John M Rivers Jr Foundation
The John M Rivers Jr Foundation is a private foundation based in Charleston, South Carolina. Its 2025 grants supported organizations and projects in areas including Charleston and Cashiers, North Carolina.
John M Rivers Jr Foundation at a glance
In short: John M Rivers Jr Foundation gave $94K across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in South Carolina. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $94,000
- -53.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- -21.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,848
- -41.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $5,960,352
- +72.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (11 of 33, 2025)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John M Rivers Jr Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts written requests. Contact John M Rivers Jr. Awards are restricted to the Charleston, South Carolina area and the Cashiers, North Carolina area.
- Contact
Application contact: John M Rivers Jr
Mailing address: PO Box 21050, Charleston, SC 29403
Phone: (843) 723-9900
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John M Rivers Jr Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Charleston Parks Conservancy ($10K). Together the top 10 received $55K.
Grant Size Distribution
188 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 186 grants of 188 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated award restrictions are the Charleston, South Carolina area and the Cashiers, North Carolina area. In 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina and 10% to recipients in North Carolina. Other reported recipient-state shares were Massachusetts 6%, California 5%, and Vermont 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
Cities
Is John M Rivers Jr Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 33 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 29% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 44% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $94K (2025) to $211K (2021). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $94K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston Parks Conservancy Charleston, SC | Hazel Parker Playground Champion - In honor of various people | $10,000 |
| BYN Mellon Charitable Gift Fund - Boston, MA | honor David Rawle's Mother - Theodora Park | $5,000 |
| Camden Military Academy Camden, SC | Camden Athletics-Obstacle Course Upfit | $5,000 |
| Charleston Library Society Charleston, SC | Honor of Laura Pelzer and Rutledge Young Jr. | $5,000 |
| Charleston Museum Charleston, SC | 250th Anniversary Celebration | $5,000 |
| Charleston Symphony Orchestra Charleston, SC | In Honor of John F. Maybank | $5,000 |
| Church of the Good Shepherd Cashiers, NC | In Honor of Rob Wood and Steve Hennessy | $5,000 |
| Confederate Home and College Charleston, SC | Restoration Fund | $5,000 |
| First Tee of Greater Charleston Mount Pleasant, SC | In Honor of College of Charleston Women's Golf Team | $5,000 |
| Historic Charleston Foundation Charleston, SC | Russell House Support | $5,000 |
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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 | $5,960,352 | $5,356,210 | $140,770 | $94,000 | 33 | $94,660 | $2,310,068 | $213,869 |
| 2024 | $3,465,372 | $716,315 | $246,578 | $203,350 | 42 | $207,595 | $42,866 | $199,209 |
| 2023 | $2,995,635 | $171,291 | $205,922 | $170,482 | 34 | $173,973 | $56,053 | $175,040 |
| 2022 | $3,030,266 | $436,275 | $166,843 | $132,300 | 38 | $135,708 | $36,474 | $188,204 |
| 2021 | $2,760,834 | $508,292 | $251,175 | $210,750 | 41 | $214,744 | $32,304 | $191,234 |
| 2020 | $2,503,717 | $-46,768 | $209,413 | $172,000 | 33 | — | $34,757 | $167,449 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John M Rivers Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $214K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including arts and culture, education, historic preservation, recreation, and emergency services. For example, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra describes its mission as inspiring and engaging the community through musical performances and educational programs; Historic Charleston Foundation says it advocates for a future that honors and protects Charleston’s people, places, culture, and community. Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad says it provides ambulance and emergency rescue services in southern Jackson County, North Carolina.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 33 grants totaling $94,000. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $10,000, with a median of $2,000. It made 42 grants totaling $203,350 in 2024 and 34 grants totaling $170,482 in 2023.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $10,000 to Charleston Parks Conservancy for the Hazel Parker Playground Champion project, and $5,000 each to Camden Military Academy for an athletics obstacle-course upgrade, Charleston Library Society, Charleston Museum, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Historic Charleston Foundation, and several other organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
John M Rivers Jr Foundation is led by John M Rivers Jr., President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John M Rivers Jr.
President
President & Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
J Lawson Johnson III
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
J Rutledge Young Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Thomas Waring
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tricia C Cordina
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Anne H Blessing
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Se → Assistant Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Anne T Pope
Secretary
Secretary & Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David H Maybank Jr.
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Karen Phillips
Treasurer
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about John M Rivers Jr Foundation
How much does John M Rivers Jr Foundation give each year?
John M Rivers Jr Foundation gave $94K across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $203K across 42 grants.
What is John M Rivers Jr Foundation's typical grant size?
John M Rivers Jr Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,848, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John M Rivers Jr Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does John M Rivers Jr Foundation give grants?
John M Rivers Jr Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were North Carolina (10%) and Massachusetts (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, SC (22 grants) and Cashiers, NC (3 grants).
Does John M Rivers Jr Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 3% of John M Rivers Jr Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John M Rivers Jr Foundation's largest grantees?
John M Rivers Jr Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Charleston Parks Conservancy ($10,000), BYN Mellon Charitable Gift Fund - ($5,000) and Camden Military Academy ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John M Rivers Jr Foundation?
John M Rivers Jr Foundation reported $6.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $95K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $214K (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 does John M Rivers Jr Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including arts and culture, education, historic preservation, recreation, and emergency services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John M Rivers Jr Foundation?
The foundation accepts written requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 23, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John M Rivers Jr Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-m-rivers-jr-foundation-morg_7eec57d786404bcd81065adad6c67874
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_570907666_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John M Rivers Jr Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-m-rivers-jr-foundation-morg_7eec57d786404bcd81065adad6c67874},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from John M Rivers Jr Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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