The Fullerton Foundation

GAFFNEY, SC EIN: 57-0847444

The Fullerton Foundation is a private foundation based in Gaffney, South Carolina. Established in 1954, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity and maintains a focus on philanthropic activities within the southeastern United States.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$35.2M

+1.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.6M

+10.0% YoY

Grant Count

38

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$41K

+10.0% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Fullerton Foundation's mission is to improve quality of life in the Carolinas, primarily through investments in healthcare.

The foundation's grant-making priorities include:

  • Healthcare-related scholarships and educational programs
  • Nursing and medical education initiatives
  • Telehealth curriculum development
  • Science and STEM education
  • Educational institutions and related activities

Grantmaking

The foundation made 51 grants in its most recent reporting year. Recent grants include:

Grant Range

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, with a particular emphasis on the Carolinas region.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Cities

AndersonAshevilleAventuraBlacksburgBoiling SpringsCampobelloCaryCentralChapel HillCharlestonCharlottesvilleClemsonClintonColumbiaDecaturDurhamGaffneyGreenvilleGreenwoodJenkintown

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (2024):

  • Total Assets: $35,214,964
  • Total Revenues: $2,714,198
  • Total Expenses: $2,122,358

Staffing: The foundation operates with 1 employee.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$4M$5M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$35,214,964$34,696,450$35,593,928
Revenue$2,714,198$1,161,878$2,818,904
Expenses$2,122,358$1,981,433$2,308,880
Qualifying Distributions$1,840,472$1,706,019$1,974,492
Net Investment Income$2,469,776$1,464,577$2,544,279
Distributable Amount$1,856,855$1,816,744$1,703,374

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$421K$842K$1M$2M46 grants202037 grants202151 grants202238 grants202338 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

GREENWOOD GENETIC CENTER$100KLIMESTONE UNIVERSITY$100KPROJECT HOPE FOUNDATION$100KUNIVERSITY OF NORTH CARO…$100KGARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY$84KUNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CARO…$80KMEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SC$78KCLEMSON UNIVERISTY (ICAR)$76KCITY OF GAFFNEY$75KUNIVERSITY OF SC FOUNDAT…$66K

Grant Size Distribution

209 grants across all recorded years

134<$50K60$50–100K15$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Christopher M Steed serves as Executive Director, with compensation of $132,878 as of April 2025.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

CHRIS M STEEDEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$160KHELEN B ATWOODDIRECTOR$4KA WARDLAW HAMRICKDIRECTOR$4KELAINE H SHIELDSDIRECTOR$4KTHOMAS J BADENDIRECTOR$4KANSLEY H CHEATHAMDIRECTOR$4KCATHERINE H HAMPTONDIRECTOR$4KCHARLES F HAMRICK IIIDIRECTOR$4KCHARLES F HAMRICK IICHAIRMAN$4KLYMAN W HAMRICKSECRETARY$4KW CARLISLE HAMRICKTREASURER$4KCAMERON HAMRICKDIRECTOR$4KSARAH KIRSCHDIRECTOR$4KMARY CARLISLE BENSONDIRECTOR$3K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
CHRIS M STEEDEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR40$159,523
HELEN B ATWOODDIRECTOR0.25$4,000
A WARDLAW HAMRICKDIRECTOR1$4,000
ELAINE H SHIELDSDIRECTOR0.25$4,000
THOMAS J BADENDIRECTOR0.25$4,000
MARY CARLISLE BENSONDIRECTOR0.25$3,000
ANSLEY H CHEATHAMDIRECTOR0.25$4,000
CATHERINE H HAMPTONDIRECTOR0.25$4,000
CHARLES F HAMRICK IIIDIRECTOR0.25$4,000
CHARLES F HAMRICK IICHAIRMAN1$4,000
LYMAN W HAMRICKSECRETARY1$4,000
W CARLISLE HAMRICKTREASURER1$4,000
CAMERON HAMRICKDIRECTOR1$4,000
SARAH KIRSCHDIRECTOR1$4,000

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The Fullerton Foundation awarded a $300,000 grant to the Greenwood Genetic Center for its Innovation Initiative, demonstrating continued commitment to healthcare-related research and development initiatives.

Fullerton Foundation Awards $300,000 Grant For Greenville Genetic Center's

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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