The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation
The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas. In 2024, it awarded 13 grants totaling $218,000 to organizations, all listed in Texas.
The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation at a glance
In short: The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation gave $218K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Texas. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $218,000
- +139.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- +44.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,769
- +65.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,123,593
- +1.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (3 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% 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 The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Submit a written request. The filing states there are no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert L Zinn
Mailing address: 3400 Bissonnet Suite 250, Houston, TX 77005
Phone: (713) 838-2900
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Emery Weiner School ($100K). Together the top 10 received $207K.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 96 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for 2024 went to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 13 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 90% 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 (2020–2024). 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 $80K (2020) to $273K (2022). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $218K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Emery Weiner School Houston, TX | Financial Support-Charitable | $100,000 |
| Vita-Living Inc Houston, TX | Financial Support-Charitable | $20,000 |
| Child Builders Houston, TX | Financial Support-Charitable | $15,000 |
| The Lighthouse of Houston Houston, TX | Financial Support-Charitable | $15,000 |
| Center for Pursuit Houston, TX | Financial Support-Charitable | $10,000 |
| Child Advocates Inc Houston, TX | Financial Support-Charitable | $10,000 |
| Evelyn Rubenstein JCC Houston, TX | Financial Support-Charitable | $10,000 |
| Tahirih Justice Center Houston, TX | Financial Support-Charitable | $10,000 |
| Second Servings Houston, TX | Financial Support-Charitable | $10,000 |
| JB Goldberg B'nai B'rith Towers Houston, TX | Financial Support-Charitable | $7,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,123,593 | $315,931 | $238,006 | $218,000 | 13 | $218,000 | $275,455 | $243,414 |
| 2023 | $5,045,668 | $28,467 | $108,072 | $91,000 | 9 | $91,000 | $118,187 | $225,007 |
| 2022 | $5,125,273 | $71,538 | $302,591 | $272,600 | 28 | $272,600 | $140,742 | $232,824 |
| 2021 | $5,356,326 | $411,308 | $280,791 | $264,500 | 25 | $264,500 | $397,622 | $257,752 |
| 2020 | $5,225,809 | $4,202,213 | $82,200 | $80,100 | 21 | — | $51,163 | $75,883 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $243K 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
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate some of the work supported: Child Advocates Inc. says it mobilizes court-appointed volunteers to advocate for abused children and guide them to safe environments. Camp Aranzazu Inc. says it creates accessible, empowering camp experiences to cultivate belonging for campers of all ages and abilities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 13 grants totaling $218,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000. Notable grants included $100,000 to Emery Weiner School, $20,000 to Vita-Living Inc., $15,000 each to Child Builders and The Lighthouse of Houston, and $10,000 each to Center for Pursuit, Child Advocates Inc., Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, Tahirih Justice Center, and Second Servings. Camp Aranzazu Inc. received $2,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Robert Zinn is listed as a trustee.
The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation is led by Robert Zinn, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert Zinn
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Edith Zinn (2020–2023) — Trustee
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation
How much does The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation give each year?
The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation gave $218K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $91K across 9 grants.
What is The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation's typical grant size?
The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,769, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation that year got $38K on average.
Where does The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation give grants?
The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (11 grants).
Does The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support-Charitable" (13 grants).
Who are The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation's largest grantees?
The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Emery Weiner School ($100,000), Vita-Living Inc ($20,000) and Child Builders ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation?
The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation reported $5.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $218K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $243K (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 The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate some of the work supported: Child Advocates Inc. says it mobilizes court-appointed volunteers to advocate for abused children and guide them to safe environments. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation's EIN?
The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0524140. 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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-edith-and-robert-zinn-foundation-morg_ad0954db137a4bcfbdc8401494b2caa4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760524140_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Edith and Robert Zinn Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-edith-and-robert-zinn-foundation-morg_ad0954db137a4bcfbdc8401494b2caa4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 The Edith and Robert Zinn 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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