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Peter Degeorge Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$18.9M
Grant Range
$500K - $3.0M

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Peter Degeorge Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

  • EIN: 85-6420294
  • Annual Giving: $18,937,470 (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: ~$1.6 million
  • Number of Grants: 12 awards (2023), 18 awards (2022), 7 awards (2021)
  • Assets/Revenue: $24.4 million (2024)
  • Decision Process: Trustee discretion
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Florida, potentially national
  • Status: Active (founded 2021, continues post-founder's death in 2023)

Contact Details

Address: Jupiter, FL (specific address available in Form 990 filings)

Note: This is a private charitable trust operating at trustee discretion. There is no public application process or website. Contact information is limited and available through IRS Form 990-PF filings accessible via ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer (EIN: 85-6420294).

Overview

The Peter Degeorge Charitable Trust was established in January 2021 by Peter Richard DeGeorge (1946-2023), a successful real estate entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Jupiter, Florida. Despite the founder's passing in February 2023, the trust remains active and continues substantial grantmaking operations, filing returns in October 2024 showing $24.4 million in revenue. The trust operates as a private foundation making substantial grants averaging approximately $1.6 million per award, indicating a focus on significant, transformative funding rather than numerous smaller grants.

Peter DeGeorge came from a notably philanthropic family - his father, Lawrence J. DeGeorge (former CEO of Amphenol, sold for $1.5 billion in 1997), was a major benefactor of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Palm Beach County, with clubs named after family members including the Florence A. DeGeorge Club. Peter DeGeorge himself led the buyout of Miles Homes in 1988, growing it into the nationally recognized DeGeorge Homes, before establishing his charitable trust later in life. As a Quinnipiac College alumnus (Class of 1970, Business Administration), he returned to serve as a philanthropist and board director for his alma mater.

The trust represents a continuation of multi-generational DeGeorge family philanthropy, with particular historical connections to youth development, educational institutions, and athletic programs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates without formal grant programs or public application cycles. All grantmaking decisions are made at the trustee's discretion. Based on available data:

  • Large Institutional Grants: The trust makes substantial awards, averaging $1.6 million in 2023
  • Grant Range: Likely spans from low six figures to multi-million dollar commitments, given the 12 grants totaling $18.9 million
  • Grantmaking Pattern: Variable - 7 grants (2021), 18 grants (2022), 12 grants (2023) - suggesting responsive rather than programmatic giving

Priority Areas (Based on Founder's Known Interests)

While specific grant recipients are not publicly disclosed outside Form 990 Schedule I filings, the founder's documented interests and family philanthropic history suggest potential priority areas:

Education:

  • Higher education institutions (particularly Quinnipiac University connections)
  • Educational access and opportunity programs
  • Schools and colleges with strong athletic programs

Youth Development & Sports:

  • Boys & Girls Clubs (strong family legacy)
  • Community football and lacrosse programs, particularly in minority communities
  • Amateur sports competition and youth athletics
  • Triathlon and athletic sponsorships

Children's Charities:

  • Organizations serving youth in Palm Beach County and broader Florida
  • Educational and recreational programs for young people
  • Programs promoting sports participation in underserved communities

Potential Geographic Focus:

  • Florida (particularly Palm Beach County, Jupiter area)
  • Connecticut (former business base in Cheshire)
  • Institutions with DeGeorge family connections

The trust's designation as a 501(c)(3) organization specifically includes purposes for "charitable, educational, and other purposes including fostering amateur sports competition."

What They Likely Don't Fund

Given the private trust structure and substantial grant sizes, the trust likely does not fund:

  • Small-scale projects requiring grants under $100,000
  • Organizations without established track records
  • Projects outside the founder's documented areas of interest
  • Routine operational expenses or deficit funding
  • Projects with purely local (non-scalable) impact

Governance and Leadership

Original Trustee: Peter R. DeGeorge (deceased February 2023)

Current Governance: The trust continues operations following the founder's death, with Form 990 filings submitted through October 2024. Specific successor trustee information would be detailed in the most recent Form 990-PF filings. Peter DeGeorge was survived by three children - Peter M. DeGeorge, Michael DeGeorge, and Brandi Martelli - who may be involved in continuing the trust's operations, though this has not been publicly confirmed.

Family Context: The trust is part of the broader DeGeorge family philanthropic legacy. Peter's father, Lawrence J. DeGeorge, was a renowned philanthropist who "received awards in recognition by his peers for his philanthropic work through his charitable trust with children's charities" over 30 years. Lawrence was specifically known as "a major backer of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Palm Beach County."

Related Entity: The Peter@Degeorge Family Foundation Inc. (EIN: 82-0637746) is a separate but related entity based in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, with Peter M. DeGeorge and Peter R. DeGeorge listed as directors. This foundation reported $0 in grants in 2023 but had previous activity, suggesting the Charitable Trust may be the primary active grantmaking vehicle.

