The Rob Walton Foundation
The Rob Walton Foundation is a private foundation based in Bentonville, Arkansas, that supports large-scale conservation efforts and collaborative partnerships, primarily in Africa. Its work centers on helping safeguard important ecosystems and the people and institutions involved in managing them.
The Rob Walton Foundation at a glance
In short: The Rob Walton Foundation gave $107.1M across 61 grants in 2024 (avg $1.8M), top state North Dakota. 12% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $107,144,912
- +35.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 61
- -21.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,756,474
- +73.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $441,215,835
- +2.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (6 of 52, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Dakota (32% 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 Rob Walton Foundation
- 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: PO Box 1860, Bentonviille, AR 72712
Phone: (479) 464-1570
Website: https://robwaltonfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Rob Walton Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation ($33.9M). Together the top 10 received $103.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
410 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 241 grants of 410 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its work focuses primarily on conservation in Africa, especially the Keystone Protected Areas. Its 2024 grant dollars were concentrated among recipients in North Dakota (32%), Virginia (31%), the District of Columbia (15%), New York (9%), and Arizona (8%). These figures describe recipient states; the foundation’s strategy also identifies protected and conserved areas across 33 African countries.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 61 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Rob Walton Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 52 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $2.3M. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 192% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 464% 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 $31.1M (2020) to $107.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 61 grants totaling $107.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation Medora, ND | To provide funding for library | $33,863,725 |
| Conservation International Foundation Arlington, VA | To provide matching support toward Spend Down Fund 2.0 | $24,572,723 |
| Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx, NY | To support Africa Protected Areas Strategy Implementation | $9,328,315 |
| Arizona State University Foundation for A New American University Tempe, AZ | To support School of Conservation Futures and related programs | $8,000,000 |
| African Parks Foundation of America Washington, DC | To provide operational support for the development and management of national parks and key conservation areas in Africa. | $5,000,000 |
| African Parks Foundation of America Washington, DC | To support African Parks Incubation Program: Scaling Through Partnerships | $4,805,998 |
| Conservation International Foundation Arlington, VA | To support ocean conservation through the Blue Nature Alliance project | $4,625,913 |
| African Parks Foundation of America Washington, DC | To support important conservation in Africa, including Rewilding of Key Species | $3,500,000 |
| Conservation International Foundation Arlington, VA | To support Country Packages Seed Fund | $3,267,348 |
| Emory University Atlanta, GA | To support Phase 1: Advance a Global Culture of Compassion | $1,500,000 |
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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 | $441,215,835 | $125,815,076 | $114,639,549 | $107,144,912 | 61 | $108,474,094 | $121,417,969 | $23,389,455 |
| 2023 | $430,040,308 | $44,639,680 | $85,422,307 | $79,040,780 | 78 | $79,683,037 | $40,338,155 | $24,961,460 |
| 2022 | $470,822,935 | $-6,803,881 | $63,429,826 | $59,140,621 | 85 | $59,816,448 | $8,881,909 | $28,656,448 |
| 2021 | $541,056,642 | $120,568,910 | $44,381,058 | $36,652,319 | 98 | $38,113,871 | $116,201,854 | $29,373,431 |
| 2020 | $464,868,790 | $107,521,595 | $35,882,569 | $31,141,150 | 88 | — | $167,677,093 | $19,536,889 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Rob Walton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $23.4M 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
Rob Walton says he created the foundation to safeguard and restore vital ecosystems, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa, that are essential for nature and future generations. The foundation’s current strategy focuses largely on Africa’s Keystone Protected Areas, a portfolio it describes as 162 protected and conserved areas across 33 countries.
Its strategy includes mobilizing long-term, diversified funding; strengthening organizational and public-sector capacity, African leadership, and workforce pathways; and supporting country and community engagement, including respect for community rights and practical benefits for people living in and around protected areas.
Grantees include organizations with related but distinct missions. Conservation International says it works to spotlight and secure the critical benefits nature provides to humanity. The Wildlife Conservation Society says it saves wildlife and wild places through science, conservation action, education, and public engagement. The foundation’s website describes African Parks as taking direct responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 61 grants totaling $107,144,912. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $33,863,725, with a median grant of $50,000. In 2023, it reported 78 grants totaling $79,040,780; in 2022, it reported 85 grants totaling $59,140,621.
Notable 2024 grants included $33,863,725 to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation for library funding; $24,572,723 to Conservation International Foundation for matching support toward Spend Down Fund 2.0; $9,328,315 to the Wildlife Conservation Society for Africa Protected Areas Strategy implementation; and $8,000,000 to Arizona State University Foundation for A New American University for its School of Conservation Futures and related programs. African Parks Foundation of America received several grants, including $5,000,000 for operational support for developing and managing national parks and key conservation areas in Africa.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s board of directors is listed as Rob Walton (Chairman), Ben Walton, Rachel Penner, Peter Seligmann, and Barry Gold.
The Rob Walton Foundation is led by S. Robson Walton, Director & President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
S. Robson Walton
Director & President
Director & Co-President → Co-President, 2021
Co-President → Director & President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Naccaman G. Williams
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Luke Mitchell
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Robert A. Smith (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Rupal Poltack (2022–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Melani Walton (2020–2022) — Director & Co-President From -
- Former: Erron Smith (2020–2021) — Assistant Secretary
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 Rob Walton Foundation
How much does The Rob Walton Foundation give each year?
The Rob Walton Foundation gave $107.1M across 61 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $79.0M across 78 grants.
What is The Rob Walton Foundation's typical grant size?
The Rob Walton Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $1,756,474, across 61 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Rob Walton Foundation that year got $25K on average.
Where does The Rob Walton Foundation give grants?
The Rob Walton Foundation's top state is North Dakota, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (31%) and District of Columbia (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (11 grants), Washington, DC (9 grants), Arlington, VA (5 grants) and Aspen, CO (4 grants).
Does The Rob Walton Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 51% of The Rob Walton Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (31 of 61) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Rob Walton Foundation's largest grantees?
The Rob Walton Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation ($33,863,725), Conservation International Foundation ($33,003,484 across 5 grants) and African Parks Foundation of America ($14,416,078 across 4 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Rob Walton Foundation?
The Rob Walton Foundation reported $441.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $108.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $23.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Rob Walton Foundation fund?
Rob Walton says he created the foundation to safeguard and restore vital ecosystems, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa, that are essential for nature and future generations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Rob Walton Foundation?
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 Rob Walton Foundation's EIN?
The Rob Walton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4259772. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Rob Walton Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 Rob Walton Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-rob-walton-foundation-morg_1b138563502447cda11d64dcdf612e53
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_474259772_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Rob Walton Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-rob-walton-foundation-morg_1b138563502447cda11d64dcdf612e53},
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 The Rob Walton 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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