The Gary W. Rollins Foundation concentrates its giving on higher education—especially business school funding tied to the GWR name—and on prominent Atlanta-area cultural and civic institutions. Grants are large, often restricted to named colleges, capital projects, or program initiatives (e.g., business schools, medical clinic at the zoo, museum exhibitions), with occasional support for disaster relief and donor-advised distributions.
The Gary W Rollins Foundation C/o Rfa Management Co LLC gives at a scale that reaches major universities, Atlanta civic institutions, and national service organizations in the same portfolio. Its largest recent awards include multi-million-dollar support for the University of Chattanooga Foundation and the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, both tied to the GWR College of Business, signaling a strong emphasis on named business school support. The foundation also backs Atlanta institutions with large operating or program gifts, including Emory University, the Atlanta History Center, and Zoo Atlanta, where funding supported a new medical clinic. The pattern is not limited to higher education. Recent grants also include relief and social-service support through the Salvation Army, scholarships for military families through Folds of Honor, and aid to organizations serving veterans, immigrants, and people experiencing homelessness. Several awards are project-specific, such as exhibitions, campus revitalization, and medical or program initiatives, showing a funder that uses both large restricted grants and general support. Across the portfolio, the foundation’s giving reflects a regional base with recurring attention to Atlanta and Chattanooga institutions.
Higher education is the clearest thread in the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $8,061,761 to the University of Tennessee Chattanooga for the GWR College of Business and $5,629,870 to the University of Chattanooga Foundation for the same named college. It also gave $1,011,468 to Rollins College for a women in business program and $100,000 to Beloit College for general support. Beyond colleges, the foundation supports Atlanta civic and cultural work. It gave $1,522,133 to the Atlanta History Center for exhibitions and programs and $100,000 to the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta for the Beloved Benefit. Health-related support appears as well: Emory University received $2,831,289 for general support, and Shepherd Center Foundation received $100,000 for the Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute. Zoo Atlanta also received $1,517,202 for a new medical clinic.
Typical grants cluster around five figures and low six figures, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $100,000. That distribution sits alongside occasional large, named commitments in the multi-million-dollar range. The recent record shows repeated support to some recipients across multiple years, including the University of Chattanooga Foundation, Emory University, Latin American Association Inc, Special Operations Care Fund, Veterans Empowerment Organization, and Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. The foundation funds individuals and also uses donor-advised grantmaking, as shown by a grant to Fidelity Charitable. Its portfolio mixes general support, operating support, and project-specific awards.
$17.7M
$68.9M
$15.2M
$19.2M
Most grants fall between $5K and $100K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Highly concentrated, small portfolio of very large grants; repeat/linked gifts to the same university system (Chattanooga) and targeted capital or program donations rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: University of Tennessee Chattanooga, University of Chattanooga Foundation, Emory University, Zoo Atlanta, Salvation Army
Giving is heavily concentrated in Georgia, which accounts for 67% of grants, while the foundation is headquartered in Atlanta. Atlanta appears frequently in recipient addresses, including Emory University, the Atlanta History Center, Zoo Atlanta, Latin American Association Inc, Veterans Empowerment Organization, and Meals on Wheels Atlanta. Chattanooga, Tennessee is another major destination, anchored by the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and the University of Chattanooga Foundation. Outside those hubs, the foundation has also given in places such as Winter Park, Florida; Cincinnati, Ohio; and San Antonio, Texas.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on higher education, especially business school support tied to the GWR name. The foundation also funds Atlanta cultural institutions, healthcare-related projects, veterans and military-family services, disaster relief, and community organizations serving food security and social services needs.
Yes. The recent grant list includes repeat awards to several recipients across 2023 and 2025, such as the University of Chattanooga Foundation, Emory University, Latin American Association Inc, Special Operations Care Fund, Veterans Empowerment Organization, and Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.
The grant-size distribution centers on modest awards with a p25 of $5,000 and a median of $10,000, but it also includes larger commitments, with a p75 of $100,000. The recent record shows both five-figure operating gifts and multi-million-dollar named program awards.
Most grants go to Georgia recipients: 67% of grants are to organizations in the HQ state. Atlanta is the most common city in the recent list, and Chattanooga is another recurring location for major university support.
