Pathfinder Foundation Inc
Pathfinder Foundation Inc is a private independent foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. The foundation was established in 2011 and provides funding primarily for scholarships and educational initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.2M
+3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-17.2% YoY
Grant Count
45
-4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$29K
-13.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pathfinder Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is providing funding for scholarships. Grant-making focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
Grantmaking
The foundation made approximately $1.27 million in total grants in 2023. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $30,192,184
- Total Revenues: $3,100,205
- Total Expenses: $2,042,211
- Total Giving: $1,270,000
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,192,184 | $29,134,190 | $29,464,342 |
| Revenue | $3,100,205 | $2,136,442 | $3,860,077 |
| Expenses | $2,042,211 | $2,216,594 | $2,065,790 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,366,902 | $1,643,220 | $1,518,236 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,088,562 | $1,531,580 | $3,152,184 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,525,180 | $1,466,143 | $1,603,574 |
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 2023
Grant Size Distribution
184 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Lowcountry Land Trust Inc ($200,000), South Carolina Coastal Conservation League Inc ($200,000), The Baylor School ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST WASHINGTON, DC | Liberty Trail | $5,000 |
| CHARLESTON JUNIOR GOLF FOUNDATION MT PLEASANT, SC | General & Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| CHARLESTON MOVES CHARLESTON, SC | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| CHARLESTON PARKS CONSERVANCY CHARLESTON, SC | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| CHARLESTON PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARLESTON, SC | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| CHARLESTON WATERKEEPER CHARLESTON, SC | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA INC N CHARLESTON, SC | Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney Scholarship Fund | $30,000 |
| COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON FOUNDATION CHARLESTON, SC | Class of '81 Scholarship Fund | $5,000 |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF SOUTH CAROLINA N CHARLESTON, SC | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED INC MEMPHIS, TN | South Carolina State Initiative | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Cartter Lupton — President (as of December 2023)
The foundation is supported by T Cartter Lupton II.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| David A Belitz | Dir | 1 | $3,000 |
| George G Hill | Sec, Dir | 1 | $3,000 |
| Betsey Lupton | Dir | 1 | — |
| John Lupton | Dir | 20 | — |
| T Cartter Lupton II | Dir, Pres | 20 | — |
Contact Information
- Telephone: 800-839-1754
- Address: 501 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Pathfinder Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is providing funding for scholarships. Grant-making focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
How do I apply for a grant from Pathfinder Foundation Inc?
The foundation made approximately $1.27 million in total grants in 2023. Recent grants include: • Baylor School: $200,000 (Cartter Scholars Scholarship Fund) • South Carolina Coastal Conservation League: $200,000 (Grow Food Initiative) • Lowcountry Land Trust: $200,000 (Capital Campaign) Typical grant awards range from $2,000 to $475,000.
Where does Pathfinder Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
What size grants does Pathfinder Foundation Inc award?
In 2023, Pathfinder Foundation Inc awarded 45 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $29K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Pathfinder Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Pathfinder Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Pathfinder Foundation Inc's EIN?
Pathfinder Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-5487095. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pathfinder Foundation Inc'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.
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