The Pauley Family Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $6,938,454 (2023)
Total Assets: $2 billion
Grant Range: Six-figure awards to multi-million dollar grants
Geographic Focus: Primarily Richmond, Virginia region
Number of Grants: 96 awards in 2023
Decision Authority: Board discretion

Contact Details

Address: 3409 Moore St, Richmond, VA 23230

Phone: 804-330-7400

Fax: 804-330-5992

Note: The Pauley Family Foundation operates as a supporting organization of the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond.

Overview

The Pauley Family Foundation was established in 2006 by Stanley F. and Dorothy Pauley to support charitable purposes in the areas of education, arts, health, and human services. Following the deaths of the founders between late 2020 and early 2021, the foundation became Virginia's largest philanthropy with $2 billion in assets, primarily consisting of equity in Carpenter Co., the manufacturing firm Stanley Pauley founded. The foundation is now led by their daughter, Katharine Pauley Hickok, who serves as chair alongside her two children, Kate Hickock Stark and Adam Hickok. Since receiving the estate gifts in 2021, the foundation has distributed grants primarily focused on addressing needs in the Richmond region, though the board retains discretion to fund projects outside this area. The foundation operates as a supporting organization of the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond and has earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 96%.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The foundation has four primary funding areas:

Education: The foundation supports organizations that provide direct educational opportunities, wraparound services, and access to learning outside of school hours. Funded activities include early childhood learning, quality out-of-school time programs, and access to high-quality K-12 education for low-income students. Educational institutions have received the largest share of recent awards.

Healthy Community: The foundation supports organizations that ensure individuals have access to physical health, behavioral health, food, and supportive services. This includes primary healthcare for low-income residents, mental healthcare for children, supportive services for seniors, and access to food.

Stable, Affordable Housing: The foundation supports organizations that ensure low-income residents can access and maintain stable housing, including affordable rental homes, home ownership opportunities, eviction prevention programs, and services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Arts and Culture: The foundation supports Richmond's cultural institutions and arts organizations.

Major Grant Recipients

Recent substantial grants have been awarded to:

Hampden-Sydney College: Received most of the foundation's largest grants in recent years; the affiliated Endeavor Legacy Foundation pledged $20 million
VCU Health Pauley Heart Center: $5 million for cardiac arrhythmia research and treatment; family has committed more than $28 million to VCU overall
Sweet Briar College: Among top recipients
University of Richmond: Major recipient
St. Catherine's School: Education grants
Richmond Symphony: Six-figure award
Byrd Theatre: Six-figure award
Richmond Urban Dance: Six-figure award
Better Housing Coalition: Housing support
Area Congregations Together in Service (ACTS RVA): Housing support
Maggie Walter Community Land Trust: Housing support
Children's Hospital of Richmond: Healthcare support

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's grantmaking is "primarily focused on addressing needs in the Richmond region," with nearly all grants (146 of 147 between 2020-2021) going to Virginia organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Katharine Pauley Hickok - Chair of the Pauley Family Foundation, daughter of founders Stanley F. and Dorothy Pauley. She leads the family's grantmaking following her father's death and also serves as president of the affiliated Endeavor Legacy Foundation ($761 million in assets).

Kate Hickock Stark - Board member, daughter of Katharine Pauley Hickok

Adam Hickok - Board member, son of Katharine Pauley Hickok

Kim Russell - Senior Vice President of the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, noted that the family "prefers to be low profile and is not interested in speaking to the media."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Pauley Family Foundation does not appear to have a public application process with published guidelines or deadlines. The foundation operates on a board discretion model, with grantmaking decisions made by the board of trustees.

Evidence suggests grants are awarded through:

Board member identification of organizations and causes
Invitation from the foundation
Pre-existing relationships with the family or foundation
Trustee-directed giving

The foundation maintains a low public profile and does not actively publicize application procedures or grant opportunities.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation operates on a discretionary timeline rather than fixed grant cycles.

Success Rates

96 grants were awarded in 2023 out of total assets of $2 billion. Success rates for unsolicited approaches are not documented, though the foundation's preference for privacy suggests limited public solicitation opportunities.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's board discretion model and preference for privacy, alignment with the foundation's priorities appears to be determined through:

Regional Focus: Nearly all funding (146 of 147 grants in 2020-2021) goes to Virginia organizations, with the vast majority supporting Richmond-area causes. Organizations must demonstrate clear benefit to the Richmond region.

Established Institutions: Recent grantmaking shows strong preference for established educational institutions, healthcare systems, and cultural organizations with proven track records.

Strategic Fit: Organizations should align with one of the four priority areas: education, healthy community, affordable housing, or arts and culture. Educational institutions have received the lion's share of recent awards.

Capital Projects and Major Initiatives: The foundation has supported significant capital projects like the VCU Health Pauley Heart Center, suggesting willingness to make transformational gifts to major initiatives.

Service to Low-Income Populations: In education, health, and housing priorities, the foundation specifically emphasizes serving low-income residents and ensuring access to services.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Richmond Focus is Critical: The foundation is "primarily focused on addressing needs in the Richmond region" with nearly all grants going to Virginia organizations. Geographic alignment is essential.
No Public Application Process: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications through a public process. Grants are awarded through board discretion and trustee identification of causes.
Relationship-Based Grantmaking: Success likely depends on existing relationships with the Pauley family, board members, or the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond.
Significant Gift Capacity: With $2 billion in assets, the foundation can make transformational gifts ranging from six figures to multi-million dollar commitments, though annual grantmaking has been approximately $7 million in recent years.
Education is Top Priority: Educational institutions have received the largest share of recent grants, particularly higher education institutions like Hampden-Sydney College, Sweet Briar College, and University of Richmond.
Low Public Profile: The family "prefers to be low profile and is not interested in speaking to the media," suggesting a discreet approach to philanthropy without public fanfare.
Payout Structure: Unlike traditional private foundations, as a supporting organization, the foundation has no mandatory 5% payout requirement and has set a 4% payout goal based only on liquid assets (currently 12% of the $2.1 billion endowment), which may limit annual grantmaking despite large total assets.

References

All sources accessed December 24, 2025.