Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes grants only to organisations it has preselected, so an organisation with no existing connection to it should not send a cold application; the route in is a warm introduction that leads to an invitation.
- Its typical grants fall between $1,000 and $60,000, with a median of $5,000 and half of its grants at $5,000 or less, so a modest request fits its usual pattern, although its largest grant reached $750,000 and that typical band is not a ceiling.
- Its grants are mainly in Tennessee, but no geographic focus is stated, so treat that as what the filings show rather than as a rule about who may apply.
- Repeat support is strong, with 86% of grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, which suggests that places are won through relationships and that a first contact is best kept patient.
- The information available does not say when the foundation considers requests, so ask about timing when you make contact.
Overview
Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone Foundation is a US private foundation based in Wilmington, DE.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation’s recorded grants go overwhelmingly to organisations in Tennessee. Its giving spans a wide mix of community work: recipients include housing and homelessness services, food assistance, children’s and youth organisations, schools and education programmes, health and behavioural-health services, arts and cultural institutions, and conservation organisations. Many grants are recorded as general and unrestricted support, alongside project and capital support for community services, arts facilities, education, housing, health provision and parks. The records therefore show both flexible support for organisations and substantial support for specific local projects. No overall funding priorities or eligibility criteria are stated in the available information.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Tennessee.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% 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 304 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 26% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 119 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Tivoli Theatre Foundation · Tivoli Theatre Renovation Project$750,0002024 tax year
- Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise · CNE Homes Project$250,0002024 tax year
- Childrens Nutrition Program of Haiti · General & Unrestricted$200,0002024 tax year
- BetterFi · To support Betterfi expansion into the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Market$200,0002024 tax year
- Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association · Rebuilding and Debt Relief$177,0002024 tax year
- Chambliss Center for Children · Building Futures Campaign$166,6672024 tax year
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga · Chattanooga Home Build$120,0002024 tax year
- Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition · Flexible Housing Fund$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Lee Towery — Director, Secretary
- Keith Sanford — Director
- Michael Pollock — Director
- Bryan Patten — Director
- Thomas H Hopper — President
- David Brock — Director
- Danna Bailey — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,855,572 | $2,539,413 | $19,561,469 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,127,742 | $2,859,794 | $27,696,284 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,139,964 | $3,834,339 | $28,347,055 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Wilmington, DE
Applying to Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Wilmington, DE