Balmer Foundation
Charitable and philanthropic endeavors in support of and in conjunction with the Spartanburg county foundation.
Balmer Foundation at a glance
In short: Balmer Foundation gave $2.2M across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $241K), mostly in South Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,168,019
- -42.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -30.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $240,891
- -16.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $34,118,109
- +4.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Balmer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Tyger River Foundation ($1.6M). Together the top 9 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 32 grants of 50 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Balmer Foundation gives
- Giving grew 80% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $643K (2021) to $5.4M (2023). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Tyger River Foundation Spartanburg, SC | General Support | $1,607,019 |
| Spartanburg County Foundation Spartanburg, SC | General Support | $256,000 |
| Spartanburg Community College Foundation Spartanburg, SC | General Support | $100,000 |
| Upstate Forever Greenville, SC | General Support | $100,000 |
| Partners for Active Living dba PAL Play Advocate Live Well Spartanburg, SC | General Support | $30,000 |
| Spartanburg Philharmonic Spartanburg, SC | General Support | $25,000 |
| Northside Development Group Spartanburg, SC | General Support | $20,000 |
| Service Dogs for Veterans Greenville, SC | General Support | $20,000 |
| University of South Carolina Upstate Foundation Spartanburg, SC | General Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Balmer Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,118,109 | $1,506,359 | $2,265,212 | $2,168,019 | 9 | $1,506,359 |
| 2024 | $32,586,001 | $621,416 | $3,823,417 | $3,738,991 | 13 | $621,416 |
| 2023 | $33,042,527 | $886,764 | $5,489,806 | $5,403,690 | 10 | $594,829 |
| 2022 | $34,371,148 | $164,190 | $1,302,909 | $1,205,000 | 10 | $646,937 |
| 2021 | $40,500,350 | $665,686 | $798,759 | $643,000 | 8 | $460,525 |
| 2020 | $37,372,263 | $4,737,675 | $1,982,444 | $1,841,500 | 33 | $376,567 |
About Balmer Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Balmer Foundation is a public charity, based in Spartanburg, SC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $34.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $2.2M. Net investment income was $1.5M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Balmer Foundation is led by Monty Mullen, Chairwoman on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Monty Mullen
Chairwoman
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Samuel J Galloway Jr.
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth E Darr Jr.
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Sam Galloway (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Monty Mullen Hankinson (2020) — Chairwoman
- Former: William Barnet III (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Balmer Foundation
How much does Balmer Foundation give each year?
Balmer Foundation gave $2.2M across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.7M across 13 grants.
What is Balmer Foundation's typical grant size?
Balmer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $240,891, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Balmer Foundation give grants?
Balmer Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Spartanburg, SC (7 grants) and Greenville, SC (2 grants).
Does Balmer Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Balmer Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Balmer Foundation's largest grantees?
Balmer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Tyger River Foundation ($1,607,019), Spartanburg County Foundation ($256,000) and Spartanburg Community College Foundation ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Balmer Foundation?
Balmer Foundation reported $34.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.
What is Balmer Foundation's EIN?
Balmer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2206524. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 16, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Balmer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Milliken & Company Charitable Foundation
Spartanburg, SC
The Milliken & Company Charitable Foundation supports arts and economic development, inclusion, health and sustainability, and education and STEAM, in communities where Milliken operates. Most community grants are $10,000–$15,000, though reported 2025 grants ranged widely; applications are submitted online during its stated annual cycle.
Assets
$15.6M
Grants
44
Total Given
$2.8M
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Chapman Cultural Center Inc
Spartanburg, SC
To provide cultural leadership for greater Spartanburg by developing, strengthening and promoting the scope, excellence and educational role of the arts, humanities and science, and to further their significance in the life of our community.
Assets
$31.3M
Grants
7
Total Given
$447K
Anna M Black Charitable Foundation
Spartanburg, SC
Assets
$659K
Grants
44
Total Given
$57K
Black & Phillips Foundation Inc
Spartanburg, SC
The foundation supports a range of charitable work, including arts, education, health care, housing, community philanthropy, and conservation, with most funding going to South Carolina. Its 2026 grants ranged from $300 to $12,636, with a median of $2,500. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
54
Total Given
$204K
Spartanburg County Foundation
Spartanburg, SC
The Spartanburg County Foundation funds nonprofits and community groups serving Spartanburg County residents, with priorities including quality of life, education, economic mobility, and organizational capacity. Its itemized 2025 grants had a median of $15,500; listed programs offer awards of up to $10,000–$35,000.
Assets
$280.4M
Grants
227
Total Given
$19.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in South Carolina
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Balmer Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Balmer Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?