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Rob And Melani Walton Foundation

Annual Giving
$78.1M
Grant Range
$1K - $30.0M

Rob And Melani Walton Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $78.1 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $430 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (preselected grantmaking)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $500 - $30,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primary focus on Arizona, Arkansas, and international conservation (particularly Africa); also supports projects in Colorado, District of Columbia, and Canada
  • Number of Awards: 79 grants (2023), 85 grants (2022)

Contact Details

Location: Bentonville, AR

EIN: 47-4259772

Note: The foundation primarily makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Limited information available about direct contact methods for unsolicited proposals. Organizations may be able to submit initial inquiries through the foundation's website if projects align with the mission.

Overview

The Rob And Melani Walton Foundation was established in 2016 by S. Robson Walton (former chairman of Walmart and son of founder Sam Walton) and his wife Melani. With $430 million in assets and $78.1 million in charitable disbursements in 2023, the foundation operates with a clear mission: to elevate people, planet, and purpose by changing what people feel is possible and know is doable. The foundation seeks partners who focus on the essential and interconnected elements of sustaining life, advancing all forms of knowledge, promoting understanding of healing, and increasing the sustainability of people and planet. Their strategic approach emphasizes large-scale, long-term partnerships that create lasting impact, particularly in environmental conservation, sustainability solutions, education, and community well-being. The foundation is known for transformational gifts, including a $100 million commitment to African Parks in 2021 and over $31.8 million to Arizona State University's sustainability initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate traditional grant programs with fixed application cycles. Instead, they make strategic investments through:

  • Major Conservation Partnerships: $500,000 - $30,000,000 (multi-year commitments to organizations like African Parks, Conservation International, Blue Nature Alliance, and Legacy Landscapes Fund)
  • Sustainability Solutions: $1,000,000 - $31,800,000 (comprehensive support for institutions developing scalable sustainability solutions, particularly ASU)
  • Education & Scholarships: $1,000,000+ (support for educational institutions and specialized programs, such as automotive restoration at McPherson College)
  • Community Health & Well-being: $1,000,000 - $5,000,000 (animal welfare organizations, food security initiatives, arts and culture)
  • Brain Health & Consciousness Studies: Variable amounts (support for neuroscience education and research centers)

Priority Areas

Environmental Conservation & Biodiversity Protection

  • Large-scale conservation efforts in Africa and globally
  • Protected area management and rehabilitation
  • Ocean conservation
  • Wildlife protection and habitat preservation
  • Partnership with governments, NGOs, and local communities

Sustainability Solutions

  • Climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Sustainable energy, water, and environment solutions
  • Urbanization and social transformation
  • Community-based sustainability initiatives
  • Research translation into actionable solutions

Education & Knowledge Advancement

  • Professional sustainability education programs
  • Specialized educational programs (automotive restoration, environmental studies)
  • Teacher training and continuing education
  • Student scholarships and fellowships
  • International educational courses

Community Well-being

  • Food security and urban farming initiatives
  • Animal welfare and humane societies
  • Arts, humanities, and cultural programs
  • Brain health and consciousness research
  • Healing and wellness initiatives

Geographic Priorities

  • Strong focus on Arizona communities (Phoenix, Tempe areas)
  • Arkansas (foundation's home state)
  • International conservation, particularly in Africa (Angola, Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zambia, Gambia)
  • Some support in Colorado and District of Columbia

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, based on their funding patterns the foundation appears not to fund:

  • Projects outside their strategic focus areas
  • Organizations without established track records or significant scale potential
  • Short-term, small-scale initiatives
  • Projects lacking clear sustainability or long-term impact potential

Governance and Leadership

Board and Officers (2023)

  • S. Robson Walton - President and Director

    • Former chairman of Walmart (1992-2015)
    • Degrees from University of Arkansas and Columbia University School of Law
    • Board member of Walton Family Foundation and Environment Program Committee
    • Chair of Board of African Parks Foundation of America
    • Board member of Conservation International and chair of its Center for Environmental Leadership in Business
    • Co-chair of Arizona State University Global Institute of Sustainability

  • Naccaman G. Williams - Secretary

  • Luke Mitchell - Treasurer (as of December 15, 2023)

Key Staff (2023)

  • Sandy Nickerson - Senior Program Officer ($209,331 compensation)
  • Amy Benincosa - Program Officer ($140,211 compensation)
  • Jamee M Huthwaite - Program Associate ($78,313 compensation)

Leadership Perspectives

Rob Walton on their partnership approach: "We are proud to support the public-private partnership model that makes African Parks so successful, and to help accelerate the organization's ambitious 2030 goals."

Rob Walton on conservation urgency: "The impacts of the climate crisis are undeniable, and we must act swiftly and boldly to protect communities so that people and nature can thrive together. In Africa, part of the solution is conserving more park lands to protect biodiversity and ensure communities receive the health and economic benefits these areas can provide when well-managed."

Melani Walton on foundation vision: "Our vision at the Rob and Melani Walton Foundation is driven by one clear focus: to imagine the possibilities of a healthier and more conscious planet, and to bring those possibilities to life. We see a more connected and compassionate future; a more thoughtful and more united one. Ultimately, we see a future that looks at the sustainability of people and planet together, through a sense of shared purpose."

