12/31/2022
The Thomas T. Dunn Charitable Trust for Beautification
History
Thomas Tinsley Dunn was born in 1901 in Petersburg, Virginia into a family that traces its roots back to Mayflower passengers John and Priscilla Alden. He was raised in Petersburg, received both a bachelor's and a law degree from the University of Virginia and became a member of the Virginia Bar in 1925.
Dunn’s career in banking took him to Florida, where he flourished and also became a well-known philanthropist. He resided in Florida until his death in 1998 at age 97, but he never forgot his hometown of Petersburg.
Several charities, especially those that helped the handicapped, benefitted from Dunn’s generosity. Fortunately for Petersburg, his estate also pledged to help perpetually fund gardening, conservation, garden club, and civic beautification efforts here. The Petersburg Garden Club (PGC) became a sub-trustee in 2017 when the former sub-trustee, Downtown Petersburg, Inc., ceased operations. The fund is known as The Thomas T. Dunn Charitable Trust for Beautification.
Purpose
In accordance with Dunn’s wishes, the funds from the Trust for Beautification are to be used to plant and maintain shrubs and flowering trees in public areas, to educate both adults and school children about gardening and green spaces, to promote the use of native plants and flowers to beautify the city, and to document the efforts that are made in these areas.
Availability of funds
Dunn Trust funds are managed and distributed by a trustee associated with a national bank. Distributions to sub-trustees are made annually and those designated for PGC are deposited in a special account managed by the club. They are available for use in the year following the distribution but are not restricted by any time frame meaning they can accrue from year to year. Currently, the balance includes monies from past distributions.
Note: The City of Petersburg receives a distribution from the trust identical in amount to what PGC receives. PGC has no say in how those funds are used but strives to partner with the city in their distribution.
Eligibility
Dunn Trust funds are available to any organization or group working to improve, with trees and plants, public spaces within the city of Petersburg. The request must be for a specified and well-defined project or initiative to be implemented during the year that the award is given. The amount requested can be for the full amount of the initiative’s cost or for a partial amount. There is no restriction on the amount that can be requested but the award will be limited to available funds for that given year. The likelihood of receiving funding, whether full or partial, will depend on the number and scope of qualified applications submitted that year. To be considered, the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed project complies with the rules of both the trustee and the sub-trustee (PGC) which are specified on the application.
Process
PGC encourages and accepts applications for the use of Dunn Trust funds annually. The applications are available anytime by contacting any PGC member or by writing to [email protected] but must be submitted by January 31 for consideration for that year. Awards are made by the decision of the PGC board and announced at the end of March. Funds are distributed upon the implementation of the project or initiative.
Questions
If you have questions about the Dunn Trust, would like details about previous award recipients, or would like guidance on submitting an application, contact Lucia Malon, Committee Chair at [email protected].
Send a message to learn more
