Rabaut Family Foundation

## Approach Strategy for Rabaut Family Foundation

The Rabaut Family Foundation is a private non-operating foundation established in 2006, based at 10604 Dogwood Farm Lane in Great Falls, Virginia — one of the most affluent communities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Classified under NTEE code T20 (Private Grantmaking Foundations), the foundation distributes approximately $360,000 to $503,000 annually. With total assets of $7.1M and a fair market value of $8.1M, the foundation maintains a growing endowment and consistent grantmaking program. The website (rabaut.org) shows a "Launching Soon" placeholder, suggesting the family may be developing a more public-facing presence. Given the Great Falls, Virginia location, the foundation is likely connected to the D.C.-area professional community. Organizations seeking funding should focus on building relationships through Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. philanthropic networks, as this is a family foundation with no public application process.

## Funding Patterns Analysis

The Rabaut Family Foundation has shown steady growth in grantmaking over five years:

• 2023: $409,000 in grants (total expenses: $444,633, book assets: $7.1M, FMV: $8.1M)
• 2022: $451,018 in grants (total expenses: $501,794, book assets: $6.5M, FMV: $6.6M)
• 2021: $503,325 in grants (total expenses: $519,869, book assets: $6.0M, FMV: $8.4M)
• 2020: $376,770 in grants (total expenses: $392,806, book assets: $4.5M, FMV: $6.4M)
• 2019: $360,700 in grants (total expenses: $393,680, book assets: $4.9M, FMV: $6.3M)

The five-year average is $420K annually, with a 13.4% increase from 2019 to 2023. The foundation's book assets grew substantially from $4.5M (2020) to $7.1M (2023), a 56% increase, suggesting significant new contributions to the endowment. Revenue was strong at approximately $1M in both 2022 and 2023, with a peak of $2M in 2021. The payout rate relative to FMV was approximately 5.0% in 2023, meeting the IRS minimum. Administrative overhead is lean at approximately 8% of total expenses, indicating efficient operations.

## Peer Comparison

The Rabaut Family Foundation is solidly average among Virginia family foundations of comparable size. Its standout features are the exceptional asset growth (56% over five years, suggesting ongoing family contributions to the endowment) and low administrative overhead (~8%). The payout rate of 5.0% is at the minimum threshold, suggesting potential for increased grantmaking as assets continue to grow. The "Launching Soon" website may signal intent to become more publicly engaged.

## Recent Activity and Trends

Key observations from the Rabaut Family Foundation's recent filings:

• Growing Endowment: The most notable trend is the substantial growth in book assets from $4.5M (2020) to $7.1M (2023), representing a 56% increase over four years. This suggests the founding family is actively contributing to the endowment, not just allowing investment growth. Fair market value has also grown from $6.3M (2019) to $8.1M (2023).

• Consistent Grantmaking: Despite asset growth, grantmaking has remained relatively stable in the $360K-$503K range. The foundation appears to maintain a disciplined payout rate close to the IRS minimum rather than increasing grants proportionally to asset growth. This may change as the endowment stabilizes.

• Website Development: The rabaut.org domain shows a "Launching Soon" page with a newsletter signup, suggesting the foundation is transitioning toward a more public-facing model. This could signal upcoming changes to their grantmaking approach, potentially including a public application process.

• Strong Revenue Years: Revenue of approximately $1M in both 2022 and 2023, with $2M in 2021, indicates strong investment returns or continued family contributions that are sustaining and growing the endowment.

• Low Overhead: Administrative costs consistently represent only about 8% of total expenses, indicating the foundation operates with minimal staff and infrastructure — typical of a family-managed foundation without a formal office or program staff.

## Application Tips

The Rabaut Family Foundation does not currently have a public application process, but organizations seeking consideration should note:

1. Monitor the Website Launch: The rabaut.org "Launching Soon" page with email signup suggests the foundation may soon establish a public presence with potential application information. Subscribe to their mailing list to be notified of developments.

2. Northern Virginia Networks: Great Falls, Virginia is a wealthy community in Fairfax County with strong ties to the Washington, D.C. professional establishment. Engage through Northern Virginia community foundations, Fairfax County nonprofit associations, and D.C.-area philanthropic events.

3. Growing Capacity: With assets growing substantially year over year, the foundation has increasing capacity. Its disciplined payout rate (5.0%) suggests room for larger grants as the endowment matures. Organizations may find the foundation more receptive as it becomes more established.

4. Send a Brief Letter of Inquiry: Mail to: Rabaut Family Foundation, 10604 Dogwood Farm Lane, Great Falls, VA 22066. Keep it to one page, including your organization's mission, a specific project description, requested amount, and evidence of impact. Include a one-page financial summary.

5. Focus on Established Causes: Without a clear public mission statement, the foundation's NTEE classification (T20) provides limited guidance on focus areas. Review the foundation's IRS 990-PF filings (available via ProPublica) to identify past grantees and infer priorities.

6. Be Patient: As a family foundation that appears to be in transition (growing endowment, website development), the Rabaut Family Foundation may be refining its philanthropic strategy. Building an early relationship before the foundation formalizes its process could be advantageous.