Robins Foundation
Robins Foundation is a private family foundation based in Richmond, Virginia, established in 1965. The foundation is rooted in the legacy of E. Claiborne and Lora M. Robins, who believed in the power of education and community to transform lives. For nearly 70 years, the foundation has partnered with nonprofits, community members, and regional leaders to advance opportunity and vibrancy across the greater Richmond region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$172.0M
+4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.1M
+9.5% YoY
Grant Count
110
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$55K
+9.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to lead transformational change in the greater Richmond community by listening, learning, and engaging through innovative philanthropy that inspires solutions to society's greatest challenges.
The foundation's work centers on three primary focus areas:
- Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE): Supporting high-quality early care and educational experiences for children ages 0-5, including family engagement, workforce development, and policy advocacy
- Dynamic Community: Neighborhood development and community engagement, including support for community centers and public spaces
- Nonprofit Capacity Building: Strengthening the infrastructure and effectiveness of nonprofit organizations
The foundation has a strong interest in investing in programs that enrich whole families and whole neighborhoods in order to address intergenerational poverty in greater Richmond's emerging neighborhoods.
Grantmaking
The foundation offers multiple grant programs:
Grant Range
s and Activity
Review Cycle
February 1 and May 1
Ready to take the next step with Robins Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses exclusively on the greater Richmond area, including:
- City of Richmond
- Chesterfield County
- Henrico County
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $165 million to $172 million (as of 2023-2024)
- Annual Distributions: $6.7 million to $7.3 million
- Total Revenues (2023): $8,775,608
- Total Expenses (2023): $9,018,196
- Annual Revenue: $5.1 million
- Number of Employees: 3-5 staff members
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $172,011,098 | $165,243,528 | $153,923,381 |
| Revenue | $23,675,077 | $8,775,608 | $-390,409 |
| Expenses | $10,116,257 | $9,018,196 | $8,544,329 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,401,401 | $6,687,741 | $7,640,540 |
| Net Investment Income | $16,431,047 | $13,363,126 | $1,005,368 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,131,423 | $7,574,651 | $8,131,015 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Robins Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Childsavers ($378,175), Henrico Education Foundation Inc ($297,250), James River Association ($140,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASPEN HOPE CENTER BASALT, CO | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
| AUTISM SOCIETY OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA RICHMOND, VA | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $50,000 |
| BERMUDA HUNDRED CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER RICHMOND, VA | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| BIRTH IN COLOR RVA FOUNDATION RICHMOND, VA | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $50,000 |
| BLUE SKY FUND RICHMOND, VA | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $125,000 |
| CAPITAL CENTERS OF VIRGINIA RICHMOND, VA | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $75,000 |
| CAPITAL REGION LAND CONSERVANCY INC RICHMOND, VA | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $100,000 |
| CAPITAL TREES RICHMOND, VA | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
| CATCHAFIRE FOUNDATION RICHMOND, VA | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $114,900 |
| CHAMBER RVA RICHMOND, VA | TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE MISSION OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key leadership includes:
- Christopher Chin: President & CEO ($325,000 annual compensation)
- Frank Robinson: Director/Chair
- Robin R. Shield: Director/Vice Chair
- Gregory C. Robins: Director/Secretary
- Alex Tariot: Director
- Ann Carol Marchant: Director
- Dr. Robert E. Marchant: Director
- Juliet Shield-Taylor: Director
- Reginald N. Jones: Director
- Betty Robins Porter: Director Emeritus, Non-Voting
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALEX TARIOT | DIRECTOR | 0.9 | — |
| ANN CAROL MARCHANT | DIRECTOR EMERITUS | 0.9 | — |
| BETTY ROBINS PORTER | DIRECTOR EMERITUS | — | — |
| CHRISTOPHER CHIN | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $322,813 |
| DR ROBERT E MARCHANT | DIRECTOR EMERITUS | 0.9 | — |
| FRANK ROBINSON | DIRECTOR / CHAIR | 0.9 | — |
| GREGORY C ROBINS | DIRECTOR / SECRETARY | 0.9 | — |
| JULIET SHIELD-TAYLOR | DIRECTOR | 0.9 | — |
| REGINALD N JONES | DIRECTOR | 0.9 | — |
| ROBIN R SHIELD | DIRECTOR / VICE CHAIR | 0.9 | — |
| ROGER SCHEFFEL | DIRECTOR / TREASURER | 0.9 | — |
| SHERYL ROBINS | DIRECTOR/PAST-CHAIR | 0.9 | — |
| CHARLOTTE ROBINS | DIRECTOR | 0.9 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2026 ECCE SPARK Grant Cycle**: Announced with deadline of March 6, 2026, for nonprofit organizations focused on early childhood care and education in the Richmond region
2026 ECCE SPARK Grant Cycle Announcement**2025 Grant Cycle**: Second ECCE grant cycle announced for 2025
2026 ECCE SPARK Grant Cycle AnnouncementThe foundation continues to actively accept applications through its rolling SEED Grant Program for nonprofit child care providers
Robins Foundation Announces Second ECCE Grant Cycle for 2025Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Robins Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to lead transformational change in the greater Richmond community by listening, learning, and engaging through innovative philanthropy that inspires solutions to society's greatest challenges. The foundation's work centers on three primary focus areas: • **Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)**: Supporting high-quality early care and educational experiences for children ages 0-5, including family engagement, workforce development, and policy advocacy • **Dynamic…
How do I apply for a grant from Robins Foundation?
The foundation offers multiple grant programs: • **ECCE SPARK Grants**: Early childhood education focus with emphasis on exceptional learning environments, positive adult-child interactions, sustainable workforce development, and advocacy efforts (2026 cycle open, starting at $25,000) • **Nonprofit SEED Grant Program**: Simplified and responsive funding for small, local nonprofit child care providers with rolling monthly review (up to $25,000) • **Community Innovation Grant (Lora M. and E. Clai…
Where does Robins Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses exclusively on the greater Richmond area, including: • City of Richmond • Chesterfield County • Henrico County
What size grants does Robins Foundation award?
In 2024, Robins Foundation awarded 110 grants totaling $6.1M — an average of about $55K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Robins Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Robins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Robins Foundation's EIN?
Robins Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-0784484. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robins Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Wolf Family Charitable Trust
OAKTON, VA
Assets
$385K
Grants
5
Total Given
$189K
Stone Ridge Foundation
ALTAVISTA, VA
Assets
$6.4M
Grants
2
Total Given
$15K
Lawrence and Ira Straus Charitable Tr
ARLINGTON, VA
Assets
$236K
Grants
12
Total Given
$8K
Iraqi Children Foundation Inc
FAIRFAX, VA
Assets
$101K
Grants
2
Total Given
$610K
Heartfelt Humans
ASHBURN, VA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Krumbein Charities Inc
RICHMOND, VA
Assets
$440K
Grants
14
Total Given
$34K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Robins Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Robins Foundation to a real strategy.