The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn

Private foundation · Grantmaker Saint Louis, MO EIN: 20-7020377

The Lewis A and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn is a private foundation based in Saint Louis, Missouri. Its 2025 filing reports 12 grants totaling $58,000, all designated for general operating support.

The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn at a glance

In short: The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn gave $58K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$58,000
+5.5% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
12
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$4,833
+5.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$710,673
+2.2% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
42% first-time grantees (5 of 12, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Pennsylvania (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn

How to Apply

The 2025 filing directs applicants to contact Wells Fargo Private Foundation and use the Patterson grant application form and materials. The filing states there are no program limitations and that the foundation primarily supports western Pennsylvania counties.

Review Cycle
April 30, as listed on the 2025 filing.
Deadline
April 30, as listed on the 2025 filing.
Contact

Application contact: Www Wellsfargo Comprivatefoundatio
Mailing address: 1 West 4Th Street, Winston Salem, NC 27101
Phone: (888) 234-1999

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Eye & Ear Foundation Inc: $10KEye & Ear Foundation Inc$10KNorth Hills Community Outreach Inc: $8KNorth Hills Community OutreachInc$8KCatholic Charities Diocese Pittsburgh: $5KCatholic Charities DiocesePittsburgh$5KMake a Wish Fdn Greater Pa West VA: $5KMake a Wish Fdn Greater PaWest VA$5KPhipps Conservatory and Botanical Gard I: $5KPhipps Conservatory andBotanical Gard I$5KSisters Place Inc: $5KSisters Place Inc$5KFriends of UT Avalanche Forecast Cetr IN: $5KFriends of UT AvalancheForecast Cetr IN$5KWestern Pennsylvania Conservancy: $3KWestern PennsylvaniaConservancy$3KLiteracy Pittsburgh: $3KLiteracy Pittsburgh$3KPittsburgh Trust for Cultural Resources: $3KPittsburgh Trust for CulturalResources$3K

The largest 2025 recipient was Eye & Ear Foundation Inc ($10K). Together the top 10 received $52K.

Grant Size Distribution

51 grants across all recorded years

51<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 51 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The filing states that the foundation primarily supports western Pennsylvania counties. In 2025, 91% of grant dollars went to Pennsylvania recipients and 9% to Utah recipients.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.

Cities

PittsburghWexfordAllison ParkSalt Lake CitySalt Lake CtyClairtonDelmont

Is The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn open to new grantees?

42%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 5 of 12 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 37% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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

$0$20K$40K$60K9 grants2019 9 grants2020 9 grants2021 9 grants2022 9 grants2023 12 grants2024 12 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2023) to $58K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $58K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Eye & Ear Foundation Inc Pittsburgh, PAGeneral Operating$10,000
North Hills Community Outreach Inc Allison Park, PAGeneral Operating$8,000
Catholic Charities Diocese Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PAGeneral Operating$5,000
Make a Wish Fdn Greater Pa West VA Pittsburgh, PAGeneral Operating$5,000
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gard I Pittsburgh, PAGeneral Operating$5,000
Sisters Place Inc Pittsburgh, PAGeneral Operating$5,000
Friends of UT Avalanche Forecast Cetr IN Salt Lake Cty, UTGeneral Operating$5,000
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Pittsburgh, PAGeneral Operating$3,000
Literacy Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PAGeneral Operating$3,000
Pittsburgh Trust for Cultural Resources Pittsburgh, PAGeneral Operating$3,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$710,673$96,394$80,186$58,00012$63,616$80,799$56,184
2024$695,179$76,950$74,315$55,00012$60,181$62,877$52,948
2023$692,918$34,576$56,573$40,1009$44,768$22,098$45,725
2022$715,419$29,354$59,750$42,4009$47,111$18,069$46,445
2021$745,347$82,283$68,156$50,4009$55,434$68,121$52,227
2020$731,159$42,381$56,113$42,4009—$27,132$43,875
2019$745,000$32,700$58,371$44,4009—$19,056$42,709

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including health research, crisis assistance, housing, arts, conservation, literacy, and dementia research. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not stated priorities of the foundation.

For example, the Eye & Ear Foundation says it advances academic and research efforts in otolaryngology and ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh to enhance patient care. North Hills Community Outreach says it addresses crisis, hardship, and poverty in Allegheny County communities. Sisters Place says it supports families and individuals overcoming poverty and homelessness through housing and other services. Clear Thoughts Foundation says it funds discovery of treatments for dementia. City Theatre Company says it develops and produces contemporary plays; Western Pennsylvania Conservancy says it protects and restores natural places; and Literacy Pittsburgh says its mission is “better lives through learning.”

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation gave 12 grants totaling $58,000. Grants ranged from $3,000 to $10,000, with a median grant of $5,000. All listed grants were for general operating support.

Notable 2025 grants included $10,000 to the Eye & Ear Foundation and $8,000 to North Hills Community Outreach. The foundation also gave $5,000 each to Catholic Charities Diocese Pittsburgh, Make-A-Wish Foundation Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Sisters Place, and Friends of Utah Avalanche Forecast Center. Grants of $3,000 each went to Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Literacy Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Trust for Cultural Resources, City Theatre Company, and Clear Thoughts Foundation.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Wells Fargo Bank N.A. is listed as trustee on the 2025 filing.

The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn's only listed officer is Wells Fargo Bank N A, Trustee on every filing since 2019 (compensated).

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Wells Fargo Bank N A

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $12K (2019) → $18K (2025)

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Wells Fargo Bank N a — Trustee: $18KWells Fargo Bank N aTrustee$18K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $18K, to Wells Fargo Bank N a (Trustee).

Frequently asked questions about The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn

How much does The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn give each year?

The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn gave $58K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $55K across 12 grants.

What is The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn's typical grant size?

The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,833, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn that year got $5K on average.

Where does The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn give grants?

The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Utah (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (9 grants).

Does The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn's largest grantees?

The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn's largest 2025 grantees include Eye & Ear Foundation Inc ($10,000), North Hills Community Outreach Inc ($8,000) and Catholic Charities Diocese Pittsburgh ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn?

The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn reported $711K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $64K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $56K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including health research, crisis assistance, housing, arts, conservation, literacy, and dementia research. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn?

The 2025 filing directs applicants to contact Wells Fargo Private Foundation and use the Patterson grant application form and materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn's EIN?

The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-7020377. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
  3. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 3, 2020)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lewis-a-and-donna-m-patterson-char-fdn-morg_f893bcbb61b4404ab368c578bc23c6ff

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_207020377_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lewis-a-and-donna-m-patterson-char-fdn-morg_f893bcbb61b4404ab368c578bc23c6ff},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

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Figures come from The Lewis a and Donna M Patterson Char Fdn'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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