The William H. Pitt Foundation concentrates philanthropic support in Palm Beach County, with large general‑support grants to local cultural institutions, informal science and education providers, and youth services. Their giving emphasizes historic preservation, public science education, and K–12 learning initiatives, often funding operating needs rather than tightly restricted projects. The foundation favors established local organizations that serve community enrichment and youth development.
A $505,000 general grant to the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach sits at the top of The William H Pitt Foundation Inc.’s recent record, and it points to a pattern of large, unrestricted support for institutions that shape community life in Palm Beach County. The foundation’s giving reaches across cultural heritage, informal science education, youth services, and K-12 learning, with grants that often help organizations cover core operating needs rather than a single project. Several recipients appear in more than one year, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach received support in both 2023 and 2024, as did the YMCA of the Palm Beaches, Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach County, Glades Academy Foundation Inc, Sacred Heart University, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, New Britain Museum of American Art, Center for Creative Education, Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, and William Pitt Child Development Center. The grant list also shows support for museums, a science center and aquarium, arts education, and youth-serving organizations. Taken together, the pattern is one of concentrated, place-oriented philanthropy with a mix of local Palm Beach organizations and selected institutions elsewhere in the United States.
Historic preservation and cultural heritage are a visible part of the foundation’s giving. In 2024, it awarded $505,000 to the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach for general support, following a $275,000 grant in 2023. Informal science education is another clear theme. Cox Science Center and Aquarium received $500,000 in 2024 for general support, indicating sustained backing for public science programming. The foundation also funds youth recreation and student enrichment. It gave $300,000 to YMCA of the Palm Beaches in 2023 and $115,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach County in 2024, both general grants. In arts education, Center for Creative Education received $254,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2023. K-12 support appears through school and charter-related grants such as $280,000 to Achievement First in 2024 and $60,000 to Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in 2024.
Typical grants cluster around $10,000 at the 25th percentile, a $25,000 median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, even though the recent list also includes several much larger awards. The pattern is concentrated rather than broad: the same organizations often appear in multiple years, including the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach County, and Sacred Heart University. Most awards are listed as general support, which points to flexible operating funding. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$3.1M
$58.7M
$4.6M
$4.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
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A small number of large, concentrated general‑support grants to local institutions; repeat funding to select core grantees rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, Cox Science Center and Aquarium, YMCA of the Palm Beaches, Achievement First, Center for Creative Education
Grantmaking is national, but it is heavily weighted toward Florida recipients: 52% of grants go to organizations in the HQ state. Palm Beach County anchors much of the activity, with recipients in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach appearing repeatedly, along with Miami. The list also reaches into Connecticut, including New Haven, Fairfield, Stamford, New Britain, Winsted, and Simsbury, and into New York City, showing a selective multistate footprint rather than broad dispersion.
The recent grants point to support for historic preservation and cultural heritage groups, informal science education venues, youth recreation and services, K-12 education organizations, and creative arts education. Examples in the grant list include museums, a science center and aquarium, YMCA and Boys & Girls Club affiliates, schools, and preservation organizations.
The recent grants are overwhelmingly listed as general support. That includes large awards to organizations such as the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, Cox Science Center and Aquarium, YMCA of the Palm Beaches, and Center for Creative Education, indicating a preference for flexible funding rather than tightly restricted project grants.
Yes. Multiple organizations appear across 2023 and 2024, including the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, YMCA of the Palm Beaches, Boys & Girls Club of Palm Beach County, Glades Academy Foundation Inc, Sacred Heart University, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, New Britain Museum of American Art, Center for Creative Education, Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, and William Pitt Child Development Center.
The foundation gives nationally, but Florida is the main state of support, with 52% of grants going to recipients there. Palm Beach and West Palm Beach show up repeatedly, and the list also includes recipients in Miami, plus organizations in Connecticut and New York.
