Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater
The Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2011 and based in Lake City, South Carolina. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking, with a strategic focus on enhancing the lives of residents in South Carolina's Pee Dee region and across the state.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$658.1M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$35.3M
+75.7% YoY
Grant Count
26
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.4M
+75.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater reported a distributable amount of $30.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly available mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities center on:
- Education
- Historic preservation
- Community revitalization
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Environmental initiatives including renewable energy and community gardens
The foundation's approach reflects a business-oriented philosophy toward charitable giving, emphasizing the same rigor and follow-through applied to business investments.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected grantmaking basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made only to organizations selected by the foundation in advance.
Grant Range
$30,000
Average Grant
amount: $1.4 million
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in South Carolina, with particular emphasis on the Pee Dee region and Lake City. Grants have also been distributed to organizations in New York, New Mexico, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $658.1 million
- Total revenues: $39.4 million
- Total expenses: $44.8 million
- Total liabilities: $0
Historical Assets:
- 2023: $624 million in total assets
- Assets have grown significantly from 2010 to 2024
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $658,140,835 | $623,640,789 | $499,520,441 |
| Revenue | $39,398,445 | $38,568,181 | $68,195,128 |
| Expenses | $44,834,368 | $31,212,105 | $35,404,251 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $36,542,242 | $21,347,965 | $26,343,051 |
| Net Investment Income | $25,282,130 | $24,973,483 | $54,182,903 |
| Distributable Amount | $30,284,563 | $28,564,890 | $22,529,382 |
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
117 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Moore Farms Botanical Garden Foundation ($19,215,182), Greater Lake City Alliance ($10,130,000), Beemok Family Foundation ($1,984,031).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BARNARD COLLEGE NEW YORK, NY | SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING | $10,000 |
| BEEMOK FAMILY FOUNDATION CHARLESTON, SC | SCHOLARSHIPS FUNDING | $1,984,031 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LAKE CITY FLORENCE, SC | SUPPORT TO HELP ENRICH CHILDREN'S LIVES | $10,000 |
| CHARLESTON PARKS CONSERVANCY CHARLESTON, SC | SUPPORT TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHARLESTON COUNTY THROUGH PARK FACILITIES AND SERVICES | $10,000 |
| COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON CHARLESTON, SC | FUNDING FOR JOSEPH P RILEY JR CENTER FOR LIVABLE COMMUNITIES | $35,000 |
| FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FLORENCE, SC | SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION | $1,020,000 |
| GREATER LAKE CITY ALLIANCE LAKE CITY, SC | TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ENHANCING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT OF LAKE CITY | $10,130,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM CHARLESTON, SC | FUNDING TO FURTHER THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE MUSEUM | $250,000 |
| LAKE CITY COMMUNITY THEATRE LAKE CITY, SC | GENERAL FUNDING | $8,000 |
| LAKE CITY CONCERT SERIES LAKE CITY, SC | GENERAL FUNDING TO PROVIDE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE GREATER LAKE CITY SC AREA | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Darla D. Moore — Trustee and Chair (30 hours/week, no compensation)
- Harry Lesesne — Executive Director and President/Chief Executive Officer (50 hours/week, $309,000 annual compensation)
- Frank M. Rogers IV — Treasurer (0.5 hours/week, no compensation)
- Albert Mims — Secretary (0.5 hours/week, no compensation)
- David Holladay — Financial Officer and Chief Financial Officer (40 hours/week, $132,000 annual compensation)
- Shane Prince — Director of Operations (40 hours/week, $111,000 annual compensation)
- Lynn W. Godwin — Administrative Assistant (40 hours/week, $71,000 annual compensation)
- Lisa Miller — Administrative Assistant (40 hours/week, $79,000 annual compensation)
The foundation employs 5 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DARLA D MOORE | TRUSTEE, CHAIR | 30 | — |
| HARRY LESESNE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 50 | $308,654 |
| FRANK M ROGERS IV | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| ALBERT MIMS | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated active grantmaking in recent years, with substantial investments in community development and education initiatives. Notable recent activities include:
Major funding commitment to Moore Farms Botanical Garden Foundation, reflecting the foundation's investment in historic preservation and community revitalization in Lake City
Support for the Greater Lake City Alliance, demonstrating commitment to enhancing the business environment in the foundation's home region
Scholarship funding through the Beemok Family Foundation
Support for veterinary education scholarships at Clemson University's veterinary college
Darla Moore funds veterinary scholarships at Clemson\u2019s new vet collegeA $1 million donation to the International African American Museum
International African American Museum receives $1 million donationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly available mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities center on: • Education • Historic preservation • Community revitalization • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Environmental initiatives including renewable energy and community gardens The foundation's approach reflects a business-oriented philosophy toward charitable giving, emphasizing the same rigor and follow-through applied to business investments.
How do I apply for a grant from Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $35.3 million (2024) • Number of grants: 26 grants reported • Median grant size: $30,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $19.2 million • Average grant amount: $1.4 million **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • Moore Farms Botanical Garden Foundation: $19,215,182 • Greater Lake City Alliance: $10,130,000 • Beemok Family Foundation: $1,984,031 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected grantmaking basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. …
Where does Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in South Carolina, with particular emphasis on the Pee Dee region and Lake City. Grants have also been distributed to organizations in New York, New Mexico, and Virginia.
What size grants does Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater award?
In 2024, Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater awarded 26 grants totaling $35.3M — an average of about $1.4M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater reported a distributable amount of $30.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater's EIN?
Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-3130736. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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