The Ceres Foundation Inc
The Ceres Foundation Inc is a family foundation established in 1999 and based in Charleston, South Carolina. The foundation is dedicated to strengthening communities and improving life outcomes of historically underserved youth and their families through strategic partnerships with innovative nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$27.2M
+1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$961K
-7.6% YoY
Grant Count
59
-18.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+12.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ceres Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on strengthening communities and improving life outcomes of historically underserved youth through dynamic partnerships with innovative nonprofits. The foundation emphasizes a capacity-building approach, with approximately 77% of funding focused on organizational capacity building.
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in three primary funding areas:
- College Access & Success — Programs that help students graduate from high school, prepare for and enroll in college, and secure post-secondary degrees
- Career Pathways — Education, training, work-experience, or job placement programs that lead to rewarding and sustainable careers
- Family Strengthening — Programs that work simultaneously with parents and children to promote healthy parenting and build resilient, stable families
Grantmaking
The foundation is committed to true partnership and long-term collaboration. Grants support nonprofit organizations that provide educational and employment opportunities to advance self-sufficiency of underserved youth and their families. Investments are designed to elevate the operational, programmatic, financial, and organizational effectiveness of nonprofit partners.
Grant Range
s & Patterns:**
Average Grant
ee relationship: 7 years in portfolio
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's funding is concentrated in three geographic areas where the majority of family members and staff reside:
- Washington, DC
- Los Angeles and Orange County, California
- Western Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $27,248,151
- Total giving: $961,000
- Total revenues: $2,326,736
- Total expenses: $1,844,636
- Investment income and dividends: $1,001,814
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,314,361
- Number of employees: 1
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $27,248,151 | $26,763,419 | $27,946,564 |
| Revenue | $2,326,736 | $678,307 | $1,792,822 |
| Expenses | $1,844,636 | $1,863,218 | $1,797,248 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,442,229 | $1,485,964 | $1,386,577 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,010,674 | $564,228 | $1,478,246 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,214,430 | $1,187,808 | $1,259,534 |
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
237 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Nature Conservancy of SC ($250,000), FARE Food Allergy Research and Education ($50,000), Nemours Wildlife Foundation ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ability Beyond Disability Bethel, CT | general fund | $5,000 |
| Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley Salem, VA | symphonic music | $7,500 |
| American Cancer Society Glen Allen, VA | challenge match | $35,000 |
| AMIkids Beaufort Seabrook, SC | croquet picnic | $2,000 |
| Ann's Place The Home of I Can Danbury, CT | general fund | $5,000 |
| Audubon South Carolina Charleston, SC | general fund | $5,000 |
| Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation Beaufort, SC | general fund | $5,000 |
| Best Pets Boulder, CO | general fund | $5,000 |
| Blue Ridge Literacy Roanoke, VA | general fund | $20,000 |
| Botetourt County Public Schools Education Foundation Inc Fincastle, VA | mem of overstreet | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Dan Milder — President
- Don Milder — Treasurer
- Terri Milder — Secretary
- Ryan Bradley — Member at Large
- Emily Milder — Member at Large
- Zach Milder — Member at Large
Staff:
- Amanda Northrop — Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Contact Information
Address: 328 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401-1593
Telephone: 843-377-0782
EIN: 58-2479387
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ceres Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission centers on strengthening communities and improving life outcomes of historically underserved youth through dynamic partnerships with innovative nonprofits. The foundation emphasizes a capacity-building approach, with approximately 77% of funding focused on organizational capacity building. The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in three primary funding areas: • **College Access & Success** — Programs that help students graduate from high school, prepare for and…
How do I apply for a grant from The Ceres Foundation Inc?
**Grant Sizes & Patterns:** • Median grant payment: $100,000 • Typical award range: $1,000–$500,000 • Average grantee relationship: 7 years in portfolio **Approach:** The foundation is committed to true partnership and long-term collaboration. Grants support nonprofit organizations that provide educational and employment opportunities to advance self-sufficiency of underserved youth and their families. Investments are designed to elevate the operational, programmatic, financial, and organizatio…
Where does The Ceres Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's funding is concentrated in three geographic areas where the majority of family members and staff reside: • Washington, DC • Los Angeles and Orange County, California • Western Massachusetts
What size grants does The Ceres Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Ceres Foundation Inc awarded 59 grants totaling $961K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ceres Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ceres Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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