A Collaboration Strengthening People, Organizations, and Communities

Dorothy Clarke Patterson never considered herself ultra-rich, even after inheriting a fortune rooted in the Chicago Tribune upon the death of her husband and high school sweetheart, Jim Patterson, in 1992. She was determined to share her wealth with charitable causes throughout Sarasota, where she and Jim had retired more than a decade prior.

Dorothy Clarke Patterson

Dorothy outlined the mission of The Patterson Foundation with a strong, yet open approach to philanthropy that mirrored the way she lived her life. In binding the Foundation to an unfettered charter, Dorothy ensured that it would operate without any constraints to a specific issue or region — imbuing it with the flexibility, opportunity, and responsibility to be imaginative in philanthropy that makes a meaningful impact.

Upon Dorothy’s passing in 2007, she bequeathed $178 million in assets to The Patterson Foundation for use in fulfilling its philanthropic mission — a number that has nearly doubled today, despite giving more than $170 million in charitable donations. Since 2010, the Foundation has remained committed to strengthening people, organizations, and communities in ways that foster wide participation around shared quality-of-life aspirations.

A Trusted Partner in Meaningful Philanthropy

As its philanthropic mission launched, The Patterson Foundation was mindful to not reinvent the wheel or assume how best to make an impact. Rather, it sought partners with expertise in meaningful philanthropy and a proven track record of making a difference.

In the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Patterson Foundation has had a trusted, values-driven collaborator since its inception, forming a unique partnership between a private endowed charitable entity and a public foundation.

“Regardless of what cause a person is passionate about, the Community Foundation’s expert team can help them strengthen organizations and opportunities to make a meaningful difference throughout our region,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “Our collaboration has afforded The Patterson Foundation with an abundance of opportunities to work in ways that would not be possible otherwise and create outsized impact.”

Debra Jacobs. Courtesy of The Patterson Foundation.

“Creating opportunities for people of all ages, means, and backgrounds to learn the impact they can have is one of the wisest investments a funder can make” – Debra Jacobs

Strengthening Opportunities to Give

Joined in their shared belief that everyone can be a philanthropist, The Patterson Foundation has worked alongside the Community Foundation on ways to help more people discover, own, and act on their generosity. This has manifested in support for existing Community Foundation funds, both through direct contributions and donation match challenges.

Take Season of Sharing, for example. This support has helped propel the fund from raising $1.5 million in 2010 — The Patterson Foundation’s first year of involvement — to raising $7.19 million in 2025, safeguarding thousands of families and individuals across the Suncoast. This record-breaking total from the 2025 campaign includes a $1 million gift from The Patterson Foundation made directly to Season of Sharing in response to Hurricane Milton and an additional $1 million total through 10 separate $100,000 contributions activated by donors.

That same spirit of strengthening our inherent generosity has helped the Giving Challenge grow since 2012, when the community donated $2.4 million to nonprofits in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. In the years since, The Patterson Foundation’s no-cap match for this opportunity has significantly strengthened the biennial 24-hour event. In 2024, donors leveraged this opportunity to raise $17.2 million — one of the most impactful giving days in the entire Southeast.

“Creating opportunities for people of all ages, means, and backgrounds to learn the impact they can have is one of the wisest investments a funder can make,” said Jacobs. “The enthusiasm we’ve witnessed in each giving opportunity demonstrates how eager our community is to have a hand in shaping a stronger future that benefits all of us.”

Roxie Jerde stands next to Debra Jacobs, President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, during the kickoff to the 2018 Giving Challenge.
Courtesy of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

Investing Toward Shared Aspirations in Perpetuity

The Patterson Foundation works to generate meaningful impact that touches future generations. The Community Foundation has provided effective avenues that achieve that aspiration through its stewardship of several endowments supporting The Patterson Foundation’s philanthropic initiatives and goals in perpetuity, including:

• Providing unrestricted funds to maintain Season of Sharing as an effective resource for neighbors helping neighbors
• Connecting teachers, administrators, and parents to curriculum-aligned experiential learning opportunities for students through EdExploreSRQ
• Maintaining Patriot Plaza, the ceremonial amphitheater at Sarasota National Cemetery, while providing educational tours and programs teaching visitors of all ages the true meaning of service and sacrifice
• Ensuring that asset-limited students have the resources they need to be productive and engaged in learning through the Student Emergency Fund

Honoring Our Collaboration

As our region evolves, The Patterson Foundation is grateful for the Community Foundation’s continued efforts to connect with more givers and strengthen the impact of their generosity. As Jacobs puts it, “They are an invaluable conduit to the people, organizations, and communities contributing to the vibrancy of the Suncoast.”