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Non-profit

David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation

Location:

Princeton, NJ
Tax ID:

22-3753685
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Assets: $114,019,131
Type:

Private Family Foundation
Formation:

2000
Budget (2023):

Revenues: $5,093,903
Expenses: $7,518,594
Total Assets: $136,822,468.

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The David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation is a private nonprofit organization that is a family-owned charity. The foundation funds many left-of-center organizations such as the Center for Investigative Reporting, 1 the American Association of for the Advancement of Science, 2 the Environmental Defense Fund, and The Nature Conservancy. 2

Grant Recipients

Center for Investigative Reporting

The David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation donated $60,000 to the Center for Investigative Reporting in 2023. 2 Media Bias/Fact Check rated the Center for Investigative Reporting as left-center. 3

American Association for the Advancement of Science

The David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation gave $40,000 to the American Association of for the Advancement of Science in 2023. 2

In October 2017, the Association criticized the Trump administration and said it was “frustrated by the disregard for science shown by the U.S. administration.” 4

Environmental Defense Fund

The David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation gave $175,000 to the Environmental Defense Fund in 2023. 2

The Environmental Defense Fund is a Hollywood-connected, left-of-center environmentalist organization. 5

Rocky Mountain Institute

The foundation gave $60,000 to the Rocky Mountain Institute in 2023. 2

The Rocky Mountain Institute wants to replace conventional fuels with weather-dependent energy sources. The Rocky Mountain Institute produced a report in 2008 that “challenges the view that nuclear power is competitive, necessary, reliable, secure, and affordable.” 6 The report stated that nuclear power is “uncompetitive, unneeded, and obsolete.” 6

Climate Central

The foundation gave Climate Central $100,000 in 2023. 2 Climate Central is a nonprofit news organization that reports on climate science. 7 Media Bias/Fact Check gave Climate Central a “left-center” bias rating. 8

The Nature Conservancy

The foundation gave $30,000 to The Nature Conservancy in 2023. 2 The Nature Conservancy is a left-of-center environmentalist organization. 2

In January 2024, the Nature Conservancy claimed, “the Earth is at a tipping point” 9 and that “climate change is the single most serious threat facing our planet today.” 9 The Nature Conservancy also said the world must reduce carbon emissions to, or below, levels agreed to in the Paris Climate Agreement “to prevent catastrophic harm.” 9

STRIVE

The foundation gave STRIVE $50,000 in 2023. 2

STRIVE offers training, coaching and job placement services for mostly minorities as 92 percent of the people who attend STRIVE are Black, Indigenous, or people of color. 10 STRIVE served 2,000 people in 2023. 10

STRIVE stated it wants 50 percent of those it works with to have “justice-impacted” backgrounds by 2033. 11 Justice-impacted individuals are defined as people who have been incarcerated or detained in a prison, jail, juvenile detention center, or immigration center. 12

ProPublica

The David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation gave $100,000 to ProPublica in 2023. 2

ProPublica is an investigative journalism organization that has been criticized due to a “left-wing” bias. 13 Media Bias/Fact Check gave ProPublica a “slight to moderate liberal bias” rating. 8

Bard Prison Initiative

The foundation gave $75,000 to the Bard Prison Initiative in 2023. 2 The Bard Prison Initiative provides college education to people in prison with 600 students enrolled on 11 campuses. 14

The Wild Foundation

The foundation gave $30,000 to The Wild Foundation in 2022. 15

The Wild Foundation claims on its website that there are fewer than 10 years “to effectively address global warming/climate change and the extinction crisis” to avoid “catastrophic impacts” in the 21st century. 16

David R. Atkinson

David R. Atkinson is one of the four trustees of the foundation. 17

Life and Career

He grew up in New Egypt, New Jersey and graduated from Cornell University in 1960. 5 He retired in 1992 as a general partner in the Miller, Anderson & Sherrerd investment counseling firm based in Philadelphia. 5

Philanthropy

In 2008, the Atkinson family gave $25 million to the Princeton Medical Center, at the time the largest ever gift to a New Jersey hospital. 18

