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David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.3M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.2M

David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,309,063 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $136.8 million (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 61 awards annually
  • Geographic Focus: National (U.S.)
  • Foundation Type: Private family foundation
  • Application Process: No public application process - preselected organizations only

Contact Details

Address: 259 Nassau Street, Suite 429, Princeton, NJ 08542-4609

EIN: 22-3753685

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

Overview

The David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation was established in 2000 as a private family foundation based in Princeton, New Jersey. With total assets of $136.8 million as of 2023, the foundation distributed $7.3 million in grants during 2024 through 61 separate awards. Founded by David R. Atkinson '60, a Cornell University alumnus and retired general partner of the Philadelphia-area money management firm Miller, Anderson & Sherrerd, and his wife Patricia, the foundation reflects the couple's deep commitment to environmental sustainability, health and human services, investigative journalism, and animal welfare. The Atkinsons are known for major philanthropic initiatives beyond their foundation, including an $80 million gift to Cornell University in 2010 to endow the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability (the largest individual gift to Cornell at that time) and a $25 million pledge to Princeton Medical Center (the largest gift ever to a New Jersey hospital). The foundation has shown consistent growth, with net assets increasing from $22.4 million in 2011 to $111.5 million in 2023.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than formal grant programs. Based on 2023 grant data, typical award ranges include:

  • Major grants: $50,000 - $175,000 (environmental organizations, investigative journalism)
  • Mid-level grants: $20,000 - $60,000 (conservation, animal welfare, research institutions)
  • Standard grants: $10,000 - $30,000 (service organizations, human services)

The foundation makes approximately 61 grants annually, distributed through trustee selection rather than an open application process.

Priority Areas

Environmental Conservation and Climate: The foundation demonstrates strong commitment to environmental causes, supporting organizations focused on climate change, sustainability, and conservation. Recent recipients include:

  • Environmental Defense Fund ($175,000 in 2023)
  • Climate Central ($100,000 in 2023)
  • Rocky Mountain Institute ($60,000 in 2023)
  • The Nature Conservancy ($30,000 in 2023)

Investigative Journalism and Scientific Research: Support for organizations advancing public knowledge and scientific understanding:

  • ProPublica ($100,000 in 2023)
  • Center for Investigative Reporting ($60,000 in 2023)
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science ($40,000 in 2023)

Health and Human Services: Funding for health associations, services for people with disabilities, and children and youth services. Particular emphasis on services for people who are blind or have other disabilities.

Animal Welfare and Service Animals: Support for organizations providing service animals and animal welfare:

  • Canine Partners for Life ($25,000 in 2023) - professionally trained service dogs for people with disabilities
  • Dogs For Better Lives ($20,000 in 2023) - hearing assistance dogs for people who are hard-of-hearing and children with autism
  • Animal Placement Agency of the Windsors, Inc. ($25,000 in 2023)

Prison Education and Social Services: The foundation supports organizations like STRIVE ($50,000 in 2023), which provides services in these areas.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's IRS filings indicate they do not accept unsolicited requests and work only with preselected organizations. The foundation's giving pattern suggests a focus on established national and regional organizations rather than local grassroots groups or startups.

Governance and Leadership

David R. Atkinson '60: Founder and Trustee. A Cornell University graduate from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, David is the son of a New Jersey poultry farmer. He retired in 1992 as a general partner of Miller, Anderson & Sherrerd, a money management firm based in suburban Philadelphia, and now works as a private investor maintaining an office in the Princeton area. David serves on the Cornell Atkinson Advisory Council, where he works to position the center "as an unbiased scientific information source for global audiences, a catalyst for collaborative research, and a partner with entrepreneurs, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and governments." Cornell University elected him a presidential councillor, the highest honor the university can bestow. His agricultural background and sustainability interests inform much of the foundation's environmental focus.

Patricia Atkinson: Co-founder and Trustee. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Patricia has extensive volunteer experience in the Princeton community. She served as membership chair and treasurer for the Princeton Hospital Auxiliary (now Princeton Hospital Authority) and volunteered for the Princeton Meals on Wheels program for more than 20 years. Her healthcare and community service background influences the foundation's support for health services and services for vulnerable populations.

The foundation operates as a private family foundation with four trustees, including David R. Atkinson.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filing explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, meaning the foundation's leadership proactively identifies and selects organizations for funding based on alignment with their philanthropic interests. Organizations cannot submit applications or proposals for consideration.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation operates on a trustee-discretion model rather than an application cycle. Grants appear to be made throughout the year based on trustee decisions.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications. The foundation makes approximately 61 grants annually to preselected organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no application process for organizations to initiate.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, analyzing their giving patterns reveals what the trustees value:

Strong National Reputation and Track Record: Grant recipients are predominantly well-established national organizations with proven impact records. Organizations like ProPublica, Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science demonstrate credibility through years of documented results.

Alignment with Founders' Personal Values and Experience: The foundation's giving reflects David and Patricia Atkinson's backgrounds and interests:

  • David's agricultural background and Cornell education drive support for sustainability and environmental causes
  • Patricia's healthcare volunteer work aligns with support for health services and disability services
  • Their Princeton community ties influence some local giving
  • David's role on the Cornell Atkinson Advisory Council demonstrates commitment to "unbiased scientific information" - reflected in support for investigative journalism and scientific research organizations

Focus on Climate and Sustainability: Given the Atkinsons' $80 million gift to establish the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, organizations working on climate change, environmental conservation, and sustainable development align closely with the founders' demonstrated priorities.

Evidence-Based, Non-Partisan Approaches: The foundation supports organizations that provide "unbiased scientific information" and investigative journalism - suggesting they value fact-based, non-partisan approaches to social problems.

Service to Vulnerable Populations: Support for organizations serving people with disabilities (particularly those providing service animals), children and youth services, and services for people who are blind demonstrates consistent commitment to vulnerable groups.

Innovation in Established Fields: Recipients like Climate Central and Rocky Mountain Institute suggest interest in organizations that bring innovative approaches to established problems, rather than maintaining status quo solutions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Available: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or applications. Organizations cannot proactively seek funding through a formal process.

  • Trustee-Driven Grantmaking: Funding decisions are made through trustee discretion based on the founders' interests in environmental sustainability, investigative journalism, scientific research, health services, and animal welfare.

  • Established Organizations Preferred: Grant recipients are predominantly well-known national organizations with proven track records rather than emerging or grassroots groups.

  • Sustainability and Climate Are Core Priorities: The Atkinsons' $80 million gift to Cornell for sustainability work and consistent support for environmental organizations demonstrate this as a top priority.

  • Multi-Year Patterns Suggest Ongoing Relationships: With approximately 61 grants made annually and consistent giving patterns, the foundation appears to maintain ongoing relationships with selected organizations rather than constantly seeking new grantees.

  • Geographic Connection to Princeton: While most giving is national, the foundation maintains ties to Princeton-area organizations, reflecting the founders' community connections.

  • Consider Indirect Pathways: Organizations seeking to connect with this foundation should focus on building reputation in their field, cultivating relationships within the Princeton community or Cornell University networks, and demonstrating excellence in areas aligned with the foundation's priorities rather than seeking direct contact.

References

Information accessed December 2024

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