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.
Key facts about The Chester Foundation
- EIN
- 57-6056810
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $728,750
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- Average grant
- $36,438
- Median grant
- $12,500
- Total assets
- $12,120,272
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Organizations submit requests for assistance to the foundation.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Chester Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Chester Foundation's 20 itemized 2024 grants were South Carolina (99%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chester, SC (10 grants), Great Falls, SC (3 grants) and Rock Hill, SC (2 grants). None of its 20 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Public Charity" (9 grants), "Public Education" (5 grants) and "Municipal Entity" (4 grants).
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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Chester Foundation reported a distributable amount of $747K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
**
Ready to take the next step with The Chester Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Chester County, South Carolina, with some activity in Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 20 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include The Academy for Teaching and Learni ($375,000), Clemson Univ Foundation ($120,000), Chester Co Public Ed Fdtn ($30,750).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE ACADEMY FOR TEACHING AND LEARNI CHESTER, SC | PUBLIC EDUCATION | $375,000 |
| CLEMSON UNIV FOUNDATION CLEMSON, SC | PUBLIC EDUCATION | $120,000 |
| CHESTER CO PUBLIC ED FDTN CHESTER, SC | PUBLIC EDUCATION | $30,750 |
| CHESTER AREA UNITED WAY CHESTER, SC | PUBLIC CHARITY | $25,000 |
| CHRIST CENTRAL CENTER OF HOPE CHESTER, SC | PUBLIC CHARITY | $20,000 |
| GRASP GREAT FALLS, SC | PUBLIC CHARTY | $20,000 |
| SALVATION ARMY ROCK HILL, SC | PUBLIC CHARITY | $20,000 |
| THE TURNING POINT OF CHESTER CHESTER, SC | PUBLIC CHARITY | $20,000 |
| CHESTER COUNTY DSS CHESTER, SC | MUNICIPAL ENTITY | $15,000 |
| CHESTER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY CHESTER, SC | PUBLIC CHARITY | $15,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Chester Foundation fund?
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
How do I apply for a grant from The Chester Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 22 grants in 2024 • Total giving: $728,750 (2024) • Typical award range: $100–$375,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • The Academy for Teaching and Learning of the Chester County School District: $375,000 (Public Education) • The Turning Point of Chester: $20,000 (Public Charity) • Chester County Historical Society: $15,000 (Public Charity) **Application Process:** Organizations submit requests for assistance to the foundation. The trustees review proposals and make fundi…
Where does The Chester Foundation make grants?
Chester County, South Carolina, with some activity in Missouri.
What size grants does The Chester Foundation award?
In 2024, The Chester Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $729K — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Chester Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Chester Foundation reported a distributable amount of $747K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Chester Foundation's EIN?
The Chester Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-6056810. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Chester Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.