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Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Inc

Grant Range
$260K - $0.3M
Decision Time
5mo

Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Data not publicly specified
  • Total Grants Since Inception: Over $1 billion
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only for new institutions)
  • Decision Time: Grant decisions made by February; awarded mid-February
  • Grant Range: Varies by institution ($260,000 - $300,000+ per institution annually observed)
  • Geographic Focus: Nine Southeastern states (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA)
  • Students Served: More than 10,000 students annually at nearly 200 institutions

Contact Details

Primary Contact for Institutional Inquiries:

  • Carrie Davis Conway, Senior Program Officer
  • Emily Patteson, Grants Program Administrator

Office Location: Atlanta, GA

Website: https://lpwhitehead.org

Note: The Foundation does not accept applications from individuals. Students should contact their institution's financial aid office.

Overview

The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation was chartered in 1946 for the "aid and benefit of poor and deserving Christian girls and women" in nine Southeastern states. Created by Conkey Pate Whitehead in honor of his mother, Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans—who became one of the first female directors of The Coca-Cola Company in 1934—the Foundation has awarded over $1 billion in grants since inception. The Foundation operates two primary programs: educational scholarships for female Christian students with financial need at nearly 200 accredited colleges, universities, and schools, and support for senior women at 15 care facilities in Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. The Foundation is notable for its focused mission serving women exclusively and its deep commitment to health education, particularly nursing and allied health fields. It shares office space and staff with other Whitehead family philanthropies and the Woodruff Foundation, though each operates under independent boards of trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Scholarship Program

  • Supports nearly 200 accredited educational institutions across nine Southeastern states
  • More than 10,000 female students receive scholarships annually
  • Grant amounts vary by institution (recent examples: UAB School of Health Professions received $272,500 for 2023-24; Chowan University received $260,000; Washington & Lee awarded over $300,000 to 17 scholars)
  • Individual scholarship amounts determined by participating institutions
  • Strong emphasis on health education, nursing, and allied health fields
  • Institutions submit brief grant request letters by September 30 annually

Senior Care Program

  • Supports 15 senior care facilities in Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia
  • Focused on elderly women of limited means
  • Grant amounts not publicly specified

Priority Areas

  • Education for Women: Undergraduate higher education for Christian women with demonstrated financial need
  • Health Education: Particular interest in nursing, medical, and allied health professional education
  • Geographic Focus: Exclusively serves institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia
  • Faith-Based: Recipients must be Christian women
  • Economic Need: Priority given to institutions serving students with significant financial need
  • Senior Women: Support for elderly women who have faced adversity in declining years

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals directly (all scholarships awarded through participating institutions)
  • Institutions outside the nine specified Southeastern states
  • Men or co-ed programs that don't specifically benefit women
  • Institutions without SACS accreditation (for educational grants)
  • Organizations or individuals who are not Christian

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Lyons Gray — Chair Former North Carolina Utility Commissioner and Secretary of North Carolina Department of Revenue; served six terms in the NC House of Representatives.

Herbert A. Claiborne III — Vice Chair Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Carpenter Co. in Richmond, Virginia. Holds degrees from University of Virginia and University of Richmond.

Dr. Penny L. Elkins Executive Vice President of Mercer University. Lifelong educator with a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Georgia State University. Currently serves as President of Georgia Women of Achievement.

Charlotte Hudson — Alternate Trustee Executive Director of Blue Convergence Fund. Former leader of Lenfest Ocean Program at The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Key Staff

Erik S. Johnson — President (as of 2025) Joined the foundations in 2006 and became President in 2025. Former law clerk to U.S. Court of Appeals Chief Judge and former chairman of Georgia Grantmakers Alliance.

Carrie Davis Conway — Senior Program Officer Joined 2014. Oversees the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation grants programs. Former executive director at CARE USA.

Emily Patteson — Grants Program Administrator Joined 2019. Works directly with Lettie Pate Whitehead grantees in higher education, senior care, and conservation.

Lizzy Smith — Grants Program Director Joined 2005 as Grants Officer and became Director in 2011. Broad responsibility across education, youth development, arts, and parks programs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Individuals Seeking Scholarships: The Foundation does not award scholarships directly to individuals. Students should contact their institution's financial aid office to inquire about availability and application procedures for Lettie Pate Whitehead scholarships. Check if your school is among the nearly 200 participating institutions listed on the Foundation's website.

