Margaret T Petrie Foundation
The Margaret T. Petrie Foundation is a private foundation based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Its grant program supports organizations providing spaying and neutering services for dogs and cats, with the stated aim of addressing pet overpopulation and reducing euthanasia in North Carolina.
Margaret T Petrie Foundation at a glance
In short: Margaret T Petrie Foundation gave $924K across 44 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), mostly in North Carolina. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $923,978
- +27.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 44
- +18.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,000
- +7.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $6,363,470
- -4.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (14 of 44, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (96% 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 Margaret T Petrie Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Organizations that have not previously received a grant should email a one-to-two-page letter of inquiry describing the organization and proposed project, along with an IRS determination letter showing 501(c)(3) status. The foundation will notify the organization if it may submit a full proposal. Previous grantees do not need to submit an inquiry letter. Proposal materials include organizational and project information, the counties served, the anticipated procedure costs and number of animals served, and financial information. The filing also asks for operating and project budgets, major funding sources, and the IRS determination letter. Grants are restricted to organizations providing spaying and neutering services.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing states that the submission deadline is May 1. The website says inquiry letters from organizations that have not previously received grants are accepted throughout the year.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing states that the submission deadline is May 1.
- Contact
Application contact: The Petrie Foundation
Mailing address: 501 Eastowne Dr Ste 130, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Phone: (919) 402-1740
Email: info@petriefoundation.org
Website: https://petriefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Margaret T Petrie Foundation
Who Margaret T Petrie Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Independent Animal Rescue ($50K). Together the top 10 received $370K.
Grant Size Distribution
150 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 146 grants of 150 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s guidelines describe assistance to North Carolina-based organizations. In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina and 4% to recipients in South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Margaret T Petrie Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 44 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 134% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 264% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $360K (2020) to $924K (2024). In 2024 it made 44 grants totaling $924K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Animal Rescue Chapel Hill, NC | Support Spaying and Neutering Programs | $50,000 |
| Animal Protection Society of Durham Durham, NC | Support Spaying and Neutering Through Voucher Programs | $45,000 |
| Warren County Animal Shelter Warrenton, NC | Support Spaying and Neutering Programs in Warren County | $45,000 |
| Carolina Poodle Rescue Pacolet, SC | Support Spaying and Neutering Programs | $35,000 |
| Paws of Hertford County Murfreesboro, NC | Support spaying and neutering programs for rescue dogs and cats | $35,000 |
| Paws of Rutherford County (Paws RC) Lake Lure, NC | Support Spaying and Neutering Programs in Rutherford County | $35,000 |
| Safe Haven for Cats Raleigh, NC | Support Spaying and Neutering Programs for Cats | $35,000 |
| Beyond Fences Durham, NC | Support Spaying and Neutering to Dogs and Cats | $30,000 |
| City of Burlington Animal Services Dept Burlington, NC | Support Spaying and Neutering Programs | $30,000 |
| Paws for Life NC Youngsville, NC | Support Spaying and Neutering Programs | $30,000 |
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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 | $6,363,470 | $811,354 | $1,087,296 | $923,978 | 44 | $1,003,509 | $725,976 | $380,580 |
| 2023 | $6,639,412 | $449,888 | $884,001 | $724,950 | 37 | $799,481 | $368,216 | $390,175 |
| 2022 | $7,073,525 | $196,879 | $672,096 | $486,615 | 24 | $515,291 | $103,744 | $412,991 |
| 2021 | $7,550,586 | $708,350 | $581,495 | $395,087 | 23 | $416,949 | $602,726 | $466,631 |
| 2020 | $7,418,114 | $577,165 | $512,301 | $360,260 | 22 | — | $485,358 | $410,927 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Margaret T Petrie Foundation reported a distributable amount of $381K 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’s mission is to support long-term solutions to pet overpopulation and reduce the number of dogs and cats euthanized annually, thereby improving the lives of companion animals in North Carolina. It makes grants to qualified charitable organizations that provide spaying and neutering services. Its guidelines say it assists North Carolina-based organizations and prefers well-defined projects with clear goals and objectives, though general organizational funding may be considered.
Grantees include organizations with varied animal-welfare missions. Independent Animal Rescue describes its work as rescuing, caring for, and finding homes for abandoned and abused animals, promoting spaying and neutering, and addressing feral-cat overpopulation. Safe Haven for Cats says it uses rescue, adoption, spay/neuter services, and community programs to save cats’ lives. Paws of Hertford County describes its work as placing stray animals, primarily dogs and cats, and spaying and neutering domestic animals.
Grant funds may cover eligible spay/neuter procedures and certain related costs, such as surgical supplies, pain medication, rabies vaccination, and volunteer or staff fuel for transporting animals to a clinic. The guidelines exclude, among other costs, staff salaries, facility rent or mortgage, microchipping, and procedures performed before the grant award. Funds cannot cover spay/neuter procedures for companion animals other than dogs and cats.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $923,978. Individual awards ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $20,000. The foundation’s filing says grants are generally between $1,000 and $20,000, while requests outside that range may be considered; its grant-program description lists an award range of $1,000 to $50,000.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $50,000 to Independent Animal Rescue for spaying and neutering programs; $45,000 each to the Animal Protection Society of Durham for voucher programs and Warren County Animal Shelter for county programs; and $35,000 each to Carolina Poodle Rescue, Paws of Hertford County, Paws of Rutherford County, and Safe Haven for Cats for spay/neuter support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sarah Elizabeth Tillman is listed as trustee on the 2024 filing.
Margaret T Petrie Foundation is led by Sarah Elizabeth Tillman, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sarah Elizabeth Tillman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$38K (2023) → $40K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $40K, to Sarah Elizabeth Tillman (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Margaret T Petrie Foundation
How much does Margaret T Petrie Foundation give each year?
Margaret T Petrie Foundation gave $924K across 44 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $725K across 37 grants.
What is Margaret T Petrie Foundation's typical grant size?
Margaret T Petrie Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $21,000, across 44 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Margaret T Petrie Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does Margaret T Petrie Foundation give grants?
Margaret T Petrie Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Durham, NC (2 grants), Chapel Hill, NC (2 grants), Raleigh, NC (2 grants) and Burlington, NC (2 grants).
Does Margaret T Petrie Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 44 grants with a stated purpose on Margaret T Petrie Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Spaying and Neutering Programs" (25 grants).
Who are Margaret T Petrie Foundation's largest grantees?
Margaret T Petrie Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Independent Animal Rescue ($50,000), Animal Protection Society of Durham ($45,000) and Warren County Animal Shelter ($45,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Margaret T Petrie Foundation?
Margaret T Petrie Foundation reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $381K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Margaret T Petrie Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support long-term solutions to pet overpopulation and reduce the number of dogs and cats euthanized annually, thereby improving the lives of companion animals in North Carolina. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Margaret T Petrie Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Margaret T Petrie Foundation's EIN?
Margaret T Petrie Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0793232. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Margaret T Petrie Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
Live grants for the work Margaret T Petrie Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Margaret T Petrie Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/margaret-t-petrie-foundation-morg_e914a5ca91a54be8bf9ac620958248e2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_810793232_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Margaret T Petrie Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/margaret-t-petrie-foundation-morg_e914a5ca91a54be8bf9ac620958248e2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Margaret T Petrie 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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