Robert W. Woodruff Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Robert W. Woodruff Foundation funds work across Arts & Culture, Community Development, Education, Environment, Health and Human Services, with a geographic focus on Georgia and priority given to its 13-county metro Atlanta area; organisations must be 501(c)(3) public charities located or operating in Georgia, with paid full-time staff and an annual budget over $500,000.
- Grants are large and few: typical awards run from $200,000 to $13,000,000, with a median of $1,700,000, so a request should be pitched well above a small, token sum.
- The Foundation prefers to co-fund alongside other donors rather than be the sole funder, and it favours organisations with strong fundraising progress, diversified revenue and a track record of measurable impact, so applicants should show broad financial support before approaching.
- First-time grantseekers should send an informal email inquiry before submitting a full proposal through the online portal, timed to the fixed deadlines of the first business day on or after 1 February (for the April Board meeting) or 15 August (for the November Board meeting).
- With 75% of grant dollars going to organisations already funded in the two preceding filings, this is a relationship-led funder where repeat support is common, so new applicants should expect a considered, longer-term approach; those seeking funding for individuals, churches, conferences, debt relief, fundraising events, professional associations, sponsorships or startups, or for environment-only operating support or school-based environmental education programmes, should not apply.
Overview
Robert W. Woodruff Foundation is a US private foundation based in Atlanta, GA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Robert W. Woodruff Foundation seeks to improve quality of life in metro Atlanta and Georgia through transformational, lasting solutions to community needs. Its giving focuses on metro Atlanta and occasionally significant initiatives across Georgia, in Arts & Culture, Community Development, Education, Environment, Health and Human Services. Eligible organisations are 501(c)(3) public charities located or operating in Georgia, with paid full-time staff and an annual budget over $500,000. It makes a small number of large grants to organisations with strong staff and volunteer board leadership, a broad base of financial support, successful outcomes and capacity to sustain their work. It prefers to join other donors in supporting initiatives led by community partners and helps organisations with proven track records seize new opportunities or accelerate impact. Most grants support one-time needs rather than ongoing programme or operating needs.
Themes
- Arts & Culture
- Community Development
- Education
- Environment
- Health
- Human Services
Geographic Focus
Georgia; 13-country metro area: Butts, Cherokee, Clayton and 10 more counties in Georgia. Priority: Metro Atlanta.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
- Churches
- Conferences
- Debt relief
- Fundraising events
- Professional associations
- Sponsorships
- Startups
- Environment only: operating support or school-based environmental education programs
How to apply
First-time grantseekers should submit an informal inquiry by email to determine whether the request fits. If it does, they should follow the How to Apply instructions and submit a full proposal through the online grant portal.
Deadlines:
- Proposals received by the first business day on or after February 1 are considered for the April Board of Trustees meeting.
- Proposals received by the first business day on or after August 15 are considered for the November Board of Trustees meeting.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 75% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 86 grants to organisations were $1,700,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation prefers to share project funding with other donors rather than be the sole funder.
- Organisations should make significant fundraising progress before approaching the Foundation.
- Successful applicants demonstrate strong executive leadership and a board that invests in the organisation’s success.
- Successful applicants have sustainable operations, consistently operate in the black and use a diversified revenue model.
- Successful applicants have a broad base of financial support from other donors.
- Successful applicants demonstrate proven effectiveness meeting community needs with measurable impact.
- Successful applicants have the capacity to reach fundraising goals and sustain work long-term.
- If a request is accepted for consideration at the next Board meeting, the Foundation may arrange a meeting or visit.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 36% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 75% of grant dollars went to organisations Robert W. Woodruff Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 37% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 26 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $1.5M (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Emory University · Acquisition of the former Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston campus.$90,000,0252025 tax year
- Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta · Development of Georgia State University's Panther Quad and associated improvements from 100 Edgewood to Woodruff Park.$20,000,0522025 tax year
- Atlanta Area Council Scouting America · $49.1 million campaign to develop Woodruff Scout Camp into a premier destination.$15,500,0002025 tax year
- Ichauway · 2025 capital and operating needs.$13,100,0002025 tax year
- Atlanta Beltline Partnership · Completion of the 22-mile trail corridor loop ($75 million) and support for the Legacy Resident Retention Program ($2.5 million) and Partnership operations ($2.5 million).$12,310,0682025 tax year
- National Center for Civil and Human Rights · Campaign to expand the museum with two new wings.$8,500,0002025 tax year
- Atlanta Fulton County Zoo · Renovation of giant panda habitat to meet conservation standards and enhance guests' experience.$6,000,0002025 tax year
- Conservation Fund · Acquisition of 7,764-acre Twin Pines property adjacent to the Okefenokee Swamp.$5,000,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Sara E Blalock — Secretary - elected 2/1/2025
- Eli P Niepoky — Treasurer
- Erik S Johnson — President - elected 2/1/2025
- P Russell Hardin — Trustee - elected 2/1/2025
- Joseph A Arnold — Trustee
- David P Stockert — Trustee
- Lawrence L Gellerstedt III — Trustee
- E Jenner Wood III — Trustee - Chair
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $196,669,231 | $189,635,270 | $3,913,797,193 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $191,640,390 | $182,298,294 | $4,180,168,973 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $200,498,152 | $190,310,145 | $4,621,824,473 | Filing for 2025 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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Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required