Petters Family 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 look for a route in through someone who already knows it.
- In the latest filing, 99% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in one of the two filings before it, so repeat relationships matter.
- Its stated focus is education and community engagement, and its grants include schools, education foundations, early-childhood providers, museums, community organisations, youth charities and public broadcasting, with general support common, so work in those areas fits best.
- If an invitation comes, a modest request suits it: half of its 80 grants to organisations across three filings were $10,000 or less and the median was $10,000, although about 8 in 10 grants fall between $2,500 and $250,000 and the largest was about $1,050,000, so that band is typical rather than a ceiling.
- No geographic focus is stated, and the material does not set out an eligibility test or explain how to seek funding, so do not assume a particular area or process.
Overview
Petters Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Newport News, VA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and web pages about the foundation (thevlm.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Petters Family Foundation describes its giving as focused on education and community engagement. It says its investments support high-quality programmes, scholarships, new buildings and education for students at all socioeconomic levels. Its grant record adds detail about the organisations supported: schools and education foundations, early-childhood providers, museums, community organisations, youth charities and public broadcasting. General support is common, alongside specified support for low-income early-childhood education and educational outreach. The available material does not set out a formal eligibility test or explain how organisations can seek funding.
Themes
- Education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Virginia and Maryland.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 80 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 35% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to organisations Petters Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 29 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $15,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- William & Mary Foundation · Sponsorship of camp launch program and general support$1,000,0002025 tax year
- Soundscapes · General support$366,9902025 tax year
- Virginia Living Museum · General support$250,0002025 tax year
- Us Naval Academy Foundation · Support of naval academy annual fund, stem and minority outreach for admissions.$250,0002025 tax year
- Son of a Saint · Improving the lives of fatherless boys in new orlelans$210,0002025 tax year
- An Achievable Dream · General fund support$205,0002025 tax year
- Peake Childhood Center · General support for low income early childhood education$202,5002025 tax year
- Virginia Foundation for Community College Education · General support$200,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Caroline G Sauer — Vice President
- Sarah Fletcher — Vice President
- Nancy B Petters — President
- C Michael Petters — Secretary / Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $2,783,627 | $2,642,565 | $63,491,047 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,969,032 | $2,737,923 | $58,813,919 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $3,790,115 | $3,244,490 | $71,840,221 | Filing for 2025 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
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At a glance
Applying to Petters Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Newport News, VA
Applying to Petters Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Newport News, VA