The Roros Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Nashville, TN EIN: 62-1677764

The Roros Foundation is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2024, it made 38 grants totaling $418,750 to charitable organizations, including organizations in Tennessee and New York.

The Roros Foundation at a glance

In short: The Roros Foundation gave $419K across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in New York. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$418,750
-3.8% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
38
+2.7% vs 2023
Average grant
$11,020
-6.4% vs 2023
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$9,147,011
+5.5% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
24% first-time grantees (9 of 38, 2024)
Primary geography
New York (53% 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 Roros Foundation

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: 515 Church Street Suite 3703, Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: (615) 337-8916

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

Who The Roros Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Helen Keller International: $150KHelen Keller International$150KAdventure Science Museum: $35KAdventure Science Museum$35KInst of Classical Architecture: $26KInst of Classical Architecture$26KGrand Central Atelier: $25KGrand Central Atelier$25KMontgomery Bell Academy: $20KMontgomery Bell Academy$20KHarpeth Hall School: $20KHarpeth Hall School$20KThe New School: $13KThe New School$13KAchilles International: $10KAchilles International$10KCASA Inc: $5KCASA Inc$5KYMCA of Middle TN: $5KYMCA of Middle TN$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was Helen Keller International ($150K). Together the top 10 received $309K.

Grant Size Distribution

169 grants across all recorded years

164<$50K$50–100K5$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 164 grants of 169 (97%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 53% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 45% to recipients in Tennessee. The reported shares for Massachusetts and California were 1% and 0%, respectively.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.

Cities

NashvilleNew YorkAntiochCambridgeVan NuysRidgewoodWashingtonGainesboroCarthageChicagoWalthamNasville

Is The Roros Foundation open to new grantees?

24%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 9 of 38 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $13K. How we count

Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 76% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 36% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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$200K$400K$600K29 grants2020 32 grants2021 33 grants2022 37 grants2023 38 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $302K (2020) to $436K (2023). In 2024 it made 38 grants totaling $419K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Helen Keller International New York, NYSupport of Greatest Need$150,000
Adventure Science Museum Nashville, TNAnnual Fund and the Mars Rover Exhib$35,000
Inst of Classical Architecture New York, NYQualifying Student's Tuition$26,250
Grand Central Atelier Ridgewood, NYStudents Scholarship$25,000
Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville, TNSupport for Operations$20,000
Harpeth Hall School Nashville, TNSupport for Operations$20,000
The New School New York, NYRoros Endowed Scholarship$12,500
Achilles International New York, NYSupport of Organization's Greatest N$10,000
CASA Inc Nashville, TNSupport of Organization's Volunteers$5,000
YMCA of Middle TN Nashville, TNOperations & Construction Efforts$5,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Roros Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$9,147,011$965,089$486,692$418,75038$436,471$920,952$488,110
2023$8,668,614$450,972$498,727$435,50037$450,638$414,059$459,519
2022$8,716,369$2,728,317$466,015$380,50033$399,840$442,977$375,917
2021$6,454,067$1,246,557$391,463$308,75032$332,197$1,203,497$378,444
2020$5,598,973$734,628$370,840$301,75029—$689,660$324,201

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Roros Foundation reported a distributable amount of $488K 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

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizational operations, student scholarships and tuition, a science museum’s annual fund and exhibit, and programs serving people with disabilities and communities in need.

The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Helen Keller International says it partners with communities working to overcome poverty by delivering building blocks of good health, sound nutrition, and clear vision. Grand Central Atelier says it educates the public about classically inspired art through lectures, competitions, and exhibitions. Achilles International says it enables people with disabilities to compete in mainstream athletics and builds connections through its programming. In Tennessee, Friends of Radnor Lake describes its work as protecting and improving Radnor Lake State Natural Area, while Nurture the Next says it works to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 38 grants totaling $418,750. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $150,000, with a median of $5,000.

Among the largest reported grants were $150,000 to Helen Keller International for “support of greatest need”; $35,000 to Adventure Science Museum for its annual fund and Mars Rover exhibit; $26,250 to the Institute of Classical Architecture for a qualifying student’s tuition; and $25,000 to Grand Central Atelier for student scholarships. The foundation also gave $20,000 each to Montgomery Bell Academy and Harpeth Hall School for operations, and $12,500 to The New School for a Roros endowed scholarship.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Marc K. Stengel as president, Eric L. Stengel as vice president and secretary, and Christian S. Stengel as vice president.