For Educational Institutions: The Foundation rarely adds new institutions to its grants program. Existing grantees must submit a grant request letter by September 30 each year to be considered for funding in the coming academic year. Letters should:

  • Be no more than 2 pages
  • Provide a brief update on the institution
  • Not request a specific funding amount

For inquiries about becoming a new grantee, contact Carrie Conway or Emily Patteson, though opportunities are extremely limited.

For Senior Care Facilities: Similar to educational institutions, the Foundation rarely adds new senior care facilities. Contact the Foundation staff for inquiries, though new partnerships are uncommon.

Decision Timeline

  • Submission Deadline: September 30 (for continuing institutional grantees)
  • Board Review: Fall/Winter
  • Decision Announcement: Grant decisions made by the Board of Trustees
  • Award Letters Mailed: Mid-February
  • Academic Year: Funding typically covers the following academic year

Success Rates

Not applicable for prospective grantees, as the Foundation has "a highly established grantee base and rarely adds new institutions to its programs." Continuing grantees must meet eligibility and reporting requirements to maintain funding. Institutions that fail to meet requirements "may see their funding decrease or may not receive further support."

Reapplication Policy

For Continuing Institutional Grantees: Annual reapplication is required via the September 30 grant request letter. Continued funding depends on:

  • Meeting eligibility requirements specified in grant award letters
  • Submitting required reports
  • Maintaining institutional quality indicators (accreditation, leadership, enrollment health, fiscal stability)
  • Demonstrating continued commitment to serving students/seniors with financial need

For New Institutions: The Foundation rarely accepts new grantees into its programs. While inquiries can be directed to foundation staff, prospects for new partnerships are very limited.

Application Success Factors

For Continuing Institutional Grantees

Institutional Quality Indicators: The Foundation evaluates educational institutions based on:

  • SACS accreditation status
  • Strength of leadership
  • Enrollment and financial health
  • Academic program quality
  • Commitment to serving students with financial need
  • Student success factors

For senior care institutions, evaluation criteria include:

  • Quality of care
  • Commitment to serving seniors with financial need regardless of their financial means
  • Fiscal health
  • Strength of leadership

Mission Alignment: The Foundation's investments are "guided by an interest in supporting institutions that provide high-quality, compassionate care to individuals regardless of their financial means." Institutions should demonstrate clear commitment to serving populations with significant economic need.

Health Education Focus: Institutions with strong programs in nursing, medical, and allied health fields align particularly well with the Foundation's interests. Recent grants to programs like UAB School of Health Professions demonstrate this priority.

Geographic and Religious Requirements: Institutions must serve female Christian students (or elderly Christian women for senior care) who reside in one of the nine specified Southeastern states. This is non-negotiable per the Foundation's charter.

Reporting and Compliance: Maintain strong administrative processes for meeting all eligibility and reporting requirements. Institutions that fail to comply may see reduced funding or elimination from the program.

Foundation Philosophy

The Foundation was established with "the greatest sympathy for senior women … who have met with adversity in their declining years" and for supporting the education of "poor and deserving Christian girls and women." Applications and institutional updates should reflect understanding of this mission to support women facing economic challenges.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Closed Program: This Foundation operates with a highly established grantee base and rarely accepts new institutions. If your organization is not currently a grantee, prospects for new funding are extremely limited.
  • Institutional Grants Only: All funding goes to institutions, not individuals. Students cannot apply directly but should check if their school is among the nearly 200 participating institutions.
  • Simple Renewal Process: Continuing grantees submit brief (2-page maximum) annual update letters by September 30—no need to request specific amounts.
  • Mission-Critical Requirements: Female, Christian, financial need, and residence in one of nine Southeastern states are absolute requirements based on the Foundation's charter.
  • Health Education Priority: Institutions with strong nursing, medical, and allied health programs appear particularly favored for educational grants.
  • Compliance Matters: Meeting reporting requirements and maintaining institutional quality metrics is essential for continued funding.
  • Large-Scale Impact: With 10,000+ students served annually and institutional grants ranging from $260,000-$300,000+, this is a significant funding source for participating institutions.

References

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