The First Bank Foundation
The First Bank Foundation is a private foundation based in Cheraw, South Carolina. Its 2025 filing lists grants to charitable organizations, including organizations supporting education, community services, health, and environmental conservation.
The First Bank Foundation at a glance
In short: The First Bank Foundation gave $29K across 34 grants in 2025 (avg $852.941), mostly in South Carolina. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $29,000
- +7.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 34
- -2.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $853
- +10.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $837,057
- +39.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (3 of 34, 2025)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (83% 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 First Bank Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 517, Cheraw, SC 29520-0517
Phone: (910) 277-6992
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The First Bank Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was E4E Relief ($5K). Together the top 10 received $17K.
Grant Size Distribution
176 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 176 grants of 176 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina and 17% to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The First Bank Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 34 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $742. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 85% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 75% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $26K (2022) to $32K (2023). In 2025 it made 34 grants totaling $29K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| E4E Relief Charlotte, NC | Employee relief fund | $5,000 |
| Northeastern Technical College Cheraw, SC | Operating Fund | $2,500 |
| McArn Community Ministry Cheraw, SC | Operating Fund | $2,000 |
| Town of Cheraw Jazz Fest Cheraw, SC | Operating Fund | $1,500 |
| Pee Dee Area Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual-C Cheraw, SC | Operating Fund | $1,000 |
| St David's Cemetery Assoc Inc Cheraw, SC | Operating Fund | $1,000 |
| Pathfinders United Cheraw, SC | Operating Fund | $1,000 |
| Pee Dee Land Trust Cheraw, SC | Operating Fund | $1,000 |
| Chesterfield Co Animal Shelter Cheraw, SC | Operating Fund | $1,000 |
| Greater Florence Habitat Cheraw, SC | Operating Fund | $1,000 |
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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 | $837,057 | $20,580 | $29,842 | $29,000 | 34 | $29,000 | $20,580 | $38,424 |
| 2024 | $600,086 | $16,409 | $28,224 | $27,000 | 35 | $27,000 | $16,409 | $29,853 |
| 2023 | $625,283 | $40,312 | $32,691 | $31,750 | 34 | $31,750 | $40,312 | $35,883 |
| 2022 | $684,874 | $27,610 | $27,965 | $26,250 | 35 | — | $27,610 | $40,482 |
| 2021 | $816,798 | $28,306 | $32,136 | $31,500 | 38 | — | $28,306 | $32,360 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The First Bank Foundation reported a distributable amount of $38K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for Northeastern Technical College, community ministries, a jazz festival, a domestic and sexual violence organization, a cemetery association, an animal shelter, and a land trust. The grantees describe their own work in varied terms: Pee Dee Land Trust says it protects and promotes appreciation of natural, agricultural, and historical resources in the Pee Dee watershed; Northeastern Technical College Foundation says it supports the welfare of the college; and McLeod Health Foundation says it generates philanthropic and community support for medical excellence at McLeod Health.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $29,000 across 34 grants. Grants ranged from $250 to $5,000, with a median of $500. It gave $27,000 across 35 grants in 2024 and $31,750 across 34 grants in 2023.
Notable 2025 grants included $5,000 to E4E Relief for an employee relief fund; $2,500 to Northeastern Technical College for its operating fund; $2,000 to MCARN Community Ministry for its operating fund; and $1,500 to Town of Cheraw Jazz Fest for its operating fund. Other $1,000 grants included awards to Pee Dee Area Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual-C, St David’s Cemetery Association, Pathfinders United, Pee Dee Land Trust, Chesterfield County Animal Shelter, Greater Florence Habitat, House of Hope, and Purple Crusaders.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The First Bank Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Crawford
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Long
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Rhett Butler
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The First Bank Foundation
How much does The First Bank Foundation give each year?
The First Bank Foundation gave $29K across 34 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $27K across 35 grants.
What is The First Bank Foundation's typical grant size?
The First Bank Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $853, across 34 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The First Bank Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The First Bank Foundation give grants?
The First Bank Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cheraw, SC (33 grants).
Does The First Bank Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 97% of The First Bank Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (33 of 34) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The First Bank Foundation's largest grantees?
The First Bank Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include E4E Relief ($5,000), Northeastern Technical College ($2,500) and McArn Community Ministry ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The First Bank Foundation?
The First Bank Foundation reported $837K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $29K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $38K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The First Bank Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for Northeastern Technical College, community ministries, a jazz festival, a domestic and sexual violence organization, a cemetery association, an animal shelter, and a land trust. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The First Bank Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The First Bank Foundation's EIN?
The First Bank Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2068430. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The First Bank Foundation 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The First Bank Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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