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Lettie Pate Evans Foundation

Annual Giving
$28.5M
Grant Range
$150K - $16.0M
Decision Time
3mo
Success Rate
8%

Lettie Pate Evans Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $28,500,000 (approximately)
  • Total Assets: $87,500,000 (2023)
  • Grant Range: $150,000 - $16,000,000
  • Median Grant: $1,000,000
  • Number of Grants: 12-17 annually
  • Geographic Focus: Georgia (primarily metro Atlanta), with limited Virginia grants
  • Decision Time: Within 1 week of Board meeting
  • Total Giving Since Inception: $460+ million

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation
191 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 3540
Atlanta, GA 30303

Website: https://lpevans.org

For Informal Inquiries: fdns@woodruff.org

Grants Program Contact: Jenny Zhang Morgan at morgan@woodruff.org

President: P. Russell Hardin

Overview

The Lettie Pate Evans Foundation is an independent private foundation established through the estate of Lettie Pate Evans, a pioneering businesswoman and philanthropist. The Foundation invests primarily in education and arts & culture institutions, focusing on well-established organizations in Georgia with occasional grants to Virginia institutions that received support from Mrs. Evans during her lifetime.

The Foundation operates with a strategic, selective approach, awarding a small number of large grants annually—typically 12-17 grants ranging from $150,000 to $16 million, with a median grant size of $1 million. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $460 million in grants. The Foundation prefers to support one-time capital projects and extraordinary needs rather than ongoing operating support, partnering with other funders to help established organizations "stretch further to seize new opportunities or to meet extraordinary needs." The Foundation is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees who meet regularly to review grant requests and make funding decisions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation focuses on two primary program areas:

Education Grants: $500,000 - $16,000,000

  • Capital projects for Georgia's private colleges and universities
  • Support for select SACS-accredited independent schools in Georgia with open admissions, strong academic programs, stable enrollments, and sound finances
  • Health education initiatives, particularly pediatric medical education programs
  • Student scholarship programs such as the Two-Year College Scholars Program
  • Work-study programs to improve student success and job readiness
  • Applications accepted through online portal on a rolling basis

Arts & Culture Grants: $50,000 - $1,200,000

  • Capital campaigns for museums, performing arts facilities, botanical gardens, and historic preservation projects
  • Exhibition funds and infrastructure improvements
  • Facility construction and renovations (the Foundation supports building spaces for the arts but not direct performing arts programming)
  • Applications accepted through online portal on a rolling basis

Priority Areas

The Foundation actively funds:

  • Capital Projects: Construction, renovation, and modernization of educational and cultural facilities
  • Well-Established Institutions: Organizations with proven track records, strong leadership, and broad community support
  • One-Time Extraordinary Needs: Major initiatives that help organizations accelerate impact or seize strategic opportunities
  • Educational Infrastructure: Science buildings, campus centers, academic facilities, health and wellness centers, libraries
  • Historic Preservation: Restoration and preservation of significant historic buildings on educational campuses
  • Healthcare Education: Pediatric residency programs, medical education facilities
  • Student Support: Scholarship programs and work-study initiatives that improve student success

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation explicitly excludes:

  • Startup or seed funding for new organizations or to launch affiliates of national organizations
  • Grants to individuals
  • Annual operating support or ongoing program funding
  • Public schools at any level (only private/independent schools)
  • Direct performing arts work unless related to building performance spaces
  • Grassroots or new organizations seeking startup capital
  • Organizations outside Georgia (except Virginia institutions previously supported by Mrs. Evans)
  • Requests where they would be the only or lead funder
  • Projects without demonstrated broad financial support from other donors

The Foundation also does not intend to add new independent schools to their limited roster of supported schools.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Jenner Wood III, Chairman
Joined the boards of the Joseph B. Whitehead and Lettie Pate Evans Foundations in 2015 and was named chairman in 2018. He spent his entire career with SunTrust Bank, serving in various corporate executive positions from 1975 to 2017.

Lizanne Thomas, Trustee
Retired partner of Jones Day law firm, where she served as partner-in-charge of the Southern U.S. Region and chair of its Corporate Governance practice area.

The Board is self-perpetuating and sets policies for the Foundation's operations, grantmaking, management, investments, and governance.

Staff

P. Russell Hardin, President
Serves as president of both the Lettie Pate Evans and Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundations, as well as the Robert W. Woodruff and Joseph B. Whitehead Foundations.

Lizzy, Grants Program Director
Joined the Foundations' staff as Grants Officer in 2005 and became Grants Program Director in 2011. Leads the review process for all grant requests.

Additional Staff: The Foundation employs program officers who work alongside the president and grants program director to review requests and conduct site visits.

Foundation Philosophy

The Foundation emphasizes in their guidance: "We prefer not to be the only or lead funder of an initiative" and seeks to support "organizations with a proven track record of success stretch further to seize new opportunities or to meet one-time extraordinary needs."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation accepts grant requests throughout the year through an online grant portal accessible at https://lpevans.org.

Application Steps:

  1. Pre-Application Inquiry (Recommended): First-time grantseekers are encouraged to reach out well before the grant deadline to determine if their request fits the Foundation's priorities. Submit informal inquiries to fdns@woodruff.org.

  2. Create/Access Organization Account: Each organization is permitted only one account in the portal, managed by a single contact responsible for all submissions.

