The Robertson Foundation
The Robertson Foundation is a private foundation based in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts. In 2025, it reported 21 grants totaling $151,500 to charitable organizations, with grant recipients listed in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and other locations.
The Robertson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Robertson Foundation gave $152K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Massachusetts. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $151,500
- -17.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- +5.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,214
- -21.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,319,004
- +12.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (1 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Robertson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 740 Horseneck Road, South Dartmouth, MA 02748-1052
Phone: (508) 636-7116
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Robertson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Buzzards Bay Coalition ($50K). Together the top 10 received $147K.
Grant Size Distribution
111 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 107 grants of 111 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts. In 2025, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts and 36% to recipients in Rhode Island. The filing also lists grant shares of 0% for Washington, DC, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Robertson Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 21 grantees (5%) 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 $1K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 176% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $152K (2025) to $187K (2022). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $152K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Buzzards Bay Coalition New Bedford, MA | Community Support | $50,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of so New Eng Providence, RI | Community Support | $25,000 |
| Public's Radio Providence, RI | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Design Art Technology Massachusetts New Bedford, MA | Arts Outreach | $16,000 |
| New Eng First Amendment Coalition Westborough, MA | General Support | $15,000 |
| Trinity Repertory Company Providence, RI | Education | $8,000 |
| The Newford Bedford Light New Bedford, MA | Community Support | $5,000 |
| Our Sisters School New Bedford, MA | Education | $4,000 |
| Coastal Neighbors Network South Dartmouth, MA | Community Support | $2,500 |
| Foundation for West Africa Barrington, RI | Education Programs | $1,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Robertson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,319,004 | $319,669 | $173,446 | $151,500 | 21 | $151,500 | $304,298 | $85,898 |
| 2024 | $1,172,781 | $134,809 | $204,008 | $183,943 | 20 | $183,943 | $119,541 | $89,451 |
| 2023 | $1,241,980 | $87,713 | $201,125 | $181,528 | 27 | $181,528 | $72,160 | $82,476 |
| 2022 | $1,355,392 | $70,314 | $206,001 | $187,410 | 24 | $187,410 | $54,856 | $94,044 |
| 2021 | $1,491,079 | $188,542 | $201,547 | $182,190 | 19 | $182,190 | $173,424 | $108,402 |
| 2020 | $1,504,084 | $80,515 | $196,204 | $182,340 | 17 | — | $66,043 | $100,045 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robertson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $86K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for environmental conservation, arts and cultural organizations, education, media, and community organizations, as reflected in the recipients and their stated purposes.
Among its grantees, Buzzards Bay Coalition describes its mission as protecting, restoring, and supporting the sustainable use and enjoyment of Buzzards Bay and its watershed. Trinity Repertory Company says it uses dramatic art, productions, training, and education programs to engage its community. Our Sisters’ School says it educates and inspires economically disadvantaged girls in the New Bedford area. WGBH Educational Foundation describes its work as providing programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 21 grants totaling $151,500. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $50,000, with a median of $1,000.
The largest awards included $50,000 to Buzzards Bay Coalition for community support; $25,000 to Planned Parenthood of Southern New England for community support; $20,000 to The Public’s Radio for general purposes; $16,000 to Design Art Technology Massachusetts for arts outreach; and $15,000 to New England First Amendment Coalition for general support. Other grants included $8,000 to Trinity Repertory Company for education, $5,000 to The New Bedford Light for community support, and $4,000 to Our Sisters’ School for education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jocelin G Hamblett as president, trustee, and director; Christopher S Hamblett as secretary and director; and A Max Kohlenberg as director.
The Robertson Foundation is led by Jocelin G. Hamblett, President, Trs & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jocelin G. Hamblett
President, Trs & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
A. Max Kohlenberg
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christopher S. Hamblett
Secrty & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Robertson Foundation
How much does The Robertson Foundation give each year?
The Robertson Foundation gave $152K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $184K across 20 grants.
What is The Robertson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Robertson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $7,214, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Robertson Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Robertson Foundation give grants?
The Robertson Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Rhode Island (36%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Bedford, MA (6 grants), Providence, RI (5 grants), South Dartmouth, MA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Robertson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 38% of The Robertson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Community Support" (6 grants) and "Education" (4 grants).
Who are The Robertson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Robertson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Buzzards Bay Coalition ($50,000), Planned Parenthood of so New Eng ($25,000) and Public's Radio ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Robertson Foundation?
The Robertson Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $152K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $86K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Robertson Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for environmental conservation, arts and cultural organizations, education, media, and community organizations, as reflected in the recipients and their stated purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Robertson Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Robertson Foundation's EIN?
The Robertson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 05-0481538. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Robertson 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Robertson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-robertson-foundation-morg_2a8454fcd86b424f9f62869fbd942c9f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_050481538_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Robertson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-robertson-foundation-morg_2a8454fcd86b424f9f62869fbd942c9f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Robertson 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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