The Robertson-Finley Foundation
The Robertson-Finley Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 1999 and based in Houston, Texas. The foundation operates as a private foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors including scientific research, education, public policy, conservation, and civil society support.
Key facts about The Robertson-Finley Foundation
- EIN
- 76-0598999
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $192,700
- Grants made (2024)
- 57
- Average grant
- $3,381
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 57, 2024)
- Total assets
- $3,109,277
- Primary geography
- Texas (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Robertson-Finley Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Robertson-Finley Foundation's 57 itemized 2024 grants were Texas (41%), District of Columbia (15%) and Virginia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (16 grants), Washington, DC (8 grants), Arlington, VA (3 grants) and Austin, TX (3 grants). None of its 57 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Public Policy Research Support" (17 grants), "Conservation Support" (13 grants) and "Civil Society Support" (12 grants).
Is The Robertson-Finley Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 57 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count
- 100% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Robertson-Finley Foundation
- How to evaluate The Robertson-Finley Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Robertson-Finley Foundation with AI
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.1M
+1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$193K
-5.3% YoY
Grant Count
57
-3.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-1.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robertson-Finley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $212K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of funding priorities:
- Scientific Research Support — Including Alzheimer's research and research at specialized institutes
- General Support — Broad charitable giving across multiple sectors
- Public Policy Research Support — Funding for policy-focused research and advocacy
- Education Support — Educational initiatives and institutions
- Conservation Support — Environmental conservation and wildlife conservation efforts
- Civil Society Support — General purpose support for civil society organizations
The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in supporting research institutions, including the University of Texas at Austin and the Institute for Fusion Studies.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$500–$12,000
Ready to take the next step with The Robertson-Finley Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Houston, Texas and primarily funds organizations within the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 57 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $3,052,919–$3.11 million
- Total Revenue: $299,403
- Total Expenses: $214,597
- Total Giving: $202,000–$207,110
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3.11 million
- Revenue: $260,000
- Expenses: $204,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,109,277 | $3,052,919 | $2,968,113 |
| Revenue | $260,428 | $299,403 | $267,184 |
| Expenses | $204,070 | $214,597 | $209,714 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $196,557 | $207,110 | $202,188 |
| Net Investment Income | $156,007 | $193,671 | $162,218 |
| Distributable Amount | $211,642 | $194,262 | $207,851 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
297 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include University of Texas at Austin Institute for Fusion Studies ($12,000), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center ($12,000), Amazing Place ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Texas at Austin Institute for Fusion Studies Austin, TX | Scientific Research Support | $12,000 |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX | Scientific Research Support | $12,000 |
| Amazing Place Houston, TX | Civil Society Support | $10,000 |
| Institute for Justice Arlington, VA | Public Policy Research Support | $10,000 |
| Pacific Legal Foundation Sacramento, CA | Public Policy Research Support | $10,000 |
| New Civil Liberties Alliance Washington, DC | Public Policy Research Support | $7,000 |
| State Policy Network Arlington, VA | Public Policy Research Support | $7,000 |
| The Leadership Institute Arlington, VA | Public Policy Research Support | $6,000 |
| Houston Food Bank Houston, TX | Civil Society Support | $5,000 |
| Salvation Army of Greater Houston Houston, TX | Civil Society Support | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Daniel R. Finley — Trustee (2.5 hours per week)
- J H McMillian — Executive Director (5 hours per week)
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel R Finley | Trustee | 2.5 | — |
| J H McMillian | Exec Dir | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 967 Houston, TX 77001-0967
Phone: (713) 759-0450
EIN: 76-0598999
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Robertson-Finley Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of funding priorities: • **Scientific Research Support** — Including Alzheimer's research and research at specialized institutes • **General Support** — Broad charitable giving across multiple sectors • **Public Policy Research Support** — Funding for policy-focused research and advocacy • **Education Support** — Educational initiatives and institutions • **Conservation Support** — Environmental conservation and wildlife conservation efforts • **Civil Soc…
How do I apply for a grant from The Robertson-Finley Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: Approximately $200,000–$207,000 • Number of grants: 57–59 grants annually • Grant range: $500–$12,000 • Median grant size: $2,767–$3,000 • Giving rate: 6.6–6.9% of assets **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Baylor Medical Foundation — $12,000 (Scientific Research Support) • Children's Research Institute at UT Southwestern — $12,000 (Scientific Research Support) • Pacific Legal Foundation — $10,000 (Public Policy Research Support) **Application Policy:** The founda…
Where does The Robertson-Finley Foundation make grants?
The foundation is based in Houston, Texas and primarily funds organizations within the United States.
What size grants does The Robertson-Finley Foundation award?
In 2024, The Robertson-Finley Foundation awarded 57 grants totaling $193K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Robertson-Finley Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Robertson-Finley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $212K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Robertson-Finley Foundation's EIN?
The Robertson-Finley Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0598999. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Robertson-Finley Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.