Riverbanks Society
The Riverbanks Society is a South Carolina corporation organized to provide financial support for the richland-lexington riverbanks park district and its activities.
Riverbanks Society at a glance
In short: Riverbanks Society gave $6.1M across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $1.2M), mostly in South Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,090,509
- -21.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +150.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,218,102
- -68.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $7,845,732
- -53.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Riverbanks Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Richland-Lexington Riverbanks Park ($6.0M). Together the top 5 received $6.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 15 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Riverbanks Society gives
- Giving fell 34% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.9M (2020) to $9.3M (2022). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $6.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Richland-Lexington Riverbanks Park Columbia, SC | Supporting Organizat | $6,025,009 |
| International Rhino Foundation Ft Worth, TX | Sanctuary | $25,000 |
| Association of Zoos & Aquariums Baltimore, MD | — | $25,000 |
| Turtle Survival Alliance Charleston, SC | Sanctuary | $10,000 |
| Giraffe Conservation Foundation Orlando, FL | Sanctuary | $5,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,845,732 | $7,972,739 | $7,766,304 | $6,090,509 | 5 | $381,415 |
| 2024 | $17,011,309 | $13,752,640 | $9,325,007 | $7,761,065 | 2 | $641,735 |
| 2023 | $11,504,166 | $8,256,156 | $9,445,076 | $7,902,386 | 4 | $22,809 |
| 2022 | $12,709,712 | $16,497,632 | $10,553,628 | $9,253,115 | 1 | $2,926 |
| 2021 | $6,757,058 | $6,422,199 | $4,951,799 | $3,954,335 | 3 | $2,345 |
| 2020 | $5,264,806 | $7,115,462 | $4,976,990 | $3,865,550 | 3 | $7,347 |
About Riverbanks Society
Based on IRS filings
Riverbanks Society is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Columbia, SC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $7.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $6.1M. Net investment income was $381K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Riverbanks Society is led by Patti Embry-Tautenhan, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 21 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Patti Embry-Tautenhan
President
Secretary → Vice President, 2024
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deans R. Fawcett
Immediate Pa
Treasurer → President, 2024
President → Immediate Pa, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donna Longo
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James A. Herlong
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lindsey Miles
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Gunter Hudson
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Slater
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Bedenbaugh
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Mungo
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wes Jackson
Vice President
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
Treasurer → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allison Sanford
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deonca Shuler
Treasurer
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Greene
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Manny Licata
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Will Elliott
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Corinne Goldman
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jan Stamps
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kaleb Unverfehrt
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Allen Jones
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheila Abron
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Manly
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: A. Mattison Bogan (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Andrew Reed (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Sarah B. Locke (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Tristan K. Weinkle (2020–2024) — Immediate Pa
- Former: Sheila M. Willis (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Dawn Staley (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Cecilia Fournil (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Shelby K. Leonardi (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Stephanie R. Jones (2020–2023) — Immediate Pa
- Former: Sarah Kirby (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Sharon W. Bryant (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: J. Stuart Moore (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Jeffrey T. Reeves (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Susan S. Keenan (2020–2021) — Immediate Pa
- Former: Clifford L. Bourke Jr. (2020) — Board Member
- Former: J. Anderson Folsom (2020) — Immediate Past P
- Former: Jeffrey Gossett (2020) — Board 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.
Frequently asked questions about Riverbanks Society
How much does Riverbanks Society give each year?
Riverbanks Society gave $6.1M across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $7.8M across 2 grants.
What is Riverbanks Society's typical grant size?
Riverbanks Society's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $1,218,102, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Riverbanks Society give grants?
Riverbanks Society gives mostly in South Carolina: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Riverbanks Society give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Riverbanks Society's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Sanctuary" (3 grants).
Who are Riverbanks Society's largest grantees?
Riverbanks Society's largest 2025 grantees include Richland-Lexington Riverbanks Park ($6,025,009), International Rhino Foundation ($25,000) and Association of Zoos & Aquariums ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.
How large is Riverbanks Society?
Riverbanks Society reported $7.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.0M.
What is Riverbanks Society?
Riverbanks Society is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Columbia, SC. It holds $7.8M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Riverbanks Society's EIN?
Riverbanks Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7278668. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Live grants for the work Riverbanks Society funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Riverbanks Society's focus areas in our free grants database
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