  3. Complete Eligibility Quiz: After logging in with your organization's tax ID number, complete a short eligibility quiz to confirm your organization qualifies.

  4. Submit Grant Request: If eligible, complete the application form and upload materials as a single PDF including:

    • Grant request letter on letterhead (concise, no more than 5 pages before attachments)
    • Dated and signed by organization's leadership
    • Addressed to P. Russell Hardin, President
    • Architectural drawings (helpful for capital projects)

  5. Avoid Unnecessary Materials: Do not include press kits, newsletters, or other supplementary materials unless specifically requested.

Key Submission Deadline:
The Foundation encourages submission before February 1. Requests received by the first business day on or after February 1 will be considered at the April Board of Trustees meeting. Other Board meetings occur throughout the year.

Decision Timeline

Initial Review: Grant requests are reviewed by the Foundation's president, grants program director, and program officers. If a request clearly does not align with the Foundation's giving interests, applicants are notified promptly by email.

Site Visits: If a request is accepted for consideration at the next Board of Trustees meeting, applicants are notified by letter and contacted by Foundation staff for a meeting or site visit.

Board Decision: The Board of Trustees meets periodically throughout the year to review and decide on grant requests.

Notification: The Foundation notifies applicants of decisions by letter within one week of the Board of Trustees meeting.

Total Timeline: From submission to decision typically spans 2-4 months depending on Board meeting schedules and when the application is submitted.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation "cannot be encouraging about grant requests already declined" and advises: "Unless otherwise encouraged, please do not submit the same request in a different grant cycle."

Key Points:

  • Organizations whose requests have been declined should not reapply with the same request unless specifically encouraged by the Foundation
  • The restriction applies to resubmitting "the same request" - a different project may be considered
  • No formal waiting period is specified; decisions are case-by-case
  • The Foundation may encourage certain applicants to reapply with modifications

Application Success Factors

The Foundation provides specific guidance on what strengthens applications:

Foundation-Specific Priorities

  1. Co-Funding is Essential: The Foundation explicitly states they "prefer not to be the only or lead funder of an initiative." Organizations must demonstrate significant fundraising progress with other donors, including board member contributions, before applying. The Foundation will not fund projects unless they believe the organization can "meet your fundraising goal and sustain work long-term."

  2. Study Past Grants: The Foundation recommends reviewing their "Grants Awarded" section to understand the types of projects they fund and identify patterns. Recent examples include:

    • Main Hall renovation at Agnes Scott College
    • Animal Health Center at Atlanta Fulton County Zoo
    • Pediatric residency program at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta with Emory University
    • Historic Colonnade restoration at Washington & Lee University ($1 million)
    • Science and technology building construction at various private colleges
    • Campus Center construction as part of comprehensive campaigns

  3. Demonstrate Strong Leadership: The Foundation looks for organizations with "strong staff and volunteer board leadership" and a "proven track record of success." Leadership stability and capability are critical evaluation factors.

  4. Show Broad Community Support: Organizations must demonstrate "broad base of financial support" and "diverse local donor support." This includes both financial contributions and community engagement.

  5. Prove Long-Term Sustainability: The Foundation requires confidence that organizations can sustain their work long-term. Applications should clearly articulate sustainability plans beyond the grant period.

  6. Focus on Capital Projects: The Foundation gives "preference to one-time capital projects and other extraordinary needs" rather than ongoing operating support. Frame requests around transformational capital improvements or one-time strategic initiatives.

  7. Keep Communications Concise: Grant request letters should be "concise, typically no more than 5 pages excluding required attachments." The Foundation values clarity and brevity.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Based on the Foundation's published guidance, applications are likely declined when:

  • The organization seeks to be the only or primary funder
  • Projects lack demonstrated support from other donors
  • Organizations are new, grassroots, or seeking seed funding
  • Requests are for ongoing operating support rather than one-time needs
  • Organizations are outside Georgia (except qualifying Virginia institutions)
  • Projects involve public schools or direct performing arts programming
  • Applications lack evidence of strong leadership or financial sustainability

Strategic Recommendations

  • Contact them early: Reach out to fdns@woodruff.org well before deadlines to determine fit
  • Target the February 1 deadline: Applications received by early February are considered at the April Board meeting
  • Emphasize partnership: Position your request as one component of a larger fundraising effort with multiple funders
  • Provide architectural plans: For capital projects, helpful visual materials strengthen proposals
  • Demonstrate measurable impact: Show proven community impact with specific, measurable results

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Large grants, high bar: With a $1 million median grant and only 12-17 awards annually, competition is intense. Only apply if you're a well-established organization with a proven track record.

  • Co-funding is mandatory: The Foundation will not be your only or lead funder. Secure significant commitments from other sources, including your board, before applying.

  • Capital projects strongly preferred: Focus on one-time capital needs like building construction, renovation, or major infrastructure improvements rather than programs or operating support.

  • Georgia focus: Unless you're a Virginia institution previously supported by Mrs. Evans, your organization must be located and operating in Georgia, preferably metro Atlanta.

  • Pre-application inquiry is wise: First-time applicants should contact fdns@woodruff.org before applying to determine if their request aligns with Foundation priorities.

  • Fast decisions: Once your application reaches the Board, you'll receive notification within one week of their meeting—a notably quick turnaround for a foundation of this size.

  • Don't reapply with same request: If declined, do not submit the same request in a subsequent cycle unless specifically encouraged by Foundation staff.

References

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