The Rob Walton Foundation
Preselected recipients only
The Rob Walton Foundation is a private foundation in Bentonviille, Arkansas. In tax year 2024 it gave $107 million in 61 grants; the typical grant was $50,000 and the largest $33.9 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$107 million
- Number of grants61
- Typical grant$50,000
- Largest grant$33.9 million
- Assets$522 million
- New grantees21%
Giving in 2024 was up from $79.0 million the year before.
21% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $79.0 million | 78 | $506 million |
| 2024 | $107 million | 61 | $522 million |
How to apply
The Rob Walton Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The Rob Walton Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 15 states, the most to North Dakota. It also paid $1.3 million in 1 grant to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 1 | $33.9 million |
| Virginia | 5 | $33.0 million |
| District of Columbia | 9 | $16.4 million |
| New York | 4 | $9.4 million |
| Arizona | 15 | $9.0 million |
| Georgia | 2 | $1.6 million |
| Colorado | 9 | $1.2 million |
| California | 3 | $820,000 |
| Arkansas | 6 | $320,000 |
| Wyoming | 1 | $250,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation | To provide funding for library | $33.9 million |
| Conservation International Foundation | To provide matching support toward Spend Down Fund 2.0 | $24.6 million |
| Wildlife Conservation Society | To support Africa Protected Areas Strategy Implementation | $9.3 million |
| Arizona State University Foundation for A New American University | To support School of Conservation Futures and related programs | $8.0 million |
| African Parks Foundation of America | To provide operational support for the development and management of national parks and key conservation areas in Africa. | $5.0 million |
| African Parks Foundation of America | To support African Parks Incubation Program: Scaling Through Partnerships | $4.8 million |
| Conservation International Foundation | To support ocean conservation through the Blue Nature Alliance project | $4.6 million |
| African Parks Foundation of America | To support important conservation in Africa, including Rewilding of Key Species | $3.5 million |
| Conservation International Foundation | To support Country Packages Seed Fund | $3.3 million |
| Emory University | To support Phase 1: Advance a Global Culture of Compassion | $1.5 million |
| The Earthshot Prize | To provide support for the Earthshot Prize, a global prize designed to scale environment and conservations solutions | $1.3 million |
| African Parks Foundation of America | To support establishing a Conservation Academy | $1.1 million |
| Climate Leadership Council Inc | To support general operations | $900,000 |
| Tides Center | Mosaic Project building collaboration within the environmental movement | $750,000 |
| Frankfurt Zoological Society - US Inc | To support Africa Protected Areas Strategy Implementation | $657,103 |
| Conservation International Foundation | To support Heal Our Planet, Protect Our Future Campaign | $500,000 |
| Western Stock Show Association | To support National Western Stock Show through Honoring the Legacy Campaign | $500,000 |
| United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation | Multi-year cycling support | $375,000 |
| International Conservation Caucus Foundation | To support educational activities focused on the importance of international conservation that benefits nature and people | $325,000 |
| Arizona Aerospace Foundation Inc | To support Tucson Military Vehicle Museum | $300,000 |
| Diocesan Council for the Society of St Vincent de Paul Diocese Phoenix | To support the urban farm at St. Vincent De Paul | $250,000 |
| Team Africa Rising Inc | To support general operations | $250,000 |
| Bridge2Rwanda Inc | To support Expanding Conservation Agriculture Farming Method in Africa | $175,000 |
| USA Cycling Inc | To support a three-year strategy to grow the sport of bike racing. | $110,000 |
| Phoenix Theatre Inc | To support general operations | $100,000 |
| Aspen Music Festival and School | To Support the annual fund in 2024 | $50,000 |
| College of Wooster | To Support the annual fund in 2024 | $50,000 |
| Columbia University | To support the Columbia Law School Annual Fund in 2024 | $50,000 |
| Emory University | To support Two-cohort Compassion Fellowships | $50,000 |
| Liberty Wildlife Inc | To support general operations | $50,000 |
| National Park Foundation | To support general operations and needs of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park | $50,000 |
| Phoenix Art Museum | To support general operations | $50,000 |
| Salvation Army of NWA | To support general operations in Benton and Washington Counties in Arkansas | $50,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University | To support the Hoover Institution's general operations | $50,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy - Arizona | To support general operations | $50,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy - Arkansas | To support general operations | $50,000 |
| USA Cycling Inc | To support general operations | $50,000 |
| Conservation International Foundation | To support Assessment and Strategy for Africa Work | $37,500 |
| Arizona Science Center | To support general operations | $25,000 |
| Aspen Center for Environmental Studies | To support general operations | $25,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Luke Mitchell
- Naccaman Williams
- S Robson Walton
Questions people ask
Does The Rob Walton Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does The Rob Walton Foundation give?
$107 million in tax year 2024, across 61 grants, with a typical grant of $50,000.
Who runs The Rob Walton Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Luke Mitchell (Treasurer), Naccaman Williams (Secretary) and S Robson Walton (Director, President).
What does The Rob Walton Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly environment and conservation, international and education.