The Ceres Foundation Inc
The Ceres Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Charleston, South Carolina. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in several states, including South Carolina, Virginia, and Connecticut.
The Ceres Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Ceres Foundation Inc gave $1.0M across 45 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in South Carolina. 2% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,047,000
- +8.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 45
- -23.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,267
- +42.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $26,997,092
- -0.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 2% first-time grantees (1 of 45, 2025)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ceres Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 328 East Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 377-0782
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ceres Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Nature Conservancy of SC ($200K). Together the top 10 received $800K.
Grant Size Distribution
288 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 266 grants of 288 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, 51% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina, 21% to Virginia, 20% to Connecticut, 5% to Georgia, and 1% to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Ceres Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
2%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 45 grantees (2%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 84% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $958K (2020) to $1.1M (2019). In 2025 it made 45 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nature Conservancy of SC Mt Pleasant, SC | chelsea plantation | $200,000 |
| Gibbes Museum of Art Charleston, SC | honor of angela mack | $185,000 |
| Community School Roanoke, VA | challenge met | $100,000 |
| Nuvance Health Network Danbury, CT | general fund and endowment/john murphy | $100,000 |
| Hotchkiss School Lakeville, CT | honor of 1st girls | $50,000 |
| Nemours Wildlife Foundation Yemassee, SC | cattle study | $50,000 |
| GrowFood Carolina Charleston, SC | packing boxes | $35,000 |
| Blue Ridge Literacy Roanoke, VA | general fund | $30,000 |
| Fare McLean, VA | challenge met | $25,000 |
| Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Roanoke, VA | challenge met | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ceres Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $26,997,092 | $2,016,669 | $1,839,990 | $1,047,000 | 45 | $1,527,877 | $1,770,973 | $1,367,060 |
| 2024 | $27,248,151 | $2,326,736 | $1,844,636 | $961,000 | 59 | $1,442,229 | $2,010,674 | $1,214,430 |
| 2023 | $26,763,419 | $678,307 | $1,863,218 | $1,040,200 | 72 | $1,485,964 | $564,228 | $1,187,808 |
| 2022 | $27,946,564 | $1,792,822 | $1,797,248 | $991,238 | 37 | $1,386,577 | $1,478,246 | $1,259,534 |
| 2021 | $27,950,946 | $2,452,070 | $1,779,725 | $1,038,500 | 75 | $1,412,694 | $2,146,084 | $1,336,469 |
| 2020 | $27,278,213 | $1,082,599 | $1,609,317 | $958,000 | 50 | — | $819,966 | $1,241,892 |
| 2019 | $28,001,874 | $1,440,251 | $1,757,038 | $1,109,000 | 66 | — | $1,150,125 | $1,287,726 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ceres Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state the foundation’s own mission. Its 2025 grants included organizations working in education, adult literacy, the arts, conservation, health, and recovery services. For example, Community School describes its work as supporting children’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development, while Blue Ridge Literacy says it helps adult learners achieve life goals through functional literacy skills. The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra describes its work as providing music to enrich, educate, and entertain audiences in western Virginia.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 45 grants totaling $1,047,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $200,000, with a median of $10,000. Larger grants included $200,000 to the Nature Conservancy of SC for “chelsea plantation,” $185,000 to the Gibbes Museum of Art for “honor of angela mack,” and $100,000 each to Community School for “challenge met” and Nuvance Health Network for “general fund and endowment/john murphy.” Other grants included $50,000 to the Hotchkiss School and $50,000 to Nemours Wildlife Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Stephen L Gavel as president and executive director, Frank Gavel Jr as secretary and vice president, and Linda Gavel Webb as treasurer and vice president.
The Ceres Foundation Inc is led by Stephen L. Gavel, President & Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stephen L. Gavel
President & Executive Director
On filings since 2019
30 hrs/week
$114K (2019) → $190K (2025)
Frank Gavel Jr.
