The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson
The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson Foundation is a private foundation established in 2002 and based in Ross, California. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a focus on grantmaking and program-related investments.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$6.7M
+9.2% YoY
Grant Count
26
+4.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$259K
+5.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports education, human services, and philanthropy. It also provides program-related investment loans to businesses and social entrepreneurs in Mendocino and Lake County, with a focus on economic development projects that offer social and community benefits. The foundation maintains a commitment to supporting the Marin Agricultural Land Trust.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy and Grantmaking
- Workforce preparation and job readiness
- Arts access and participation
Grantmaking
The foundation made 27 grants in 2023, with a total giving amount of $6,726,988.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in California, Colorado, and Vermont. Program-related investment loans specifically target Mendocino and Lake County businesses and social entrepreneurs.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $49,594,340
- Total Revenue: $2,974,766
- Total Expenses: $6,958,493
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation maintains a fully funded endowment structure supporting its grantmaking activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pbs Foundation ($1,000,000), Summer Search ($1,000,000), Sustainable Conservation ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCOUNTABILITY COUNSEL SAN FRANCISCO, CA | General & Unrestricted | $150,000 |
| ADVENTURERS AND SCIENTISTS FOR CONSERVATION BOZEMAN, MT | Adventure Scientists Project Seed Fund | $300,000 |
| CALIFORNIA ASSOC OF RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT SACRAMENTO, CA | Accelerating Climate Action in California: Scaling carbon SEQUESTRATION AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE ON WORKING LANDS | $300,000 |
| CARBON CYCLE INSTITUTE PETALUMA, CA | Accelerating Climate Action in California: Scaling Carbon Sequestration and Climate Resilience on Working Lands | $300,000 |
| CAREMESSAGE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | SUPPORTING CAREMESSAGE'S EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUSTAINABILITY | $100,000 |
| CENTER ON RURAL INNOVATION INC HARTLAND, VT | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| DAILY ACTS ORGANIZATION PETALUMA, CA | Build water and climate resilient communities through three connected strategies: implementing practical, holistic landscape solutions; influencing climate and water policy; and spreading Daily Acts' message, model and approach to more communities | $200,000 |
| EXTRAFOOD ORG KENTFIELD, CA | General & Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| FIRST LOOK INSTITUTE INC WASHINGTON, DC | General & Unrestricted | $15 |
| FIRST NATIONS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE LONGMONT, CO | California Tribal Fund | $175,206 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Eleanor Patterson Clifford, Director
- Elizabeth R Patterson, Vice President
- William R Patterson, Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eleanor Patterson Clifford | Dir | 1 | — |
| Elizabeth R Patterson | Pres, Dir, Treas | 10 | — |
| William R Patterson | Sec, Dir | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson fund?
The foundation supports education, human services, and philanthropy. It also provides program-related investment loans to businesses and social entrepreneurs in Mendocino and Lake County, with a focus on economic development projects that offer social and community benefits. The foundation maintains a commitment to supporting the Marin Agricultural Land Trust. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Human Services • Philanthropy and Grantmaking • Workforce preparation and job readine…
How do I apply for a grant from The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $15 to $1,000,000. **Recent Grants (2023):** • Summer Search (No Ceilings Campaign): $1,000,000 • First Nations Development Institute (California Tribal Fund): $517,167 • Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (Fund IV): $500,000 The foundation made 27 grants in 2023, with a total giving amount of $6,726,988.
Where does The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson make grants?
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in California, Colorado, and Vermont. Program-related investment loans specifically target Mendocino and Lake County businesses and social entrepreneurs.
What size grants does The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson award?
In 2024, The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson awarded 26 grants totaling $6.7M — an average of about $259K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson's EIN?
The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3667071. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Elizabeth R & William J Patterson's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.