Blanton Charitable Foundation Inc
The Hilda Sutton and William D. Blanton Charitable Foundation, Inc. is a private foundation established in 1993 and based in Lakeland, Florida. The foundation was created by Hilda Sutton Blanton and her husband William D. "Bill" Blanton, who relocated to Lakeland from North Carolina in the late 1960s. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and has evolved from its original focus to support a diverse range of educational, arts-based, and community initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.2M
-0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$163K
+2.9% YoY
Grant Count
24
+4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-1.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Blanton Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $195K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was originally established to fund scholarships for students pursuing careers in religious music, inspired by Hilda Blanton's observations of underutilized organs in area churches. The foundation's mission has since expanded to provide scholarships to students seeking degrees in a broad variety of musical genres, including both performance and education. Beyond music scholarships, the foundation supports numerous community and arts-based charities in Lakeland and throughout Polk County, Florida.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Music (performance and education)
- Science and STEM education
- Health care
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
April 1, 2025 for Fall 2025 awards
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and scholarships in Florida, with particular emphasis on Lakeland and Polk County. However, grantmaking also extends to Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,155,586
- Total Revenue: $213,398
- Total Expenses: $225,079
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $213,398
The foundation's revenue is primarily derived from investment income and dividends rather than contributions.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,155,586 | $3,169,953 | $3,187,588 |
| Revenue | $213,398 | $193,217 | $196,941 |
| Expenses | $225,079 | $213,115 | $233,171 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $208,219 | $203,600 | $226,600 |
| Net Investment Income | $206,270 | $193,217 | $196,941 |
| Distributable Amount | $194,886 | $184,727 | $187,184 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Florida Southern College ($23,500), Ymca Par 3 ($15,000), Academy Prep Centers for Education ($12,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY PREP CENTERS FOR EDUCATION LAKELAND, FL | EDUCATIONAL | $12,000 |
| ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY LAKELAND, FL | EDUCATIONAL | $3,000 |
| BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY BEREA, OH | EDUCATIONAL | $3,000 |
| BARTOW YOUTH VILLA BARTOW, FL | HUMANITARIAN | $2,000 |
| BOSTON CONSERVATORY AT BERKLEE BOSTON, MA | EDUCATIONAL | $9,000 |
| BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC BOSTON, MA | EDUCATIONAL | $7,000 |
| CINCINNATI COLLEGE CINCINNATI, OH | EDUCATIONAL | $5,000 |
| EXPLORATIONS V LAKELAND, FL | HUMANITARIAN | $3,000 |
| FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE LAKELAND, FL | EDUCATIONAL | $23,500 |
| FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY TALLAHASSEE, FL | EDUCATIONAL | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Trustees: Mettie Withers and Beth Mason
- Contact: E. Snow Martin, Jr., Vice President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| METTIE WITHERS | SEC/TRES/DIR | 5 | $15,000 |
| BETH MASON | DIR | 5 | $7,500 |
| GAIL MARTIN ABERCROMBIE | PRES/DIR | 5 | $15,000 |
| BRENDA COLLINS | DIR | 5 | $7,500 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Blanton Charitable Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation was originally established to fund scholarships for students pursuing careers in religious music, inspired by Hilda Blanton's observations of underutilized organs in area churches. The foundation's mission has since expanded to provide scholarships to students seeking degrees in a broad variety of musical genres, including both performance and education. Beyond music scholarships, the foundation supports numerous community and arts-based charities in Lakeland and throughout Polk …
How do I apply for a grant from Blanton Charitable Foundation Inc?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $1,500 to $56,500, with recent grants including $23,500 to Florida Southern College, $10,000 to Lakeland Symphony Orchestra, and $7,000 to Berklee College of Music. **Scholarship Program:** The foundation administers a student scholarship program with the following requirements: • Minimum 2.5 GPA or above each semester • Demonstrated acceptable standards of citizenship and character • Major must be music, including both performance and education • Li…
Where does Blanton Charitable Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and scholarships in Florida, with particular emphasis on Lakeland and Polk County. However, grantmaking also extends to Pennsylvania and Ohio.
What size grants does Blanton Charitable Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Blanton Charitable Foundation Inc awarded 24 grants totaling $163K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Blanton Charitable Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Blanton Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $195K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Blanton Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?
Blanton Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-3162785. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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