Pulte Family Charitable Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6,631,182 (2022)
• Total Assets: $542.8 million (2024)
• Grant Range: $2,000 - $50,000 (typical); major grants up to multi-millions
• Average Grant: ~$25,000
• Geographic Focus: United States and 31+ countries globally (70+ countries through Notre Dame partnership)
• Number of Partners: 191+ nonprofit organizations
• Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 220 South Dixie Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Phone: (561) 544-0955

Email: contact@pultefamilyfoundation.org

Website: www.pultefamilyfoundation.org

EIN: 38-2923581

Overview

The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation Inc was established in 1990 by William J. Pulte (1932-2018), founder and chairman of PulteGroup, one of the largest homebuilding companies in the United States. The foundation holds assets of $542.8 million and distributes approximately $6-10 million annually in grants. Guided by Catholic social teachings and the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy, the foundation works to meet the basic human needs of the most marginalized members of society, including socioeconomically disadvantaged youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those with the fewest material resources. The foundation operates as a proactive funder, seeking partners by invitation rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. In 2019, the foundation made headlines with a $111 million partnership gift to the University of Notre Dame - the largest of its kind in the university's history. The foundation currently partners with 191 nonprofit organizations across the United States and 31 countries worldwide, with additional reach through 70+ countries via its Notre Dame partnership. In 2025, the foundation announced its "Legacy of Hope" initiative with $111 million committed to groundbreaking housing and Catholic restoration projects.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through four primary giving areas rather than formal grant programs:

Care For Others: Supporting compassion-driven programs that uplift the most vulnerable populations, including persons with physical, emotional, and mental disabilities, the elderly, and those in crisis.

Education: Funding transformative learning opportunities, including Catholic schools, universities, scholarships, and educational programs for underserved youth. Notable partnerships include University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College, University of Wyoming, and numerous Catholic schools.

Hunger & Thirst: Investing in sustainable solutions to food and water insecurity. Partners include Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Florida Food Force, and international nutrition programs through the Mathile Institute.

Shelter: Supporting safe, stable housing solutions including affordable housing developments, homeless services, and innovative housing models for special populations.

Major Initiatives

The Catholic Initiative: A Vatican-approved funding model created to restore and endow vibrant Catholic churches, schools, and parishes for generations. Through 200-year leases, ensures parishes retain exclusive rights to use sites as Catholic institutions. Flagship projects include restoration of the Basilica of Ste. Anne in Detroit, securing property ownership of Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart in Chicago, and raising endowments for Catholic campus ministries.

Humanitarian Hotels: The foundation owns three hotels and resorts, with all net profits supporting charitable efforts globally. These properties participate in high school work-study programs with local Catholic schools, hire asylum seekers, and prioritize full-time employment.

Monarca: A 50-acre affordable rental housing development consisting of 179 three- and four-bedroom homes for low socioeconomic families in Immokalee, Florida. Includes the "Build a Better Life Program" offering financial literacy, home maintenance training, nutrition/wellness, computer literacy, and English literacy support.

The IDDeal Place: Florida's eighth private independent living community for adults with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities, featuring 21 residential units on a 3.27-acre campus in Palm Beach County. Foundation commitment: $3 million.

Priority Areas

• Catholic institutions (churches, schools, campus ministries, social services)
• Socioeconomically disadvantaged youth
• Adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Homeless services and affordable housing
• Veterans programs (including Built to Honor)
• Food security and nutrition programs
• Global development and poverty alleviation
• Asylum seekers and immigrant services
• Early childhood education in underserved communities
• Prison education programs

Geographic Focus

• Primary: United States with local emphasis on South Florida (Boca Raton area) and Michigan (Pulte family roots)
• National: Supports programs across the U.S., including Florida, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Wyoming, and more
• International: Active in 31+ countries across six continents through partner organizations

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus on meeting basic human needs and serving the most marginalized suggests they do not fund:

• Organizations not aligned with Catholic social teachings
• Programs outside their four focus areas
• Capital campaigns for institutions with substantial resources
• Organizations that do not serve vulnerable or marginalized populations

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership

Nancy Pulte Rickard, MPA - President and Chairman of the Board

• Compensation: $362,900 (2024)
• Quote: "The part of our foundation's mission that resonates with me the most is to take care of the most vulnerable of citizens, domestic or global... The concepts of 'family' and 'home' are at the core of our mission. Whether it is helping kids in crisis in Chicago find a safe harbor or migrant families in Immokalee, Florida get out of grossly overcrowded container houses, or helping people get out of living in garbage dumps in developing countries—this is what we aspire to do."
• Quote: "Our Catholic faith inspires the board and myself, specifically the social teachings on Integral Human Development."

