The Patterson Family Foundation makes a small number of relatively large, targeted grants that support higher-education research, civic reform/advanced voting initiatives, and local preservation/community organizations. They favor flexible, general operating support for organizations they back, and show an interest in civic engagement in San Francisco alongside philanthropic support for academic work at elite institutions.
Focus Areas
Higher-education research and faculty support (Harvard Business School case writing/research)Ranked-choice voting and civic reform / voter education in San FranciscoLocal historic preservation and community conservation (regional preservation foundations)Community development and organizational capacity-building via general/unrestricted operating support
Who They Fund
university faculty and academic researchersstudents and scholarship recipientslocal residents and emergency patients (Fishers Island)park visitors and conservation stakeholders
About Patterson Family Foundation
A $250,000 grant to Harvard Business School for faculty case writing and research is the largest recent award on file for Patterson Family Foundation, and it captures the way the funder uses targeted support. Their giving is small in count but broad in subject matter, with grants tied to higher-education research, civic reform, preservation, and selected community organizations. Several awards are unrestricted, including support for One Plympton Preservation Foundation Inc., Greenhouse E3, and The Common Good Institute Inc., which suggests flexibility alongside more program-specific grants.
The foundation also backs civic engagement work. In San Francisco, it funded Neighbors for a Better San Francisco for ranked-choice voting education in one year and general support in another, showing repeated interest in that organization’s work. Preservation and conservation are another visible thread: awards include support for Big Creek Reserve at Big Sur and for historic preservation through One Plympton Preservation Foundation Inc. Overall, the pattern is one of selective grants, often at $10,000 to $25,000, with a few much larger awards reserved for academic and place-based initiatives.
What Patterson Family Foundation Funds
Higher education is a clear theme. Patterson Family Foundation awarded $250,000 to Harvard Business School for the HBS Fund for Faculty, Case Writing and Research, and later gave $20,000 to Alder Graduate School of Education as unrestricted support.
Civic engagement appears in San Francisco grantmaking. The foundation gave $87,000 to Neighbors for a Better San Francisco for the RCV Education Project, and the same organization also received $67,000 the prior year for general and unrestricted support.
Preservation and conservation show up in place-based grants. One Plympton Preservation Foundation Inc. received $100,000 for general and unrestricted support, while the Regents of the University of California received $50,000 for Big Creek Reserve at Big Sur. Community-serving organizations also appear, including Lawrence and Memorial Hospital Inc. for emergency department renovation and expansion tied to the Fishers Island campaign.
How Patterson Family Foundation Gives
Typical award sizes cluster around a median of $10,000, with the 25th percentile at $3,000 and the 75th percentile at $15,000. The recent file also includes several larger outliers, including a $250,000 grant and multiple six-figure awards. Grants recur to some recipients across years, such as Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, Greenhouse E3, The Common Good Institute Inc., and Alder Graduate School of Education. Patterson Family Foundation is a regular funder and makes grants nationally. It funds individuals, and the recent records show a mix of general support, project support, capital, and event-related giving.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$493K
Total Assets
$596K
Total Revenue
$175K
Total Expenses
$535K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $3K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
Geographic Reach
National10 states funded
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Deep Analysis
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Concentrated giving: few (5) grants, each large relative to the portfolio, including repeat funding to at least one civic organization. Grants are often general/unrestricted and split between elite institutional research and place-based civic/preservation efforts.
Funding Style
general/unrestricted operating supportcapital campaign/capital projectsproject-specific/program supportscholarship and fellowship fundingfundraising/event-driven appeals
Notable grantees: Harvard Business School, Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, One Plympton Preservation Foundation, Greenhouse E3
Topics
higher education faculty research and case writingK–12 literacy and reading programsmedical facility renovation and emergency services infrastructureconservation and nature reserve maintenance (trail repair)museum support and stewardshipdocumentary film production
Where Patterson Family Foundation Makes Grants
The recipient footprint is entirely in the United States, with California as the top state by grant count. San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Cruz, and Big Sur each appear among recent recipient locations, alongside Boston, New London, Cambridge, and Washington, DC. California-centered grants include multiple awards in the San Francisco Bay Area and along the Central Coast, while other awards reach New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas, and DC. No grants in the recent file went to recipients in Delaware.
Frequently Asked Questions About Patterson Family Foundation
What kinds of organizations does Patterson Family Foundation support?
The recent grants point to higher education, civic reform, preservation, conservation, health care, and education. Named recipients include Harvard Business School, Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, One Plympton Preservation Foundation Inc., and Lawrence and Memorial Hospital Inc., showing support for both institutions and local community organizations.
What is the typical grant size?
The foundation’s typical awards are modest to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $3,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. The recent file also includes a $250,000 outlier and other larger grants, but most awards sit in that smaller band.
Does Patterson Family Foundation give to the same organizations more than once?
