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The Aileen K And Brian L Roberts Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.0M
Grant Range
$15K - $125.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2.1-8.7 million (varies by year)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $125,000,000 (wide range from small grants to major transformational gifts)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Philadelphia, PA, with some support to institutions nationally

Contact Details

Address: c/o Comcast Corp, 1701 John F. Kennedy Blvd., 52nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Phone: (215) 246-2474

Important Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications for funding.

Overview

The Aileen K And Brian L Roberts Foundation was established in 1994 by Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation, and his wife Aileen K. Roberts. With assets of approximately $60 million, the foundation has distributed approximately $10 million in grants over the last decade, though recent years have seen significantly higher giving levels (ranging from $2.1 million to $8.7 million annually). The foundation focuses on healthcare, education, arts and culture, Jewish causes, and human services, primarily supporting Philadelphia-area institutions with family connections. In 2025, the Roberts family made their largest single gift to date: $125 million to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the hospital's largest donation in its 170-year history. Aileen Roberts received the Philadelphia Award in 2011 for her leadership in relocating the Barnes Foundation to Center City Philadelphia, where she now serves as Board Chair.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. Major grants are typically made through invitation or existing relationships.

Recent Major Grants:

  • $125 million to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for Roberts Children's Health (2025)
  • $25 million to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for Roberts Collaborative for Genetics and Individualized Medicine (2016)
  • $15 million to University of Pennsylvania for Roberts Proton Therapy Center (2006)
  • $5 million to Barnes Foundation capital campaign (2019)

Smaller Regular Grants: $15,000-$20,000 to community organizations including squash programs and youth services

Priority Areas

Healthcare: Pediatric medicine and cancer treatment, particularly at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania

Education:

  • Schools with family connections (University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Germantown Academy, William Penn Charter School)
  • Fund for the School District of Philadelphia (over $1 million donated)
  • Youth development programs using sports (SquashSmarts and similar programs)

Arts and Culture:

  • Barnes Foundation (major supporter)
  • Philadelphia Theater Company
  • Arts organizations in Philadelphia

Jewish Causes: Jewish philanthropy and education in Philadelphia, including restoration of Alfred W. Fleisher Memorial Synagogue at Eastern State Penitentiary (2009)

Human Services:

  • Project H.O.M.E. (helped fund $13.5 million learning center)
  • United Way
  • Police Athletic League
  • PA State Boys Choir

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and appears to focus exclusively on organizations with which the Roberts family has personal connections or board involvement. Organizations outside the Philadelphia area or without existing relationships with the family are unlikely to receive support.

Governance and Leadership

Aileen K. Roberts, President: Studied architecture and design at North Carolina State University and University of Pennsylvania. Serves as Chair of the Barnes Foundation Board of Trustees (since 2020, board member since 2005). Board member of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Has served on boards of the Franklin Institute, Avenue of the Arts, International House, William Penn Charter School, and Sheriff's Meadow Foundation in Martha's Vineyard. Led the Barnes Foundation Building Committee for the museum's relocation to Center City Philadelphia. Active volunteer and planner for Project H.O.M.E.

On the Barnes Foundation relocation project, Roberts stated: "When you're involved in designing a project like this, you have this vision of what something can be, and when it actually turns out to be so much more, it takes your breath away." She called the Barnes "the project of a lifetime."

Brian L. Roberts, Vice President: Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation. Talented squash player who competed in the Maccabiah Games. Major supporter of Maccabi USA and multiple national squash organizations. Active in Philadelphia civic life.

On their gift to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Aileen and Brian Roberts stated: "Our lives have been touched by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in countless ways... We're honored and humbled to help ensure CHOP remains a magnet for the greatest medical talent... and the pride of Philadelphia for decades to come."

Both officers serve without compensation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees, typically to organizations where the Roberts family has:

  • Personal connections or family ties
  • Board membership or leadership roles
  • Long-standing relationships
  • Geographic proximity (Philadelphia area)

Decision Timeline

Not applicable due to invitation-only grantmaking structure.

Success Rates

Not applicable—the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, success in securing funding appears to depend on:

Personal Connections: The Roberts family's charitable grantmaking primarily supports schools where they have family connections, including Penn, Brown, Germantown Academy, and William Penn Charter School.

Board Involvement: Organizations where Aileen Roberts serves in leadership roles receive significant support, most notably the Barnes Foundation and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Focus: The foundation shows strong preference for Philadelphia-area institutions and civic organizations.

Healthcare Impact: After Aileen received treatment for breast cancer at the University of Pennsylvania, the Roberts family made a $15 million donation for a proton therapy center, demonstrating their response to personal healthcare experiences.

Educational Excellence: Multi-million dollar support for institutions like Penn and Brown suggests they value academic excellence and institutions with long-standing reputations.

Jewish Heritage: Support for Jewish causes and institutions reflects the family's cultural connections.

Youth Development Through Sports: Brian Roberts' passion for squash translates into consistent support for programs like SquashSmarts that use sports to provide educational opportunities to children from low-income families, with typical grants of $15,000-$20,000.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications—do not submit proposals unless specifically invited
  • Relationship-Driven: All funding appears to flow through existing relationships, board memberships, and family connections
  • Philadelphia-Centric: Strong geographic preference for Philadelphia institutions and civic organizations
  • Major Gifts Capability: While annual giving averages $2-8 million, the foundation is capable of transformational gifts exceeding $100 million when aligned with family priorities
  • Healthcare Priority: Children's healthcare and cancer treatment represent the largest funding commitments
  • Multi-Year Commitment: The Roberts family demonstrates sustained support over decades to favored institutions
  • Family Connections Matter: Educational institutions with family ties (where children attended or parents serve as trustees) receive ongoing support

References

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