Secretary & Vice President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Gavel Webb
Treasurer & Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $190K, to Stephen L Gavel (President/Exec. Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Ceres Foundation Inc
How much does The Ceres Foundation Inc give each year?
The Ceres Foundation Inc gave $1.0M across 45 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $961K across 59 grants.
What is The Ceres Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Ceres Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $23,267, across 45 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ceres Foundation Inc that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Ceres Foundation Inc give grants?
The Ceres Foundation Inc gives mostly in South Carolina: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (21%) and Connecticut (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, SC (7 grants), Roanoke, VA (6 grants), Brunswick, GA (6 grants) and Danbury, CT (3 grants).
Does The Ceres Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 69% of The Ceres Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (31 of 45) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Challenge Met" (3 grants).
Who are The Ceres Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Ceres Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Nature Conservancy of SC ($200,000), Gibbes Museum of Art ($185,000) and Community School ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ceres Foundation Inc?
The Ceres Foundation Inc reported $27.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ceres Foundation Inc fund?
The available information does not state the foundation’s own mission. Its 2025 grants included organizations working in education, adult literacy, the arts, conservation, health, and recovery services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ceres Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ceres Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Ceres Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2479387. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Ceres Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ceres Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in South Carolina
Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina Inc
N Charleston, SC
Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina supports nonprofits and community initiatives in education, health, human services, the environment, arts, social justice, and community development across nine coastal South Carolina counties. Its 2024 itemized grants ranged from $5,057 to $2.3 million, with a median of $16,500; competitive programs accept applications through its online portal.
Assets
$435.6M
Grants
459
Total Given
$26.0M
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Morristown, NJ
The Community Foundation of New Jersey supports a broad range of causes, including arts, education, health, human services, and the environment, through donor-directed and other charitable funds. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $19,759, with awards ranging widely; its current health grant opportunity serves Morris and Somerset counties. Eligible New Jersey nonprofits may apply to specific grant opportunities, subject to each opportunity’s guidelines.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,321
Total Given
$93.8M
Central Carolina Community Foundation
Columbia, SC
Central Carolina Community Foundation funds education, human services, health, arts and culture, community development, disaster relief, and related community initiatives through specific grant programs. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, and it primarily serves 11 Midlands counties while also funding statewide and nationally. It accepts applications through its online portal during published grant periods for specific opportunities; some programs are invitation-only.
Assets
$264.3M
Grants
488
Total Given
$26.5M
Community Foundation of Greenville Inc
Greenville, SC
Community Foundation of Greenville funds nonprofits and projects in arts, education, environment, health, and human services, with a focus on Greenville County, South Carolina. Its 2026 Capacity Building Grants award $5,000–$12,500; 2024 grants had a median of $23,900. It accepts unsolicited requests through its Capacity Building Grants program.
Assets
$118.8M
Grants
346
Total Given
$26.4M
South Carolina Christian Foundation
Spartanburg, SC
The foundation funds Christian ministries, churches, and quality-of-life organizations, with particular attention through its Community Trust Grants to Christian nonprofits in five South Carolina counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $15,000, though awards varied widely; most grant dollars went to South Carolina, with additional funding in other states. Community Trust applicants must submit a Ministry Introduction Form and be invited to apply; the profile does not state whether other requests are unsolicited.
Assets
$45.4M
Grants
285
Total Given
$11.6M
United Community Bank Foundation
Greenville, SC
United Community Bank Foundation funds economic empowerment, arts, housing and youth development in communities served across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Its 2025 grants ranged from $250 to $16,000, with a median of $2,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests; grants go to preselected organizations.
Assets
$12.6M
Grants
235
Total Given
$505K
More similar funders
More Funders in South Carolina
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ceres Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ceres-foundation-inc-morg_5bb47e581d294351aa2a839469ee869e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_582479387_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ceres Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ceres-foundation-inc-morg_5bb47e581d294351aa2a839469ee869e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 The Ceres Foundation Inc'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.
The Ceres Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?