The Roros Foundation is led by Marc K. Stengel, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Marc K. Stengel

    President

    President & Treas-As Needed → President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christian S. Stengel

    Vice President

    Vice President-As Needed → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eric L. Stengel

    V-P & Secretary

    V-P & Sec-As Needed. → V-P & Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    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 Roros Foundation

How much does The Roros Foundation give each year?

The Roros Foundation gave $419K across 38 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $436K across 37 grants.

What is The Roros Foundation's typical grant size?

The Roros Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $11,020, across 38 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Roros Foundation that year got $6K on average.

Where does The Roros Foundation give grants?

The Roros Foundation gives mostly in New York: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (45%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (27 grants) and New York, NY (4 grants).

Does The Roros Foundation give general operating support?

Occasionally: 5% of The Roros Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Support of Greatest Need" (8 grants), "Support for Operations" (4 grants) and "Educational & Instructional Activity" (4 grants).

Who are The Roros Foundation's largest grantees?

The Roros Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Helen Keller International ($150,000), Adventure Science Museum ($35,000) and Inst of Classical Architecture ($26,250), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Roros Foundation?

The Roros Foundation reported $9.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $436K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $488K (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 Roros Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizational operations, student scholarships and tuition, a science museum’s annual fund and exhibit, and programs serving people with disabilities and communities in need. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Roros Foundation?

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 Roros Foundation's EIN?

The Roros Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1677764. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Roros 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

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

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

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Roros Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Inc

Nashville, TN

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee supports nonprofits across a range of needs, including housing, disaster relief, education, health, public safety, and the arts. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $8,500, with amounts ranging widely; it primarily serves Middle Tennessee, with 76% of 2024 grant dollars going to Tennessee recipients. Special Interest Grant applications are submitted through its grants portal; no new competitive Community Impact cycle is planned for fiscal year 2026–2027.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$832.0M

Grants

2,450

Total Given

$107.1M

Joe C Davis Foundation

Nashville, TN

The Joe C. Davis Foundation supports Nashville-area nonprofits in education, community and social services, and healthcare, including operating and transformational grants. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $2.2 million, with a median of $23,000; new or returning applicants may submit a letter of interest for operational funding during the stated application window.

Assets

$151.9M

Grants

108

Total Given

$8.2M

MSB Cockayne Fund Inc

Nashville, TN

MSB Cockayne Fund Inc supports preselected charitable organizations, including schools, environmental and conservation groups, civic design, and health-related organizations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $600,000, with a median of $10,000, and most funding went to Tennessee and California. It does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$25.1M

Grants

111

Total Given

$3.2M

HCA Healthcare Foundation

Nashville, TN

HCA Healthcare Foundation funds community health and health equity, including primary care, basic needs, education, and the arts; its Middle Tennessee Fund serves nine counties, while other initiatives support communities served by HCA Healthcare. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,000 to $9.65 million, with a median of $5,000. It accepts requests through an Applicant Inquiry Form for new applicants and organizations that have not received funding in 18 months; staff provide next steps after review.

Assets

$192.7M

Grants

999

Total Given

$25.4M

The Danner Foundation

Nashville, TN

The Danner Foundation supports a range of nonprofits, including organizations working in the environment, youth, arts, education, and community services, with most 2024 funding going to Tennessee. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts requests without a required form or deadline; applicants should provide an organizational overview, describe the proposed use of funds, and include an IRS determination letter.

Assets

$8.1M

Grants

30

Total Given

$445K

The New York Community Trust

New York, NY

The New York Community Trust funds nonprofit programs in areas such as arts, education, health, the environment, workforce development, and youth development, including projects that improve services, build organizational capacity, or advance policy and systems change. Its competitive grants mainly serve New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some national and international environmental funding; the 2024 median grant was $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$3.5B

Grants

2,748

Total Given

$193.8M

More similar funders

More Funders in Tennessee

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Roros Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-roros-foundation-morg_5e2c999566ef4531b87f76bce2dca9f2

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_621677764_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Roros Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-roros-foundation-morg_5e2c999566ef4531b87f76bce2dca9f2},
  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 Roros 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.

The Roros Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?