In 2010, the Atkinson family donated $80 million to Cornell University to make permanent the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. 19

Atkinson has also endowed the David R. Atkinson Professorship in Ecology and Environmental Biology at Cornell University. 20 Bob Howarth is the faculty fellow who holds the David R. Atkinson Professor of Ecology and Environmental Biology at Cornell. 21 In 2014, Howarth gave a lecture at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum on “Transitioning To A World Without Fossil Fuels By 2050.” 20

Political Contributions

From 1990 to 1994, David R. Atkinson gave $500 to the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, a pair of $500 donations to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and $600 to the Republican National Candidate Trust. 22

From 1996 to 2000, Atkinson donated $1,000 to the RNC Republican National State Elections Committee, $500 to Bush For President, Inc., and $1,000 to the Republican National Committee. 22

In 2004, Atkinson supported both presidential candidates. He gave $250 to Bush-Cheney ’04 Inc., and $1,000 to John Kerry For President, Inc. 22

In 2007 and 2008, Atkinson supported both presidential candidates. He gave two $500 donations to John McCain 2008 Inc. and a $1,000 donation to Obama for America. 23 He also gave $1,000 to the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee in 2008. 22

In 2012, Atkinson made two $2,500 donations to Obama for America. 22

Atkinson made a $20,000 donation in 2013 to Battleground Texas, 22 a political action committee dedicated to turning Texas from a Republican-dominated state into a “battleground state” where Democratic candidates can win elections. 24

In 2019 and 2020, Atkinson gave $2,800 to Biden for President, in support of Democratic candidate Joe Biden. 22

In 2020, he gave $4,113 to the Democratic Party of Virginia and $4,113 to the Democratic Executive Committee of Florida. 22

In 2020, Atkinson gave $2,800 to Warnock for Georgia and then made a $2,900 donation in 2022 to Warnock for Georgia. 22 Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) defeated Republican Herschel Walker in the 2022 U.S. Senate election in Georgia. 25

Atkinson also gave $2,800 to Biden for President in 2020. 22

In 2023, Atkinson donated $2,500 to Chris Christie for President. 22 Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was a Republican candidate for president who dropped out of the race in January 2024 and was a critic of former president Donald Trump. 26

Patricia D. Atkinson

Patricia D. Atkinson is a trustee of the foundation. Atkinson graduated from the University of Southern California. 1 She served as the membership chair of the Princeton Hospital Authority and was also treasurer for two years. 1 She has been a volunteer for the Princeton Meals on Wheels program for more than 20 years. 1

Patricia D. Atkinson contributed $500 in 2021 to The Great Task, a political action committee founded by former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY), 22 a Republican who said in 2024 she would “rather cede power to Democrats than see members of her own party win in 2024,” according to Politico. 27

Our Great Task stated that its “most important cause of our time” was defending the U.S. Constitution and defeating former President Donald Trump “and his enablers at the ballot box.” 28

Since 2018, Patricia Atkinson made eight contributions to seven political candidates, all of whom were Democrats. 22

In 2018, Atkinson gave $2,700 to Liz Watson, 22 a Democrat from Indiana who ran for the U.S. House. 29

In 2019, Atkinson gave $500 to Amy McGrath, 22 a Democrat from Kentucky who ran for the U.S. Senate. 30

In 2020, Atkinson made a $2,800 donation to Theresa Greenfield, 22 a Democrat from Iowa who ran for the U.S. Senate. 31

Atkinson gave $2,800 in 2020 each to Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) 22 and Jon Ossoff (D-GA). 22 32

Atkinson gave $2,800 in 2020 to Jaime Harrison, 22 a Democrat who ran for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina. 33

Atkinson made two contributions to U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ). She donated $2,900 to Kim in 2022 and $300 to Kim in 2024. 22

Financials

In 2023, The David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation received $1.5 million in contributions from David and Patricia Atkinson and had $3.74 million from dividends and interest from securities to account for the $5.09 million in revenue it took in that year. 34

The foundation listed total assets of $136.8 million in 2023 of which $118 million was investments in corporate stocks. 35