Legal Matters: There have been family legal proceedings involving trust assets (Michael L. DeGeorge v. Peter M. DeGeorge, filed 2023), though the impact on the Charitable Trust's operations appears limited given its continued activity.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

There is no public application process. The Peter Degeorge Charitable Trust operates as a private charitable trust making grants at the sole discretion of the trustee(s). This structure means:

  • No application forms, deadlines, or online portals
  • No published funding guidelines or RFP processes
  • Grant decisions are made internally without solicitation
  • The trust proactively identifies and selects grant recipients

Organizations are not invited to submit unsolicited proposals. The trust does not maintain a public-facing website or published contact information for grant inquiries.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee initiative rather than in response to applications.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. The trust makes 7-18 grants annually from what is presumably a much smaller pool of organizations identified by trustees, rather than from open competition.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Key Insights for Understanding This Funder

Understanding the Trust Structure: As a private charitable trust rather than a foundation with public grant programs, this entity operates similarly to how many high-net-worth families handle philanthropy - identifying causes and organizations aligned with the founder's values and making proactive funding decisions.

The Multi-Generational Philanthropy Context: The DeGeorge family has a 30+ year history of structured philanthropy. Lawrence DeGeorge (Peter's father) was celebrated for his charitable trust work with children's charities and created lasting institutional relationships (e.g., named Boys & Girls Clubs facilities). This suggests the Peter Degeorge Charitable Trust may:

  • Value long-term institutional relationships over one-time grants
  • Prefer organizations where impact can be measured and recognized
  • Support capital projects or endowments that can carry the DeGeorge name forward
  • Focus on youth-serving organizations with proven track records

The Significant Grant Sizes: With an average grant of $1.6 million in 2023, this trust is making transformative gifts to a small number of organizations rather than distributing funding broadly. This suggests:

  • Recipients are likely established institutions capable of utilizing large gifts effectively
  • Grants may support capital campaigns, endowments, or major program expansion
  • The trust seeks meaningful, measurable impact rather than symbolic support
  • Multi-year commitments may be common

Founder's Personal Passions: Peter DeGeorge was personally engaged in triathlons and biathlons, sponsored professional triathletes and triathlon events, and was "involved in community football and lacrosse in minority communities." This active, personal involvement - rather than passive checkbook philanthropy - suggests the trust may favor:

  • Organizations where leadership can demonstrate deep commitment
  • Programs with measurable outcomes in youth athletics
  • Initiatives expanding sports access in underserved communities
  • Institutions (like Quinnipiac) where he had personal engagement as a board member

The Continuation Post-Founder: The trust's continued robust operations after Peter DeGeorge's February 2023 death (with $24.4 million in 2024 revenue) indicates either:

  • Well-structured succession planning was in place
  • The trust is endowed and designed for perpetual operation
  • Family members or professional trustees are continuing his philanthropic vision

The Connecticut-Florida Connection: Peter DeGeorge's business (DeGeorge Homes) was based in Cheshire, Connecticut from 1996, while his personal residences were in Jupiter, Florida and Beverly Hills, California. Organizations in these regions, particularly those aligned with his interests, may have stronger historical connections to the trust.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. This trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Standard grant writing strategies do not apply. Organizations cannot apply for funding through traditional means.

  2. Relationship-based funding model: Like many private trusts, grants likely flow to organizations where trustees have existing relationships, board connections, or personal knowledge. Focus on building authentic relationships with the Palm Beach County philanthropic community rather than sending cold proposals.

  3. Think institutional scale: With $1.6 million average grants, this funder supports major initiatives. If your organization operates at a smaller scale, this is not a suitable prospect. Appropriate projects might include capital campaigns, endowments, program expansion requiring seven-figure investment, or major facility development.

  4. Family legacy matters: The DeGeorge family has named facilities (Boys & Girls Clubs) and long-term institutional relationships. Organizations that can offer meaningful naming opportunities, legacy recognition, or long-term partnership alignment with DeGeorge family values may be more compelling.

  5. Youth development + sports intersection is key: The sweet spot appears to be programs that combine youth development (particularly educational access) with athletic opportunity, especially serving minority or underserved communities. Single-focus organizations outside this nexus are less likely to align.

  6. Quinnipiac connection: Given Peter DeGeorge's role as philanthropist and board director at his alma mater, organizations with Quinnipiac University connections or partnerships might find alignment.

  7. Geographic considerations: While based in Jupiter/Palm Beach Gardens, the trust's Florida focus and any continuing Connecticut connections (from the DeGeorge Homes era) could influence grant geography. California (where Peter had a residence) might also be relevant.

  8. Research Form 990 Schedule I: The only publicly available source for understanding actual grant patterns is the trust's Form 990-PF Schedule I, which lists all grants made. Organizations seeking alignment should review these filings (available through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, EIN: 85-6420294) to identify actual recipients and grant purposes.

  9. Monitor for succession changes: With the founder's recent passing and family legal proceedings, the trust's future direction may evolve. The 2024 and subsequent filings will reveal whether grant patterns continue or shift under new leadership.

  10. Professional trustee services: Private trusts often engage professional trustee services or wealth management firms to handle administration. If pursuing this funder, understanding whether professional trustees (vs. family trustees) are making decisions can inform strategy.

References

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