Robinson Foundation
The Robinson Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Founded in 2016, it is family-operated and says it aims to create meaningful impact by giving back and relieving hardships in people’s lives.
Robinson Foundation at a glance
In short: Robinson Foundation gave $3.1M across 58 grants in 2024 (avg $53K), mostly in Tennessee. 64% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,061,330
- +18.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 58
- +11.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $52,782
- +6.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $13,500
- Total assets
- $49,106,101
- +0.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 64% first-time grantees (34 of 53, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (52% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Robinson Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing directs applicants to contact Foundation Source and use the application materials and requirements provided on the foundation’s grant-requirements page.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are accepted April 1–May 15 and September 1–October 15.
- Deadline
- Applications are accepted April 1–May 15 and September 1–October 15.
- Contact
Application contact: Foundation Source
Mailing address: 55 Walls Drive 3Rd Floor, Fairfield, CT 06824
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Website: https://robinsonfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Robinson Foundation
Who Robinson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was St Jude Childrens Research Hospital Inc ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
193 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 136 grants of 193 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s guidelines limit eligibility to organizations serving the Southern region. In 2024, 52% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee, 20% to Virginia, 7% to Arizona, 5% to Georgia, and 4% to New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 58 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Robinson Foundation open to new grantees?
64%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 34 of 53 grantees (64%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $130K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 26% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 127% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2020) to $3.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 58 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital Inc Memphis, TN | new positron emission tomography (PET) machine, a next-generation 4D-Nucleofector Platform, Biodex Nx Step, AlterG Antigravity treadmill, pharmaceutical refrigerator, stipend for patient housing in the Ronald McDonald house of Memphis, events supporting the give to life moment focused on patient care needs, general support | $1,000,000 |
| Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital Foundation Memphis, TN | Trauma Room 2 and 3 for boom and fisheye camera and video monitors, STORZ intubation system, Stryker Trauma stretcher, Belmont rapid infuser | $400,000 |
| Mercy Chefs Inc Portsmouth, VA | for NC and TN Helene flooding fund | $250,000 |
| Mercy Chefs Inc Portsmouth, VA | for North Carolina and Tennessee floods fund | $250,000 |
| Childhelp Inc Phoenix, AZ | To purchase three horses and retire two existing horses, and horses' ongoing care, including veterinary services, training, and feed | $125,000 |
| Chiari & Syringomyelia Foundation Staten Island, NY | Chiari Malformation Research Center, detailed magnetic resonance imaging that is comprised of anatomic, biomechanical, and psychological measures | $110,000 |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children Atlanta, GA | to be used in shreveport location for rehab including a variety of equipment such as a cross trainer bike, hitting cage, and turf for cut drills | $100,000 |
| Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation Inc Bloomfield, CT | Guide Dog Partnership Program | $67,500 |
| Boys and Girls Club of the Hatchie River Region Covington, TN | for 3 Christmas gifts per club member, a new coat for each club member, educational supplies, field trips, youth of the year program | $50,000 |
| Mercy Chefs Inc Portsmouth, VA | for Indiana and Ohio tornados fund | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Robinson Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $49,106,101 | $3,768,885 | $3,661,868 | $3,061,330 | 58 | $3,365,271 | $3,510,988 | $2,657,664 |
| 2023 | $48,999,084 | $2,174,968 | $3,155,419 | $2,585,100 | 52 | $2,883,237 | $1,923,587 | $2,522,329 |
| 2022 | $49,979,535 | $904,322 | $3,836,913 | $3,252,120 | 31 | $3,570,019 | $1,154,585 | $2,592,903 |
| 2021 | $52,912,126 | $3,293,540 | $3,492,394 | $2,866,000 | 30 | $3,169,199 | $2,992,246 | $2,912,388 |
| 2020 | $53,110,980 | $1,569,383 | $3,091,221 | $2,365,000 | 22 | — | $1,327,534 | $2,682,730 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robinson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.7M for 2024 — 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 create meaningful impact through giving back to humanity “with good nature and generous hearts.” It identifies medical needs of children and families, disaster relief, and community support as important parts of its work.
Its grants include support for children’s hospitals, disaster-response organizations, child welfare, and guide-dog services. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital describes its mission as advancing cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Mercy Chefs says it provides restaurant-quality meals to people affected by disasters and emergencies, as well as volunteers and first responders. Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation says it promotes independence for blind people by providing guide dogs.
Eligible applicants must be qualified public charities in good standing under Section 501(c)(3), have been active for more than three years, serve the Southern region, and seek single-year funding. The foundation does not fund brick-and-mortar projects.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 58 grants totaling $3,061,330. Awards ranged from $1,830 to $1,000,000, with a median of $13,500.
The largest 2024 grant was $1,000,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for equipment, patient housing support, patient-care events, and general support. Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Foundation received $400,000 for trauma-room equipment. Mercy Chefs received two grants of $250,000 each for flood relief in North Carolina and Tennessee. Other notable awards included $125,000 to Childhelp for horses and their ongoing care, $110,000 to the Chiari & Syringomyelia Foundation for its research center, and $67,500 to Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation for its Guide Dog Partnership Program.
Applicants are asked whether they have other funding for the specific project and whether they have applied within the last two years. Grantees must submit a final report with financial and programmatic information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John R. Robinson as Trustee, Lisa Robinson as Managing Trustee and President, and Tiffany Robinson-Cousar as Executive Director.
Robinson Foundation is led by Lisa Robinson, Managing Trustee & President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lisa Robinson
Managing Trustee & President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$86K (2020) → $86K (2024)
Tiffany Robinson-Cousar
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$81K (2020) → $81K (2024)
John R Robinson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $86K, to Lisa Robinson (Managing Trustee, Pres). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Robinson Foundation
How much does Robinson Foundation give each year?
Robinson Foundation gave $3.1M across 58 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.6M across 52 grants.
What is Robinson Foundation's typical grant size?
Robinson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $13,500, and its average grant was $52,782, across 58 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robinson Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does Robinson Foundation give grants?
Robinson Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (20%) and Arizona (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (5 grants), Covington, TN (5 grants), Nashville, TN (4 grants) and Memphis, TN (3 grants).
Does Robinson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 28% of Robinson Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 58) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robinson Foundation's largest grantees?
Robinson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include St Jude Childrens Research Hospital Inc ($1,000,000), Mercy Chefs Inc ($550,000 across 3 grants) and Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital Foundation ($400,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Robinson Foundation?
Robinson Foundation reported $49.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Robinson Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to create meaningful impact through giving back to humanity “with good nature and generous hearts.” It identifies medical needs of children and families, disaster relief, and community support as important parts of its work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robinson Foundation?
The filing directs applicants to contact Foundation Source and use the application materials and requirements provided on the foundation’s grant-requirements page. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robinson Foundation's EIN?
Robinson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-6555736. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robinson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robinson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robinson-foundation-morg_f694e1545a6341b0bec02176fcc6c5e2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_306555736_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robinson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robinson-foundation-morg_f694e1545a6341b0bec02176fcc6c5e2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Robinson 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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