Kevin P. Doyle - Chief Operating Officer

• Compensation: $361,124 (2024)

Mirtha S. Montecchi - Vice President of Finance

• Compensation: $268,015 (2024)

Foundation History

Founded by William J. Pulte (1932-2018), a devout Catholic, master builder, and philanthropist who transformed Pulte Homes from a small family operation in 1956 into one of the largest and most respected homebuilders in the nation. During his lifetime, William J. Pulte donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Catholic churches and causes.

Important Note: The foundation is NOT affiliated with Bill Pulte of Pulte Capital Partners, the Bill Pulte Foundation, or Twitter Philanthropy. Bill Pulte (@Pulte) is not a sanctioned representative of the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation operates as a proactive funder that actively seeks partners and projects to support by invitation. According to their official guidance: "We are a proactive funder that actively seeks partners and projects to support by invitation. We kindly ask that unsolicited ideas or proposals not be sent, as we are unable to review or consider these submissions."

The foundation has explicitly stated it is "not accepting grant requests from new organizations at this time due to high demand and limited resources."

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, organizations can still contact them with questions:

Contact for Inquiries:

• Email: contact@pultefamilyfoundation.org
• Phone: (561) 544-0955

Alignment Factors That May Draw Attention: Based on their current partnerships and stated priorities, organizations most likely to be invited for funding consideration demonstrate:

1. Strong Catholic Identity or Alignment: The foundation has deep roots in Catholic social teaching and the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy. Major recent initiatives include The Catholic Initiative for church restoration and support for Catholic schools.

2. Focus on Basic Human Needs: The foundation explicitly prioritizes meeting fundamental needs (food, water, shelter, safety) for the most marginalized populations.

3. Serving Specific Vulnerable Populations:

   • Socioeconomically disadvantaged youth
   • Elderly persons
   • Individuals with physical, emotional, or intellectual disabilities
   • Asylum seekers and immigrants
   • Incarcerated individuals seeking education
   • Veterans

4. Innovative, Sustainable Models: Their major investments in Humanitarian Hotels, Monarca housing, and The IDDeal Place demonstrate interest in innovative, long-term solutions rather than temporary relief.

5. Educational Impact: Significant support for Catholic schools, universities, scholarship programs, and transformative learning opportunities.

6. Geographic Connection: While supporting global initiatives, the foundation maintains local focus in South Florida and Michigan.

Known Partnership Networks: Organizations connected to these institutions may have increased visibility:

• University of Notre Dame (Pulte Institute for Global Development partnership)
• Catholic Charities organizations
• Catholic schools and dioceses
• Samaritan's Purse
• Mercy Home for Boys & Girls
• Henderson Behavioral Health

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, decision timelines are determined on a case-by-case basis through direct engagement with foundation leadership.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation made 196 grants in 2022 from an invitation-only pool, so traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. Ongoing partnerships appear to receive multi-year support (e.g., Built to Honor received three-year, $300,000 commitment in 2023 after initial 2021 support).

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of this foundation, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their funding patterns reveals what the foundation values in partners:

What the Foundation Has Demonstrated Through Their Grants

1. Long-Term, Transformational Impact The foundation makes substantial, multi-year commitments to transformational projects rather than one-time grants. Examples include the $111 million Notre Dame partnership, multi-million dollar housing initiatives (Monarca, IDDeal Place), and three-year program commitments.

2. Catholic Social Teaching Alignment Nancy Pulte Rickard stated: "Our Catholic faith inspires the board and myself, specifically the social teachings on Integral Human Development." The foundation's mission explicitly references the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, care for captives, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, and assist the mourning.

3. Serving "The Most Marginalized" The foundation consistently uses this specific language. Recent grants demonstrate this commitment:

• Pathways Early Education Center serving disadvantaged children in Immokalee, Florida
• Henderson Behavioral Health's Crisis Stabilization Unit ($3 million, 2022)
• Moreau College Prison Initiative providing education to incarcerated individuals ($1 million endowment, 2024)
• Youth Haven for children in crisis ($25,000, 2024)
• Housing for adults with intellectual disabilities (The IDDeal Place)

4. Innovation and Sustainability The foundation develops and funds innovative models:

• Humanitarian Hotels generating ongoing revenue for charity
• The Catholic Initiative's 200-year lease model ensuring permanent Catholic use
• Monarca's "Build a Better Life Program" combining housing with comprehensive family support
• The IDDeal Place as only the eighth private I/DD community in Florida

5. Focus on "Family" and "Home" Nancy Pulte Rickard emphasized: "The concepts of 'family' and 'home' are at the core of our mission." This is reflected in housing initiatives, family-centered services, and programs that create stability and belonging.

