The Patricia And Douglas Perry Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6,259,805 (2023)
• Total Assets: $35.6 million
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed - varies by organization
• Average Grant Size: $231,845
• Number of Grants: 28 grants (2023)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Hampton Roads, VA; some grants to FL, NC, NY, OH, and WA
• Application Method: Invitation only - no unsolicited applications accepted

Contact Details

Location: Norfolk, VA

Note: The foundation does not provide public contact information and does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

Overview

The Patricia and Douglas Perry Foundation, also known as The Perry Family Foundation, was established in 1993 in Virginia. With assets totaling approximately $35.6 million and annual giving of over $6.2 million (2023), the foundation represents more than 35 years of quiet, consistent philanthropy by Patricia W. Perry and J. Douglas Perry. The couple, recognized with the Cosmopolitan Club's First Citizen award in 2016, have preferred to remain behind the scenes while supporting a multitude of organizations. The foundation operates as a private family foundation making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. Patricia W. Perry serves as President, with their children Brandon D. Perry, J. Christopher Perry, and L. Paige Perry serving as Vice Presidents, and J. Douglas Perry as Treasurer. None of the family members receive compensation for their foundation roles.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The Foundation gives primarily for:

• Education: Elementary and secondary education, higher education, arts education
• Arts and Culture: Art museums, arts services, theater, visual arts programs
• Human Services: Support for at-risk populations and vulnerable communities
• Religion: Protestant organizations

Geographic Focus

• Primary: Hampton Roads region, Virginia (especially Norfolk)
• Secondary: Projects in Florida, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, and Washington

Known Grant Recipients

Organizations that have received support from the foundation include:

• Tidewater Community College - Lead donors for the Patricia & Douglas Perry TCC Center for Visual & Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management; donated Glass Wheel Studio
• Chrysler Museum of Art - Norfolk
• Slover Library - Norfolk
• Virginia Stage Company - Norfolk
• Hurrah Players - Support for move to new headquarters on West Wilson Avenue (2017)
• Hope House - Norfolk
• Access College Foundation - Norfolk
• Old Dominion University - Norfolk
• Samaritan House's Safe Harbor Center - Norfolk

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds from organizations with which they do not have an existing relationship.

Governance and Leadership

Patricia W. Perry - President J. Douglas Perry - Treasurer
Brandon D. Perry - Vice President J. Christopher Perry - Vice President L. Paige Perry - Vice President

The Perry family has been described as "a very unassuming couple who make dreams come true for many, whether they be at-risk children, theater troupes, universities or up-and-coming artists." For more than 35 years, Pat and Doug Perry have preferred to remain behind the scenes while donating their time and money to numerous organizations through their philanthropic foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion and relationships established by the Perry family over decades of involvement in the Norfolk and Hampton Roads communities.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at the discretion of the foundation trustees to organizations they have selected.

Grant Activity

• 2023: 28 grants totaling $6,259,805
• 2022: 31 grants
• 2021: 32 grants

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, success in receiving funding is dependent on:

Pre-existing Relationships

The foundation supports organizations with which the Perry family has established long-term relationships. Their giving pattern shows sustained support over many years to Norfolk-area institutions.

Focus on Norfolk/Hampton Roads

The majority of grants go to organizations serving the Norfolk and broader Hampton Roads community, where the Perry family has deep roots and ongoing involvement.

Arts, Education, and Human Services Alignment

Organizations working in visual arts, theater, education (particularly higher education and arts education), and services for vulnerable populations align with the foundation's documented priorities.

Community Impact

Based on their known grants, the foundation appears to favor organizations that:

• Serve at-risk populations
• Advance arts and cultural development in Norfolk
• Expand educational opportunities
• Create lasting community infrastructure and programs

Low-Profile, High-Impact Approach

The Perry family's philanthropic style emphasizes quiet, consistent support rather than high-profile naming opportunities, though they did lend their name to the TCC Center for Visual & Culinary Arts as lead donors.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - This foundation cannot be approached through standard grant application procedures
• Relationship-driven giving - Grants are made exclusively to organizations known to and selected by the Perry family
• Long-term Norfolk commitment - Over 35 years of focused philanthropy in Hampton Roads, particularly Norfolk
• Arts and education emphasis - Strong track record supporting visual arts, theater, and educational institutions, especially Tidewater Community College
• Family foundation structure - Multi-generational involvement with the next generation (Brandon, Christopher, and Paige Perry) now serving as Vice Presidents
• Significant annual giving - Despite invitation-only approach, the foundation distributes over $6 million annually across approximately 28-31 grants
• Average grant size of ~$232,000 - Suggests capacity for substantial awards to selected organizations

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Patricia And Douglas Perry Foundation (EIN 54-1691140). Accessed January 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/541691140
• Cause IQ - The Perry Family Foundation / Patricia and Douglas Perry Foundation profile. Accessed January 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/patricia-and-douglas-perry-foundation,541691140/
• Instrumentl - Patricia And Douglas Perry Foundation 990 Report. Accessed January 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-patricia-and-douglas-perry-foundation
• Grantmakers.io - Patricia and Douglas Perry Foundation profile. Accessed January 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/541691140-patricia-and-douglas-perry-foundation/
• Tidewater Community College - Patricia and Douglas Perry Foundation archives. Accessed January 2026. https://www.tcc.edu/tag/patricia-and-douglas-perry-foundation/
• The Virginian-Pilot - "Norfolk's first citizens have been leaving their mark for 35 years" (2016). Accessed January 2026.