Pitre Family Foundation

The Pitre Family Foundation is a tightly controlled private family foundation headquartered at 7181 E. Camelback Rd., Unit 1302, Scottsdale, Arizona — a Camelback corridor address that reflects its roots in the affluent, professionally connected Catholic community of metropolitan Phoenix. Contact Hubert G. Pitre leads the foundation, with trustees Dominic B. Svorinic and Sarah Svorinic Schall administering grantmaking without compensation, underscoring the deeply personal, values-driven nature of this philanthropy.

The single most critical fact for any prospective grantee: the Pitre Family Foundation makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. No online application portal exists, no LOI instructions are published, and no grant cycles are announced publicly. This is by design, not omission.

The foundation's giving philosophy emerges unmistakably from its grantee history. Catholic identity is the dominant qualifier — Catholic secondary schools (Notre Dame Preparatory, St. Pius X High School, St. John Paul II High School, Catholic Education of Arizona), parishes (St. Anthony Catholic Parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Francisco de Asis Church, Holy Trinity Catholic Newman Center), and Catholic social service networks (Society of St. Vincent de Paul) collectively represent well over 90% of historical grant dollars. The non-Catholic exceptions — ALS Association New Mexico, Forest Highlands Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis, Doctors Without Borders — are smaller grants that likely reflect personal family connections to specific health causes and environmental stewardship rather than open program categories.

The typical relationship with a grantee organization spans years and multiple grants: Notre Dame Preparatory has received 5 separate grants totaling $2.5 million; Society of St. Vincent de Paul entities have received 7 grants totaling more than $4.25 million; Our Lady of Perpetual Help has received 5 grants totaling $125,000. These are sustained commitments, not one-time awards. The ALS NM relationship has been institutionalized as the named Pitre Family Foundation Home Modification Program — a co-branded initiative providing up to $5,000 per ALS patient for home accessibility modifications — demonstrating that the foundation welcomes legacy-building partnerships with trusted organizations.

For organizations seeking entry, the realistic pathway is a personal introduction through Scottsdale Catholic community circles, Diocese of Phoenix leadership, Notre Dame Preparatory alumni networks, or Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapter contacts. Direct outreach without a warm introduction is unlikely to yield results.

Annual grantmaking has grown substantially from $746,000 in grants paid in 2019 to $2.27 million in 2022 — a 204% increase over three years — before stabilizing at $2.11 million in grants paid in 2023 (total giving including other charitable disbursements reached $2.83 million that year). The 2022 peak of $3.36 million in total giving represents the foundation's most expansive year on record. Fiscal year 2024 reported approximately $2.2 million across 6 grants, suggesting continued stability in the $2.1-2.8 million annual range.

The asset base has ranged from $41.9 million (2019) to a peak of $51.8 million (2021), settling at $44.3 million in 2023. The 2023 net investment income of $7.54 million on a $44.3 million base represents an extraordinary approximately 17% return, providing significant capacity for sustained giving. The foundation's payout rate of approximately 5-6% of assets annually aligns with IRS minimum distribution requirements for private foundations.

Across 34 recorded grants totaling $9.62 million, the grant profile is: median $75,000, average $282,937 (skewed upward by seven-figure SVDP commitments), range $6,000 (Doctors Without Borders, two grants) to approximately $1 million+ per individual transaction. The 2024 average of $368,000 per grant reflects ongoing consolidation toward fewer, larger relationships.

By program area (based on full grantee records): - Catholic education: approximately $4.55 million (47%) — Notre Dame Preparatory $2.5M, St. Pius X High School $2M, St. John Paul II HS $50K (plus $225K in 2024) - Social services and community assistance: approximately $4.25 million (44%) — Society of St. Vincent de Paul across two SVDP entities - Religious and parish support: approximately $590,000 (6%) — St. Anthony, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Francisco de Asis, Holy Trinity Newman Center - Health and medical: approximately $121,000 (1.3%) — ALS Association NM $100K, Cystic Fibrosis $15K, Doctors Without Borders $6K - Environmental conservation: $35,000 (0.4%) — Forest Highlands Foundation (3 grants)

By geography: Arizona receives approximately 82% of grants (28 of 34 recorded), New Mexico 12% (4 grants), and New York 6% (2 grants). Arizona giving concentrates in Phoenix metro (Scottsdale, Avondale, Phoenix) and Flagstaff; New Mexico giving is centered in Albuquerque.

