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The William H Pitt III Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$2.7M
Grant Range
$60K - $0.5M

The William H Pitt III Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,740,000 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $49 million
  • Number of Grants: 45 grants (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: $60,889
  • Geographic Focus: Multi-state (CT, FL, NY, PA and other U.S. cities)
  • Application Process: No unsolicited applications accepted
  • EIN: 22-2570737

Contact Details

Address: 505 S Flagler Dr, Suite 1100, West Palm Beach, FL 33401-5950

Foundation Status: Private Grantmaking Foundation (NTEE code T20)

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The William H Pitt III Foundation Inc was established in 1984 (incorporated) and became tax-exempt in March 1986. Founded by William H. Pitt, a real estate magnate from Greenwich, CT and Palm Beach, FL, the foundation was created in honor of his son to benefit deserving youth, primarily through education. William H. Pitt (1926-2000) established William Pitt Real Estate Co. in Stamford, Connecticut in 1949 and assisted major companies in relocating to Fairfield County during the 1970s. With total assets of approximately $49 million and annual revenue of $6.7 million (2023), the foundation focuses on education and youth development for economically disadvantaged groups across various U.S. cities. The foundation maintains a consistent grantmaking program, awarding 45 grants totaling $2.7 million in 2023, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to educational access and youth services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a traditional private foundation making direct grants to nonprofit organizations. Grant amounts vary significantly based on the nature and scope of the project:

  • Major Multi-Year Commitments: $280,000 - $505,000 (examples: Cox Science Center and Aquarium $500,000; Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach $505,000; Achievement First $280,000)
  • Educational Scholarships: $100,000 - $420,000 (examples: Sacred Heart University $100,000; Belen Jesuit seven-year commitment totaling $420,000)
  • Average Grant: $60,889
  • Total Annual Grantmaking: Approximately $2.7 - $2.8 million

The foundation made 45 grants in 2023, 34 grants in 2022, and 46 grants in 2021, showing relatively consistent annual activity.

Priority Areas

Primary Focus Areas:

  • Elementary and secondary education
  • Higher education institutions
  • Youth development programs
  • Boys & Girls Clubs
  • Educational access for economically disadvantaged students
  • Human services related to children and youth

Geographic Focus:

  • Connecticut (founder's home state)
  • Florida (current headquarters location)
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Philadelphia
  • Miami
  • Other major U.S. cities

Target Beneficiaries:

  • Economically disadvantaged youth
  • Students requiring scholarship support
  • Organizations serving low-income communities
  • Educational institutions promoting diversity and access

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation has not published explicit exclusions, their pattern of grantmaking suggests they focus exclusively on education and youth development. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, which inherently limits funding opportunities.

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Pauline B. Pitt - President

  • Compensation: $319,082 (2023)
  • Hours per week: 30
  • Role: Pauline Pitt is the widow of founder William H. Pitt and leads the foundation's grantmaking activities. She also serves as Chairman Emeritus on the Board of Trustees of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, indicating her deep ties to the Palm Beach philanthropic community.

Other Officers and Directors (2023):

  • Jacquelin Breckenridge - Administrator
  • Larry Alexander - Secretary
  • Kate Gubelmann - Director
  • Charles Mallory - Director
  • Dr. Samantha Boardman - Director

According to a representative quoted in connection with the Belen Jesuit scholarship: "Bill was devoted to Christian education and reaching out to the less fortunate." This statement reflects the founder's values that continue to guide the foundation's mission.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The William H Pitt III Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Organizations cannot apply to this foundation through any formal application process. All grants are made at the discretion of the foundation's board to organizations they have selected.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors appear relevant based on their grantmaking patterns:

Geographic Connections: Organizations located in or serving communities in Connecticut (particularly Fairfield County/Stamford area where the founder built his business) and Florida (particularly Palm Beach County where the foundation is headquartered) appear to receive funding consideration.

Board Member Affiliations: President Pauline B. Pitt's role as Chairman Emeritus of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach suggests that organizations with which board members have existing relationships may receive funding consideration. The foundation's grantmaking appears influenced by the personal knowledge and connections of its leadership.

Mission Alignment: Organizations focused on educational access and youth development for economically disadvantaged populations, particularly those that align with Christian values and education, appear to align with the founder's stated commitment to "Christian education and reaching out to the less fortunate."

Multi-Year Relationships: Several grants (such as the seven-year commitment to Belen Jesuit) suggest the foundation values sustained partnerships with organizations rather than one-time grants.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. As a private foundation making grants to preselected organizations, the foundation does not operate on a published grant cycle or deadline schedule.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications from the general public.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept initial applications or reapplications from organizations they have not preselected.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share certain characteristics:

Established Educational Institutions: Grant recipients include well-known educational institutions such as Sacred Heart University, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, and Achievement First charter schools, suggesting the foundation favors established organizations with proven track records.

Focus on Diversity and Access: The seven-year commitment to Belen Jesuit specifically supported the St. Peter Claver, S.J. Scholarship, which was established to ensure the school population is more reflective of the community and to increase diversity in terms of socioeconomic status and race. This demonstrates the foundation's interest in projects that expand educational access to underrepresented populations.

Comprehensive Support: The Belen Jesuit grants included not just tuition but also books and school fees, showing the foundation's understanding that true educational access requires addressing all financial barriers.

Geographic Ties: Organizations in Connecticut (where the founder built his business empire) and Florida (where the foundation is headquartered and where the Pitt family resided) appear to receive priority consideration.

Alignment with Founder's Values: The foundation's representative noted the founder "was devoted to Christian education and reaching out to the less fortunate," suggesting organizations that embody these dual commitments may be favored.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant application methods - they fund only preselected organizations
  • Invitation-Only Grantmaking: All funding decisions are made proactively by the foundation's board based on their own research and relationships
  • Focus on Education and Youth: The foundation maintains a clear commitment to educational access and youth development, particularly for economically disadvantaged populations
  • Significant Grant Capacity: With an average grant of nearly $61,000 and some grants exceeding $500,000, this foundation makes substantial investments when they choose to fund an organization
  • Multi-Year Commitments: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make long-term funding commitments (e.g., seven-year scholarship program)
  • Geographic Concentration: Connecticut and Florida organizations, particularly those in areas with Pitt family connections, appear to receive priority consideration
  • Relationship-Driven: Board members' personal knowledge of and connections to organizations appear to drive funding decisions
  • Diversity and Access Values: Projects that increase educational access for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged populations align with stated foundation values

References

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