The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation
The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation is a private foundation based in Overland Park, Kansas. Its 2026 filing reports 21 grants totaling $69,000 to charitable organizations in several states.
The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation at a glance
In short: The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation gave $69K across 21 grants in 2026 (avg $3K), top state Kansas. 29% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $69,000
- +25.0% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 21
- +10.5% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $3,286
- +13.1% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $441,135
- -6.4% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (6 of 21, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Kansas (49% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 12800 Outlook Street, Overland Park, KS 66209
Phone: (913) 961-3285
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Beautiful Gate ($12K). Together the top 10 received $50K.
Grant Size Distribution
87 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 87 grants of 87 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2026 grant dollars went to recipients in Kansas (49%), New Mexico (25%), Missouri (16%), Texas (6%), and Arizona (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 6 of 21 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 62% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 94% 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 (2020–2026). 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 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $37K (2020) to $69K (2026). In 2026 it made 21 grants totaling $69K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Beautiful Gate Overland Park, KS | Cure of Children Disabilities | $12,000 |
| Washburn University Foundation Topeka, KS | Scholarshipand general. | $8,500 |
| Catholic Charities Overland Park, KS | Food For Needy | $5,000 |
| Alpha Pointe Kansas City, MO | Assistance tothe blind. | $4,000 |
| New Mexico State Univ Fdn Las Cruces, NM | Education | $4,000 |
| Bishop Sullivan Ctr Kansas City, MO | Transportationfor needy. | $3,750 |
| Iglesia Christiana Bethel Kansas City, KS | Religious | $3,500 |
| Dona Ana Humane Soc Las Cruces, NM | Animal Care | $3,000 |
| El Caldito Soup Kitchen Las Cruces, NM | Assistance to the needy. | $3,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Las Cruces Las Cruces, NM | Youth services | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $441,135 | $39,393 | $69,729 | $69,000 | 21 | $69,365 | $39,243 | $74,120 |
| 2025 | $471,471 | $15,411 | $55,621 | $55,200 | 19 | $55,200 | $15,409 | $69,040 |
| 2024 | $511,681 | $1,397 | $52,761 | $50,850 | 17 | $52,350 | $19,531 | $55,521 |
| 2023 | $563,045 | $18,937 | $58,207 | $56,300 | 15 | $57,800 | $18,787 | $52,144 |
| 2022 | $602,315 | $11,412 | $45,211 | $43,700 | 15 | $44,900 | $11,262 | $57,832 |
| 2021 | $636,114 | $11,728 | $42,162 | $40,500 | 12 | — | $11,578 | $44,973 |
| 2020 | $666,548 | $9,081 | $38,617 | $37,000 | 15 | — | $15,579 | $41,538 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $74K for 2026 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants show support for organizations with varied activities. For example, the Washburn University Foundation says it helps develop financial resources for Washburn University, and the New Mexico State University Foundation says it secures and stewards private resources to support the university’s land-grant mission. El Caldito Soup Kitchen describes its mission as providing free hot lunches to people in need. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2026, the foundation made 21 grants totaling $69,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $12,000, with a median grant of $3,000. Among the largest were $12,000 to Beautiful Gate for “Cure of Children Disabilities,” $8,500 to Washburn University Foundation for scholarships and general support, and $5,000 to Catholic Charities for food for people in need. Other grants included $4,000 to Alpha Pointe for assistance to blind people and $4,000 to New Mexico State University Foundation for education.
Other 2026 recipients included El Caldito Soup Kitchen, which received $3,000; North Texas Food Bank and Embrace Grace, which each received $2,000; and Dogtopia Foundation, which received $1,500. North Texas Food Bank describes its work as hunger relief through a network of partner agencies, while Embrace Grace says it supports single and pregnant girls through churches.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists David N Zimmerman and Elaine A Adams as vice presidents and directors; Mark E Zimmerman as vice president, treasurer, and director; and Carol Z Barry as president, secretary, and director.
The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation is led by Carol Z Barry, President, Secretary & Director since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Carol Z Barry
President, Secretary & Director
President, Secretary & Director → V-Pres., Secretary & Director, 2022
V-Pres., Secretary & Director → President, Secretary & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David N Zimmerman
V-Pres. & Director
V-Pres. & Director → President & Director, 2023
President & Director → V-Pres. & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elaine A Adams
V-Pres. & Director
V-Pres. & Director → President & Director, 2022
President & Director → V-Pres. & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark E Zimmerman
V-Pres., Treasurer & Director
V-Pres., Treasurer & Director → President, Treasurer & Director, 2024
President, Treasurer & Director → V-Pres., Treasurer & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "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 Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation
How much does The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation give each year?
The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation gave $69K across 21 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $55K across 19 grants.
What is The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation's typical grant size?
The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $3,000, and its average grant was $3,286, across 21 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation give grants?
The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation's top state is Kansas, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Mexico (25%) and Missouri (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Las Cruces, NM (6 grants), Kansas City, MO (5 grants), Overland Park, KS (3 grants) and Kansas City, KS (2 grants).
Does The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation's largest grantees?
The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Beautiful Gate ($12,000), Washburn University Foundation ($8,500) and Catholic Charities ($5,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation?
The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation reported $441K in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $69K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $74K (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 Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants show support for organizations with varied activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation's EIN?
The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1921559. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Does The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS May 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-e-and-polly-a-zimmerman-foundation-morg_48873b5369d14dc0917ccad7bb2e4f79
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_431921559_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-e-and-polly-a-zimmerman-foundation-morg_48873b5369d14dc0917ccad7bb2e4f79},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Robert E and Polly A Zimmerman 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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