Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC
The Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation is a public charity based in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Created in 2000 to support charitable causes serving Georgetown County, it makes grants and leads community initiatives focused on improving quality of life in the county.
Key facts about Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC
In short: Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC gave $1.2M across 62 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in South Carolina. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 57-1095197
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,166,240
- Grants made (2025)
- 62
- Average grant
- $18,810
- Median grant
- $14,521
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (5 of 62, 2025)
- Total assets
- $48,214,684
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$48.2M
+3.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-66.4% YoY
Grant Count
62
-24.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-55.6% YoY
Is Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 62 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to enhance quality of life in Georgetown County by responding to current needs and addressing long-term, systemic inequities. Its five focus areas are addressing the root causes of poverty, meeting basic human needs, promoting economic vitality, preserving the environment, and encouraging positive youth development.
It supports nonprofit organizations and other eligible applicants serving Georgetown County. Examples among its grantees include Winyah Rivers Foundation, whose mission is to protect, preserve, monitor, and revitalize the lands and waters of the greater Winyah Bay watershed; Saint Frances Animal Center, which provides a safe environment for abandoned and mistreated dogs and cats; and Neighbor to Neighbor, which provides transportation, pantry delivery, and connectedness for adults with disabilities, older adults, and veterans.
Grantmaking
The foundation offers Grants for the Common Good, Mini Grants, and Bunnelle Youth Board Grants. Grants for the Common Good provide general operating or special-project support, with requests up to $15,000. Mini Grants support smaller special projects, with requests from $250 to $5,000 and a quick-turnaround review process. Youth Board grants are for special projects and are limited to $2,500.
The 2025 itemized grant data lists 62 grants totaling $1,166,240. The median grant was $14,521; amounts ranged from $5,462 to $198,856. South Carolina recipients received 95% of the listed grant dollars, with 3% going to Pennsylvania and 1% to New York. The foundation’s 2025 filing narrative separately reports more than $1.3 million awarded to 112 organizations, with grants described across its five focus areas.
Among the largest itemized 2025 grants were $198,856 to Winyah Rivers Alliance for environment and $89,250 to Saint Frances Animal Center for environment. Other awards included $51,000 to Horry-Georgetown Technical College for education, $40,000 to DonorsChoose for education, and $37,606 to YMCA of Coastal Carolina for education.
How to Apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. For Grants for the Common Good, applicants begin with an eligibility quiz and Letter of Intent; if invited, they submit a full application through the Grant Portal. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, houses of worship, government entities, and fiscal sponsors. The foundation excludes lobbying, political and religious activities, individual assistance, fundraising events, work outside Georgetown County, and requests exceeding 20–25% of an organization’s annual budget. Common Good grants have a nine-month term, with funds spent and a final report submitted within that period; Mini Grants have a six-month term and reporting period. The website lists a Fall 2026 Common Good application period of June 8–July 17, 2026, which has passed; the Spring cycle is listed as opening in December 2026.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC
Bunnelle Youth Board Grants
Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC
Amount
Up to $2,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
FPBF: Grants for the Common Good (Fall Cycle)
Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC
Amount
US $2,500 - US $15,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
FPBF: Grants for the Common Good (Spring Cycle)
Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC
Amount
US $2,500 - US $15,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s grant programs serve Georgetown County, South Carolina. Its application guidelines exclude funding for work outside the county.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 62 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2025) to $3.5M (2024). In 2025 it made 62 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Winyah Rivers Alliance ($199K). Together the top 10 received $548K.
Grant Size Distribution
365 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 312 grants of 365 (85%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Winyah Rivers Alliance Conway, SC | Environment | $198,856 |
| Saint Frances Animal Center Georgetown, SC | Environment | $89,250 |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway, SC | Education | $51,000 |
| Donorschoose Philadelphia, PA | Education | $40,000 |
| YMCA of Coastal Carolina Myrtle Beach, SC | Education | $37,606 |
| PFLAG Pawleys Island Pawleys Island, SC | Human Needs | $31,378 |
| Pawleys Island Festival of Music & Art Pawleys Island, SC | Education | $29,205 |
| Pawleys Island Child Care Center Pawleys Island, SC | Education | $27,250 |
| The Outreach Farm Pawleys Island, SC | Human Needs | $22,450 |
| Neighbor to Neighbor of South Carolina Inc Myrtle Beach, SC | Human Needs | $20,750 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,214,684 | $2,329,946 | $3,212,077 | $1,166,240 | 62 |
| 2024 | $46,583,833 | $2,102,911 | $5,204,609 | $3,474,711 | 82 |
| 2023 | $43,887,161 | $1,037,003 | $3,440,118 | $1,838,919 | 77 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $48,214,684 | $46,583,833 | $43,887,161 |
| Revenue | $2,329,946 | $2,102,911 | $1,037,003 |
| Expenses | $3,212,077 | $5,204,609 | $3,440,118 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,238,826 | $1,880,574 | $892,987 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sarah P. Smith as chairman. Directors listed are Ray C. Funnye, Leigh P. Boan, C. Michael Branham, and Dr. Betty D. Clark. Jane Litz served as CFO through October 30, 2025, and Chris Ballad began as CFO on November 1, 2025. Geales Sands served as executive director through June 30, 2025, and Ashley Nelson began as executive director on December 1, 2025.
Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC is led by Geales Sands, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Geales Sands
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
45 hrs/week
$131K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Ashley Nelson
Executive Director Begin
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah P. Smith
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
C. Michael Branham
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ray C. Funnye
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Betty D. Clark
Director
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leigh P. Boan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane Litz
CFO
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Ballad
CFO Begin
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Charles R. Swenson (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Michelle Mapp (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Larry Mercado (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Carol R. Jayroe (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Christa Divis (2019) — CFO
- Former: Mike Branham (2019) — Director
- Former: Robert Jewell (2019) — Chairman
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.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1965, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
Phone: (843) 723-5736
Website: https://bunnelle.org
Frequently asked questions about Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC
How much does Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC give each year?
Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC gave $1.2M across 62 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.5M across 82 grants.
What is Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC's typical grant size?
Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC's median grant in 2025 was $14,521, and its average grant was $18,810, across 62 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC that year got $16K on average.
Where does Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC give grants?
Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC gives mostly in South Carolina: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Georgetown, SC (18 grants), Pawleys Island, SC (11 grants), Columbia, SC (7 grants) and Myrtle Beach, SC (5 grants).
Does Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 62 grants with a stated purpose on Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (23 grants), "Human Needs" (21 grants) and "Environment" (7 grants).
Who are Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC's largest grantees?
Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC's largest 2025 grantees include Winyah Rivers Alliance ($198,856), Saint Frances Animal Center ($89,250) and Horry-Georgetown Technical College ($51,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC?
Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC reported $48.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.3M.
What does Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC fund?
The foundation’s mission is to enhance quality of life in Georgetown County by responding to current needs and addressing long-term, systemic inequities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC's EIN?
Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-1095197. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching Frances P Bunnelle Foundation Coastal Community Foundation of SC by hand.
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