The Joseph and Robert Cornell
The Joseph and Robert Cornell is a private foundation based in Charlottesville, Virginia. The foundation’s website describes it as a charitable trust created by the will of artist Joseph Cornell to honor the memory of Joseph and his disabled younger brother, Robert. It supports a variety of nonprofit beneficiaries, with an emphasis on the arts.
The Joseph and Robert Cornell at a glance
In short: The Joseph and Robert Cornell gave $5.6M across 58 grants in 2025 (avg $97K), mostly in Virginia. 28% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,629,050
- +22.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 58
- +7.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $97,053
- +13.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $66,101,387
- +2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (16 of 58, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Joseph and Robert Cornell
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: One Boars Head Pointe 127, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: (434) 466-3292
Website: https://www.cornellmemorialfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Joseph and Robert Cornell funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Virginia Foundation ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $3.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
282 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 154 grants of 282 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 55% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia and 38% to recipients in New York. Recipients in Massachusetts received 3%, Pennsylvania 2%, and New Mexico 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 58 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Joseph and Robert Cornell open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 58 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $66K; repeat grants $109K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.2M (2020) to $5.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 58 grants totaling $5.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Virginia Foundation Charlottesville, VA | Grant Is for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $1,130,000 |
| Metropolitan Opera Association Inc New York, NY | Grant Is for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $750,000 |
| Wnet Depository New York, NY | Grant Is for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $650,000 |
| Museum of Modern Art New York, NY | Grant Is for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $479,050 |
| Charlottesville Opera Charlottesville, VA | Grant Is for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $250,000 |
| Thomas Jefferson Foundation Charlottesville, VA | Grant Is for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $175,000 |
| St Bartholomew's Conservancy Inc New York, NY | Grant Is for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $150,000 |
| Charlottesville Symphony Society Charlottesville, VA | Grant Is for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $125,000 |
| Charlottesville Ballet Charlottesville, VA | Grant Is for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $110,000 |
| Arc of the Piedmont Charlottesville, VA | Grant Is for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $100,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $66,101,387 | $7,961,674 | $6,448,703 | $5,629,050 | 58 | $5,992,201 | $7,582,735 | $6,089,762 |
| 2024 | $64,538,806 | $10,400,921 | $5,492,641 | $4,600,000 | 54 | $5,039,149 | $10,107,429 | $5,572,858 |
| 2023 | $59,630,526 | $7,044,434 | $5,546,466 | $4,800,000 | 61 | $5,196,271 | $6,787,907 | $5,098,515 |
| 2022 | $58,132,558 | $4,107,032 | $6,100,761 | $5,200,000 | 58 | $5,662,447 | $3,786,879 | $5,430,448 |
| 2021 | $60,126,287 | $13,326,548 | $5,151,342 | $4,300,000 | 51 | $4,658,256 | $12,961,322 | $5,390,466 |
| 2020 | $51,951,081 | $2,294,283 | $4,738,152 | $4,220,000 | 49 | — | $2,317,776 | $4,771,577 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joseph and Robert Cornell reported a distributable amount of $6.1M for 2025 — 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 states that it supports nonprofit beneficiaries with an emphasis on the arts. Its 2025 grants included arts and cultural organizations, as well as organizations whose own missions include education, historic preservation, community services, and hospice care.
Examples include the Museum of Modern Art, whose mission is to foster public awareness of modern and contemporary art, and Charlottesville Opera, which says it produces opera and musicals, provides training and educational opportunities, and enriches Virginia’s cultural life. St. Bartholomew’s Conservancy says it works to restore and preserve the historic character of its New York site. Hospice of the Piedmont says it guides life’s final journey with expertise and empathy.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 58 grants totaling $5,629,050 in 2025. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $1,130,000, with a median of $37,500. It reported 54 grants totaling $4,600,000 in 2024 and 61 grants totaling $4,800,000 in 2023.
Among its 2025 grants were $1,130,000 to the University of Virginia Foundation, $750,000 to the Metropolitan Opera Association, $650,000 to WNET Depository, and $479,050 to the Museum of Modern Art. Other grants included $250,000 to Charlottesville Opera, $175,000 to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, and $150,000 to St. Bartholomew’s Conservancy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joseph Erdman and Melissa Young as trustees.
The Joseph and Robert Cornell's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joseph Erdman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$165K (2020) → $183K (2025)
Melissa Young
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$73K (2020) → $183K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $183K, to Joseph Erdman (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Joseph and Robert Cornell
How much does The Joseph and Robert Cornell give each year?
The Joseph and Robert Cornell gave $5.6M across 58 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4.6M across 54 grants.
What is The Joseph and Robert Cornell's typical grant size?
The Joseph and Robert Cornell's median grant in 2025 was $37,500, and its average grant was $97,053, across 58 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Joseph and Robert Cornell that year got $66K on average.
Where does The Joseph and Robert Cornell give grants?
The Joseph and Robert Cornell gives mostly in Virginia: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (38%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlottesville, VA (31 grants), New York, NY (9 grants), Richmond, VA (4 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (2 grants).
Who are The Joseph and Robert Cornell's largest grantees?
The Joseph and Robert Cornell's largest 2025 grantees include University of Virginia Foundation ($1,130,000), Metropolitan Opera Association Inc ($750,000) and Wnet Depository ($650,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Joseph and Robert Cornell?
The Joseph and Robert Cornell reported $66.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.1M (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 Joseph and Robert Cornell fund?
The foundation states that it supports nonprofit beneficiaries with an emphasis on the arts. Its 2025 grants included arts and cultural organizations, as well as organizations whose own missions include education, historic preservation, community services, and hospice care. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Joseph and Robert Cornell?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Joseph and Robert Cornell's EIN?
The Joseph and Robert Cornell's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3097502. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Joseph and Robert Cornell accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Joseph and Robert Cornell funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-joseph-and-robert-cornell-morg_136244912d1e42f0abf4033eca6edc47
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133097502_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Joseph and Robert Cornell funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-joseph-and-robert-cornell-morg_136244912d1e42f0abf4033eca6edc47},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Joseph and Robert Cornell'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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