Rosalind P Walter Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,686,480 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Average $385,000
• Geographic Focus: National (primarily New York, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virginia)
• Total Assets: $38,660,620 (2024)

Contact Details

Phone: (212) 308-6648

Address: 435 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. There is no public website or email for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation was established in 1951 and continues the philanthropic legacy of Rosalind P. Walter (1924-2020), best known as the inspiration for the World War II "Rosie the Riveter" song. With total assets of $38.7 million and annual giving of approximately $2.7 million, the foundation is particularly renowned for its exceptional support of public television programming. Rosalind Walter was the largest supporter of WNET in New York, financing 67 shows or series starting in 1978 and donating at least $5 million to that station by 2008. The foundation operates as a private non-operating foundation making grants by trustee discretion to preselected organizations. Current leadership includes Executive Director Richard Somerset Ward and JP Morgan Chase Bank NA as trustee. The foundation focuses on arts and culture, museums, education, environment, communication media, sports, and youth services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation awarded 4 grants totaling $1,540,000 in 2024, with an average grant size of $385,000. Grants are made on an invitation-only basis through trustee discretion.

Priority Areas

Public Television & Media: The foundation's signature area of support, historically funding PBS programming including:

• Great Performances
• American Masters (which Rosalind Walter helped launch)
• Nature
• PBS NewsHour Weekend
• Documentary films by Ken Burns and Ric Burns, including "The Roosevelts: An Intimate History" and "Shakespeare Uncovered"

Arts & Culture:

• Museums and cultural institutions
• Natural history museums
• The American Museum of Natural History
• The Pierpont Morgan Library

Education:

• Educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth
• Higher education institutions including Long Island University
• College scholarship programs through USTA Foundation

Environment & Conservation:

• Protection of wildlife and open space areas
• North Shore Land Alliance ($25,000-$49,999 donor level in 2015)
• North Shore Wildlife Sanctuary
• Support for land conservation projects

Youth Development:

• Sports programs
• Tennis and youth services
• USTA Serves program

Geographic Focus: Grants support projects in Arlington, Bethlehem, Boulder, New Paltz, and New York across states including Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation:

• Does not accept unsolicited applications
• Makes grants only to preselected charitable organizations
• Focuses primarily on established institutions rather than new or small organizations

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Richard Somerset Ward

Trustee: JP Morgan Chase Bank NA

Foundation History: Rosalind P. Walter served as trustee until her death in 2020. She was a WNET board member for over 30 years, appointed to the board of directors in 1989.

Leadership Philosophy: The foundation reflects Rosalind Walter's deep commitment to public broadcasting. Richard Somerset-Ward, who arranged the 1984 luncheon where Rosalind Walter met Susan Lacy (creator of American Masters), played a key role in connecting the philanthropist to public television projects. PBS NewsHour described Walter as "one of the most generous and devoted supporters of PBS programming."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, meaning the foundation's leadership proactively identifies and selects organizations to support rather than reviewing applications from nonprofits.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's connection to Rosalind P. Walter's legacy suggests specific pathways for potential grantees:

Public Television & Media Organizations: The foundation has a documented 40+ year relationship with WNET and PBS programming. Organizations in documentary film, public broadcasting, and media that chronicle American culture and history align with the foundation's demonstrated interests.

Board and Trustee Networks: Rosalind Walter served on multiple boards including the American Museum of Natural History, The Paley Center for Media, International Tennis Hall of Fame, North Shore Wildlife Sanctuary, and Long Island University. Organizations with connections to these institutions may have greater visibility to the foundation.

Established Institutions: The foundation's grants consistently support well-established cultural, educational, and environmental organizations rather than emerging nonprofits. Organizations with proven track records in the foundation's priority areas (particularly those in the New York region) are more likely to be considered.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Grants are made at the discretion of trustees without announced deadlines or timelines.

Success Rates

The foundation made 4 grants in 2024, 4 grants in 2023, 3 grants in 2022, and 4 grants in 2021. With no public application process, success rates cannot be calculated.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, organizations cannot directly apply for funding. However, understanding what has historically attracted the foundation's support may be valuable:

Alignment with Rosalind Walter's Passions: The foundation continues the philanthropic vision of its founder, who was passionate about:

• Public television programming that chronicles American culture and history
• Environmental conservation, particularly on Long Island's North Shore
• Educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth
• Cultural institutions and museums

Quality and Impact in Public Broadcasting: PBS NewsHour described Walter as "one of the most generous and devoted supporters of PBS programming." Organizations producing high-quality documentary content, cultural programming, or educational media aligned with PBS standards have historically received support.

Established Track Record: The foundation supports well-established institutions with proven impact rather than start-ups or emerging organizations. Grant recipients typically have national or regional significance.

Long-term Relationships: Rosalind Walter's support of WNET spanned over 40 years, financing 67 shows or series starting in 1978. The foundation values sustained partnerships with organizations making lasting cultural contributions.

New York and Environmental Focus: While the foundation supports projects nationally, there is a demonstrated preference for New York-based organizations and environmental projects protecting open space and wildlife.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This foundation operates exclusively through trustee discretion and does not accept unsolicited applications
• Public television legacy: The foundation's defining focus is support for PBS and public broadcasting, particularly documentary programming that chronicles American culture
• Significant grant sizes: With an average grant of $385,000 and only 4 grants made annually, this is a highly selective funder making substantial awards
• Established institutions preferred: Grant recipients are typically well-known cultural, educational, and environmental organizations with proven track records
• Geographic concentration: While national in scope, grants show preference for New York and surrounding states
• Relationship-driven: The foundation's history suggests grants flow from long-term relationships and board connections rather than cold outreach
• Limited annual grantmaking: With total annual giving of $2.7 million distributed among just 4 grants, opportunities are extremely limited

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Rosalind P Walter Foundation (EIN 13-6177284), accessed January 21, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136177284

2. Grantmakers.io Profile - Rosalind P Walter Foundation, accessed January 21, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/136177284-rosalind-p-walter-foundation/

3. Wikipedia - Rosalind P. Walter, accessed January 21, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalind_P._Walter

4. PBS NewsHour and American Masters references to Rosalind P. Walter's philanthropy, accessed January 21, 2026.

5. North Shore Land Alliance donor records (2015-2016), referenced in Wikipedia article on Rosalind P. Walter.

6. Charity Navigator - Rosalind P Walter Foundation Profile, accessed January 21, 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/136177284

7. Candid Foundation Directory - The Rosalind P Walter Foundation, accessed January 21, 2026.