OVERVIEW: The Robertson Foundation broadly funds education, environmental efforts, and medical research. It is a major contributor to K-12 education with a focus on bringing high quality education to all Americans, supports scientists and leadership efforts to advance the field of medical research. Its environment giving is almost entirely dedicated to studying and combatting the effects of climate change.
IP TAKE: This foundation takes a business-like approach to its grantmaking and expects measurable results in the immediate and long terms. When creating a proposal, if invited to submit, make sure it’s clear and realistic, rather than providing highly inflated numbers.
Foundation staffers are also known to conduct data-intensive studies on applicants to quantify how much social and environmental good a grant to that applicant will achieve. The team then monitors the grantee’s project to see if it is delivering expected results. Robertson tends to prioritize larger organizations and does not accept unsolicited proposals. It’s not accessible or approachable, so keep this in mind when contacting them for general information.
PROFILE: Founded in 1996, the New York City-based Robertson Foundation was run by Julian Robertson, the founder of Tiger Management, until his death in August 2022. The foundation works to “utilize a proactive, disciplined grantmaking approach to measurably affect significant social change.” It claims to take a “targeted, businesslike, results-oriented approach that is modeled more closely on private equity investing” than traditional philanthropic models. Its three main grantmaking areas are Education, Environment, and Medical Research, though it often awards Other Grants in unrelated fields.
This funder takes a “targeted, businesslike, results-oriented approach” to grantmaking. As part of its process, the foundation does a “data-driven scan of the area of interest” in order to develop an understanding of the work being done in the area, evaluate the success of previous approaches, and determine whether the potential grantee can make a significant and measurable impact.
Grants for K-12 Education
Robertson’s Education funding aims to improve the quality of education available to all Americans, and a majority of its grants are directed toward K-12 public school reform. Its two sub-initiatives, “reform from within” and “drive change by generating external pressure,” support public and charter school systems, respectively. In New York City, the foundation has supported the public school reform agenda Children First, as well as the New York City Charter School Center.
Grants for Science Research, Climate Change and Marine Conservation
The foundation supports scientific research through its environment and medical research programs. Its Environment program prioritizes research on climate change, especially studies of near-term emissions reduction. Robertson’s Medical Research initiative “facilitate(s) cutting edge research by supporting scientific leadership and talent.”
However, Robertson Foundation's Environment grantmaking prioritizes climate change. However, it does not state specific climate change issues toward which it directs funding. The foundation funds activities that it believes will "lead to comprehensive federal regulation of greenhouse gasses"; "improve public understanding of human-caused climate change"; and "reduce near-term emissions from coal." Beyond these broad strategies, the foundation prefers to assess proposals on a case by case basis. While it supports work that has global impact, the Robertson Foundation funds work based in the United States. Past grantees include EarthJustice, the World Resources Institute, the Energy Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, and the Environmental Defense Fund.
While the foundation's Environment program prioritizes climate-change related projects, it may also support conservation initiatives. Applicants seeking marine conservation funding are advised to frame their proposals in terms of climate-change. The foundation's environment program seeks organizations that work to minimize disruptions related to climate change, specifically organizations that take efforts to facilitate "comprehensive federal regulation of greenhouse gasses," improve the public's knowledge of "human-caused climate change," and "reduce near-term emissions from coal." Past grantees include Oceana and the Marine Stewardship Council, a UK nonprofit that works with fisheries and food distributors around the world to set standards for sustainable seafood production and certify those fisheries that live up to them.
Grants for Diseases
The Robertson Foundation’s Medical Research program does not have any specific disease priorities. Its grantmaking is designed to “facilitate cutting edge research by supporting scientific leadership and talent.” To that end, it has made “significant investments in young investigators, junior faculty, and fellowships in many disciplines.” Past grantees include the Cancer Research Institute and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Grants for Global Development and Other
The foundation’s Other Grants program supports development efforts taking place around the world. Despite its name, Robertson’s grants through this program are often substantial. The Robertson Foundation does not state specific global development objectives or priorities, only that it supports efforts that range “from global health and international poverty eradication to leadership and community development.” Past grantees include the Nuclear Threat Initiative, African Leadership Foundation, and Global Health Corps.
Important Grant Details:
Robertson’s grant amounts range from $1,000 to over $3 million, although most fall between $5,000 and $50,000. Robertson and his colleagues are investors, and they act as such when deciding what to fund. Foundation staffers often conduct data-intensive studies on applicants to quantify how much social and environmental good a grant to that applicant will achieve. Grantees can expect to have their projects monitored in order to gauge expected results. Robertson prioritizes large organizations rather than small ones, some organizations even receiving multi-year support.
The Robertson Foundation is not currently accepting unsolicited applications or requests for funding. However, it is possible that it may open itself up to Proposals in the future.
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