George & Rita Patterson Foundation
The George & Rita Patterson Foundation is a private foundation based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It makes grants and contributions to organizations recognized by the IRS as organizations described in IRC Section 501(c)(3).
George & Rita Patterson Foundation at a glance
In short: George & Rita Patterson Foundation gave $207K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $207,000
- -2.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,500
- -2.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $4,373,099
- +4.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (4 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (59% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to George & Rita Patterson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its filing states that trustees select the charitable organizations eligible to receive grants. It provides no application materials or open application process.
- Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 6595, Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone: (717) 652-9692
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who George & Rita Patterson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was PAA Foundation ($51K). Together the top 10 received $190K.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 96 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania (59%), Rhode Island (25%), Texas (5%), New York (4%), and Indiana (2%). These figures describe the locations of listed recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is George & Rita Patterson Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 18 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 78% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $207K (2024) to $226K (2022). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $207K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PAA Foundation Harrisburg, PA | Contribution | $51,250 |
| United Waycapital Region Enola, PA | Contribution | $51,250 |
| Vanguard Charitable Endowment Prog Warwick, RI | Contribution | $51,250 |
| Citizens for Self Governance Houston, TX | Contribution | $10,000 |
| Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors Camp Hill, PA | Contribution | $5,000 |
| JDRF International New York, NY | Contribution | $5,000 |
| Preborn Indianapolis, IN | Contribution | $5,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | Donation | $5,000 |
| Bethesda Mission Harrisburg, PA | Contribution | $3,000 |
| Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Harrisburg, PA | Contribution | $3,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,373,099 | $409,616 | $231,067 | $207,000 | 18 | $207,000 | $224,374 | $213,108 |
| 2023 | $4,188,892 | $198,852 | $235,391 | $212,000 | 18 | $212,000 | $210,435 | $204,870 |
| 2022 | $4,098,302 | $86,067 | $255,238 | $226,000 | 21 | $226,000 | $93,129 | $211,438 |
| 2021 | $4,506,622 | $338,675 | $245,119 | $220,000 | 19 | $214,000 | $131,146 | $225,125 |
| 2020 | $4,448,088 | $135,852 | $259,795 | $221,000 | 20 | — | $61,630 | $218,841 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George & Rita Patterson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $213K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its charitable activity as making grants and contributions to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions include providing emergency financial assistance to wounded Pennsylvania veterans, as Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors describes its work, and addressing hunger in central Pennsylvania, as Central Pennsylvania Food Bank describes its mission. The Mayo Clinic describes its mission as advancing health and well-being through patient care, education, and research. These are grantee missions, not stated missions of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $207,000 through 18 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $51,250, with a median of $3,000. Among the largest grants were $51,250 each to PAA Foundation, United Way Capital Region, and Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program; $10,000 to Citizens for Self Governance; and $5,000 each to Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, JDRF International, Preborn, and Mayo Clinic. Other listed grants included $3,000 each to Bethesda Mission, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, the Payton Walker Foundation, and Tunnels to Towers. Judicial Watch received $2,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists George Patterson Jr, Nathaniel J Patterson III, M Geralyn P Hempt, and M Sharon P Turner as trustees.
George & Rita Patterson Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
George Patterson Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
M. Geralyn P. Hempt
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
M. Sharon P. Turner
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nathaniel J. Patterson III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about George & Rita Patterson Foundation
How much does George & Rita Patterson Foundation give each year?
George & Rita Patterson Foundation gave $207K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $212K across 18 grants.
What is George & Rita Patterson Foundation's typical grant size?
George & Rita Patterson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $11,500, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from George & Rita Patterson Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does George & Rita Patterson Foundation give grants?
George & Rita Patterson Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Rhode Island (25%). The most frequent recipient cities were Harrisburg, PA (4 grants) and Camp Hill, PA (2 grants).
Does George & Rita Patterson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on George & Rita Patterson Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Contribution" (15 grants) and "Donation" (3 grants).
Who are George & Rita Patterson Foundation's largest grantees?
George & Rita Patterson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include PAA Foundation ($51,250), United Waycapital Region ($51,250) and Vanguard Charitable Endowment Prog ($51,250), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is George & Rita Patterson Foundation?
George & Rita Patterson Foundation reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $207K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $213K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does George & Rita Patterson Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its charitable activity as making grants and contributions to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from George & Rita Patterson Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is George & Rita Patterson Foundation's EIN?
George & Rita Patterson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6719662. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does George & Rita Patterson Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). George & Rita Patterson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/george-and-rita-patterson-foundation-morg_83c5fa189dfe40698902b2d70189acff
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_256719662_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{George \& Rita Patterson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/george-and-rita-patterson-foundation-morg_83c5fa189dfe40698902b2d70189acff},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from George & Rita Patterson Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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