Green South Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in 2021 and based in Carrollton, Georgia. The foundation funds efforts to protect the Southeast's wildlife and natural resources for future generations, operating with a "new-venture mindset" that prioritizes high-potential projects needing support to get off the ground.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.0M
+9.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+23.8% YoY
Grant Count
26
-13.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$70K
+42.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: We fund efforts that protect our region's incredible wildlife and great outdoors for the benefit of our children.
The foundation operates three primary programs:
Awareness Program Supports fact-based communication projects in the U.S. Southeast to inform communities about climate change and other environmental challenges. The foundation prioritizes projects that close the gap between scientific understanding and public knowledge, with geographic focus on Georgia and the Carolinas.
Accelerator Program Funds projects that accelerate the pace of conservation in the region and strengthen environmental protection, with priority given to work in the Southern Appalachians.
Land Program Partners with accredited land trusts, state and local agencies, and national conservation organizations to invest in regional land conservation projects. The foundation provides low-interest rate loans to conservation organizations for land acquisition, typically secured by first mortgages with interest rates below market rates and four-year repayment terms.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 24 grants totaling approximately $1.8 million, including:
Grant Range
s & Range**
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary geographic focus is the U.S. Southeast, with particular emphasis on:
- Southern Appalachians (priority region for accelerator program)
- Georgia and the Carolinas (primary focus for awareness program)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024)
- Total Assets: $25,000,156
- Total Revenue: $6,188,525
- Total Expenses: $3,982,378
- Net Income: $2,206,147
- Total Liabilities: $10,000,000
Annual Giving
- 2024: $1,822,850 (24 grants)
- 2023: $1,472,591 (30 grants)
- 2022: $1,300,000 (24 grants)
Giving Rate Approximately 6.4% of assets annually
Staffing 2 employees (as of 2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,000,156 | $22,930,861 | $14,044,152 |
| Revenue | $6,188,525 | $10,390,691 | $5,895,412 |
| Expenses | $3,982,378 | $2,029,512 | $1,650,083 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,441,171 | $1,974,284 | $1,627,688 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,832,292 | $335,324 | $1,852,040 |
| Distributable Amount | $476,944 | $569,723 | $172,058 |
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
81 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Roy Richards Founder and President. Retired chief executive of Southwire Company. Currently serves on several boards and teaches in leadership and corporate governance. A hunter, fisherman, and lifelong Southerner who grew up in rural West Georgia and now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Noel Thorn President of The Thorn Company, LLC, which provides advisory services to Green South. Former CEO and Board Chair of Wild Dunes Associates. Former Land Protection Director of The Nature Conservancy, South Carolina Chapter. Lives in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Greg Guthrie Managing Director of the Valentine Family Office, which provides accounting and administrative services to Green South.
Sarah Barr Program Associate (as of 2024).
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROY RICHARDS JR | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JUDY WINDOM | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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