William I. H. and Lula E. Pitts Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- This foundation funds charities in Georgia that are affiliated with the Methodist Church, with particular interest in education, children's homes, charitable hospitals and care of the elderly; organisations that are not Methodist-affiliated or not based in Georgia should not apply.
- A typical request might sit around the median grant of about $250,000, since half of its 45 grants to organisations were about $250,000 or less, though grants have ranged from $25,000 to $1,050,000 and up to about $1,250,000 at the largest.
- Applications are made using the online Grant Application Form and must be submitted by March 1, so grant writers should plan well ahead of this fixed deadline.
- With 92% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in the two previous filings, the foundation appears to lean towards continuing relationships, so new applicants should expect it may be competitive to break into.
- Grant writers should confirm their Methodist affiliation and Georgia location before approaching, and frame any proposal around the specific areas the foundation names.
Overview
William I. H. and Lula E. Pitts Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, Truist Bank, in Orlando, FL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation supports charities within the state of Georgia that are affiliated with the Methodist Church. It says eligible charities must be Methodist-affiliated and that its charitable interests are geographically restricted to Georgia. Its specific areas of interest are education, children’s homes, charitable hospitals and care of the elderly. Its recorded support has principally taken the form of general operating grants, including for educational and theological institutions and children’s homes. Its approach is to make charitable grants to eligible Methodist-affiliated organisations in Georgia, focused on the areas it names.
Themes
- Education
- Children’s Homes
- Charitable Hospitals
- Care of the Elderly
Geographic Focus
Georgia.
How to apply
Organisations that meet the guidelines are encouraged to use the online Grant Application Form and submit by March 1.
Deadlines: Submit grant applications by March 1.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 92% 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 45 grants to organisations were about $250,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- All eligible charities must be affiliated with the Methodist Church.
- Education is a specific area of interest.
- Children’s Homes are a specific area of interest.
- Charitable Hospitals are a specific area of interest.
- Care of the Elderly is a specific area of interest.
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 22% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations William I. H. and Lula E. Pitts Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 15 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $249k (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Andrew College · General operating$1,242,9362025 tax year
- LaGrange College · General operating$1,042,9362025 tax year
- Wesleyan College · General operating$515,0002025 tax year
- Emory University Chandler School Of Theology · General operating$440,0002025 tax year
- Gammon Theological Seminary · General operating$375,0002025 tax year
- Epworth by the Sea · General operating$300,0002025 tax year
- Emory University · General operating$250,0002025 tax year
- Methodist Home for Children and Youth · General operating$249,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Linda Buchanan — Board Member
- Jenna Kelly — Board Member
- Bishop James E Swanson — Board Member
- Ralph R Morrison — Board Member
- Philip Millians — Board Member
- Jenner Wood — Board Member
- Dan McAlexander — Board Member
- Elizabeth Ogie — Board Member
- Bishop Mike Watson — Chairman
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $5,257,102 | $4,933,872 | $102,776,029 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $5,235,514 | $4,802,872 | $108,163,101 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $5,522,013 | $5,119,572 | $118,861,732 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to William I. H. and Lula E. Pitts Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (404) 588-7347
- amy.green@truist.com
- Orlando, FL (office of its trustee, Truist Bank)
- pittsfoundation.org
Applying to William I. H. and Lula E. Pitts Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (404) 588-7347
- amy.green@truist.com
- Orlando, FL (office of its trustee, Truist Bank)
- pittsfoundation.org