The Chester Foundation
The Chester Foundation is a private foundation based in Chester, South Carolina, established in 1973. It operates as an independent foundation with a focus on supporting charitable organizations through strategic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.1M
+0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$729K
+1.2% YoY
Grant Count
20
-9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
+11.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation accepts requests for assistance from 501(c)(3) organizations, governmental organizations, and churches located in Chester County, South Carolina. The trustees review requests and determine which organizations will be supported and at what funding level.
Primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
Organizations submit requests for assistance to the foundation. The trustees review proposals and make funding decisions based on organizational merit and alignment with foundation priorities.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Chester County, South Carolina, with some activity in Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2024:
- Total assets: $12,120,272
- Total giving: $728,750
- Total revenues: $949,106
- Total expenses: $837,381
- Investment income and dividends: $432,023
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,120,272 | $12,008,547 | $12,314,297 |
| Revenue | $949,106 | $500,112 | $926,578 |
| Expenses | $837,381 | $805,862 | $866,750 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $728,750 | $720,000 | $792,600 |
| Net Investment Income | $452,421 | $437,660 | $447,683 |
| Distributable Amount | $747,492 | $692,241 | $711,683 |
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
109 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by three trustees:
- Ladson F Stringfellow
- Joseph M McElwee Jr.
- Janice T Dahnke
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LADSON F STRINGFELLOW | TRUSTEE | — | $3,700 |
| JOSEPH M MCELWEE JR | TRUSTEE | — | $3,700 |
| JANICE T DAHNKE | TRUSTEE | — | $30,000 |
| ANN M MCCROREY | TRUSTEE | — | $3,700 |
| DWIGHT W PEARSON | TRUSTEE | — | $3,700 |
| J BRIAN SINGLETON | TRUSTEE | — | $3,700 |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 832 Chester, SC 29706-0832
Telephone: 803-581-9198
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Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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