The grant-size distribution centers on $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include both smaller grants in that range and much larger general-support gifts such as $505,000 and $500,000.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COX SCIENCE CENTER AND AQUARIUM | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $540,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| COX SCIENCE CENTER AND AQUARIUM | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $500,000 | 2026 | PC |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PALM BEACH COUNTY | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $420,000 | 2026 | PC |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PALM BEACH COUNTY | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $405,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR CREATIVE EDUCATION | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $327,800 | 2026 | PC |
| PRESERVATION FOUNDATION OF PALM BEACH | PALM BEACH, FL | $300,000 | 2026 | PC |
| ACHIEVEMENT FIRST | NEW HAVEN, CT | $280,000 | 2026 | PC |
| ACHIEVEMENT FIRST | NEW HAVEN, CT | $280,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR CREATIVE EDUCATION | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $274,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PRESERVATION FOUNDATION OF PALM BEACH | PALM BEACH, FL | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LET GROW INC | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2026 | PC |
| THE PEGGY ADAMS ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $145,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| GLADES ACADEMY FOUNDATION INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $125,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY | FAIRFIELD, CT | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY | FAIRFIELD, CT | $100,000 | 2026 | PC |
| WILLIAM PITT CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER | STAMFORD, CT | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LET GROW INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE PEGGY ADAMS ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $87,500 | 2026 | PC |
| GLADES ACADEMY FOUNDATION INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $75,000 | 2026 | PC |
| WILLIAM PITT CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER | STAMFORD, CT | $70,000 | 2026 | PC |
| BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL | MIAMI, FL | $60,000 | 2026 | PC |
| BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL | MIAMI, FL | $60,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF STAMFORD | STAMFORD, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | PC |
| NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW BRITAIN, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | PC |
| GARDEN CLUB OF PALM BEACH | PALM BEACH, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | PC |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF STAMFORD | STAMFORD, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | PC |
| NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW BRITAIN, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PALM BEACH ZOO | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $33,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PALM BEACH ISLAND HOSPICE FOUNDATION | PALM BEACH, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NEW HOPE CHARITIES INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $30,000 | 2026 | PC |
| NEW HOPE CHARITIES INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | PC |
| WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY | WINSTON SALEM, NC | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CITYMEALS ON WHEELS | NEW YORK, NY | $26,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PALM BEACH ZOO | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2026 | PC |
| STONINGTON COMMUNITY CENTER INC | STONINGTON, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN MURAL PROJECT INC | WINSTED, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PALM BEACH ISLAND HOSPICE FOUNDATION | PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2026 | PC |
| NEWPORT RESTORATION FOUNDATION | NEWPORT, RI | $25,000 | 2026 | PC |
| SRBA HISTORIC BUILDING & ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION FOUNDATION | NEWPORT, RI | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN MURAL PROJECT INC | WINSTED, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | PC |
| STONINGTON COMMUNITY CENTER INC | STONINGTON, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | PC |
| EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $21,800 | 2026 | PC |
| CHRIST SCHOOL | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $16,800 | 2026 | PC |
| CARD SERVICES CENTER | ATLANTA, GA | $16,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PALM BEACH COUNTY
$420,000PC
LET GROW INC
$150,000PC
THE PEGGY ADAMS ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE
$145,000GENERAL
WILLIAM PITT CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
$100,000GENERAL
LET GROW INC
$100,000GENERAL
THE PEGGY ADAMS ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE
$87,500PC
WILLIAM PITT CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
$70,000PC
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$60,000PC
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$60,000GENERAL
GARDEN CLUB OF PALM BEACH
$50,000PC
EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL
$35,000GENERAL
PALM BEACH ISLAND HOSPICE FOUNDATION
$30,000GENERAL
NEW HOPE CHARITIES INC
$30,000GENERAL
NEW HOPE CHARITIES INC
$30,000PC
WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
$30,000GENERAL
PALM BEACH ZOO
$25,000PC
STONINGTON COMMUNITY CENTER INC
$25,000GENERAL
AMERICAN MURAL PROJECT INC
$25,000GENERAL
PALM BEACH ISLAND HOSPICE FOUNDATION
$25,000PC
NEWPORT RESTORATION FOUNDATION
$25,000PC
SRBA HISTORIC BUILDING & ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL
AMERICAN MURAL PROJECT INC
$25,000PC
STONINGTON COMMUNITY CENTER INC
$25,000PC
EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL
$21,800PC
CHRIST SCHOOL
$16,800PC
CARD SERVICES CENTER
$16,000GENERAL