William I. H. and Lula E. Pitts Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The William I. H. and Lula E. Pitts Foundation supports Georgia organizations affiliated with the Methodist Church and that serve the interests of education, children’s homes, charitable hospitals or care of the elderly.
IP TAKE: This funder is strict about its Methodist affiliation, but it funds a fairly broad range of causes for groups that meet its religious criteria.
PROFILE: Established in 1941, the William I. H. and Lula E. Pitts Foundation only supports Georgia charities affiliated with the Methodist Church. The foundation is administered by Sun Trust Bank in Atlanta and has its own governing board. William Irby Hudson Pitts was a Waverly Hall, Georgia, resident who worked in his father’s mercantile business, invested in Coca-Cola stock, and was a devout Methodist. He and his wife, Lula Cook Ellison Pitts, had three children, including Margaret Adger Pitts, who was a lifetime trustee of the foundation until her death in 1998. Grantmaking interests include education, children’s homes, charitable hospitals and care of the elderly.
The foundation is known to support the same organizations multiple times. However, it is open to providing funding for new groups that meet its eligibility criteria, as well. It has supported many local colleges, including Young Harris College, Andrew College and LaGrange College. It also supports services like Open Door Community House and the Vashti Center for Children and Families.
A majority of foundation grants range from $15,000 to $100,000. The foundation maintains assets of approximately $90 million. View a list of grant recipients on the funder’s website. Grantmaking is restricted to groups that operate in and serve the state of Georgia.
The Pitts Foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. The annual grant application deadline is March 1. The funder requires applicants to complete an online grant application form rather than submitting requests by mail or email. Direct questions to the foundation administrator, Sun Trust Bank, at fdnsvcs.ga@suntrust.com or 404-813-9105.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS:
