Post and Courier Foundation
The Post and Courier Foundation is a corporate foundation based in Charleston, South Carolina, established in 1953. It operates as a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation with a focus on supporting community causes and cultural events in South Carolina and beyond.
Key facts about Post and Courier Foundation
- EIN
- 57-6020356
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $783,720
- Grants made (2024)
- 60
- Average grant
- $13,062
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (16 of 60, 2024)
- Total assets
- $4,994,323
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Post and Courier Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Post and Courier Foundation's 60 itemized 2024 grants were South Carolina (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, SC (35 grants), North Charleston, SC (7 grants), Mount Pleasant, SC (4 grants) and Summerville, SC (3 grants). 82% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (3 grants).
Is Post and Courier Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 16 of 60 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−10%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 551% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Post and Courier Foundation
- How to evaluate Post and Courier Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.0M
+11.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$784K
-9.6% YoY
Grant Count
60
+5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-14.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Post and Courier Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes, including:
- Homeless shelters for men and women
- Scholarships and educational support
- Food assistance and meals programs
- Clothing and financial assistance
- Support for individuals who are blind
- Community journalism
- Cultural and culinary events
The foundation operates several signature programs:
Columbia Food & Wine Festival — A five-day annual culinary event showcasing local cuisine and beverages that supports the region's growing culinary scene and reinvests portions of proceeds into local hospitality businesses and nonprofit organizations.
Charleston Steeplechase — A premier annual horse racing event held at the Stono Ferry Racetrack in Hollywood, South Carolina. This day-long, family-friendly event features competitive steeplechase races, tailgating, a merchant market with local artisans, a family fun zone, and a corgi cup race with proceeds supporting community journalism in South Carolina and the local community.
South Carolina Jockey Club — Formed in 1734 and considered the first club of its sort in the United States, it organizes horse races and brings together the equine community through races and festivals.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Grants range from $2,000 to $99,000, with a median grant size of $5,000.
Ready to take the next step with Post and Courier Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports various cities across the United States, with primary focus in South Carolina, including Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville. It also provides funding to organizations in California, Georgia, New York, Tennessee, and Washington D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 60 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,994,323
- Total Revenue: $1,112,525
- Total Expenses: $1,464,181
- Total Liabilities: $91,400
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $4,470,000
- Total Revenue: $1,010,000
- Total Expenses: $1,430,000
The foundation maintains assets in the top 25% of all foundations nationally, ranking #20,908 of 159,550 foundations.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,994,323 | $4,473,881 | $4,806,091 |
| Revenue | $1,112,525 | $1,005,925 | $662,720 |
| Expenses | $1,464,181 | $1,429,508 | $4,860,844 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,412,106 | $902,710 | $895,866 |
| Net Investment Income | $286,383 | $60,003 | $147,276 |
| Distributable Amount | $256,149 | $237,883 | $214,205 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
304 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Lowcountry Food Bank ($99,378), Star Gospel Mission ($85,827), East Cooper Community Outreach ($63,241).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK Charleston, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $99,378 |
| STAR GOSPEL MISSION Charleston, SC | DIGITAL EQUITY & INCLUSION INITIATIVE | $85,827 |
| EAST COOPER COMMUNITY OUTREACH Mount Pleasant, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $63,241 |
| ONE-EIGHTY PLACE Charleston, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $63,241 |
| OPERATION HOME North Charleston, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $59,689 |
| CAROLINA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER North Charleston, SC | ANNUAL OPERATING FUND/GOOD CHEER FUND FOR CLOTHES, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND CHRISTMAS PRESENTS | $40,655 |
| ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND Charleston, SC | PROVIDE FOOD, CLOTHING, ETC. FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED DURING CHRISTMAS | $27,103 |
| LOWCOUNTRY LAND TRUST Charleston, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE LAND TRUST Charleston, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES Charleston, SC | PROVIDE HOT MEALS, CLOTHING & FINANCIALS | $13,552 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Pierre Manigault — President (2 hours/week, no compensation)
- Patricia B. Manigault — Vice President (1 hour/week, no compensation)
- Heidi L. Herrington — Secretary (20 hours/week, $31,000 annual compensation)
- Laurence Fritz — Treasurer (1 hour/week, no compensation)
- Kerri Forrest — Member (1 hour/week, $5,000 annual compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierre Manigault | President | 2 | — |
| Patricia B Manigault | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Heidi L Herrington | Secretary | 20 | $30,600 |
| Laurence Fritz | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Kerri Forrest | Member | 1 | $5,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Post and Courier Foundation supports the Post and Courier Investigative Fund, which has engaged in community journalism initiatives. The Investigative Fund has matched challenge grants, including a $50,000 challenge grant, to support investigative journalism efforts. The foundation has also launched an Arts and Culture Lab to expand coverage of South Carolina's creative life.
Dollar General Literacy Foundation awards ... - Post and CourierFrequently Asked Questions
What does Post and Courier Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes, including: • Homeless shelters for men and women • Scholarships and educational support • Food assistance and meals programs • Clothing and financial assistance • Support for individuals who are blind • Community journalism • Cultural and culinary events The foundation operates several signature programs: **Columbia Food & Wine Festival** — A five-day annual culinary event showcasing local cuisine and beverages that supports the regi…
How do I apply for a grant from Post and Courier Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 57 grants in its most recent fiscal year, with recent grantees including Star Gospel Mission. **Grant Sizes:** Grants range from $2,000 to $99,000, with a median grant size of $5,000. **Recent Financial Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $783,720 • Total grants made: 60 grants **Application Status:** The foundation appears to be possibly open to applications based on its tax filings, though it operates with limited staffing.
Where does Post and Courier Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports various cities across the United States, with primary focus in South Carolina, including Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville. It also provides funding to organizations in California, Georgia, New York, Tennessee, and Washington D.C.
What size grants does Post and Courier Foundation award?
In 2024, Post and Courier Foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $784K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Post and Courier Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Post and Courier Foundation reported a distributable amount of $256K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Post and Courier Foundation's EIN?
Post and Courier Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-6020356. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.