The Zeist Foundation Inc
The Zeist Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Atlanta, Georgia. It supports organizations and programs addressing the educational, health, human service, and cultural needs of children, youth, and families, with a focus on underserved children in Georgia and an emphasis on metro Atlanta.
The Zeist Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Zeist Foundation Inc gave $15.6M across 89 grants in 2024 (avg $176K), mostly in Georgia. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,637,668
- +0.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 89
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $175,704
- +0.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $268,216,908
- +6.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (19 of 89, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (99% 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 Zeist Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation selects prospective applicants from a list of existing grantees and other organizations. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and classified as a public charity under Section 509(a)(1), (2), or (3); organizations with budgets below $500,000 do not meet the stated budget threshold. A new grantee may apply for a one-year gift of no more than $100,000 or 10% of its operating budget, whichever is lower, and cannot request multiyear funding. Renewing organizations may request more than $100,000, subject to the 10% budget limit. After three consecutive years of support, an organization may be subject to a funding gap in which directors may not invite it to apply in the fourth year. The foundation conducts semi-annual grant cycles.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3715 Northside Pkwy Nw 3-195, Atlanta, GA 30327
Phone: (404) 949-3160
Website: https://zeistfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Zeist Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Emory University ($1.6M). Together the top 10 received $8.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
479 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 152 grants of 479 (32%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it supports organizations and programs across Georgia, with an emphasis on metro Atlanta. Its 2024 filing shows 99% of grant dollars going to recipients in Georgia and 1% to recipients in North Carolina. Its direct, place-based activities are in the Edgewood community of Atlanta.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 89 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Zeist Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 89 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $126K; repeat grants $189K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 53% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 142% 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 $10.2M (2021) to $15.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 89 grants totaling $15.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Emory University Atlanta, GA | Health & Human Services | $1,550,000 |
| Whitefoord Inc Atlanta, GA | Education | $1,525,000 |
| The Wylde Center Atlanta, GA | Community Development | $1,230,000 |
| Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Atlanta, GA | Community Development | $1,021,000 |
| Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Atlanta, GA | Arts & Culture | $725,000 |
| The Fernbank Museum of Natural History Atlanta, GA | Education | $600,000 |
| High Museum of Art Atlanta, GA | Arts & Culture | $600,000 |
| Atlanta Braves Foundation Atlanta, GA | Health & Human Services | $500,000 |
| Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Atlanta, GA | Health & Human Services | $500,000 |
| Ronald MC Donald House Charities Atlanta, GA | Health & Human Services | $500,000 |
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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 | $268,216,908 | $23,557,701 | $21,572,703 | $15,637,668 | 89 | $17,752,436 | $19,960,880 | $12,507,811 |
| 2023 | $252,415,307 | $7,884,497 | $22,052,600 | $15,592,942 | 89 | $17,632,385 | $3,607,344 | $12,205,449 |
| 2022 | $246,685,997 | $11,964,064 | $18,399,880 | $11,345,806 | 96 | $13,280,633 | $7,024,004 | $14,075,935 |
| 2021 | $306,093,080 | $21,313,980 | $14,884,875 | $10,195,644 | 103 | $11,852,038 | $18,342,453 | $13,997,717 |
| 2020 | $269,620,315 | $6,630,484 | $16,001,340 | $11,243,686 | 102 | — | $3,767,597 | $12,060,662 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Zeist Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $12.5M 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 foundation’s mission is to take a holistic approach to the needs of underserved children through human services, education, and arts and culture. Its stated funding areas are arts and culture, education, and health and human services. The foundation describes its approach as supporting effective, collaborative, and adaptive organizations and encourages collaboration among nonprofits and public-private partnerships.
The grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the types of work it supports. Atlanta Speech School says it works to bring deep reading to every child; CHRIS 180 describes providing mental health, foster care and adoption, and support for young people facing homelessness; and Urban Recipe says it promotes food security through community-driven food cooperatives. ArtsNOW describes its work as transforming education through arts integration, while the Atlanta Braves Foundation says it supports programs investing in children, education, and neighborhoods.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 89 grants totaling $15,637,668. Grants ranged from $20,000 to $1,550,000, with a median of $75,000. The largest included $1,550,000 to Emory University for health and human services, $1,525,000 to Whitefoord Inc for education, $1,230,000 to The Wylde Center for community development, and $1,021,000 to the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta for community development. Other notable grants included $725,000 to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for arts and culture, and $600,000 each to Fernbank Museum of Natural History and the High Museum of Art.
The foundation’s website describes four types of support: general operating, program or project, capital campaign, and capacity building. It says it invests for long-term impact and that several years may pass between an introduction and an invitation to apply. The application process is by invitation only, and the foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Nancy J Brumley-Robitaille and Marie B Foster as co-presidents and directors; R Brad Foster, M Harrison Hackett, and R Nicholas Foster as directors; Eileen Higgins as assistant treasurer; Atiba Mbiwan as executive director; and Danielle Gray as associate director. The foundation’s website says its board is actively involved in grantmaking, including site visits, proposal reviews, and grant award notifications.
The Zeist Foundation Inc is led by Atiba Mbiwan, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 6 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Atiba Mbiwan
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$245K (2020) → $280K (2024)
Marie B. Foster
Co-President & Director
On filings since 2020
16 hrs/week
$75K (2020) → $38K (2024)
Nancy J. Brumley-Robitaille
Co-President & Director
On filings since 2020
16 hrs/week
$75K (2020) → $38K (2024)
R. Nicholas Foster
Director
Vice President & Director → Treasurer, Director & Director, 2023
Treasurer, Director & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
13 hrs/week
$35K (2020) → $35K (2024)
M. Harrison Hackett
Director
On filings since 2023
13 hrs/week
$17K (2023) → $20K (2024)
Danielle Gray
Associate Director
Assistant Director → Associate Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $165K (2024)
Eileen Higgins
Assistant Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer & Director → Assistant Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
13 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Barbara K. Debutts (2020) — Executive 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $280K, to Atiba Mbiwan (Executive Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Zeist Foundation Inc
How much does The Zeist Foundation Inc give each year?
The Zeist Foundation Inc gave $15.6M across 89 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $15.6M across 89 grants.
What is The Zeist Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Zeist Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $75,000, and its average grant was $175,704, across 89 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Zeist Foundation Inc that year got $126K on average.
Where does The Zeist Foundation Inc give grants?
The Zeist Foundation Inc gives mostly in Georgia: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (75 grants), Sandy Springs, GA (2 grants) and Duluth, GA (2 grants).
Does The Zeist Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 89 grants with a stated purpose on The Zeist Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Health & Human Services" (35 grants), "Education" (28 grants) and "Arts & Culture" (21 grants).
Who are The Zeist Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Zeist Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Emory University ($1,550,000), Whitefoord Inc ($1,525,000) and The Wylde Center ($1,230,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Zeist Foundation Inc?
The Zeist Foundation Inc reported $268.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $17.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $12.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Zeist Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to take a holistic approach to the needs of underserved children through human services, education, and arts and culture. Its stated funding areas are arts and culture, education, and health and human services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Zeist Foundation Inc?
The foundation selects prospective applicants from a list of existing grantees and other organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Zeist Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Zeist Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1890927. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Zeist 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 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Zeist Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-zeist-foundation-inc-morg_60f25cdaf7d440e6bd09c2509c913e95
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581890927_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Zeist Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-zeist-foundation-inc-morg_60f25cdaf7d440e6bd09c2509c913e95},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Zeist 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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