The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation
The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 1988 in Virginia. Based in Richmond, the foundation provides financial support for charitable organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, with a particular emphasis on the greater Richmond area. The foundation was created using funds from Mary Morton Parsons' father's Home Beneficial Life Insurance Company holdings. Mary Morton Parsons (1903-1990) was a Richmond native whose legacy continues through the foundation's grantmaking activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$137.6M
+4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.5M
+33.8% YoY
Grant Count
71
-6.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$134K
+43.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission of The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation is to support non-profit organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia primarily for capital projects.
The foundation supports organizations working in six priority areas:
- Arts & Culture
- Civic & Community Needs
- Education
- Environment & Conservation
- Historic Preservation
- Social Services & Welfare
The foundation focuses exclusively on permanent, capital projects rather than operating expenses. These include contributions to capital campaigns, funding for the purchase of technology, transportation, and equipment, and support for special needs arising from emergencies.
Grantmaking
Organizations must be exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3), not classified as a private foundation as defined in Section 509(a), and located in or around Richmond, Virginia. The foundation also supports institutions that have a statewide presence which significantly benefit Richmond and Virginia.
Grant Range
** $5,000 to $1,000,000
Review Cycle
March 16, 2026 at 5 pm
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes the greater Richmond area and supports organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. It also funds institutions with statewide presence that significantly benefit Richmond and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $131,901,277
- Total Revenue: $9,029,148
- Total Expenses: $8,074,695
- Total Liabilities: $632,000
- Investment Income and Dividends: $2,459,555
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $6,601,566
Cumulative Impact: The foundation has awarded over $143 million in capital grants since its inception.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $137,592,523 | $131,901,277 | $117,530,431 |
| Revenue | $14,165,988 | $9,029,148 | $6,822,912 |
| Expenses | $10,789,032 | $8,074,695 | $8,114,486 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,537,000 | $7,127,054 | $7,184,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,127,612 | $8,148,551 | $5,992,720 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,620,838 | $5,977,162 | $6,213,417 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cross-over Ministry ($605,000), Better Housing Coalition ($500,000), Liberation Veteran Services Inc ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANNA JULIA COOPER EPISCOPAL SCHOOL RICHMOND, VA | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| ATLANTIC OUTREACH INCORPORATED RICHMOND, VA | SUPPORT NEW BUILDING EXPANSION | $50,000 |
| AUTISM PROGRAM OF VA INC - COMMONWEALTH AUTISM RICHMOND, VA | BUILD AN AUTISM WORKFORCE EDUCATIONAL FACILITY | $150,000 |
| BETTER HOUSING COALITION RICHMOND, VA | SUPPORT THE COLBROOK DEVELOPMENT | $500,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO RICHMOND RICHMOND, VA | REPAIRS ON COTTAGES | $10,000 |
| BOYS HOME OF VIRGINIA HENRICO, VA | SUPPORT CRITICAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS | $120,000 |
| BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE BRIDGEWATER, VA | SUPPORT RENOVATIONS TO BOWMAN HALL | $250,000 |
| BYRD THEATRE FOUNDATION RICHMOND, VA | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $5,000 |
| CARITAS RICHMOND, VA | SUPPORT DINWIDDIE AVENUE MEN'S CAMPUS RENOVATION PROJECT | $365,000 |
| CHILD DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES INC NORGE, VA | SUPPORT FACILITY RENOVATIONS | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Thurston R Moore, Esq. – President
- Charles F Witthoefft, Esq. – Vice President/Secretary
- Mrs Palmer P Garson – Treasurer
- Mrs Amy P Nisenson – Executive Director
- Edward W Valentine – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THURSTON R MOORE ESQ | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| CHARLES F WITTHOEFFT ESQ | VICE PRES/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| MRS PALMER P GARSON | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| MRS AMY P NISENSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 20 | $93,312 |
| EDWARD W VALENTINE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking with 2024 grant recipients announced. Recent awards include significant support for cultural institutions, housing initiatives, and animal welfare organizations. The foundation maintains an active grant cycle with upcoming deadlines and continues to prioritize capital projects that strengthen communities throughout Virginia.
BC Receives $250000 Fundraising Challenge Grant from ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation fund?
The mission of The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation is to support non-profit organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia primarily for capital projects. The foundation supports organizations working in six priority areas: • Arts & Culture • Civic & Community Needs • Education • Environment & Conservation • Historic Preservation • Social Services & Welfare The foundation focuses exclusively on permanent, capital projects rather than operating expenses. These include contributions to capi…
How do I apply for a grant from The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $5,000 to $1,000,000 **Typical Grant Size:** $50,000 to $500,000 **Median Grant:** $48,000 **Grant Structure:** Grants are typically made on a challenge or matching basis, with the foundation funding up to one-third of a project's total cost to leverage additional community support. **Recent Activity (2023):** • 76 grants awarded • Total distributions: $7,127,054 **Recent Grant Examples:** • Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden: $750,000 (support for "Thrive Capital Campaign") • Proje…
Where does The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation make grants?
The foundation prioritizes the greater Richmond area and supports organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. It also funds institutions with statewide presence that significantly benefit Richmond and Virginia.
What size grants does The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation award?
In 2024, The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation awarded 71 grants totaling $9.5M — an average of about $134K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation's EIN?
The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1530891. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation'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.
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