The net assets of the foundation have increased from $22.4 million in 2011 36 to $111.5 million in 2023. 37 The foundation’s investments in corporate stock’s fair market value have increased from $21.94 million in 2011 36 to $118 million in 2023. 37

In 2000, the foundation listed its stock holdings. The foundation held 11,000 shares of H&R Block Inc., 10,000 shares of JLG Inds. Inc., 10,000 shares of Cola Cola Co., and 10,000 shares of Pfizer Inc. 38

Animal Philanthropy

The David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation donated $25,000 to the Animal Placement Agency of the Windsors, Inc. in 2023. 2 The nonprofit provides puppies with a home until they are adopted. 39

The foundation gave $25,000 to Canine Partners for Life in 2023. 2 The nonprofit pairs professionally trained service dogs with people with disabilities. 40

The foundation donated $20,000 to Dogs For Better Lives in 2023. 2 Formerly known as Dogs for the Deaf, the nonprofit provides hearing assistance dogs to people with hard-of-hearing adults and children diagnosed with autism. 40

References

  1. Penn Medicine Princeton Health. David & Patricia Atkinson. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://www.princetonhcs.org/princeton-medical-center-foundation/ways-to-give/your-gifts-in-action/meet-our-donors/david-and-patricia-atkinson
  2. David R. And Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation. Form 990. 2023. Part XIV. Supplementary Information. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223753685/202410169349100941/full
  3. Media Bias/Fact Check. Reveal – Center For Investigative Reporting. Accessed Aug. 28, 2024. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/reveal-center-for-investigative-reporting/
  4. Lindzi Wessel. “Trump Catalyzed The March For Science. Where Is It Now?”; Science. Oct. 30, 2020. Accessed Aug. 28, 2024. https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-catalyzed-march-science-where-it-now
  5. Rachel Stern. “Cornell Gets $80M For ‘Green’ Studies”; Press And Sun-Bulletin. Oct. 29, 2010. Accessed Aug. 28, 2024.
  6. Amory Lovins. The Nuclear Illusion. Rocky Mountain Institute.  2008. Accessed Aug. 28, 2024. https://rmi.org/insight/the-nuclear-illusion/
  7. Climate Central. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://www.climatecentral.org/
  8. Media Bias/Fact Check. ProPublica. Accessed Aug. 28, 2024. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/propublica/
  9.  The Nature Conservancy. A Long Term Strategy For People And The Planet. Jan. 10, 2024. Accessed Aug. 28, 2024. https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/our-science/three-ways-to-save-our-planet/#:~:text=clean%20energy%20transition.-,Problem%3A,threat%20facing%20our%20planet%20today
  10. STRIVE. 2022 Impact Report. Accessed Aug. 30, 2024. https://indd.adobe.com/view/1d8bdde2-2ed1-4fb3-962c-ddd553ae7738
  11. Truist Foundation. Truist Foundation grants STRIVE $1M To Launch Career Training Program In Birmingham. Aug. 24, 2023. Accessed Aug. 30, 2024. https://media.truist.com/2023-08-24-Truist-Foundation-grants-STRIVE-1M-to-launch-career-training-program-in-Birmingham
  12. Elizabeth Bodamer. Debra Langer. “Pipeline: A National Exploration Of Law School Policies And Practices”; Law School Admission Council. Accessed Aug. 30, 2024. https://www.lsac.org/data-research/research/justice-impacted-individuals-pipeline-national-exploration-law-school
  13.  Influence Watch. ProPublica. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/propublica/
  14. Bard Prison Initiative. Accessed Aug. 31, 2024. https://bpi.bard.edu/
  15. David R. And Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation. Form 990. 2022. Part XIV. Supplementary Information. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223753685/202300179349100000/full
  16. The Wild Foundation. Why Give Now? Accessed Aug. 28, 2024. https://wild.org/why-give/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwlbu2BhA3EiwA3yXyu07wBpQwjaJ0xMJmVBAZNleha2UF-hBcCZoPJ8TOZ87ua6U5t1FBSxoC2_gQAvD_BwE
  17. David R. And Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation. Form 990. 2023. Part VII. Information About Officers, Directors, Trustees, Foundation Managers, Highly Paid Employees, And Contractors. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223753685/202300179349100000/full
  18. Anna M. Alaya. “Couple Donates Record $25M To Princeton Hospital”; NJ.com. March 10, 2008. Accessed Aug. 28, 2024. https://www.nj.com/news/2008/03/couple_donates_record_25_milli.html
