The Robert J and Helen H Glaser

Private foundation · Grantmaker Palo Alto, CA EIN: 77-0551199

The Robert J and Helen H Glaser is a private foundation based in Palo Alto, California. It supports charitable organizations through grants; its 2024 filing lists 33 grants totaling $133,914.

The Robert J and Helen H Glaser at a glance

In short: The Robert J and Helen H Glaser gave $134K across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), top state California. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$133,914
+12.7% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
33
+10.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$4,058
+2.5% vs 2023
Median grant
$3,500
Total assets
$1,705,611
+2.1% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
9% first-time grantees (3 of 33, 2024)
Primary geography
California (35% 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 Robert J and Helen H Glaser

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 1266, Palo Alto, CA 94302
Phone: (650) 906-4482

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Robert J and Helen H Glaser funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Colleyville Public Library Foundat: $10KColleyville Public LibraryFoundat$10KSouthwestern Medical Foundation: $10KSouthwestern MedicalFoundation$10KMD Anderson Cancer Center: $7KMD Anderson Cancer Center$7KSomarts: $7KSomarts$7KPalo Alto Art Center Foundation: $6KPalo Alto Art CenterFoundation$6KUS Santa Cruz Foundation: $6KUS Santa Cruz Foundation$6KCal Performances: $5KCal Performances$5KSan Francisco Ballet: $5KSan Francisco Ballet$5KThe Belcourt Theatre: $5KThe Belcourt Theatre$5KTuolumne River Trust: $5KTuolumne River Trust$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was Colleyville Public Library Foundat ($10K). Together the top 10 received $66K.

Grant Size Distribution

158 grants across all recorded years

158<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 158 grants of 158 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, California received 35% of grant dollars, Texas 29%, Tennessee 24%, and the District of Columbia and Kansas 4% each.

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.

Cities

NashvilleSan FranciscoDallasPalo AltoSan JoseWashingtonAlexandriaBerkeleyColleyvilleFranklinGrapevineHoustonNew YorkSanta CruzManhattanOaklandLos AngelesRedwood CitySan Mateo

Is The Robert J and Helen H Glaser open to new grantees?

9%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 3 of 33 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count

Medians: $2K first-time, $4K repeat.

  • 91% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 147% 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

$0$50K$100K$150K33 grants2020 32 grants2021 30 grants2022 30 grants2023 33 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $118K (2020) to $140K (2021). In 2024 it made 33 grants totaling $134K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Colleyville Public Library Foundat Colleyville, TXTo Provide Support$10,000
Southwestern Medical Foundation Dallas, TXTo Provide Support$10,000
MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TXTo Provide Support$7,200
Somarts San Francisco, CATo Provide Support$6,540
Palo Alto Art Center Foundation Palo Alto, CATo Provide Support$6,000
US Santa Cruz Foundation Santa Cruz, CATo Provide Support$6,000
Cal Performances Berkeley, CATo Provide Support$5,000
San Francisco Ballet San Francisco, CATo Provide Support$5,000
The Belcourt Theatre Nashville, TNTo Provide Support$5,000
Tuolumne River Trust San Francisco, CATo Provide Support$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$1,705,611$187,140$149,077$133,91433$133,914$58,902$91,055
2023$1,671,327$48,351$132,578$118,80030$118,800$59,633$85,700
2022$1,752,336$87,086$151,595$137,19230$137,192$61,704$86,601
2021$1,817,451$156,317$158,076$139,67432$139,674$64,381$88,183
2020$1,812,605$134,434$129,817$117,70533—$133,784$87,357

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert J and Helen H Glaser reported a distributable amount of $91K 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 own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including medicine, arts and culture, education, animal welfare, food security, technology training, and environmental conservation. For example, Southwestern Medical Foundation describes its work as supporting medical education, research, and patient care, while SOMArts says it uses art to foster social change. Bonaparte’s Retreat describes its work as providing foster care and permanent homes for shelter dogs.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 33 grants totaling $133,914. Grants ranged from $1,700 to $10,000, with a median of $3,500.

Among the largest grants were $10,000 to Colleyville Public Library Foundation in Texas and $10,000 to Southwestern Medical Foundation in Dallas; $7,200 to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston; and $6,540 to SOMArts in San Francisco. Other grants included $6,000 each to Palo Alto Art Center Foundation and US Santa Cruz Foundation, and $5,000 each to Cal Performances, San Francisco Ballet, The Belcourt Theatre, Tuolumne River Trust, and Kansas State University Foundation.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Joseph Glaser II as president, Sally Glaser as secretary, Robert J Glaser Jr as vice president, Christine Glaser as director, and R David Bower as treasurer.

The Robert J and Helen H Glaser is led by Joseph Glaser II, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Joseph Glaser II

    President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Christine Glaser

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Robert J. Glaser Jr.

    Vice President

    Treasurer → Vice President, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Sally Glaser

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • R. David Bower

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2021

    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.

Frequently asked questions about The Robert J and Helen H Glaser

How much does The Robert J and Helen H Glaser give each year?

The Robert J and Helen H Glaser gave $134K across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $119K across 30 grants.

What is The Robert J and Helen H Glaser's typical grant size?

The Robert J and Helen H Glaser's median grant in 2024 was $3,500, and its average grant was $4,058, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Robert J and Helen H Glaser that year got $2K on average.

Where does The Robert J and Helen H Glaser give grants?

The Robert J and Helen H Glaser's top state is California, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (29%) and Tennessee (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (9 grants), San Francisco, CA (6 grants), Dallas, TX (5 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).

Does The Robert J and Helen H Glaser give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on The Robert J and Helen H Glaser's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Provide Support" (33 grants).

Who are The Robert J and Helen H Glaser's largest grantees?

The Robert J and Helen H Glaser's largest 2024 grantees include Colleyville Public Library Foundat ($10,000), Southwestern Medical Foundation ($10,000) and MD Anderson Cancer Center ($7,200), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Robert J and Helen H Glaser?

The Robert J and Helen H Glaser reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $134K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $91K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Robert J and Helen H Glaser fund?

The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including medicine, arts and culture, education, animal welfare, food security, technology training, and environmental conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Robert J and Helen H Glaser?

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 Robert J and Helen H Glaser's EIN?

The Robert J and Helen H Glaser's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0551199. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Robert J and Helen H Glaser 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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Robert J and Helen H Glaser funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-j-and-helen-h-glaser-morg_68c32a6a8cb04d2b8ec1f1c873a47ce7

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_770551199_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Robert J and Helen H Glaser funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-j-and-helen-h-glaser-morg_68c32a6a8cb04d2b8ec1f1c873a47ce7},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 J and Helen H Glaser'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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