St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I
St. Marys Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. is a public charity based in St. Marys, Georgia. Established in January 2001, it is a supporting organization to St. Marys Methodist Church and makes grants to tax-exempt charitable organizations and ministries serving people in need, organizations related to Methodism, and organizations that promote evangelical Christianity.
St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I at a glance
In short: St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I gave $1.7M across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $69K), mostly in Georgia. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,665,444
- +7.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $69,394
- +7.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $52,522
- Total assets
- $50,751,206
- +12.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (4 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (83% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I
- How to Apply
-
Submit a proposal through the Foundation’s online grant portal during an open proposal period. Proposals selected for further review must complete an application by the cycle’s application due date.
- Review Cycle
- Spring proposals are accepted November 1–December 1, with completed applications due February 1. Fall proposals are accepted May 1–June 1, with completed applications due August 1.
- Deadline
- Spring proposals are accepted November 1–December 1, with completed applications due February 1.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 6869, St Marys, GA 31558
Phone: (912) 510-9350
Website: https://stmarysmethodistfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I
Who St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Partners Worldwide ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
131 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 67 grants of 131 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation states that its charitable work serves Southeast Georgia, the nation, and the world. In 2025, 83% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Georgia, 12% to Michigan, and 5% to Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Is St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 24 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $65K; repeat grants $70K. How we count
Medians: $68K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2021) to $1.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Partners Worldwide Grand Rapids, MI | Support the Journey to Sustainability Project in Nicaragua | $200,000 |
| The Lucas Center Brunswick, GA | Expand the ACCELER8 Non-Profit Program | $150,000 |
| Hospice of the Golden Isles Brunswick, GA | Uncomp Room/Board/Patient Care | $150,000 |
| Map International Brunswick, GA | Domestic Medicine Program for Se GA | $100,000 |
| Skylark Clinic Brunswick, GA | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| True Charity Initiative Joplin, MO | General Operating Support | $77,900 |
| Open Door Community House Columbus, GA | Circles in Columbus Program Support | $75,000 |
| Morningstar Children & Family Services Brunswick, GA | General Operating Support | $75,000 |
| Safe Harbor Center Brunswick, GA | General Operating Support | $75,000 |
| The Remedy Project St Simons Island, GA | General Operating Expenses | $60,000 |
Ready to take the next step with St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,751,206 | $2,364,003 | $2,115,024 | $1,665,444 | 24 | $2,364,003 |
| 2024 | $44,940,091 | $1,084,867 | $2,233,813 | $1,545,188 | 24 | $1,084,867 |
| 2023 | $42,279,591 | $1,649,939 | $1,920,134 | $1,582,352 | 32 | $1,649,939 |
| 2022 | $38,808,441 | $1,300,375 | $2,629,980 | $1,454,933 | 28 | $1,297,618 |
| 2021 | $47,984,014 | $7,677,167 | $1,757,141 | $1,273,030 | 23 | $7,677,167 |
| 2020 | $44,547,971 | $2,028,713 | $1,744,742 | $1,458,475 | 32 | $2,028,713 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to be a “lasting, effective and compassionate charitable resource” for agencies in Southeast Georgia, the nation, and the world that respond to people in need, as well as for organizations related to Methodism and organizations that promote evangelical Christianity. Its 2025 filing describes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations serving people in need, Methodist institutions, or organizations promoting evangelical Christianity.
The 2025 awards illustrate the range of supported work. Hospice of the Golden Isles describes its mission as meeting the medical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families. Skylark Clinic says it serves the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of females and their families in crisis pregnancies. MAP International describes itself as a Christian organization providing medicines and health supplies to people in need. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
The Foundation makes grants through Spring and Fall cycles. Its FAQ says it typically receives about 40 proposals per cycle, selects about 30 to complete applications, and averages about 12 grants per cycle; the number selected varies with the available budget. It reports a typical annual grantmaking budget of about $1.4 million, including about $200,000 allocated to international grantmaking.
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 24 grants totaling $1,665,444. The awards ranged from $5,000 to $200,000, with a median grant of $52,522. Among the largest awards were $200,000 to Partners Worldwide for a sustainability project in Nicaragua; $150,000 each to The Lucas Center for its Acceler8 nonprofit program and Hospice of the Golden Isles for room, board, and patient care; and $100,000 each to MAP International for its domestic medicine program in Southeast Georgia and Skylark Clinic for general operating support.
The process begins with a proposal submitted through the online grant portal. Proposals selected for further consideration are invited to complete an application. The Foundation says awarded grantees must submit progress reports every six months and a final report when the grant is fully expended. The website also specifies that funded applicants submit written progress reports by June 15 and December 15, along with a final report upon project completion.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert Bennett as chair; Stephanie Bledsoe as vice president; Michael Stephens as vice chair; Paul Lentz as treasurer; Donna O’Banion as secretary; Randy Hamby, Stephen Kinney, Gail Latham, and Darla Winn as directors; and Rev. Roy White as ex-officio.
St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I is led by Bryan Farmer, President since 2025 (on filings since 2024); 1 of 11 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bryan Farmer
President
Successor President → President, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$58K (2024) → $130K (2025)
Robert Bennett
Chair
Vice Chair → Director, 2023
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Kinney
Director
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darla Winn
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gail Latham
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randy Hamby
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donna O'Banion
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roy White
Ex-Officio
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Lentz
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Bledsoe
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Stephens
Vice Chair
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Jeff Barker (2020–2024) — President
- Former: Beth Tipper (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Jeff Miller (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Pat Green (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Tom Headlee (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Cindy Fitzgerald (2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: David Thompson (2020–2022) — Ex-Officio
- Former: Jim Lomis (2020–2022) — Chair
- Former: Lisa Lang (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Sandy Banks (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Keith Smith (2020–2021) — Director
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 $130K, to Bryan Farmer (President).
Frequently asked questions about St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I
How much does St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I give each year?
St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I gave $1.7M across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 24 grants.
What is St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I's typical grant size?
St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I's median grant in 2025 was $52,522, and its average grant was $69,394, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I that year got $65K on average.
Where does St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I give grants?
St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I gives mostly in Georgia: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Michigan (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Brunswick, GA (16 grants) and St Simons Island, GA (3 grants).
Does St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I give general operating support?
Yes: 54% of St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I's largest grantees?
St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I's largest 2025 grantees include Partners Worldwide ($200,000), The Lucas Center ($150,000) and Hospice of the Golden Isles ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I?
St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I reported $50.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.4M.
What does St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to be a “lasting, effective and compassionate charitable resource” for agencies in Southeast Georgia, the nation, and the world that respond to people in need, as well as for organizations related to Methodism and organizations that promote evangelical Christianity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I?
Submit a proposal through the Foundation’s online grant portal during an open proposal period. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I's EIN?
St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2591172. 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 30, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/st-marys-methodist-church-foundation-i-morg_f678dd25db234b7aa5f6a29832c78e02
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_582591172_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/st-marys-methodist-church-foundation-i-morg_f678dd25db234b7aa5f6a29832c78e02},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from St Marys Methodist Church Foundation I's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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