The Roothbert Fund Inc
The Roothbert Fund Inc is a private foundation based in New York City that supports undergraduate and graduate study at accredited U.S. institutions through scholarships. Founded in 1958, it is a nearly all-volunteer organization that seeks candidates motivated by spiritual values and builds a community among current and former Fellows.
The Roothbert Fund Inc at a glance
In short: The Roothbert Fund Inc gave $233K across 34 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), top state New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $232,500
- -0.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 34
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,838
- -0.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $7,049,386
- +11.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (30% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Roothbert Fund Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Fund’s 2024 filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests for contributions to charitable organizations. Scholarship applicants use the Fund’s application process. The website says the application requires a transcript, three autobiographical essays, and three recommendation letters; the filing describes a scholarship application requiring personal, educational, employment, financial, and activity information, along with recommendation letters and two autobiographical essays. Selected applicants are interviewed, and the Scholarship Committee selects grantees. Previous grantees seeking continued support submit a renewal application. The Fellows’ Projects Program is open to former Fellows no longer receiving scholarship grants; proposals are submitted to the Fund and reviewed by a committee.
- Review Cycle
- Scholarship applications are due February 1. The website describes the annual application period as opening November 1, with awards announced in late April and grants mailed to institutions in August. The filing says awards are generally funded in July or August. Fellows’ project-grant applications have annual deadlines of March 1 and September 1.
- Deadline
- Scholarship applications are due February 1.
- Contact
Application contact: The Roothbert Fund
Mailing address: 475 Riverside Dr Room 252, New York, NY 10115-0252
Phone: (212) 870-3116
Website: https://roothbertfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Roothbert Fund Inc
Who The Roothbert Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Carla Fernanda P Dos Santos ($8K). Together the top 2 received $15K.
Organizations only. It also paid 32 individual scholarships ($218,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
202 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 202 grants of 202 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
For scholarships, the Fund prefers applicants who reside in or attend schools in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, or West Virginia. The 2024 filing’s grant data show that the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (30%), Massachusetts (15%), the District of Columbia (12%), Pennsylvania (9%), and Maryland (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Roothbert Fund Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+10%). 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
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $192K (2020) to $233K (2023). In 2024 it made 34 grants totaling $233K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 32 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $218,000 |
| Carla Fernanda P Dos Santos Cambridge, MA | Scholarship | $7,500 |
| Christian J Ripke New York, NY | Scholarship | $7,000 |
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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 | $7,049,386 | $404,632 | $346,702 | $232,500 | 34 | $310,245 | $331,862 | $334,968 |
| 2023 | $6,303,032 | $270,840 | $343,733 | $233,000 | 34 | $283,703 | $221,726 | $288,796 |
| 2022 | $5,551,961 | $133,853 | $300,444 | $221,500 | 33 | $289,223 | $113,723 | $290,742 |
| 2021 | $4,585,767 | $513,813 | $336,838 | $210,500 | 39 | $325,383 | $86,200 | $330,922 |
| 2020 | $4,375,371 | $275,601 | $285,802 | $191,950 | 62 | — | $86,481 | $304,390 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Roothbert Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $335K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Fund’s stated aim is to support candidates whose daily actions are guided by spiritual motives or values. Its scholarship program assists students pursuing undergraduate or graduate study in the United States. The Fund prefers graduate students and undergraduates who have completed at least one year of college; it also says it prefers applicants with strong scholastic achievement who are considering careers in education.
A separate Fellows’ Projects Program offers seed grants to former Fellows for individual or group projects in the United States. Eligible projects may include educational or service activities benefiting others, or activities that develop Fellows’ spiritual awareness, knowledge, skills, or capabilities in ways consistent with the Fund’s purposes. The program does not fund stipends or living expenses and rarely funds travel.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Fund reported 34 grants totaling $232,500. Individual grants ranged from $1,095 to $7,500, with a median of $7,000. The Fund’s website describes typical scholarships as $5,000 to $7,000 and says they may be renewed for subsequent years. Renewal applicants must be continuing their degree; the Fund rarely supports Fellows through more than one academic program.
The largest reported 2024 grants were scholarships of $7,500 to individual recipients in New Jersey and Missouri and to an individual recipient in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Other listed scholarships ranged from $7,000 to $7,500 and went to individual recipients in several states.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Vijay R. Varma and James G. Heinegg as vice presidents. Directors listed are Ilunga Kalala, James A. Rosengarten, Nadjwa E. L. Norton, Nathalis W. Wamba, Adler Prioly, Abideen Oonigbanjo, and Matthew Sawh.
The Roothbert Fund Inc's 2024 filing lists 9 officers; none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ilunga Kalala
Director
Associate Di → Associate Director, 2022
Associate Director → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James A. Rosengarten
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nadjwa E. L. Norton
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nathalis W. Wamba
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adler Prioly
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abideen Oonigbanjo
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Sawh
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James G. Heinegg
Vice President
Vice President & Director → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vijay R. Varma
Vice President
Vice President & Director → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Alexyea Holmes (2020–2021) — Associate Di
- Former: Brian G. Smiga (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Charles H. Van Horne (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Florian Halili (2020–2021) — Treasurer & Director
- Former: Jason T. Buhle (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Leonisa Ardizzone (2020–2021) — Director
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 Roothbert Fund Inc
How much does The Roothbert Fund Inc give each year?
The Roothbert Fund Inc gave $233K across 34 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $233K across 34 grants.
What is The Roothbert Fund Inc's typical grant size?
The Roothbert Fund Inc's median grant in 2024 was $7,000, and its average grant was $6,838, across 34 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Roothbert Fund Inc give grants?
The Roothbert Fund Inc's top state is New York, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (15%) and District of Columbia (12%).
Does The Roothbert Fund Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 34 grants with a stated purpose on The Roothbert Fund Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (34 grants).
How large is The Roothbert Fund Inc?
The Roothbert Fund Inc reported $7.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $310K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $335K (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 Roothbert Fund Inc fund?
The Fund’s stated aim is to support candidates whose daily actions are guided by spiritual motives or values. Its scholarship program assists students pursuing undergraduate or graduate study in the United States. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Roothbert Fund Inc?
The Fund’s 2024 filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests for contributions to charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Roothbert Fund Inc's EIN?
The Roothbert Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6162570. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Roothbert Fund 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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