6. Organizational Excellence and Capacity Partners include well-established, high-capacity organizations (University of Notre Dame, Catholic Charities, Samaritan's Purse) as well as effective local organizations serving specific communities.

Recent Grant Examples Illustrating Priorities

• Holy Cross College ($1 million endowment, 2024): Prison education initiative
• Built to Honor Program ($300,000 over three years, 2023): Homes for wounded veterans
• Henderson Behavioral Health ($3 million, 2022): Crisis mental health services in Fort Lauderdale
• University of Notre Dame ($111 million, 2019): Global development and poverty alleviation through the Pulte Institute
• Youth Haven ($25,000, 2024): Services for children in crisis
• Various Catholic schools providing education to underprivileged students

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - they operate exclusively on an invitation-only basis. Traditional grant writing to this funder will not be successful.

• Catholic alignment is central - The foundation's mission is deeply rooted in Catholic social teaching and the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy. Organizations with Catholic identity or strong alignment with Catholic values appear most likely to receive support.

• Focus on the most marginalized - The foundation explicitly prioritizes serving "the most marginalized members of the human family" with basic human needs (food, water, shelter, safety, dignity).

• Think transformational, not transactional - Average grants may be around $25,000, but the foundation makes its most significant impact through multi-million dollar, multi-year transformational investments in innovative solutions.

• Geographic connection matters - While supporting global initiatives, the foundation maintains particular interest in South Florida (their base) and Michigan (Pulte family roots).

• Sustainability and innovation attract attention - The foundation invests in models that create lasting change (endowments, permanent housing solutions, revenue-generating social enterprises) rather than temporary relief.

• Connection to existing partners may help - Organizations within networks of current partners (Notre Dame, Catholic Charities, Catholic schools) may have better visibility to foundation leadership.

• You can still make contact - While they don't accept proposals, the foundation welcomes questions at contact@pultefamilyfoundation.org or (561) 544-0955. A brief, well-timed inquiry about potential alignment may be worthwhile for highly aligned organizations.

References

1. Pulte Family Charitable Foundation Official Website - www.pultefamilyfoundation.org (Accessed January 2026)

2. Cause IQ - Pulte Family Charitable Foundation Profile - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/pulte-family-charitable-foundation,382923581/ (Accessed January 2026)

3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Pulte Family Charitable Foundation Inc (EIN: 38-2923581) - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/382923581 (Accessed January 2026)

4. Form 990-PF Tax Return (2024 filing) - Available at pultefamilyfoundation.org

5. Inside Philanthropy - Pulte Family Charitable Foundation Profile - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-p/pulte-family-charitable-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

6. PR Newswire - "Pulte Family Charitable Foundation Commits $111M Towards Groundbreaking 'Legacy of Hope' Projects" (March 2025) - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pulte-family-charitable-foundation-commits-111m-towards-groundbreaking-legacy-of-hope-projects-302396247.html

7. PR Newswire - "Pulte Family Charitable Foundation Launches Nonprofit, The Catholic Initiative" (March 2025) - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pulte-family-charitable-foundation-launches-nonprofit-the-catholic-initiative-302396399.html

8. University of Notre Dame News - "Pulte family's $111 million partnership provides Notre Dame with resources to fight poverty" (November 2019) - https://news.nd.edu/news/pulte-familys-111-million-partnership-provides-notre-dame-with-resources-to-fight-poverty/

9. Mercy Home - "The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation: A Cornerstone of Support" - https://www.mercyhome.org/blog/friends-mercy-home/cornerstone-of-support/ (Accessed January 2026)

10. Pulte Family Foundation - "Mercy Homes: An interview with Pulte Family Foundation's President, Nancy Pulte Rickard" (July 2022) - https://www.pultefamilyfoundation.org/2022/07/15/mercy-homes-an-interview-with-pulte-family-foundations-president-nancy-pulte-rickard/

11. PulteGroup Press Release - "PulteGroup Receives New $300,000 Commitment From Pulte Family Charitable Foundation to Support Built to Honor® Program" (2023) - https://www.pultegroupinc.com/investor-relations/press-releases/press-release-details/2023/PulteGroup-Receives-New-300000-Commitment-From-Pulte-Family-Charitable-Foundation-to-Support-Built-to-Honor-Program/

12. Humanitarian Hotels Official Website - https://www.humanitarianhotels.org/about-us (Accessed January 2026)

13. GuideStar Profile - Pulte Family Charitable Foundation (EIN: 38-2923581) - https://www.guidestar.org/profile/38-2923581 (Accessed January 2026)

14. Foundation Directory Online (Candid) - Pulte Family Charitable Foundation Inc - https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=PULT002 (Accessed January 2026)