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The Pruitt Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$1.9M

The Pruitt Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,937,632 (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: ~$47,000
  • Number of Grants: 41 awards (2023), 49 awards (2022)
  • Foundation Type: Private Independent Foundation
  • Geographic Focus: National (with emphasis on Virginia and veteran-serving organizations)
  • Founded: 2004

Contact Details

Address: 14900 Bogle Dr Ste 204, Chantilly, VA 20151-1757

Phone: 703-631-2217

Website: https://pruittfoundation.org

EIN: 20-1151002

Overview

The Pruitt Foundation Inc was established in 2004 by Cecil Pruitt, Jr., a successful Northern Virginia real estate developer who founded the Pruitt Corporation and was the first industrial developer to break ground in Chantilly, Virginia. As a private independent foundation, The Pruitt Foundation supports charitable, educational, and religious purposes by providing grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. The foundation's roots were cemented in helping disadvantaged children reach their full potential, initially joining forces with the Youth for Tomorrow organization. Over the past two decades, the foundation has expanded its charitable reach to include medical assistance, veteran support, educational scholarships, animal welfare, and community services. Cecil Pruitt Jr. has maintained a philosophy of sharing his resources with those less fortunate, as evidenced by his 40-year relationship with institutions like Shenandoah University and diverse grant-making portfolio.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Pruitt Foundation operates as a private foundation with trustee-discretionary grant-making. In 2023, the foundation distributed $1,937,632 across 41 grants, with an average grant size of approximately $47,000. The foundation does not appear to have formally structured grant programs with specific application cycles or predetermined funding tiers.

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant recipients, the foundation actively supports organizations in these categories:

Youth Development & Education

  • Youth organizations serving disadvantaged children
  • Educational scholarships and endowments
  • School athletic programs

Military Veterans & Families

  • Organizations supporting wounded warriors and disabled veterans
  • Programs providing services to military families
  • Veteran transition and support services

Health & Medical

  • Disease-specific foundations (cystic fibrosis, leukemia & lymphoma, cancer support)
  • Medical bill assistance programs
  • Community health services

Animal Welfare & Conservation

  • Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centers
  • Animal sanctuaries
  • Marine conservation laboratories

Community Services

  • Domestic violence prevention
  • Assistance programs for low-income families
  • Faith-based community centers
  • Food assistance programs

Examples of 2022 Grant Recipients: Air Warrior Courage Foundation, Blessed Angels Community Center, Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, Boy Scouts of America, Broad Run High School Athletic Booster Club, Central Virginia Horse Rescue, Congregational Community Action Project (CCAP), Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, Family Violence Prevention Services Inc., German-Texan Heritage Society, HealthWell Foundation, Leary Educational Foundation Inc., Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, The Mote Marine Laboratory, Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA), Mychal's Learning Place, Randolph Area Christian Assistance Program Inc. (RACAP), Serendipity Sanctuary Inc., Soldier's Angels, SOS Children's Village of Florida Inc., Southeastern Guide Dogs Inc., St. Mary's Health Wagon Inc., The Florida Center for Early Childhood Inc., The Laurel Center Intervention for Domestic & Sexual Violence, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, United Mashadi Jewish Community of America Inc., Vehicles for Change, Warren County Community Health Coalition Inc., Wounded Warrior Project, and Youth for Tomorrow New Life Center Inc. (30 organizations total)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, the foundation's grant history suggests a focus on 501(c)(3) charitable organizations rather than individuals, political organizations, or for-profit entities.

Governance and Leadership

Founder: Cecil Pruitt, Jr. - Real estate developer and founder of the Pruitt Corporation, which owns and manages more than 10 million square feet of commercial real estate in Northern Virginia. Pruitt has served on the Shenandoah University Board of Trustees since 2018.

Specific board composition and other trustees are not publicly disclosed in available records. As a private foundation, governance decisions appear to be controlled by the founder and his designees.

Philosophy on Giving: According to Shenandoah University President Tracy Fitzsimmons, who has worked with Pruitt for decades: "He's incredibly generous and has never forgotten how there are so many people who haven't had the good fortune to have his resources, and he believes he should share them." She further noted: "To me, that's the definition of success – whatever your gifts are, whatever your abundance is, that you're going to share it with others. And that's something that Mr. Pruitt has done in spades."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Pruitt Foundation operates as a private foundation with trustee-discretionary grant-making, meaning grants are awarded based on the founder's and trustees' decisions rather than through an open application process. Organizations do not submit applications through a formal portal or in response to published guidelines.

Grants appear to be awarded through:

  • Direct relationships with the founder and trustees
  • Recognition of organizations through board members' community involvement
  • Awareness of organizations through the founder's philanthropic networks
  • Invitations from foundation leadership

Application Success Factors

Since The Pruitt Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on the foundation's grant-making patterns, the following insights may be valuable:

Alignment with Founder's Values

  • Organizations serving disadvantaged populations, particularly children and youth
  • Programs supporting military veterans and their families
  • Community-based services addressing fundamental needs (health, shelter, education)

Geographic and Personal Connections

  • Strong representation of Virginia-based organizations and causes
  • Organizations connected to areas where the founder has business or personal ties
  • Educational institutions with which the founder has long-standing relationships (e.g., Shenandoah University - 40-year relationship)

Diverse Mission Areas

  • The foundation supports a wide variety of causes rather than focusing narrowly on one sector
  • 2022 grants spanned 30 different organizations across multiple mission areas
  • Breadth suggests openness to various types of charitable work

Established Organizations

  • Grant recipients include well-known national organizations (Wounded Warrior Project, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) as well as local/regional nonprofits
  • Mix of large and small organizations suggests both impact and community connection matter

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications; grants are awarded at trustee discretion based on relationships and awareness
  • Diverse Portfolio: With 41 grants in 2023 across varied sectors, the foundation demonstrates broad philanthropic interests rather than narrow focus
  • Consistent Giving: The foundation has demonstrated steady grant-making since 2004, with annual distributions approaching $2 million
  • Average Grant Size: At approximately $47,000 per grant, this foundation makes meaningful mid-sized investments in organizations
  • Veteran Support Priority: Multiple grants to military and veteran-serving organizations indicate this is a sustained priority area
  • Community Connection: Many grants support Virginia-based organizations and local community services, reflecting the founder's regional roots
  • Relationship-Based: Success appears tied to personal connections with the founder, his business networks, or trustee relationships rather than competitive application processes

References

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