The Pruden Foundation
The Pruden Foundation is a private foundation based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Its website says that on July 15, 2024, it transitioned from an independent private foundation to the Pruden Family Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. The foundation’s website describes a 50-plus-year legacy of supporting philanthropic organizations and projects, with a traditional focus on Western Tidewater.
The Pruden Foundation at a glance
In short: The Pruden Foundation gave $2.8M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $107K), mostly in Virginia. 4% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,794,810
- +1276.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- +4.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $107,493
- +1223.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (100% 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 The Pruden Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Pruden Foundation’s website states that the Pruden Family Fund does not accept formal grant applications. The 2023 filing described a past process in which requests were emailed with a cover letter of no more than two pages and supporting materials, including a current financial statement, board-member names, other funding sources, and the organization’s IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. That filing said requests were due two weeks before board meetings, generally limited awards to one grant per organization per fiscal year, and excluded political and lobbying efforts, individuals, and religious organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Peter D Pruden Iii
Mailing address: 1391 Air Rail Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23455
Phone: (757) 425-3011
Email: info@prudenfoundation.org
Website: https://prudenfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Pruden Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hampton Roads Community Foundation ($2.5M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 111 grants of 113 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes Western Tidewater as its traditional focus. All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Pruden Foundation open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 23 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $2.5M; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $2.5M first-time, $5K repeat.
- 87% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1153% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 $191K (2020) to $2.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hampton Roads Community Foundation Norfolk, VA | Support Recipient's Tax-Exempt Program | $1,567,935 |
| Hampton Roads Community Foundation Norfolk, VA | Support Recipient's Tax-Exempt Program | $943,071 |
| Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts Suffolk, VA | Support Recipient's Tax-Exempt Program | $48,095 |
| Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts Suffolk, VA | Support Recipient's Tax-Exempt Program | $45,622 |
| Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters Norfolk, VA | Support Recipient's Tax-Exempt Program | $25,687 |
| For Kids Chesapeake, VA | Support Recipient's Tax-Exempt Program | $25,000 |
| Virginia Legal Aid Society Suffolk, VA | Support Recipient's Tax-Exempt Program | $25,000 |
| Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters Norfolk, VA | Support Recipient's Tax-Exempt Program | $20,000 |
| Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk Suffolk, VA | Support Recipient's Tax-Exempt Program | $10,000 |
| Suffolk Meals on Wheels Inc Suffolk, VA | Support Recipient's Tax-Exempt Program | $10,000 |
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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 | — | $78,149 | $2,839,595 | $2,794,810 | 26 | $2,798,941 | $54,855 | $131,947 |
| 2023 | $2,761,446 | $123,211 | $242,605 | $203,000 | 25 | $204,277 | $84,883 | $152,656 |
| 2022 | $2,883,261 | $427,310 | $292,427 | $248,500 | 22 | $249,680 | $389,984 | $179,462 |
| 2021 | $2,745,957 | $117,348 | $256,430 | $223,000 | 16 | — | $84,641 | $164,116 |
| 2020 | $2,885,039 | $193,824 | $226,831 | $191,000 | 24 | — | $162,282 | $164,159 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pruden Foundation reported a distributable amount of $132K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including community philanthropy, arts, legal aid, meals for people who are homebound, and poverty alleviation. These describe the grantees’ work: for example, the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts says it cultivates access to the creative arts, and Virginia Legal Aid Society says it provides legal assistance to low-income people.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $2,794,810. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $1,567,935, with a median of $5,500. Its largest reported grants were $1,567,935 and $943,071 to Hampton Roads Community Foundation; $48,095 and $45,622 to Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts; and $25,687 and $20,000 to Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. Other reported grants included $25,000 each to For Kids and Virginia Legal Aid Society, and $10,000 each to Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk, Suffolk Meals on Wheels Inc, Suffolk Christian Fellowship, and The Up Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Peter D Pruden III as president, Vernon Towler as vice president, Jonathan E Pruden as secretary/treasurer, and Bobby L Ralph, Taylor Pruden, and Whitney G Saunders as directors.
The Pruden Foundation is led by Peter D Pruden III, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Peter D Pruden III
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bobby L Ralph
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Whitney G Saunders
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Taylor Pruden
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Vernon Towler
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jonathan E Pruden
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Thomas F Hofler (2020–2022) — V. President
- Former: J Brooke Pruden III (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jon E Pruden (2020) — Secretary & Treasurer
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 The Pruden Foundation
How much does The Pruden Foundation give each year?
The Pruden Foundation gave $2.8M across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $203K across 25 grants.
What is The Pruden Foundation's typical grant size?
The Pruden Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,500, and its average grant was $107,493, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Pruden Foundation that year got $2.5M on average.
Where does The Pruden Foundation give grants?
The Pruden Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Norfolk, VA (12 grants) and Suffolk, VA (11 grants).
Who are The Pruden Foundation's largest grantees?
The Pruden Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Hampton Roads Community Foundation ($2,511,006 across 2 grants), Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts ($93,717 across 2 grants) and Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters ($45,687 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does The Pruden Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including community philanthropy, arts, legal aid, meals for people who are homebound, and poverty alleviation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Pruden Foundation?
The Pruden Foundation’s website states that the Pruden Family Fund does not accept formal grant applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Pruden Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Pruden Foundation reported a distributable amount of $132K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Pruden Foundation's EIN?
The Pruden Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-0923448. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 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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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Pruden 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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