The Rockdale Foundation Inc
The Rockdale Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1994 by Bob Pattillo and Katy Barksdale, it partners with local leaders and organizations working toward systemic change, with grantmaking emphasis on education, ethical leadership, children and youth, and community.
The Rockdale Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Rockdale Foundation Inc gave $755K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $34K), top state Georgia. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $755,241
- -19.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- +15.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $34,329
- -30.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $2,283,307
- -10.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (11 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (22% 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 Rockdale Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Proposals are submitted by email by organizations invited to apply.
- Review Cycle
- October 31, 2025 (2025 Cycle 2); May 31, 2026 (2026 Cycle 1); October 31, 2026 (2026 Cycle 2).
- Deadline
- October 31, 2025 (2025 Cycle 2); May 31, 2026 (2026 Cycle 1); October 31, 2026 (2026 Cycle 2).
- Contact
Mailing address: 186 The Prado Ne, Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: (404) 249-0426
Website: https://rockdalefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Rockdale Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National Youth Awareness Forum ($477K). Together the top 10 received $721K.
Grant Size Distribution
121 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 106 grants of 121 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says much of its international grantmaking supports local education partners in Sierra Leone, while it continues to support partners in Rockdale County and the Atlanta area. Its 2024 grants included a large award for a water and hygiene project in Sierra Leone and grants to organizations in Georgia, New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The recipient-state breakdown lists 71% under an unidentified category, followed by Georgia (22%), New York (4%), Maryland (1%), and Massachusetts (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Rockdale Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 22 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $61K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 182% 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 $755K (2024) to $1.7M (2022). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $755K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Youth Awareness Forum | Water/Hygiene Project Sierra Leone | $476,741 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs Metro ATL Atlanta, GA | Operating Support for Youth Develope | $75,000 |
| Educaid | Support Education | $60,000 |
| Woodruff Arts Center Atlanta, GA | Support Arts and Education | $30,000 |
| African Leader Foundation New York City, NY | Student Scholarship | $30,000 |
| Comprehensive Community Services Atlanta, GA | Support | $10,000 |
| Grandmother Project INV Chevy Chase, MD | Grandmother Leadership Training | $10,000 |
| The Carter Center Inc Atlanta, GA | Sierra Leone Mental Heath Program | $10,000 |
| Food Bank of Northeast Georgia Atlanta, GA | Food for Tots Program | $10,000 |
| The Silkroad Project INV Brighten, MA | Support | $9,590 |
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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 | $2,283,307 | $183,122 | $211,907 | $755,241 | 22 | $203,830 | $24,159 | $112,155 |
| 2023 | $2,547,318 | $1,012,828 | $1,032,071 | $933,950 | 19 | $1,023,780 | $19,922 | $113,959 |
| 2022 | $2,052,693 | $498,130 | $1,709,214 | $1,672,542 | 20 | $1,705,912 | $475,459 | $165,032 |
| 2021 | $4,435,814 | $150,076 | $930,985 | $799,951 | 27 | $911,450 | $135,541 | $215,867 |
| 2020 | $4,407,179 | $566,282 | $963,948 | $795,596 | 33 | — | $284,881 | $193,990 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Rockdale Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $112K 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 mission is “to partner with local leaders striving to help vulnerable children and youth achieve wholeness with a grantmaking emphasis in the areas of education, ethical leadership and community.” Its website also identifies education, children and youth, and community as commitments, and describes work with grassroots organizations, teacher training, and collaborative partnerships.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of activities. Food Bank of Northeast Georgia says it connects neighbors with nourishing food and serves people facing food insecurity across a 15-county area. Phoenix Pass says it serves women and families experiencing temporary homelessness, helping them reestablish self-sufficiency in a stable residential setting. Partners in Change describes pairing trained volunteer coaches with adults seeking greater control over challenges in their lives. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation made 22 grants totaling $755,241. Grant amounts ranged from $410 to $476,741, with a median grant of $7,500. The largest listed grant was $476,741 to National Youth Awareness Forum for a water and hygiene project in Sierra Leone. Other notable grants included $75,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs Metro ATL for operating support for youth development, $60,000 to EducAid for education support, and $30,000 each to Woodruff Arts Center for arts and education support and African Leader Foundation for a student scholarship.
The Foundation’s grant guidelines say proposals are by invitation and must be submitted by email. Invited organizations seeking less than $15,000 are asked for a cover letter, project and organizational budgets, audited financial statements, board and officer information, and an IRS determination letter or applicable registration certificates for non-U.S.-based charities. Invited organizations seeking $15,000 or more are also asked for a theory of change, grant activities, timeline, expected impact and measurement, anticipated challenges, collaborations, a strategic plan, annual report, and reporting plan. Proposals received after a deadline are considered in the following cycle.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kathleen M Barksdale as Director/President, Kathlyn M Pattillo as Director, and David Weitnauer as Vice President.
The Rockdale Foundation Inc is led by Kathleen M. Barksdale, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kathleen M. Barksdale
Director & President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kathlyn M. Pattillo
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David Weitnauer
Vice President
On filings since 2020
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 Rockdale Foundation Inc
How much does The Rockdale Foundation Inc give each year?
The Rockdale Foundation Inc gave $755K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $934K across 19 grants.
What is The Rockdale Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Rockdale Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $34,329, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Rockdale Foundation Inc that year got $7K on average.
Where does The Rockdale Foundation Inc give grants?
The Rockdale Foundation Inc's top state is Georgia, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (7 grants), Conyers, GA (3 grants) and Brunswick, GA (2 grants).
Does The Rockdale Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of The Rockdale Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Support" (4 grants).
Who are The Rockdale Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Rockdale Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include National Youth Awareness Forum ($476,741), Boys and Girls Clubs Metro ATL ($75,000) and Educaid ($60,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Rockdale Foundation Inc?
The Rockdale Foundation Inc reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $204K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $112K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Rockdale Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s mission is “to partner with local leaders striving to help vulnerable children and youth achieve wholeness with a grantmaking emphasis in the areas of education, ethical leadership and community.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Rockdale Foundation Inc?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Rockdale Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Rockdale Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2668065. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Rockdale Foundation Inc 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
Live grants for the work The Rockdale Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Rockdale Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-rockdale-foundation-inc-morg_589d77da0c9a4a2b80648c7aa7f8b31a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_582668065_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Rockdale Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-rockdale-foundation-inc-morg_589d77da0c9a4a2b80648c7aa7f8b31a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Rockdale Foundation Inc'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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