Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation
The Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Established as a 501(c)(3) organization and tax-exempt since March 2007, the foundation operates as a philanthropic grantmaking organization dedicated to supporting charitable initiatives across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$40.0M
+4.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+7.8% YoY
Grant Count
48
+11.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
-3.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on funding initiatives in the following areas:
- Education
- Higher education
- Religious activities, particularly within Christianity and Protestantism
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated significant grantmaking activity, with recent grants including a $250,000 award—noted as the largest grant awarded by the foundation at that time—to a school district for classroom furniture.
Ready to take the next step with Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
States: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
Cities: Annapolis, Arlington, Athens, Baltimore, and numerous others across the supported states
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $38,140,414
- Annual Revenue: $8,327,899
- Annual Expenses: $1,736,016
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation has maintained tax-exempt status and filed Form 990 returns with the IRS annually since its establishment.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $40,017,348 | $38,140,414 | $31,547,501 |
| Revenue | $3,855,411 | $8,327,899 | $3,401,362 |
| Expenses | $1,978,477 | $1,736,016 | $1,984,790 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,722,925 | $1,602,182 | $1,901,373 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,559,573 | $6,071,726 | $1,212,055 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,870,513 | $1,630,315 | $1,594,546 |
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
227 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Clemson University Foundation ($300,000), Furman University ($200,000), Duke University ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION GREENVILLE, SC | Blood Pressure Cuffs fund | $10,000 |
| ANACOSTIA WATERSHED SOCIETY INC BLADENSBURG, MD | General & Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| ARLINGTON FREE CLINIC INC ARLINGTON, VA | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| AVALON THEATRE PROJECT INC WASHINGTON, DC | Charitable Event | $5,000 |
| CAMPERDOWN ACADEMY INC GREENVILLE, SC | All areas of study Scholarship Fund | $15,000 |
| CANCER SURVIVORS PARK ALLIANCE GREENVILLE, SC | The Turning Point Tree sculpture | $50,000 |
| CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK WASHINGTON, DC | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION INC ANNAPOLIS, MD | Charitable Event | $10,000 |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION INC ANNAPOLIS, MD | General & Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION INC ANNAPOLIS, MD | general purposes including to support repairs and other work on the DC-based education boat | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by three trustees who serve without compensation:
- Ann P Cullen
- Richard T Pelham
- William H Pelham
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann P Cullen | Trustee, Chairperson | 1 | — |
| Richard T Pelham | Trustee | 1 | — |
| William H Pelham | Trustee | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation fund?
The foundation focuses on funding initiatives in the following areas: • Education • Higher education • Religious activities, particularly within Christianity and Protestantism
How do I apply for a grant from Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation?
The foundation has demonstrated significant grantmaking activity, with recent grants including a $250,000 award—noted as the largest grant awarded by the foundation at that time—to a school district for classroom furniture.
Where does Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: **States:** California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia **Cities:** Annapolis, Arlington, Athens, Baltimore, and numerous others across the supported states
What size grants does Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation award?
In 2024, Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation awarded 48 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $34K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation's EIN?
Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3291660. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Jean T and Heyward G Pelham Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.