John M Rivers Jr Foundation
The John M Rivers Jr Foundation is a private foundation established in 1995 and based in Charleston, South Carolina. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since July 1990. It functions as an independent foundation with a volunteer leadership team and no paid employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
+15.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$203K
+19.3% YoY
Grant Count
42
+23.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-3.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John M Rivers Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $211K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to strengthen the quality of life in communities that have a special relationship with the Rivers family, particularly in the Cashiers, NC and Charleston, SC areas.
Primary funding interests include:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Religion
- Sports and recreation
- Environmental conservation
- Historic preservation
- Social services
The foundation periodically supports artistic, educational, and other charitable programs that it or the Rivers family has established. It also provides seed money and matching or impact funds for new programs that align with its mission.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 38 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grant recipients have included:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Cashiers, North Carolina
- Charleston, South Carolina
The foundation also supports projects in additional locations including Camden, Chapel Hill, Deerfield, Highlands, Los Angeles, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Shelburne, and Wallingford, spanning states such as California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $3,465,372
- Total Revenue: $716,315
- Total Expenses: $246,578
- Net Income: $469,737
Prior Year Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $2,995,635
- Total Revenue: $171,291
- Total Expenses: $205,922
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,465,372 | $2,995,635 | $3,030,266 |
| Revenue | $716,315 | $171,291 | $436,275 |
| Expenses | $246,578 | $205,922 | $166,843 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $207,595 | $173,973 | $135,708 |
| Net Investment Income | $42,866 | $56,053 | $36,474 |
| Distributable Amount | $210,802 | $175,040 | $188,204 |
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
188 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Gibbes Museum of Art ($25,000), Ashley Hall School ($20,000), Church of the Good Shepherd ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASHLEY HALL SCHOOL CHARLESTON, SC | WELLNESS PLANS & TREE TRIMMING | $20,000 |
| ASHLEY HALL SCHOOL CHARLESTON, SC | ECRL GRECO/ROMAN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP | $1,500 |
| ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND CHARLESTON, SC | IN HONOR OF THOMAS M SMYTHE | $100 |
| BNY MELLON CHARITABLE GIFT FD BOSTON, MA | HONOR DAVID RAWLE'S MOTHER THEODORA | $10,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE PLATEAU CASHIERS, NC | IN HONOR OF PAUL ROBSHAW/LINDA BENGE | $2,000 |
| CAMDEN MILITARY ACADEMY CAMDEN, SC | CAMDEN ATHLETICS-UNIFORMS/SOCCER EQ | $15,000 |
| CHARLESTON LIBRARY SOCIETY CHARLESTON, SC | HONOR ANNE CLEVELAND & RUTLEDGE YOUN | $2,500 |
| CHARLESTON PARKS CONSERVANCY CHARLESTON, SC | COLONIAL LAKE CAP CAMPAIGN-HONOR BEN | $5,000 |
| CHARLESTON PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARLESTON, SC | IN HONOR OF TED LEGASEY | $2,500 |
| CHARLESTON STAGE CHARLESTON, SC | OPERATING BUDGET | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John M. Rivers Jr. - President
- David H. Maybank Jr. - Vice President
All leadership members serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN M RIVERS JR | PRESIDENT/DI | — | — |
| DAVID H MAYBANK JR | VICE PRESIDE | — | — |
| ANNE T POPE | SECRETARY/DI | — | — |
| ANNE H BLESSING | ASSIST SECR/ | — | — |
| KAREN PHILLIPS | TREASURER/DI | — | — |
| THOMAS WARING | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| J RUTLEDGE YOUNG JR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| TRICIA C CORDINA | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| J LAWSON JOHNSON III | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 40 Calhoun Street, Suite 500, Charleston, SC 29401-3530
Telephone: 843-723-9900
EIN: 57-0907666
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John M Rivers Jr Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to strengthen the quality of life in communities that have a special relationship with the Rivers family, particularly in the Cashiers, NC and Charleston, SC areas. Primary funding interests include: • Arts and culture • Education • Religion • Sports and recreation • Environmental conservation • Historic preservation • Social services The foundation periodically supports artistic, educational, and other charitable programs that it or the Rivers family has est…
How do I apply for a grant from John M Rivers Jr Foundation?
The foundation made 38 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grant recipients have included: • Gibbes Museum of Art ($25,000 - In Honor of Jonathan Green) • Trident United Way ($10,000 - Annual Community Campaign) • Spoleto Festival USA ($10,000 - Annual Operating Budget) Types of support include general operating support and project support.
Where does John M Rivers Jr Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Cashiers, North Carolina • Charleston, South Carolina The foundation also supports projects in additional locations including Camden, Chapel Hill, Deerfield, Highlands, Los Angeles, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Shelburne, and Wallingford, spanning states such as California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Vermont.
What size grants does John M Rivers Jr Foundation award?
In 2024, John M Rivers Jr Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $203K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John M Rivers Jr Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John M Rivers Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $211K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John M Rivers Jr Foundation's EIN?
John M Rivers Jr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-0907666. 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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