The five closest asset-comparable peers by asset size within the Philanthropy and Grantmaking NTEE category provide a structural reference point for understanding the Pitre Family Foundation's relative position.

Three characteristics set the Pitre Family Foundation apart from these asset peers. First, it has developed a significant public record of specific, named grantee relationships — most similarly-sized private foundations maintain far lower profiles — making research-based relationship mapping feasible. Second, its geographic concentration in just two states with an explicitly Catholic focus is unusually narrow for a $44-48 million foundation; comparable foundations at this asset level typically maintain broader thematic and geographic reach. Third, the Pitre Family Foundation Home Modification Program at ALS NM represents a rare co-branded, named initiative for a private family foundation of this size — most foundations at this level give anonymously without structured, institutionalized program partnerships.

The most current grantmaking data, from fiscal year 2024 (reported via Grantable.co), documents 6 grants totaling approximately $2.2 million: Society of St. Vincent de Paul received approximately $1.8 million, continuing the multi-year relationship that makes SVDP the foundation's largest lifetime grantee by a wide margin; St. John Paul II High School received $225,000, extending Catholic secondary school support; and Catholic Education of Arizona received $100,000, a notable addition as an umbrella Catholic education organization rather than a single school. Three additional 2024 grants are not named in available public records but likely represent continuing relationships given the foundation's consistent historical patterns.

The ALS New Mexico and Pitre Family Foundation Home Modification Program remains an active ongoing initiative, administered through ALS NM Care Services Coordinator Michelle Waters-McMullan (michelle@newmexicoals.org, 505-399-0440), providing up to $5,000 per ALS patient in New Mexico for home accessibility modifications. This is the most publicly visible and operationally structured program the foundation has established with any partner.

No press releases, leadership changes, or new program announcements from the Pitre Family Foundation itself were found in searches covering 2025-2026. The foundation maintains a very low public profile consistent with its invitation-only model. Trustees Dominic B. Svorinic and Sarah Svorinic Schall continue in their roles without compensation. The foundation's asset base has remained stable at $44-48 million over 2019-2023, with 2023 investment income of $7.54 million supporting continued giving capacity.

Because the Pitre Family Foundation operates exclusively on a preselected basis, the following tips focus on relationship cultivation and strategic positioning rather than traditional application mechanics.

Verify Catholic mission alignment before any outreach. More than 90% of the foundation's grant dollars have gone to explicitly Catholic organizations. If your organization does not have a Catholic identity, affiliation with Catholic social teaching, or a direct service relationship with the Catholic community in Arizona or New Mexico, the probability of funding is extremely low. The non-Catholic grantees (ALS NM, Forest Highlands, Cystic Fibrosis, Doctors Without Borders) are small-dollar exceptions that almost certainly reflect personal family connections, not open program categories.

Geography is effectively non-negotiable. All substantial grants have served organizations operating in Arizona (Phoenix metro, Scottsdale, Flagstaff) or Albuquerque, New Mexico. Organizations based outside these geographies, even Catholic ones, are not viable candidates under the foundation's demonstrated priorities.

Pursue a warm introduction through specific high-probability channels. The most promising entry points are: Diocese of Phoenix leadership and clergy networks; Notre Dame Preparatory (Scottsdale) alumni, parents, and faculty; Society of St. Vincent de Paul Arizona leadership; and parish leaders in the East Valley Catholic community (Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe, Mesa). The address at 7181 E. Camelback Rd., Unit 1302, Scottsdale points toward that specific professional and social community.

Propose a named program when appropriate. The Pitre Family Foundation Home Modification Program at ALS NM demonstrates that the foundation values co-branded, legacy-building initiatives. Organizations that can offer a meaningful naming opportunity — a scholarship fund, a named classroom or building, a named service initiative — may present a more compelling case than those seeking general operating support.

Arrive with a multi-year vision. Top grantees have received 2-5 grants over multiple years. Present a multi-year framework with clear impact milestones, not just a single-project request. Historical data suggests initial grants to new relationships range from $15,000-$75,000; relationships that deepen have reached $225,000-$2,000,000 annually.

Never cold-contact. Do not call (480) 251-4094 or send unsolicited proposals or LOIs. Unsolicited outreach risks permanently foreclosing any future relationship with a foundation that operates entirely on personal trust.