Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is a faith-based, Catholic foundation and ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. Established in 1996, the foundation was endowed by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine with initial assets of $82.5 million. The foundation is headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, and operates across all 46 counties in the state.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$85.9M
+2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+9.5% YoY
Grant Count
104
+25.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
-12.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: In response to God's call and in the spirit of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, the Foundation strategically uses resources to reduce poverty through action, advocacy and leadership.
Vision: The foundation seeks to be a beacon of hope devoted to meeting the unmet needs of individuals, families and communities, with the vision that all people in South Carolina have the resources to live out of poverty.
Primary Focus Areas:
The foundation is dedicated to efforts that help:
- Build a sustainable, healthy economy
- Promote educational success
- Support stronger families
- Contribute to long-term community development
- Measure the effects of these efforts
Key Initiatives:
- Fatherhood Initiative – A statewide initiative designed to reduce poverty through father engagement, working to strengthen relationships between low-income fathers and their families
- Collaboration for Ministry Initiative – Supports congregations of women religious in their efforts with the poor and underserved, and strengthens sister-led ministries
- Kinship Care – Advocates and raises awareness for families where grandparents have primary responsibility for grandchildren
- Immigrant Families – Enhances support for immigrant families in South Carolina
The foundation also conducts and commissions research related to poverty reduction and engages in collaborative ventures and public policy work.
Grantmaking
The foundation has distributed more than $82 million to over 3,100 nonprofits since its inception in 1996. Recent grant rounds include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds nonprofit organizations throughout South Carolina, with a commitment to serving all 46 counties in the state. The foundation also funds work in North Carolina and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $84,131,957
- Total Revenues: $6,722,671
- Total Expenses: $4,794,515
- Total Liabilities: $102,000
Historical Giving:
- Over $82 million distributed since 1996
- Grants awarded to over 3,100 organizations to date
Staffing: The foundation employs 8 staff members.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $85,862,117 | $84,131,957 | $81,995,481 |
| Revenue | $4,140,668 | $6,722,671 | $6,338,238 |
| Expenses | $4,335,642 | $4,794,515 | $5,171,493 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $4,122,731 | $6,683,808 | $6,056,467 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
Breaking the Cycle Grants
SISTERS OF CHARITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Community Engagement Grants
SISTERS OF CHARITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Amount
Up to US $1,500
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Immediate Needs Grants
SISTERS OF CHARITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Tom Keith – President and Chief Executive Officer
Donna Waites – Program Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa J Rogers | Assistant Treasurer | — | — |
| Jan Murphy | Board Member | — | — |
| Michael Gore | Ex Officio | 1 | — |
| Donna Waites | President | — | — |
| Macon Lovelace | Chair | 1 | — |
| Thomas P Otis | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Joseph Lee Pearson | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Tracy S Bailey | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Patricia J Moore-Pastides MPH | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Pamela T Bryant | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Maria Smoak | Trustee | 1 | — |
| T Mitchell Watson | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Tigerron Wells | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Sr Judith Ann Karam CSA | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Julio E Mendoza Jr | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Rev Tony McDade | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Kaela Bailey | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Connie Breeden | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Mario Melendez | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Adam Sheehan | Trustee | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to award grants in multiple rounds throughout the year to nonprofits working to reduce poverty across South Carolina. Recent grant announcements have highlighted funding for organizations addressing systemic poverty drivers, immediate community needs, and long-term poverty reduction strategies. The foundation is preparing to celebrate 30 years of operation in 2026, coinciding with the 175th anniversary of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine.
Sisters of Charity Foundation of SC Awards $1.1 Million in GrantsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
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