Melani Walton on global responsibility: "As global citizens, we have a responsibility to protect our planet and the people and species that create our dynamic, fragile ecosystems."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Rob And Melani Walton Foundation does not have a traditional public application process. The foundation primarily makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and has stated that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

However, according to information on the foundation's website, organizations whose projects align with the foundation's mission may be able to submit an initial inquiry form. The foundation's team will review submissions and, if determined to be in alignment with their strategic focus, will be in touch to invite a formal grant proposal.

Key Characteristics of Their Grantmaking:

  • Primarily proactive identification of partners
  • Long-term, multi-year commitments (often 5+ years)
  • Emphasis on established organizations with proven track records
  • Preference for transformational partnerships over transactional grants
  • Focus on scalable solutions and systemic change

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the foundation's focus on major strategic partnerships rather than traditional grant cycles, the process likely involves:

  • Extended due diligence for large commitments
  • Multi-year planning and relationship building
  • Board approval for significant investments
  • No fixed deadlines or announcement dates

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. With only 79 awards made in 2023 from $78.1 million in total giving, the foundation clearly focuses on larger, strategic investments rather than numerous small grants. The average grant size in 2023 was approximately $988,000, though this varies dramatically based on project scope.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only nature of grantmaking. The foundation appears to build long-term relationships with key partners rather than operating a traditional grant cycle where organizations reapply.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Vision

Organizations that have successfully partnered with the Rob And Melani Walton Foundation share these characteristics:

1. Systems-Level Thinking and Scale The foundation consistently supports initiatives that address root causes and create systemic change. As evidenced by their $100 million commitment to African Parks, they seek partners working at landscape or ecosystem scale, not isolated projects. Their support of ASU's Sustainability Solutions Service engaged 320+ organizations impacting 500,000+ people across five continents.

2. Partnership Models That Work Rob Walton explicitly stated: "We are proud to support the public-private partnership model that makes African Parks so successful." The foundation values organizations that work collaboratively with governments, local communities, NGOs, and other stakeholders rather than operating in isolation.

3. People and Planet Together A recurring theme in foundation language is the interconnection between human well-being and environmental health. Their mission emphasizes "the sustainability of people and our planet together." Successful projects demonstrate clear benefits to both conservation and community outcomes—such as African Parks providing economic and health benefits to local communities while protecting biodiversity.

4. Proven Track Record and Long-term Vision The foundation's relationship with African Parks began in 2003, nearly two decades before their $100 million commitment. They invest in organizations with demonstrated success and ambitious but achievable long-term goals (such as African Parks' 2030 goals to manage 30 parks).

5. Measurable Impact and Accountability ASU's Sustainability Solutions Service documented clear outcomes: 86 completed projects, 7,271 trained students and professionals, 816 educators provided continuing education. The foundation values partners who can demonstrate concrete results and track progress toward goals.

6. Innovation and Knowledge Advancement The foundation supports "advancing all forms of knowledge" and "solutions that live, evolve, and regenerate on their own." Their investment in the W.O.N.D.E.R. Center (Walton Optimal Neurological Discovery Education and Research) and consciousness studies reflects interest in innovative approaches to understanding and solving challenges.

7. Sustainability and Self-Sufficiency The $75 million endowment gift to African Parks demonstrates the foundation's interest in building long-term organizational resilience. They prefer partners developing sustainable funding models and capacity for independent operation.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

  • African Parks (2021): $100 million over five years, including $75 million endowment—supporting expansion to 30 parks by 2030
  • Arizona State University (2018): $31.8 million total investment in sustainability solutions—creating permanent service infrastructure
  • Arizona Humane Society (2022): $5 million gift representing one of the largest contributions in the organization's 64-year history
  • McPherson College (2022): $1 million for Rob Walton Scholarship Fund supporting automotive restoration program
  • St. Vincent de Paul Urban Farm (2021): Support for farm providing food to the nation's largest homeless shelter
  • Arizona Science Center W.O.N.D.E.R. Center: Ongoing support for neuroscience education reaching 500,000 annually

Foundation Language and Values

Organizations seeking to align with the foundation should understand and authentically reflect these values:

  • "Elevate people, planet, and purpose"
  • "Changing what people feel is possible and know is doable"
  • "People and nature can thrive together"
  • "Solutions that live, evolve, and regenerate on their own"
  • "Living and working in balance with the earth"
  • "Act swiftly and boldly"
  • "Real solutions" and "actionable" outcomes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is primarily an invitation-only funder: Organizations should not expect traditional grant application opportunities. Building relationships and visibility in the foundation's areas of interest is essential.

  • Think big and long-term: The foundation makes transformational commitments ($1M-$100M) over multi-year periods. Small, short-term projects are unlikely to align with their strategic approach.

  • Demonstrate the people-planet connection: Every project should clearly articulate benefits to both environmental sustainability and human well-being. This interconnection is central to the foundation's philosophy.

  • Show your track record and scalability: The foundation partners with established organizations demonstrating proven success and ambitious growth plans. Be prepared to show measurable past impact and future potential.

  • Emphasize partnership and collaboration: Solo initiatives are less attractive than projects involving governments, communities, NGOs, and multiple stakeholders. The "public-private partnership model" is explicitly valued.

  • Arizona and Africa are geographic sweet spots: While the foundation supports some projects nationally and internationally, Arizona-based initiatives and African conservation efforts receive significant attention.

  • Build for sustainability: Projects should demonstrate paths to long-term financial sustainability and organizational resilience. The foundation's endowment approach to African Parks reflects this priority.

References

All sources accessed December 2024.

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