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Roberts Foundation

Annual Giving
$45.7M
Grant Range
$500K - $140.0M

Roberts Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $45,741,340 (2023)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Typically $500,000+ (reaching into millions)
  • Geographic Focus: Bay Area focus with national reach
  • EIN: 94-2967074

Contact Details

Address: 155 Bovet Rd Ste 770, San Mateo, CA 94402-3153
Phone: 650-653-2422
Website: No public website available
Application Status: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Overview

The Roberts Foundation was established in 1985 by George R. Roberts, co-founder and Senior Partner of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), the prominent private equity firm. Operating as a private family foundation, it is now run by George Roberts with his wife, Linnea Conrad Roberts (a former Goldman Sachs partner), and their children as trustees. With annual giving of over $45.7 million in 2023, the foundation focuses primarily on the Bay Area while supporting select national initiatives. The foundation is particularly notable for pioneering venture philanthropy through REDF (Roberts Enterprise Development Fund), which it founded in 1997 and helped transition to an independent nonprofit in 2004, though the Roberts Foundation remains REDF's largest contributor. In 2022, the foundation made headlines with a $140 million gift to Claremont McKenna College, bringing total gifts to that institution to approximately $200 million over the past decade.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with public application processes. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the Board of Directors to pre-selected organizations. Grants tend to be substantial, typically over $500,000 and often reaching into the millions of dollars.

Application Method: Invitation only by Board of Directors

Priority Areas

Education

  • K-12 schools, particularly charter schools (KIPP Bay Area Schools, Oakland Military Institute)
  • Private schools (Sacred Heart Schools Atherton)
  • Higher education with strong focus on Claremont McKenna College
  • Military schools (Naval Postgraduate School Foundation)
  • Youth development organizations (Year Up, New Visions for Public Schools)

Poverty Alleviation & Employment

  • Employment social enterprises through REDF
  • Workforce development for people facing barriers to employment (formerly incarcerated, homeless, those with mental illness or addiction)
  • Food security (SF Food Bank)
  • Community development (Tipping Point Community)

Arts & Culture

  • Major Bay Area cultural institutions (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, SF Ballet)

Environment & Animal Welfare

  • Conservation organizations (Environmental Defense Fund, Del Monte Forest Conservancy)
  • Animal rights and protection (Ark Watch Foundation, Eagle Eye Sanctuary Foundation)

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited applications from unknown organizations
  • Organizations outside their pre-selected portfolio
  • General operating support for organizations not already in their network

Governance and Leadership

George R. Roberts (Co-Founder, KKR & Co.)

  • Founded the Roberts Foundation in 1985
  • Claremont McKenna College alumnus (Class of 1966)
  • Pioneer of venture philanthropy model
  • Known for applying private equity principles to philanthropic investments

Approach to Philanthropy: According to Bloomberg (2018), Roberts "approaches giving money away the way he made it: by investing in good companies," focusing his philanthropy on supporting businesses that offer training and jobs to people who face employment barriers, such as former addicts and prisoners.

Linnea Conrad Roberts (Trustee)

  • Former Goldman Sachs partner
  • Married to George Roberts in 2010
  • Co-trustee of the Roberts Foundation
  • Active in supporting education and poverty alleviation programs in the San Francisco Bay Area

Additional Trustees: The foundation is run with the Roberts' children, though specific names are not publicly disclosed.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Roberts Foundation only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Organizations are invited by the Board of Directors to submit grant proposals.

All grants are awarded at the trustee's discretion to organizations with which the foundation has established relationships or strategic alignment.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's giving patterns, organizations most likely to be considered share these characteristics:

Sector Connections: The foundation shows strong ties to organizations connected to KKR's network and the San Francisco Bay Area philanthropic ecosystem. Organizations that are part of established collaborative efforts like Tipping Point Community or have relationships with other major Bay Area donors may have more visibility.

REDF Portfolio: For organizations focused on employment social enterprises serving people with barriers to employment, becoming part of REDF's portfolio may create a pathway to Roberts Foundation support, as the foundation remains REDF's largest funder.

Board Networks: Given that George Roberts serves as a trustee at Claremont McKenna College and has connections throughout the private equity and Bay Area philanthropic communities, organizations with board members or leadership connected to these networks may have greater opportunity for relationship building.

Proven Impact: The foundation's venture philanthropy approach suggests a preference for organizations with measurable outcomes, strong business models (particularly for employment social enterprises), and demonstrated capacity for scale.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, decision timelines are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. In 2023, the foundation made 79 grants totaling $45,741,340.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analyzing their giving patterns reveals what the foundation values:

Venture Philanthropy Mindset: The foundation pioneered applying venture capital principles to philanthropy through REDF. Organizations that demonstrate business discipline, measurable outcomes, potential for scale, and sustainability are aligned with their approach. As noted in Harvard Business Review case studies, REDF's model includes "equity-like grants and business assistance," suggesting the foundation values organizations that can leverage investment for growth.

Employment as Pathway from Poverty: The foundation's signature initiative, REDF, focuses specifically on employment social enterprises. From 1997 to 2015, REDF-supported enterprises employed more than 8,700 people who earned over $140 million, with 75% still holding jobs two years after starting. This demonstrates the foundation's commitment to sustainable employment solutions rather than temporary relief.

Bay Area Impact: While the foundation supports some national initiatives (particularly in education), there is a strong geographic focus on the San Francisco Bay Area, where the Roberts family is based and where they can observe impact firsthand.

Long-Term Relationships: The foundation's major gifts (such as the $200 million to Claremont McKenna College over a decade) demonstrate a preference for sustained partnerships with organizations where they can see transformational impact over time.

Educational Excellence: Support for institutions ranging from KIPP charter schools to elite private schools and colleges suggests the foundation values educational quality and innovation across the spectrum, with particular interest in George Roberts' alma mater.

Willingness to Fail and Learn: In a 2018 Bloomberg article, the foundation was described with the headline "For KKR's Roberts, Failure's One Secret to Great Philanthropy," suggesting an openness to supporting innovative approaches even when outcomes are uncertain.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted: This foundation is not accessible through traditional grant writing. Focus efforts on building organizational credibility and networks within the Bay Area philanthropic community instead.

  • Venture philanthropy model: The foundation thinks like investors, not traditional donors. Organizations should be prepared to demonstrate strong business models, measurable outcomes, potential for scale, and financial sustainability.

  • Employment social enterprises are a sweet spot: If your organization provides jobs and training to people facing significant employment barriers, becoming part of REDF's portfolio may be the most viable pathway to Roberts Foundation support.

  • Grants are substantial and strategic: With typical grants over $500,000, the foundation makes fewer, larger bets rather than spreading funding widely. They seek transformational impact, not incremental improvements.

  • Bay Area focus with exceptions: While geographically focused on the Bay Area, the foundation will support national initiatives in areas of deep personal connection (like Claremont McKenna College) or strategic importance (like REDF after it became independent).

  • Family foundation with concentrated decision-making: With George Roberts, Linnea Roberts, and their children serving as trustees, this is a tightly controlled foundation where relationships with the Roberts family and their close advisors matter significantly.

  • Multi-year partnerships preferred: The foundation's giving patterns suggest they prefer sustained engagement over one-time grants, allowing them to see long-term impact and support organizations through growth phases.

References

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