Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: Variable (recent major grants: $3M to USC, $1.5M to Rutgers)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: Variable, with major grants of $1.5M - $3M for endowed chairs
- Geographic Focus: National (primarily medical research institutions)
Contact Details
Address: PO Box 1532, Pennington, NJ 08534-0691
Phone: 818-592-2000
EIN: 33-0816951
Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or provide contact information for grant inquiries.
Overview
The Norman And Mary Pattiz Foundation was established in 1998 as a private grantmaking foundation by Norman and Mary Pattiz. Norman Pattiz (1943-2022) was the founder of Westwood One, America's largest radio network, while Mary Turner Pattiz (1947-2023) was a pioneering rock radio disc jockey known as "The Burner, Mary Turner" during her decade-long run at KMET Los Angeles (1972-82). Following her radio career, Mary earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from UCLA and became a certified drug and alcohol counselor, chairing the board of the Betty Ford Center. The foundation has total assets of approximately $19.2 million (2024) and continues their philanthropic legacy following both founders' deaths, with a handpicked board carrying forward their mission to support education, science, communications, health, substance use disorder initiatives, and animal welfare.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The foundation makes major institutional grants, particularly for:
- Endowed Research Chairs: $1.5M - $3M for establishing permanent research positions at major universities
- Medical Research Programs: Focus on cancer research, Alzheimer's disease, and ovarian cancer
- Education: Support for music and arts education programs
Priority Areas
Health and Medical Research
- Cancer research, particularly ovarian cancer (inspired by Mary Pattiz's battle with the disease)
- CAR T-cell therapies and cellular immunotherapy
- Alzheimer's disease research and physician-scientist training programs
- Substance use disorder initiatives
Education
- Music and performing arts programs
- Science and communications education
Animal Welfare
- Support for animal charities (shared passion of Norman and Mary Pattiz)
Recent Major Grants
- USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center: $3 million to establish the Norman and Mary Pattiz Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, held by Dr. Saul Priceman, focusing on CAR T-cell therapies for ovarian cancer
- Rutgers Krieger Klein Alzheimer's Research Center: $1.5 million to establish a physician-scientist research program for early disease detection and drug development
- Hamilton High School Academy of Music: Long-term support as primary benefactor, with the Norman J. Pattiz Concert Hall dedicated in 1989
Governance and Leadership
Following Norman Pattiz's death in 2022, he handpicked the foundation's board members to carry on his philanthropic work:
Board Members:
- Larry Freeman - Trustee and board spokesperson
- Paul Krasnow - Close friend who gave Pattiz his first job at age 18
- Jeff Hershberg - Met Pattiz through international radio connections
- Karen Kerrigan - Pattiz's former business manager, serving as Trustee
From Foundation Leadership:
"Our charter obviously is to fund worthwhile causes," said Larry Freeman, Foundation Board Member, when discussing the USC cancer research grant.
The board consists of individuals with deep personal connections to Norman Pattiz, selected specifically to understand and continue his philanthropic vision.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates as a private family foundation with grants awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees. Recent major grants have been directed toward institutions with which the Pattiz family had existing relationships, particularly in areas aligned with their personal experiences and passions.
Grants appear to be initiated by the foundation's trustees rather than through responses to external proposals. The USC cancer research grant was inspired by Mary Pattiz's death from ovarian cancer in 2023, while the support for Hamilton High School stems from Norman Pattiz's status as an alumnus.
Decision Timeline
Not applicable - no public application process exists.
Success Rates
Not applicable - no public application process exists.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - no public application process exists.
Application Success Factors
Since this foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than open applications, insights into their grantmaking patterns include:
Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: Major grants have gone to institutions with connections to the Pattiz family - Norman's alma mater (Hamilton High School) and medical institutions addressing diseases that affected the family (ovarian cancer, Alzheimer's).
Mission Alignment: The foundation's grantmaking reflects the founders' specific passions:
- Norman's interests: education, science, communications
- Mary's interests: health, substance use disorders (she chaired the Betty Ford Center)
- Shared interests: animal welfare
Institutional Impact: Recent major grants establish endowed positions and programs, suggesting the foundation prefers creating lasting institutional capacity rather than funding short-term projects.
Medical Research Focus: Post-2022, the foundation has concentrated on medical research, particularly in areas that affected the Pattiz family personally - cancer (specifically ovarian cancer) and neurodegenerative diseases.
Quote from Foundation Board: "Our charter obviously is to fund worthwhile causes" - Larry Freeman's statement suggests a broad mission with trustee discretion to identify worthy recipients.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No public application process exists - this foundation operates exclusively through trustee-initiated grants
- Relationship-based grantmaking - recent grants reflect personal connections and family experiences
- Major institutional gifts - recent grants range from $1.5M to $3M for endowed positions
- Medical research priority - particularly cancer and Alzheimer's research following the founders' deaths
- Legacy-driven mission - board members were personally selected by Norman Pattiz to continue his philanthropic vision
- Long-term institutional support - preference for creating endowed positions and permanent programs rather than annual operating support
- Personal experience influences priorities - Mary's death from ovarian cancer directly inspired the USC cancer research grant
References
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The@Norman And Mary Pattiz Foundation profile (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/330816951) - Accessed January 2026
- USC Keck School of Medicine, "Innovative Donors Fuel Innovative Research" (https://keck.usc.edu/news/innovative-donors-fuel-innovative-research/) - Accessed January 2026
- ROI-NJ, "Rutgers Alzheimer's Research Center receives $1.5M to launch physician-scientist program" (January 7, 2026) (https://www.roi-nj.com/2026/01/07/healthcare/rutgers-alzheimers-research-center-receives-1-5m-to-launch-physician-scientist-program/)
- TALKERS magazine, "Rock Radio Legend Mary Turner Has Died" (May 11, 2023) (https://talkers.com/2023/05/11/facebook-postings-rock-radio-legend-mary-turner-has-died/)
- Deadline, "Norm Pattiz Dies: Westwood One Founder and Radio Hall of Famer Was 79" (December 2022) (https://deadline.com/2022/12/norm-pattiz-dead-westwood-one-founder-radio-hall-of-famer-was-79-1235196084/)
- Hamilton High Academy of Music & Performing Arts, "Our Story" (https://www.hamiltonmusic.org/about/our-story/) - Accessed January 2026
- Living New Deal, "Norman J. Pattiz Concert Hall - Los Angeles CA" (https://livingnewdeal.org/sites/norman-j-pattiz-concert-hall-los-angeles-ca/) - Accessed January 2026
- U.S. Agency for Global Media, "Norman J. Pattiz" biography (https://www.usagm.gov/who-we-are/board/norman-j-pattiz/) - Accessed January 2026