Palmetto Promise Institute is a public charity based in Columbia, South Carolina. It describes itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit educational organization that provides research, analysis, and publications on issues affecting the common good, and its website says it promotes policy solutions for a free and flourishing South Carolina.
Key facts about Palmetto Promise Institute
In short: Palmetto Promise Institute gave $783K across 50 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in South Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 26-3077338
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $783,077
- Grants made (2025)
- 50
- Average grant
- $15,662
- Median grant
- $9,000
- Total assets
- $1,297,759
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$1.3M
-33.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$783K
-7.0% YoY
Grant Count
50
-16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+11.6% YoY
How Palmetto Promise Institute gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 organization’s stated mission is to educate the public and enhance the public good through research, analysis, and publications on issues affecting the common good. Its website says its policy work is guided by finding common ground, using rigorous research and analysis, and promoting innovative solutions grounded in freedom and equal opportunity.
Education is evident in its activities and 2025 grants. Recipients included private and Christian schools. For example, Holly Hill Academy says its mission is to develop lasting relationships with students and support academic success, accountability, integrity, and commitment. Newberry Academy describes its mission as operating a private, independent K–12 school. Trinity Collegiate School says it is a college-preparatory school rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the institute’s.
The institute’s 2025–26 policy agenda identifies education, healthcare, and a free and fair legal system as categories for its policy priorities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the institute reported 50 grants totaling $783,077. Grants ranged from $5,296 to $229,000, with a median of $9,000. The largest listed awards included $229,000 to the Diocese of Charleston, $54,050 to Westgate Christian School, $31,146 to Bob Jones Academy, and $28,500 to Lol Steam School of the Arts. Other listed recipients included Maranatha Christian School ($27,000), Daniels Christian School In ($24,000), and Dillon Christian School ($21,387).
How to Apply
for outside organizations seeking grants.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina. The listed grantees were based in South Carolina communities including Charleston, Spartanburg, Greenville, Hartsville, Florence, Columbia, Dillon, Manning, and Myrtle Beach.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $14K (2020) to $842K (2024). In 2025 it made 50 grants totaling $783K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Diocese of Charleston ($229K). Together the top 10 received $453K.
Grant Size Distribution
112 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 107 grants of 112 (96%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Diocese of Charleston Charleston, SC | — | $229,000 |
| Westgate Christian School Spartanburg, SC | — | $54,050 |
| Bob Jones Academy Greenville, SC | — | $31,146 |
| Lol Steam School of the Arts Hartsville, SC | — | $28,500 |
| Maranatha Christian School Florence, SC | — | $27,000 |
| Daniels Christian School In Columbia, SC | — | $24,000 |
| Dillon Christian School Dillon, SC | — | $21,387 |
| Laurence Manning Academy Manning, SC | — | $13,675 |
| Calvary Christian School Myrt Myrtle Beach, SC | — | $12,000 |
| Chabad Jewish Academy Myrtle Beach, SC | — | $12,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,297,759 | $1,105,360 | $1,744,501 | $783,077 across 50 grants |
| 2024 | $1,947,175 | $3,296,721 | $1,708,169 | $841,926 across 60 grants |
| 2023 | $345,675 | $640,125 | $530,245 | 0 grants reported |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,297,759 | $1,947,175 | $345,675 |
| Revenue | $1,105,360 | $3,296,721 | $640,125 |
| Expenses | $1,744,501 | $1,708,169 | $530,245 |
| Net Investment Income | $26,128 | $7,024 | $3 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 3, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Phil Hughes as Chairman, Wendy Damron as President, Jeff Yelton as Secretary, Stewart Rodman as Vice Chair, Jim DeMint as Founding Chair, Dan Adams as Immediate Past Chair, and Oran Smith as Senior Fellow. It also lists Louie L. Cason Jr., Van Hipp, and Rick Timmons as directors.
The institute’s website identifies Wendy Damron as President and CEO, Oran P. Smith as Senior Fellow, Ryan Dellinger as ESTF Implementation Coordinator, and Katelyn Bergman as a staff member.
Palmetto Promise Institute is led by Wendy Damron, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 13 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wendy Damron
President
Treasurer → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$120K (2023) → $130K (2025)
Jim DeMint
Founding Chair
Honorary Chair → Founding Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phil Hughes
Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Timmons
Director
Member → Member & Director, 2022
Member & Director → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Van Hipp
Director
Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barry Wynn
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Louie L Cason Jr.
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Luanne Zurlo
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Gilder III
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Oran Smith
Senior Fellow
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$113K (2020) → $139K (2025)
Dan Adams
Imm Past Chair
Member → Imm Past Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stewart Rodman
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Yelton
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Ellen Weaver (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Mike Brenan (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Mikee Johnson (2020–2021) — Member
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $139K, to Oran Smith (Senior Fellow). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 12676, Columbia, SC 29211
Website: https://palmettopromise.org
Frequently asked questions about Palmetto Promise Institute
How much does Palmetto Promise Institute give each year?
Palmetto Promise Institute gave $783K across 50 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $842K across 60 grants.
What is Palmetto Promise Institute's typical grant size?
Palmetto Promise Institute's median grant in 2025 was $9,000, and its average grant was $15,662, across 50 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Palmetto Promise Institute give grants?
Palmetto Promise Institute gives mostly in South Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Columbia, SC (4 grants), Greenville, SC (3 grants), Hartsville, SC (3 grants) and Myrtle Beach, SC (3 grants).
Who are Palmetto Promise Institute's largest grantees?
Palmetto Promise Institute's largest 2025 grantees include Diocese of Charleston ($229,000), Westgate Christian School ($54,050) and Bob Jones Academy ($31,146), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Palmetto Promise Institute?
Palmetto Promise Institute reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.
What does Palmetto Promise Institute fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to educate the public and enhance the public good through research, analysis, and publications on issues affecting the common good. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Palmetto Promise Institute?
Palmetto Promise Institute has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check palmettopromise.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Palmetto Promise Institute's EIN?
Palmetto Promise Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3077338. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Palmetto Promise Institute by hand.
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