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Endeavour Legacy Foundation

Annual Giving
$36.6M
Grant Range
$50K - $30.0M

Endeavour Legacy Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $36.6 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only grantmaker)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $30,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Virginia (primarily Richmond area and central Virginia)
  • Total Assets: $732 million

Contact Details

Address: 919 E Main St Suite 950, Richmond, VA 23219

Website: https://www.endeavourlegacy.org/ (access restricted)

Note: The foundation accepts grant proposals by invitation only. There is no publicly available contact email or phone number for unsolicited inquiries.

Overview

The Endeavour Legacy Foundation was established in 2019 through gifts from the estates of Stanley F. and Dorothy Pauley, prominent Richmond philanthropists who passed away within six months of each other between late 2020 and early 2021. Operating as a private foundation under Section 501(c)(3), the foundation holds assets totaling $732 million and distributed $36.6 million in grants in 2023. The foundation is led by Katharine "Kathy" Pauley Hickok (President/Secretary), daughter of the founders, and her husband Dr. Eugene W. Hickok (Vice President/Director), who served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education from 2003-2005. Both officers serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.

The foundation's philanthropic approach emphasizes supporting institutions preparing to undertake major initiatives with transformational potential, rather than funding ongoing operations. Nearly all grants support Virginia nonprofits, reflecting the Pauley family's deep commitment to their home state. Notable recent initiatives include historic seven-figure gifts to Virginia educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and cultural entities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a private grantmaking foundation with no formal public grant programs. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the two-member board and are by invitation only.

Recent major grants include:

  • Hampden-Sydney College: $30 million (2024) to endow faculty and staff positions in business, foreign affairs, and national security; $20 million for Gilmer Hall renovation
  • St. Catherine's School: Largest gift in school history (amount undisclosed) for Endeavour Hall (Arts & Innovation Center)
  • Richmond Symphony: $50,000+ annually (Virtuoso's Circle donor)
  • University of Richmond: Program support for the McDowell Institute at Jepson School of Leadership Studies
  • St. Andrew's School: Significant grant (amount undisclosed)
  • Children's Hospital of Richmond: Substantial award
  • VCU Health Pauley Heart Center: Ongoing support building on founders' legacy
  • Sweet Briar College: Multiple grants including support for Psi Chi chapter

Priority Areas

According to the foundation's stated priorities:

Education: Expanding access to education, particularly post-secondary education, and supporting student success. Strong focus on Virginia colleges and preparatory schools.

Healthcare & Medical Research: Advancements in medical research, healthcare and wellness with specific emphasis on:

  • Heart disease
  • Cancer
  • Dementia
  • Healthcare access

Arts & Culture:

  • Support of performing arts and arts education
  • Historic preservation and architecture
  • Support reflects Dorothy Pauley's background as an arts history major and Richmond Symphony chorus member

Civic Engagement: Supporting ways to build public trust, foster thoughtful dialogue, and promote civic engagement to maintain a strong and resilient democracy.

Strategic Approach

The Foundation seeks to support institutions and organizations preparing to take on major initiatives with transformational potential, rather than underwriting ongoing operations. The foundation demonstrates interest in helping organizations and individuals excel in significant and far-reaching endeavors.

What They Don't Fund

Based on their stated approach:

  • Ongoing operational support (except for select long-term partnerships)
  • Organizations outside Virginia (with rare exceptions)
  • Small-scale projects without transformational potential
  • Individual scholarships or direct student aid (they prefer institutional grants)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Katharine P. "Kathy" Hickok — President/Secretary (Unpaid)

  • Daughter of foundation founders Stanley F. and Dorothy Pauley
  • Long-time leader of Endeavour Legacy Foundation
  • Oversees $732 million in foundation assets

Dr. Eugene W. Hickok — Vice President/Director (Unpaid)

  • Hampden-Sydney College Class of 1972
  • U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education (2003-2005) and briefly Acting Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush
  • Ph.D. in Political Science
  • Brings extensive experience in higher education policy

Foundation Heritage

The foundation honors the legacy of Stanley F. Pauley (1927-2020) and Dorothy Pauley (1929-2021):

  • Stanley F. Pauley: Chairman and CEO of Carpenter Co., a comfort cushioning products manufacturer with estimated annual revenues exceeding $1 billion. Relocated the company to Richmond in 1956 and led it until his death.

  • Dorothy Pauley: A 1974 graduate of VCU's College of Humanities and Sciences with degrees in English and arts history. Served on boards of various arts organizations and sang soprano in the Richmond Symphony chorus.

  • The couple were married for more than seven decades and created the separate Pauley Family Foundation in 2006, which now operates as a $2 billion supporting organization of the Community Foundation for Greater Richmond.

  • In 2013, Stanley and Dorothy Pauley received the Architecture Medal for Virginia Service from the Virginia chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the organization's most prestigious award for improving the architectural environment in Virginia.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Endeavour Legacy Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation currently accepts grant proposals by invitation only.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's two-member board of directors (Katharine Hickok and Eugene Hickok). The foundation proactively identifies organizations aligned with its mission and funding priorities rather than soliciting applications.

