Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc
Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc is a private foundation, based in Aiken, SC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $170K. Net investment income was $253K.
Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc gave $170K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $57K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $170,000
- +6.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -40.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $56,667
- +77.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $3,500,979
- +2.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (59% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tribal Trust Foundation ($70K). Together the top 3 received $170K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 16 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 55% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 80% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF 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 $100K (2023) to $200K (2021). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $170K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tribal Trust Foundation Santa Barbara, CA | Support organization's mission to uplift traditional indigenous knowledge systems and make them accessible across generations and geographies through education, grantmaking, storytelling, and community engagement. | $70,000 |
| Rebuild Hot Springs Area Hot Springs, NC | Support the organization's mission to assist residents, workers, and businesses of hot springs, nc rebuild following the devestation left by hurricane helene. | $50,000 |
| Beyond Animal Sheltering Marshall, NC | Support the organization's mission to enhance and strengthen the efforts of Madison county animal services with initiatives that advance animal welfare and support the professionals who serve them. | $50,000 |
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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 | $3,500,979 | $363,715 | $281,207 | $170,000 | 3 | $170,000 | $252,508 | $213,273 |
| 2024 | $3,415,663 | $246,111 | $244,235 | $160,000 | 5 | $160,000 | $164,369 | $204,538 |
| 2023 | $3,412,538 | $266,350 | $206,227 | $100,000 | 1 | $100,000 | $161,224 | $206,845 |
| 2022 | $4,133,098 | $186,588 | $1,037,033 | $110,000 | 2 | $110,000 | $78,387 | $223,407 |
| 2021 | $4,983,543 | $506,900 | $307,043 | $200,000 | 5 | $200,000 | $59,037 | $239,697 |
| 2020 | $4,783,686 | $1,118,150 | $307,277 | $200,000 | 2 | — | $11,021 | $215,476 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $213K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christina Hepner
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $20K (2025)
Christine Anne Cato
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$5K (2022) → $20K (2025)
Edgar T. Cato III
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$5K (2022) → $20K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Lindy Duckett (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Steve Christenberry (2020–2022) — 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $20K, to Christine Anne Cato (Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc
How much does Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc give each year?
Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc gave $170K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $160K across 5 grants.
What is Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $56,667, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc give grants?
Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (41%).
Does Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc?
Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $170K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $213K (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 is Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc's EIN?
Edgar T Cato Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-0450989. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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