It funds individuals as well as organizations. The foundation also makes donor-advised grants, which is reflected in a recent grant to Fidelity Charitable.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF CHATTANOOGA FOUNDATION | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $5,629,870 | 2025 | GWR COLLEGE OF BUSINESS |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY | ATLANTA, GA | $2,831,289 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SALVATION ARMY | BROOKHAVEN, NE | $1,950,618 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF & SOCIAL SERVICES |
| ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER | ATLANTA, GA | $1,522,133 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR EXHBITIONS AND PROGRAMS |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE | CINCINNATI, OH | $1,499,327 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED FUND |
| FOLDS OF HONOR | OWASSO, OK | $994,245 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES |
| LATIN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $851,702 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SPECIAL OPERATION CARE FUND | ATLANTA, GA | $516,964 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS |
| VETERANS EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION | ATLANTA, GA | $403,759 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ATLANTA MISSION | ATLANTA, GA | $252,131 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CH COOLIDGE NTL MDL HONOR HERITAGE | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $250,288 | 2025 | DISPLAY FOR MEDAL OF HONOR RECEIPIENT & GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS |
| OPERATION HOME FRONT | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $249,144 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEAM RUBICON INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $101,488 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF GEORGIA INC | ATLANTA, GA | $100,409 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MEALS ON WHEELS ATLANTA | ATLANTA, GA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BELOIT COLLEGE | BELOIT, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PEACHTREE ROAD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | ATLANTA, GA | $60,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUND |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER ATLANTA | ATLANTA, GA | $56,000 | 2025 | ROLLINS INC. CAMPAIGN |
| COBB COLLABORATIVE INC | SMYRNA, GA | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY WELL-BEING & FAMILY SUPPORT |
| NSORO FOUNDATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $22,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHARE OUR STRENGTH | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | NO KIDS HUNGRY |
| CENTRAL OUTREACH & ADVOCACY CENTER | ATLANTA, GA | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAMMING |
| ROLLINS EMPLOYEE RELIEF FUND | ATLANTA, GA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WOMEN IN NEED OF GOD'S SHELTER | DUBLIN, GA | $17,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ATLANTA HUMANE SOCIETY INC | ATLANTA, GA | $10,350 | 2025 | GRANT - MISSION MOMENT |
| BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY | KANAB, UT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | PEDIATRIC HEALTHCARE & RESEARCH |
| CAMP SUNSHINE | DECATUR, GA | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROLLINS COLLEGE | WINTER PARK, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | WOMEN IN BUSINESS PROGRAM |
| CROHN'S & COLITIS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH & PATIENT SUPPORT |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE | CINCINNATI, OH | $4,639,252 | 2024 | DONOR ADVISED FUND |
| HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS | TAUNTON, MA | $3,632,820 | 2024 | VETERAN HOUSES IN GA AND OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ROLLINS COLLEGE | WINTER PARK, FL | $2,061,851 | 2024 | WOMEN IN BUSINESS PROGRAM |
| ZOO ATLANTA | ATLANTA, GA | $1,535,656 | 2024 | ROLLINS ANIMAL HEALTH CENTER |
| ATLANTA HUMANE SOCIETY | ATLANTA, GA | $1,024,481 | 2024 | ACUTE CRISIS PROGRAM |
| VETERANS EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION (VEO) | ATLANTA, GA | $875,000 | 2024 | CAMPUS REVITALIZATION PROJECT |
| LATIN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $481,266 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ATLANTA MISSION | ATLANTA, GA | $250,124 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE CHATTANOOGA | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $243,913 | 2024 | GWR COLLEGE OF BUSINESS |
| LATIN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $65,000 | 2024 | FEVER BALL SPONSOR |
| PEACHTREE ROAD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | ATLANTA, GA | $63,264 | 2024 | OPERATING FUND |
| UNITED WAY | ATLANTA, GA | $56,000 | 2024 | ROLLINS INC. CAMPAIGN |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY | ATLANTA, GA | $50,171 | 2024 | ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH CENTER |
| MEALS ON WHEELS ATLANTA | ATLANTA, GA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WOMEN IN NEED OF GOD'S SHELTER | DUBLIN, GA | $35,000 | 2024 | RENOVATING PLAYGROUNDS AND UPDATING SECUIRTY SYSTEM |
| CAMP TWIN LAKES | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2024 | GROWING TOGETHER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| NSORO FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $22,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHARE OUR STRENGTH | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | NO KIDS HUNGRY |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | ATLANTA, GA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF GEORGIA INC | ATLANTA, GA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
EMORY UNIVERSITY
$2,831,289GENERAL SUPPORT
SALVATION ARMY
$1,950,618DISASTER RELIEF & SOCIAL SERVICES
ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER
$1,522,133SUPPORT FOR EXHBITIONS AND PROGRAMS
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MILITARY FAMILIES
VETERANS EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION
$403,759GENERAL SUPPORT
ATLANTA MISSION
$252,131GENERAL SUPPORT
CH COOLIDGE NTL MDL HONOR HERITAGE
$250,288DISPLAY FOR MEDAL OF HONOR RECEIPIENT & GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS
PEACHTREE ROAD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$60,000OPERATING FUND
CENTRAL OUTREACH & ADVOCACY CENTER
$20,000SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAMMING
ROLLINS EMPLOYEE RELIEF FUND
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WOMEN IN NEED OF GOD'S SHELTER
$17,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ATLANTA HUMANE SOCIETY INC
$10,350GRANT - MISSION MOMENT
CHILDREN'S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA FOUNDATION
$10,000PEDIATRIC HEALTHCARE & RESEARCH
CROHN'S & COLITIS
$1,000MEDICAL RESEARCH & PATIENT SUPPORT
HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS
$3,632,820VETERAN HOUSES IN GA AND OPERATING SUPPORT
ZOO ATLANTA
$1,535,656ROLLINS ANIMAL HEALTH CENTER
PEACHTREE ROAD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$63,264OPERATING FUND
EMORY UNIVERSITY
$50,171ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH CENTER
WOMEN IN NEED OF GOD'S SHELTER
$35,000RENOVATING PLAYGROUNDS AND UPDATING SECUIRTY SYSTEM
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS