The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a small charity should not send a cold proposal and should first find a route to an invitation.
- Its grants have centred on climate action and regenerative agriculture, with conservation, youth health, food and tribal work also appearing, so projects in those areas are the closest fit.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $75,000 and $500,000, with a median of $200,000, so a request in that range is typical, though its largest grant was $1,000,000 and the band is not a ceiling.
- Repeat giving is a large part of its grant-making, with 67% of grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so existing relationships appear to matter.
- The filings state no geographic focus, and the grants mainly in California, Colorado and Virginia describe past giving only, not who may apply.
Overview
The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson Foundation is a US private foundation based in Ross, CA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The grant record shows substantial support for climate action, carbon sequestration and resilience on working lands, as well as regenerative agriculture and farm-related initiatives. It also includes conservation and ecological learning, youth health and food programmes, tribal initiatives and sanitation work. Recipients include conservation and agricultural organisations, youth-serving groups, community food programmes, tribal-development and sanitation organisations. Some grants support specific projects, while others are unrestricted. The record indicates a varied portfolio, with notable environmental and land-based giving alongside community, health and education-related work.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Climate action
- Regenerative agriculture
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, Colorado and Virginia.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 67% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 72 grants to organisations were $200,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 67% of grant dollars went to organisations The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 10% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 26 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $200k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- PBS Foundation · PBS Climate Initiative$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Summer Search · Summer Search No Ceilings Campaign$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation · Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Fund IV$500,0002024 tax year
- Sustainable Conservation · Stewarding Soils and Watersheds Toward Water Resilience$500,0002024 tax year
- Point Blue Conservation Science · Unlocking Point Blue's Public/Private Partnerships to Dramatically Increase Conservation Impact$400,0002024 tax year
- The Climate Center · Accelerating Climate Action in California: Scaling Up Natural Sequestration on Working Lands$300,0002024 tax year
- Carbon Cycle Institute · Accelerating Climate Action in California: Scaling Carbon Sequestration and Climate Resilience on Working Lands$300,0002024 tax year
- California Association of Resource Conservation Districts · Accelerating Climate Action in California: Scaling carbon SEQUESTRATION AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE ON WORKING LANDS$300,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- William R Patterson — Secretary, Director
- Elizabeth R Patterson — President, Director, Treasurer
- Eleanor Patterson Clifford — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $7,435,611 | $6,581,658 | $86,182,305 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $6,958,493 | $6,158,834 | $89,213,524 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $7,488,002 | $6,726,988 | $93,997,455 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Ross, CA
Applying to The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Ross, CA