  19. Lauren Gold. “$80 Million Gift To Ithaca Campus Aims To Make World A More Sustainable Place”; EZRA. Winter 2011. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://ezramagazine.cornell.edu/WINTER11/ResearchSpotlight.html
  20. The Star-Democrat. “Robert Howarth To Speak At CBMM”; May 23, 2014. Accessed Aug. 31, 2024.
  21. Cornell Atkinson Center For Sustainability. Robert Howarth. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://atkinson.cornell.edu/profile/robert-howarth/
  22. Federal Election Commission. Individual Contributions. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?data_type=processed
  23.  Obama For America. LinkedIn. Accessed Aug. 27, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/obama-for-america/
  24. Influence Watch. Battle Ground Texas. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://www.influencewatch.org/political-party/battleground-texas/
  25. Bill Barrow. Jeff Amy. “Democrat Warnock Beats Walker In Georgia Runoff”; Associated Press. Dec. 7, 2022. Accessed Aug. 27, 2024. https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-walker-warnock-runoff-3d4e4d1ab1760792454e1cbd618ce332
  26. Nathan Layne. “Trump Critic Chris Christie Drops Out Of Republican Race”; Reuters. Jan. 10, 2024. Accessed Aug. 28, 2024. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-critic-christie-drop-out-republican-presidential-race-bbg-2024-01-10/
  27. Kelly Garrity. “Liz Cheney Would Rather See Democrats Win In 2024”; Politico. Dec. 3, 2023. Accessed Aug. 28, 2024. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/03/liz-cheney-would-rather-see-democrats-win-2024-00129796
  28. Our Great Task. Accessed Aug. 28, 2024. https://greattask.com/
  29. Ballotpedia. Liz Watson. Accessed Aug. 30, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Liz_Watson
  30. Ballotpedia. Amy McGrath. Accessed Aug. 30, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Amy_McGrath
  31. Ballotpedia. Theresa Greenfield. Accessed Aug. 30, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Theresa_Greenfield
  32. Ballotpedia. Jon Ossoff. Accessed Aug. 30, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Jon_Ossoff
  33. Ballotpedia. Jaime R. Harrison. Accessed Aug. 30, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Jaime_R._Harrison
  34. The David R. And Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation. Form 990. 2023. Part I. Analysis Of Revenue And Expenses. Accessed Aug. 28, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223753685/202410169349100941/full
  35. The David R. And Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation. Form 990. 2023. Part II. Balance Sheets. Accessed Aug. 28, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223753685/202410169349100941/full
  36. David R. And Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation. Form 990. 2011. Part II. Balance Sheets. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/223753685/2012_01_PF%2F22-3753685_990PF_201108
  37. David R. And Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation. Form 990. 2023. Part II. Balance Sheets. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/223753685/202410169349100941/full
  38. David R. And Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation. Form 990. 2001. Part II. Schedule Of Securities. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/223753685/2002_02_PF%2F22-3753685_990PF_200108
  39. APAW. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://www.apawpets.org/aboutus.html
  40. Canine Partners For Life. Accessed Sept. 1, 2024. https://k94life.org/about-us-canine-partners-for-life/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: August - July
  • Tax Exemption Received: October 1, 2000

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Aug Form PF $0 $0 $114,019,131 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2021 Aug Form PF $0 $0 $100,343,642 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2020 Aug Form PF $0 $0 $82,154,298 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2019 Aug Form PF $0 $0 $66,956,324 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2015 Aug Form PF $0 $0 $31,792,144 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Aug Form PF $0 $0 $29,441,714 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Aug Form PF $0 $0 $25,899,156 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Aug Form PF $0 $0 $23,386,566 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Aug Form PF $0 $0 $22,366,442 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    David R. and Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation


    Princeton, NJ