Carl W Meares Foundation Inc
Carl W Meares Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in North Charleston, South Carolina. In 2025, it distributed $57,000 to 33 nonprofit organizations for educational, civic, religious, medical, or other charitable uses.
Carl W Meares Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Carl W Meares Foundation Inc gave $57K across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state North Carolina. 12% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $57,000
- +6.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- +6.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,727
- +0.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $783,135
- +10.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (4 of 33, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (37% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Carl W Meares Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Contact Carl W Meares Jr. The filing designates no application form or materials, deadlines, or award restrictions. The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Carl W Meares Jr
Mailing address: PO Box 41258, North Charleston, SC 29423
Phone: (843) 760-0299
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Carl W Meares Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fair Bluff Baptist Church ($6K). Together the top 10 received $35K.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 152 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went primarily to organizations in North Carolina (37%) and South Carolina (33%), followed by Virginia (16%). Tennessee and New York each received 4% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Carl W Meares Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 33 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $33K (2019) to $57K (2025). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $57K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fair Bluff Baptist Church Fair Bluff, NC | Religious | $6,000 |
| Woodberry Forest School Woodberry Forest, VA | Educational | $5,000 |
| The First Tee of Greater Charleston Mt Pleasant, SC | Educational | $4,000 |
| Buist Academy Foundation Charleston, SC | Educational | $3,500 |
| Porter-Gaud School Charleston, SC | Educational | $3,500 |
| Virginia Episcopal School Lynchburg, VA | Educational | $3,000 |
| Southeastern Community College Fdn Whiteville, NC | Educational | $2,500 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN | Medical | $2,500 |
| UNC Pembroke Foundation Inc Pembroke, NC | Educational | $2,500 |
| Duke Cancer Institute Durham, NC | Medical | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Carl W Meares Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $783,135 | $142,768 | $65,490 | $57,000 | 33 | $57,081 | $134,359 | $63,137 |
| 2024 | $705,857 | $79,346 | $65,252 | $53,500 | 31 | $53,548 | $64,136 | $60,327 |
| 2023 | $691,763 | $100,697 | $63,080 | $52,650 | 30 | $52,778 | $84,491 | $51,405 |
| 2022 | $696,457 | $78,069 | $65,392 | $54,600 | 32 | $54,706 | $62,207 | $53,418 |
| 2021 | $683,780 | $181,300 | $55,363 | $46,100 | 26 | $46,168 | $71,411 | $54,519 |
| 2020 | $632,214 | $72,421 | $52,058 | $42,800 | 26 | — | $55,981 | $45,051 |
| 2019 | $619,851 | $55,996 | $43,232 | $33,450 | 22 | — | $47,976 | $42,904 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Carl W Meares Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $63K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 filing describes its giving as supporting educational, civic, religious, medical, and other charitable uses.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital describes its mission as advancing cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. The South Carolina Aquarium says its mission is to inspire conservation of the natural world through animal care, education, research, and visitor experiences. Asheville School describes its work as preparing students for college and life while nurturing character and developing mind, body, and spirit.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 33 grants totaling $57,000. Awards ranged from $500 to $6,000, with a median grant of $1,000.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $6,000 to Fair Bluff Baptist Church for religious purposes; $5,000 to Woodberry Forest School for educational purposes; $4,000 to The First Tee of Greater Charleston for educational purposes; and $3,500 each to Buist Academy Foundation and Porter-Gaud School for educational purposes. Other notable awards included $3,000 to Virginia Episcopal School, $2,500 each to Southeastern Community College Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and UNC Pembroke Foundation, and $2,000 each to Duke Cancer Institute, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Division of Athletics.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Carl W Meares Jr, Mary Lee Meares, and Carolyn M Meares as trustees.
Carl W Meares Foundation Inc's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carl W. Meares Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn M. Meares
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Lee Meares
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Carl W Meares Foundation Inc
How much does Carl W Meares Foundation Inc give each year?
Carl W Meares Foundation Inc gave $57K across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $54K across 31 grants.
What is Carl W Meares Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Carl W Meares Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,727, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Carl W Meares Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.
Where does Carl W Meares Foundation Inc give grants?
Carl W Meares Foundation Inc's top state is North Carolina, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were South Carolina (33%) and Virginia (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, SC (9 grants), Fair Bluff, NC (2 grants), Mt Pleasant, SC (2 grants) and Whiteville, NC (2 grants).
Does Carl W Meares Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on Carl W Meares Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (11 grants), "Educational" (10 grants) and "Medical" (7 grants).
Who are Carl W Meares Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Carl W Meares Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Fair Bluff Baptist Church ($6,000), Woodberry Forest School ($5,000) and The First Tee of Greater Charleston ($4,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Carl W Meares Foundation Inc?
Carl W Meares Foundation Inc reported $783K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $57K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $63K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Carl W Meares Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 filing describes its giving as supporting educational, civic, religious, medical, and other charitable uses. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Carl W Meares Foundation Inc?
Contact Carl W Meares Jr. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Carl W Meares Foundation Inc's EIN?
Carl W Meares Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1544084. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 12, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Carl W Meares Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/carl-w-meares-foundation-inc-morg_9e908b0a64b54f3bafd8c0713138a20a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_561544084_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Carl W Meares Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/carl-w-meares-foundation-inc-morg_9e908b0a64b54f3bafd8c0713138a20a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Carl W Meares Foundation Inc'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.
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