The Rogers Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4.8 million (2024), $7.2 million (2023)
• Total Assets: $34-52 million
• Application Deadline: November 1
• Geographic Focus: East Texas and Wood River Valley, Idaho
• Foundation Type: Private family foundation

Contact Details

Address: 2335 Oak Alley, Tyler, TX 75703
Mailing Address: PO Box 8799, Tyler, TX 75711-8799
Phone: (903) 561-4041
Contact Person: Robyn Rogers, President

Overview

The Rogers Foundation (also known as The Robert M. Rogers Foundation) is a private family foundation established in 1987 and located in Tyler, Texas. With assets ranging from $34-52 million, the foundation distributed $7.2 million in grants in 2023 and $4.6 million in 2024. The foundation honors the legacy of Robert M. Rogers and his wife Jean, who dreamed of creating supportive services for adults with developmental disabilities and mental health needs in East Texas. The foundation is currently led by their daughter, Robyn Rogers, and focuses on education, mental health, and support for Protestant organizations. In July 2022, the foundation made a transformational $10 million gift to UT Tyler's School of Medicine, demonstrating its commitment to addressing mental and behavioral health challenges in the region.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

• Education: Schools, educational programs, scholarships, and scholarship funds
• Mental and Behavioral Health: Support for mental health education, curriculum development, and clinical services
• Protestant Religious Organizations: Grants to Protestant churches and faith-based initiatives
• Developmental Disabilities Services: Support for organizations serving adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities

Geographic Restrictions

Organizations requesting grants must be located in:

• East Texas, or
• Wood River Valley, Idaho

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, as a private family foundation, they do not appear to accept applications from organizations outside their defined geographic areas.

Governance and Leadership

Officers and Directors:

• Robyn Rogers - President/CEO ($50,000 compensation)
• Sheryl Rogers Palmer - Vice President ($50,000 compensation)
• Barbara Copeland - Secretary/Treasurer ($50,000 compensation)
• Joseph Harwood - Director
• Robert Rice - Director

Leadership Perspective:

Robyn Rogers stated regarding the foundation's $10 million gift to UT Tyler: "We hope we will have a lasting impact." This quote reflects the foundation's commitment to creating lasting change in mental health services for East Texas.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Rogers Foundation has an application deadline of November 1 annually. Application instructions are referenced in "attached Schedule 1" in their Form 990-PF filings, though detailed public application guidelines are not readily available on an accessible website.

As a private family foundation, The Rogers Foundation appears to operate with significant trustee discretion in grant-making decisions. Prospective applicants should contact the foundation directly at the phone number or address listed above to request application guidelines and procedures.

Decision Timeline

Decision timeline information is not publicly available. Organizations should contact the foundation directly for information about notification timelines.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's documented priorities and major grants, organizations may improve their chances by:

• Aligning with family legacy: The Rogers family has a documented history of supporting services for adults with developmental disabilities (Breckenridge Village) and mental health initiatives. Projects that address these areas appear to align strongly with foundation priorities.

• Geographic focus: Ensure your organization is firmly rooted in East Texas or Wood River Valley, Idaho, as this is a stated requirement.

• Education and mental health intersection: The $10 million gift to UT Tyler's School of Medicine for mental health education demonstrates strong interest in projects that combine educational programming with mental health services.

• Protestant faith-based initiatives: The foundation has explicitly supported Protestant organizations and dedicated the Robert M. Rogers Chapel at Breckenridge Village, indicating openness to faith-based proposals.

• Long-term impact: Robyn Rogers' statement about hoping for "a lasting impact" suggests the foundation values sustainable, transformational projects over short-term initiatives.

Major Grant Example

University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine (2022): $10 million

• Purpose: Support mental and behavioral health education
• Specific uses:
  • Establish the Robert M. Rogers Scholarship
  • Develop mental health curriculum
  • Fund faculty positions in the School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and College of Pharmacy
• Recognition: UT Tyler named its Department of Psychiatry the "Robert M. Rogers Department of Psychiatry"

Breckenridge Village: The foundation funded the Robert M. Rogers Chapel, dedicated in April 2000, honoring Robert M. Rogers' vision for creating residential services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a private family foundation with significant trustee discretion—building relationships and understanding family priorities is important
• The November 1 deadline is the only publicly available application timeline information
• Geographic eligibility is non-negotiable: Organizations must be in East Texas or Wood River Valley, Idaho
• The foundation has made transformational gifts in mental health and education, suggesting they're willing to make significant investments in the right projects
• Protestant faith-based organizations are explicitly supported as part of the foundation's mission
• Contact the foundation directly for application guidelines, as detailed public information is limited
• The foundation's family legacy centers on developmental disabilities services and mental health—projects aligned with these themes may resonate strongly

References

• Grantmakers.io Profile - The Rogers Foundation. Accessed January 21, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/752143064-the-rogers-foundation/
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Rogers Foundation (EIN 75-2143064). Accessed January 21, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/752143064
• Candid Foundation Directory - The Rogers Foundation. Accessed January 21, 2026. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=ROGE011
• Cause IQ - The Rogers Foundation. Accessed January 21, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-rogers-foundation,752143064/
• University of Texas at Tyler. "The Robert M. Rogers Foundation Gifts $10 Million." July 18, 2022. Accessed January 21, 2026. https://www.uttyler.edu/academics/colleges-schools/medicine/news-media/2022/07/18/the-robert-m-rogers-foundation-gifts-10-million/
• Breckenridge Village. "Who We Are." Accessed January 21, 2026. https://breckenridgevillage.com/who-we-are/
• Philanthropy News Digest. "University of Texas Tyler receives $10 million from Rogers Foundation." Accessed January 21, 2026. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/university-of-texas-tyler-receives-10-million-from-rogers-foundation