Yes. Neighbors for a Better San Francisco received $87,000 for the RCV Education Project and $67,000 the prior year for general and unrestricted support. Other repeat recipients in the recent file include Greenhouse E3, The Common Good Institute Inc., and Alder Graduate School of Education.
Where does Patterson Family Foundation give most often?
California is the top state by grant count in the recent data. Recipient cities there include San Francisco, Oakland, Redwood City, Santa Cruz, and Big Sur, indicating a strong concentration of awards in the state even though the foundation also gives nationally.
What kinds of support does the foundation use?
The recent grants include general and unrestricted support, project-specific funding, capital support, and event-related gifts. Examples in the file show unrestricted awards to One Plympton Preservation Foundation Inc. and Greenhouse E3, a capital campaign grant to Save the Bay, and an event-related gift to 42nd Street Moon.
Latest 990 Filing
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Patterson Family Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses in 2 days (Jun 29, 2026)
Open Call Grant: Entrepreneurship and Business Support
Economic opportunityEntrepreneurshipSmall business support+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public school district, government entity, or sponsored by an organization meeting those classifications. Eligible applicants must be located in or directly serving a county or community within the Foundation's Kansas or western Missouri catchment area. Projects should have secured at least 25% of the total project budget and include clear evaluation and sustainability plans.
Deadline: Round 1: LOI due 2026-02-18; full application due 2026-04-03. Round 2: LOI due 2026-05-13; full application due 2026-06-29. Deadlines close at 12:00 PM (noon) CST.
Economic opportunityWorkforce developmentCareer readiness+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public school district, government entity, or sponsored by an organization meeting those classifications. Eligible applicants must be located in or directly serving a county or community within the Foundation's Kansas or western Missouri catchment area. Projects should have secured at least 25% of the total project budget and include clear evaluation and sustainability plans.
Deadline: Round 1: LOI due 2026-02-18; full application due 2026-04-03. Round 2: LOI due 2026-05-13; full application due 2026-06-29. Deadlines close at 12:00 PM (noon) CST.
Open Call Grant: Innovation in Economic Opportunity
Economic opportunityInnovationRural prosperity+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public school district, government entity, or sponsored by an organization meeting those classifications. Eligible applicants must be located in or directly serving a county or community within the Foundation's Kansas or western Missouri catchment area. Projects should have secured at least 25% of the total project budget and include clear evaluation and sustainability plans.
Deadline: Round 1: LOI due 2026-02-18; full application due 2026-04-03. Round 2: LOI due 2026-05-13; full application due 2026-06-29. Deadlines close at 12:00 PM (noon) CST.
Open Call Grant: Healthcare Workforce Opportunities
Healthcare workforceEducation and trainingRecruitment+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public school district, government entity, or sponsored by an organization meeting those classifications. Eligible applicants must be located in or directly serving a county or community within the Foundation's Kansas or western Missouri catchment area. Projects should have secured at least 25% of the total project budget and include clear evaluation and sustainability plans.
Deadline: Round 1: LOI due 2026-02-18; full application due 2026-04-03. Round 2: LOI due 2026-05-13; full application due 2026-06-29. Deadlines close at 12:00 PM (noon) CST.
Who can apply: Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public school district, government entity, or sponsored by an organization meeting those classifications. Eligible applicants must be located in or directly serving a county or community within the Foundation's Kansas or western Missouri catchment area. Projects should have secured at least 25% of the total project budget and include clear evaluation and sustainability plans.
Deadline: Round 1: LOI due 2026-02-18; full application due 2026-04-03. Round 2: LOI due 2026-05-13; full application due 2026-06-29. Deadlines close at 12:00 PM (noon) CST.
Open Call Grant: Chronic Disease Prevention, Screening, and Education
Health preventionScreeningHealth education+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public school district, government entity, or sponsored by an organization meeting those classifications. Eligible applicants must be located in or directly serving a county or community within the Foundation's Kansas or western Missouri catchment area. Projects should have secured at least 25% of the total project budget and include clear evaluation and sustainability plans.
Deadline: Round 1: LOI due 2026-02-18; full application due 2026-04-03. Round 2: LOI due 2026-05-13; full application due 2026-06-29. Deadlines close at 12:00 PM (noon) CST.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving rural communities in Kansas and western Missouri. Priority given to projects with at least 25% of the budget secured and with clear evaluation and sustainability plans. Event sponsorships are not eligible.
Deadline: Round 1: LOI due 2026-02-18; full application due 2026-04-03. Round 2: LOI due 2026-05-13; full application due 2026-06-29. Deadlines close at 12:00 PM (noon) CST.
Patterson Foundation — General Grantmaking (oral health & animal health)
Oral healthAnimal healthDental services+3 more
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) public charities located in Patterson Companies' service areas (U.S. and Canada; U.K. eligible for oral health). Single-year grants only.
Deadline: LOI accepted anytime (rolling). Full application deadlines tied to board meetings (April, June, October, December); full application due 60–90 days before each meeting.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.