Nora Roberts Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Nora Roberts Foundation, based in Glenn Dale, MD, gives top priority to literacy, alongside arts, children, social justice and the environment, with its geographic focus being the US and priority given to local organisations.
- A realistic request is modest: about 8 in 10 of its 1,404 grants to organisations fall between $3,000 and $10,000, with a median grant of $5,000, though the largest grant made was $750,000.
- Applications are accepted against four fixed deadlines a year – end of February, May, August and November, by 6pm Eastern Time – and an organisation may only apply once per calendar year, so timing your submission matters.
- With 85% of its grant dollars going to organisations also funded in the two prior filings, this looks like a relationship-led funder where ongoing support is common, so first-time applicants should set realistic expectations.
- Eligible organisations must hold active 501(c)(3) status, operate in the United States, and show a direct benefit to people in need in a focus area, with inclusive, accessible and free or affordable programmes favoured; organisations that operate outside the US, require religious participation, discriminate against a federally protected class, do not fall into its focus areas, benefit only private groups, or do not offer at least some free or affordable, publicly accessible programming should not apply.
Overview
Nora Roberts Foundation is a US private foundation based in Glenn Dale, MD.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Nora Roberts Foundation gives supporting literacy organisations its highest priority. It also supports organisations focused on the arts, children, social justice and the environment, seeking to help create a beautiful, equitable and safe world. It considers applications from non-profit organisations with active 501(c)(3) status and a valid EIN, including public charities and organisations sponsored by a public charity. Applicants must operate in the United States and show how their project or organisation directly benefits people in need in at least one focus area. Its grants are nationwide, with most going to local counties and priority for organisations geographically close to the foundation. It favours inclusive organisations, especially those working with underserved communities and people on low incomes, and accessible programmes offering free, affordable or need-based scholarships.
Themes
- Literacy
- Arts
- Children
- Social justice
- Environment
Geographic Focus
US. Priority: Local.
What They Don't Fund
- 501(c)4, 501(c)5 or any other status
- Private foundations or operating foundations
- Any other type of government agency
- Programs and organizations operating outside the US
- Organizations who require religious participation
- Organizations who discriminate against any federally protected class
- Organizations who do not fall into our focus areas
- Individuals, or organizations who only offer benefits for private groups
- Schools that charge tuition without offering scholarships
- Organizations who do not offer at least some free or affordable programs
- Programs that are not accessible by the public
How to apply
Organisations follow the Applicants-page instructions to register; the foundation manually sets up accounts, and applicants must click submit for their application to be received. Organisations may apply once per calendar year.
Deadlines: The application calendar has four annual deadlines: at the end of February, May, August and November, by 6pm Eastern Time.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 85% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 1,404 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation favours inclusive organisations, especially those working with underserved communities and people with low incomes.
- The application summary should explain the organisation's purpose, its direct benefit to people in need in a focus area, and how the donation will be used.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 7%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 6%
- The largest single recipient received 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 85% of grant dollars went to organisations Nora Roberts Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom).
- 5% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 592 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- ProLiteracy · Operations$750,0002024 tax year
- San Mar Children's Home · Operations$750,0002024 tax year
- Holy Cross Health Foundation · Operations$500,0002024 tax year
- Moveius Contemporary Ballet · Operations$250,0002024 tax year
- Boys and Girls Club of Washington County · Operations$250,0002024 tax year
- High Point University · Operations$200,0002024 tax year
- Washington County Museum of Fine Arts · Operations$200,0002024 tax year
- Friends Of NCTC (All Over The Map) · Operations$200,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Jason M Aufdem-Brinke — Treasurer
- Kathryn Pong — Secretary
- Bruce Wilder — Vice President
- Eleanor Wilder — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,324,525 | $2,619,755 | $98,603,962 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $7,859,355 | $6,039,629 | $113,339,243 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $9,372,933 | $7,482,328 | $127,066,629 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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Applying to Nora Roberts Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required