,000
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Moneta, VASCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM$25,000
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FRANKLIN CO Rocky Mount, VACRITICAL 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
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M2019202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
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

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 28, 2020)
  2. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  3. 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

B J Robertson — Executive Director: $106KB J RobertsonExecutive Director$106K

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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