The Gilroy and Lillian P. Roberts Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving in Philadelphia-area higher education, making sizable, targeted gifts to postsecondary institutions and their student programs. Grants are focused on Temple University in multiple units (athletics, Fox School of Business, summer programming) and the Community College of Philadelphia, indicating a preference for locally based institutions and program-specific support. The foundation favors a mix of operational/program support and restricted gifts tied to athletics and student enrichment.
A defining feature of the Gilroy and Lillian P Roberts Charitable Foundation is its repeated support for Philadelphia higher education, especially Temple University and the Community College of Philadelphia. In 2024 and 2023, the foundation made $200,000 unrestricted grants to the Community College of Philadelphia, and it also backed Temple University at a similar scale through multiple units, including the Fox School of Business, athletics, and a summer camp program. That pattern shows a funder that uses large, targeted gifts to support local postsecondary institutions and student-facing programs. The recent record also shows that the foundation’s giving reaches beyond one campus function. Temple’s athletics program received restricted support in both years, while the Fox School of Business received unrestricted gifts in both years. Nearby independent schools and community-serving organizations also appear in the grant list, but the center of gravity remains Philadelphia-based higher education and related student enrichment. The foundation’s grants are mostly concentrated in Pennsylvania, with Philadelphia recipients appearing repeatedly across the list.
Higher education is the clearest theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2024, it gave $200,000 unrestricted to the Community College of Philadelphia, and it made the same amount again in 2023, signaling sustained support for the institution. Temple University appears in several forms: the Fox School of Business received $150,000 unrestricted in both 2023 and 2024, and Temple’s summer camp program received $100,000 unrestricted in 2024. The foundation also funds student and campus life. Temple athletics received $150,000 restricted to sports in both years, while Friends Select School received $30,000 in 2024 and $30,000 in 2023 tied to the Roberts lower school art room. Those grants show a mix of university program support and school-based enrichment.
Typical grants are modest for many recipients, with a p25 of $600, a median of $1,000, and a p75 of $5,000, even though a small number of larger awards drive the annual total. The grant list shows repeated support to the same organizations across 2023 and 2024, including multi-year gifts to major recipients. The foundation’s structure includes no program-related investments and no individual giving. Recent grants also include a mix of unrestricted support and restricted, project-specific gifts, suggesting a combination of flexible and designated funding.
$751K
$9.6M
$467K
$937K
Most grants fall between $600 and $5K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$600
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Concentrated and high-value: a small number of large grants, often repeated to the same institutions (multiple grants to Temple and Community College of Philadelphia), with funds directed to specific units or programs rather than broad, dispersed giving.
Notable grantees: Community College of Philadelphia, Temple University – Athletics, Temple University – Fox School of Business, Temple University – Summer Camp
Giving is heavily concentrated in Pennsylvania, which receives 79% of grants and ranks first by recipient count. Philadelphia is the main center, with repeated grants to organizations in the city such as the Community College of Philadelphia, Temple University, Friends Select School, United Way of Greater Philadelphia, and the Franklin Institute. Outside Pennsylvania, the foundation’s recent grants also reached New York through American Friends of Magen David Adom in New York, NY. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
It focuses on Philadelphia-area higher education and related student programs. The recent grant list includes repeated support for the Community College of Philadelphia and several Temple University units, along with grants to Friends Select School and other local education-related organizations.
Yes. The recent record shows repeated support across 2023 and 2024, including $200,000 to the Community College of Philadelphia in both years and $150,000 unrestricted to Temple University’s Fox School of Business in both years.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is small at the center: p25 is $600, median is $1,000, and p75 is $5,000. The recent list also includes a handful of larger awards, such as $200,000 and $150,000 gifts.
The foundation uses both unrestricted and restricted grants. Examples in the recent list include unrestricted support for the Community College of Philadelphia and Temple University’s Fox School of Business, plus restricted funding for Temple athletics and a designated lower school art room at Friends Select School.
Pennsylvania is the main recipient state, with 79% of grants going to recipients there and Philadelphia appearing repeatedly in the recent grant list. The listed grants are entirely U.S.-based.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $266,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (FOX SCHOOL OF BUSINESS) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $150,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (ATHLETICS) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $150,000 | 2026 | RESTRICTE TO SPORTS |
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (SUMMER CAMP) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FRIENDS SELECT SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,000 | 2026 | RESTRICTED |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ABRAMSON SENIOR CARE | BLUE BELL, PA | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FRANKLIN INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FEMALE HEBREW BENEVOLENT SOCIETY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TEMPLE BETH ZION BETH ISRAEL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PHILADELPHIA HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF DREXEL UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TEMPLE HILLEL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE DISCALCED HERMITS OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL | FAIRFIELD, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GIFT OF LIFE DONOR PROGRAM | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FOUNDING FORWARD - FORMERLY THE UNION LEAGUE LEGACY FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COMMITTEE OF SEVENTY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CONGREGATION SHA'ARAY SHALOM | HINGHAM, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY | HINGHAM, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| KAISERMAN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER | WYNNEWOOD, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE WISTAR INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MONASTARY OF THE LITTLE FLOWER OF JESUS | BUFFALO, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $700 | 2026 | RESTRICTED |
| MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BRIGHT FOCUS FOUNDATION | CLARKSBURG, MD | $500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LIBRARY COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $450 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $200,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (FOX SCHOOL OF BUSINESS) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $150,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (ATHLETICS) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $150,000 | 2024 | RESTRICTE TO SPORTS |
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (SUMMER CAMP) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FRIENDS SELECT SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,000 | 2024 | RESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $12,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FEMALE HEBREW BENEVOLENT SOCIETY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $7,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FRANKLIN INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | BRYN MAWR, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ABRAMSON SENIOR CARE | BLUE BELL, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SALVATION ARMY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $3,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| JEWISH LEARNING VENTURE | JENKINTOWN, PA | $3,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PHILADELPHIA HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TEMPLE BETH ZION BETH ISRAEL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF DREXEL UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TEMPLE HILLEL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,500 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA
$266,000UNRESTRICTED
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (ATHLETICS)
$150,000RESTRICTE TO SPORTS
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (SUMMER CAMP)
$100,000UNRESTRICTED
FRIENDS SELECT SCHOOL
$30,000RESTRICTED
UNRESTRICTED
FEMALE HEBREW BENEVOLENT SOCIETY
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
TEMPLE BETH ZION BETH ISRAEL
$2,000UNRESTRICTED
PHILADELPHIA HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE FOUNDATION
$2,000UNRESTRICTED
TEMPLE HILLEL
$1,500UNRESTRICTED
THE DISCALCED HERMITS OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
GIFT OF LIFE DONOR PROGRAM
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
FOUNDING FORWARD - FORMERLY THE UNION LEAGUE LEGACY FOUNDATION
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
CONGREGATION SHA'ARAY SHALOM
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
HINGHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
THE WISTAR INSTITUTE
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
MONASTARY OF THE LITTLE FLOWER OF JESUS
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY (ATHLETICS)
$150,000RESTRICTE TO SPORTS
FRIENDS SELECT SCHOOL
$30,000RESTRICTED
FEMALE HEBREW BENEVOLENT SOCIETY
$7,000UNRESTRICTED
SALVATION ARMY
$3,500UNRESTRICTED
PHILADELPHIA HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE FOUNDATION
$2,000UNRESTRICTED
TEMPLE BETH ZION BETH ISRAEL
$2,000UNRESTRICTED
TEMPLE HILLEL
$1,500UNRESTRICTED