Getting on Their Radar

Note: The following represents specific, documented information about this funder's approach:

Board Connections: With only two board members, both deeply connected to Virginia's educational and cultural institutions, relationships within these networks are important:

  • Eugene Hickok maintains strong ties to Hampden-Sydney College (Class of 1972) and the higher education policy community
  • The Hickoks are connected to Richmond's philanthropic and cultural establishment through the legacy of Stanley and Dorothy Pauley

Institutional Focus: The foundation has demonstrated clear preference for:

  • Established Virginia institutions undertaking major capital campaigns or transformational initiatives
  • Organizations previously supported by the Pauley Family Foundation
  • Institutions in Richmond and central Virginia (Hampden-Sydney, Orange, Sweet Briar, University of Richmond)

Types of Initiatives That Attract Support:

  • Capital projects with naming opportunities (Endeavour Hall at St. Catherine's, endowed professorships at Hampden-Sydney)
  • Transformational academic programs at Virginia colleges
  • Healthcare initiatives building on the Pauleys' legacy interests (cardiology, cancer, dementia research)
  • Major arts and cultural infrastructure

Connection to Founders' Interests: Organizations that align with Stanley and Dorothy Pauley's documented passions—manufacturing/engineering education, arts (especially music and architecture), healthcare, and Virginia history—may find resonance with the foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder with a two-member board, decisions can likely be made relatively quickly once a proposal is invited, but timeframes are not standardized.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications. The foundation operates by identifying potential grantees rather than reviewing unsolicited proposals.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only structure. However, the foundation has demonstrated willingness to make multiple grants to the same institutions over time (as evidenced by multiple gifts to Hampden-Sydney College totaling $112.5 million when combined with Pauley Family Foundation gifts).

Application Success Factors

Since this funder operates by invitation only, success factors differ from traditional competitive grant processes:

What the Foundation Looks For

Transformational Scale: The foundation explicitly states interest in "institutions and organizations preparing to take on major initiatives with transformational potential." Recent grants confirm this—$30 million to endow faculty positions, multi-million dollar capital projects, and "largest gift in history" contributions.

Institutional Excellence: Grant recipients are established, prestigious institutions—not emerging organizations. Recent beneficiaries include Hampden-Sydney College, University of Richmond, St. Catherine's School, and the Richmond Symphony.

Virginia Focus: Nearly 100% of grantmaking supports Virginia nonprofits, particularly in the Richmond metropolitan area and central Virginia.

Capital and Endowment Projects: Many recent grants support permanent infrastructure (Endeavour Hall, Gilmer Hall renovation) or endowed positions rather than programmatic work.

Alignment with Founders' Values: Organizations connected to education (especially Virginia colleges), healthcare (particularly heart disease, cancer, dementia), arts (music, architecture), and civic life reflect the Pauleys' documented philanthropic interests.

Strategic Positioning

For Large Institutions in Capital Campaigns: If your Virginia-based organization is planning a major capital campaign or transformational initiative in education, healthcare, or the arts, the foundation may reach out to you. Having board members or major donors connected to Virginia's philanthropic networks increases visibility.

Board Composition Matters: With Eugene Hickok's background in higher education and the foundation's education focus, institutions with strong academic programs, particularly in business, public affairs, leadership, or national security, align well with demonstrated interests.

Multi-Year Partnerships: The foundation has shown willingness to make multiple gifts to the same institution over time, suggesting they value long-term partnerships with organizations where they see sustained impact.

Naming Opportunities: Several major gifts have included naming rights (Endeavour Hall, endowed professorships), suggesting the foundation values visible, lasting recognition of their support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is NOT an open application process: Do not submit unsolicited proposals. The foundation operates by invitation only with a two-member board making discretionary grants.

  • Scale matters significantly: Recent grants range from $50,000 to $30 million, but the foundation explicitly seeks "transformational" initiatives. Small projects are unlikely to align with their approach.

  • Virginia institutions strongly preferred: Nearly all funding goes to Virginia nonprofits, particularly in Richmond and central Virginia. Out-of-state organizations should not pursue this funder.

  • Education is the dominant priority: Higher education institutions, particularly Virginia colleges, receive the largest and most frequent grants. K-12 independent schools also receive support.

  • Connection to founders' legacy opens doors: Organizations that were supported by Stanley and Dorothy Pauley during their lifetimes, or that align with their documented interests (heart disease research, arts, architecture, engineering education), have established relationships.

  • Capital and endowment projects preferred: The foundation's stated preference for transformational over operational support is borne out in their grantmaking—expect focus on buildings, endowed positions, and permanent infrastructure.

  • Visibility through Virginia networks: Given the board's small size and Virginia focus, visibility comes through connections within Virginia's philanthropic, educational, and cultural communities rather than through formal outreach.

References

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