The Fullerton Foundation
The Fullerton Foundation is a private foundation based in Gaffney, South Carolina. Its filing identifies healthcare and medicine as its primary field of interest and says its geographic focus is primarily Upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina.
The Fullerton Foundation at a glance
In short: The Fullerton Foundation gave $1.5M across 54 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), mostly in South Carolina. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,539,587
- -1.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 54
- +42.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,511
- -30.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $35,775,916
- +1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (5 of 30, 2025)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (73% 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 Fullerton Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing names Christopher M. Steed as the contact for applications and describes the initial letter and supporting materials above. Its stated application dates were April 1, August 1, and December 1. These dates are past cycles, not current deadlines.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists April 1, August 1, and December 1 for grant requests; these dates are past as of October 2, 2026.
- Deadline
- The filing lists April 1, August 1, and December 1 for grant requests; these dates are past as of October 2, 2026.
- Contact
Application contact: Christopher M Steed
Mailing address: PO Box 2208, Gaffney, SC 29342-2208
Phone: (864) 489-6678
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Fullerton Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Medical University of SC ($121K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $868K.
Organizations only. It also paid 10 grants to individuals ($180,919), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
218 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 144 grants of 218 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing states that its giving is primarily focused on Upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina. In 2025, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina and 22% to recipients in North Carolina; the remaining shares went to Florida (3%) and Alabama (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Fullerton Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 30 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $51K; repeat grants $51K. How we count
Medians: $60K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2023) to $1.7M (2022). In 2025 it made 54 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwood Genetic Center Greenwood, SC | Funding for Pacbio Long-Read Sequencing System | $100,000 |
| Medical University of SC Charleston, SC | Funding to support research for diagnostic tools, therapeutic targets, and physician education programs | $100,000 |
| 9 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $179,919 |
| Anderson University Anderson, SC | Funding for installation of state of the art clinical learning equipment for physical therapy and kinesiology programs | $99,558 |
| Spartanburg Community College Foundation Spartanburg, SC | Funding to Upfit SCC'S School of Nursing | $98,528 |
| Gardner-Webb University Boiling Springs, NC | Capital Funding for Equipment | $83,500 |
| Prisma Health Upstate Foundation Greenville, SC | Funding for programs for rural children and their families in upstate South Carolina | $80,099 |
| University of SC Foundation Columbia, SC | Research project at usc's college of engineering & computing | $65,590 |
| Greenville Tech Foundation Greenville, SC | Purchase equipment for occupational therapy and physical therapy programs | $63,975 |
| Next Step Recovery Asheville, NC | Residential Care Program | $60,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Fullerton Foundation?
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 | $35,775,916 | $2,763,948 | $2,142,529 | $1,539,587 | 54 | $1,866,909 | $2,549,083 | $1,862,933 |
| 2024 | $35,214,964 | $2,714,198 | $2,122,358 | $1,558,800 | 38 | $1,840,472 | $2,469,776 | $1,856,855 |
| 2023 | $34,696,450 | $1,161,878 | $1,981,433 | $1,417,417 | 38 | $1,706,019 | $1,464,577 | $1,816,744 |
| 2022 | $35,593,928 | $2,818,904 | $2,308,880 | $1,684,853 | 51 | $1,974,492 | $2,544,279 | $1,703,374 |
| 2021 | $35,301,223 | $4,383,087 | $1,983,448 | $1,565,535 | 37 | — | $4,243,437 | $1,930,947 |
| 2020 | $32,958,989 | $924,510 | $2,242,096 | $1,573,500 | 46 | — | $1,167,549 | $1,783,988 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fullerton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its filing names healthcare and medicine as its primary field of interest. Its 2025 grants included support for genetic testing and research, medical research and physician education, clinical learning equipment, nursing education, and programs for rural children and families.
Grantees describe a range of organizational roles. Greenwood Genetic Center says it provides clinical genetic services, diagnostic laboratory testing, education, and research. Next Step Recovery describes its work as providing transitional living for men recovering from substance and alcohol abuse. Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation says it generates philanthropic support to advance health. Educational grantees include universities and college foundations; for example, Greenville Tech Foundation says it provides financial assistance to Greenville Technical College and its students.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 54 grants totaling $1,539,587. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000.
Among the largest 2025 awards were $100,000 to Greenwood Genetic Center for a PacBio long-read sequencing system and $100,000 to the Medical University of South Carolina for research on diagnostic tools, therapeutic targets, and physician education. Other large awards included $99,919 to the University of North Carolina School of Medicine for a digital program to treat youth anxiety; $99,558 to Anderson University for clinical learning equipment; and $98,528 to Spartanburg Community College Foundation to upfit its School of Nursing.
The foundation’s 2023 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It asks for a brief initial letter describing the requestor’s background and grant purpose, general financial information, and documentation of federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Christopher M. Steed as executive director. Directors listed are Helen B. Atwood, A. Wardlaw Hamrick, Elaine H. Shields, Ansley H. Cheatham, Catherine H. Hampton, Charles F. Hamrick III, Cameron Hamrick, Mary Carlisle Benson, and Thomas J. Baden.
The Fullerton Foundation is led by Christopher M. Steed, Executive Director on filings since 2020; all 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christopher M. Steed
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$133K (2020) → $164K (2025)
Charles F. Hamrick II
Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $4K (2025)
A. Wardlaw Hamrick
Director
Director → Vice Chairman, 2021
Vice Chairman → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Ansley H. Cheatham
Director
Advisor → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Catherine H. Hampton
Director
Advisor → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Charles F. Hamrick III
Director
Advisor → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$300 (2020) → $4K (2025)
Elaine H. Shields
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Helen B. Atwood
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Mary Carlisle Benson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2025)
Thomas J. Baden
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $1K (2025)
Cameron Hamrick
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$4K (2023) → $4K (2025)
Sarah Kirsch
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$3K (2023) → $1K (2025)
Lyman W. Hamrick
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $4K (2025)
W. Carlisle Hamrick
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Chris M. Steed (2021–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Frances R. Ross (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Pace H. Beattie (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $164K, to Christopher M Steed (Executive Director). 14 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Fullerton Foundation
How much does The Fullerton Foundation give each year?
The Fullerton Foundation gave $1.5M across 54 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 38 grants.
What is The Fullerton Foundation's typical grant size?
The Fullerton Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $28,511, across 54 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Fullerton Foundation that year got $51K on average.
Where does The Fullerton Foundation give grants?
The Fullerton Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Greenville, SC (11 grants), Charleston, SC (5 grants), Gaffney, SC (5 grants) and Spartanburg, SC (4 grants).
Does The Fullerton Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of The Fullerton Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 54) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (3 grants) and "Emergency Funding Relief" (3 grants).
Who are The Fullerton Foundation's largest grantees?
The Fullerton Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Medical University of SC ($121,000 across 4 grants), Anderson University ($114,558 across 3 grants) and Gardner-Webb University ($103,500 across 4 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 10 grants to individuals ($180,919), which are not listed by name. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Fullerton Foundation?
The Fullerton Foundation reported $35.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Fullerton Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its filing names healthcare and medicine as its primary field of interest. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Fullerton Foundation?
The filing names Christopher M. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Fullerton Foundation's EIN?
The Fullerton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-0847444. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Fullerton Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-fullerton-foundation-morg_13603c227b8f4453be9f2b98d99d5194
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_570847444_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Fullerton Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-fullerton-foundation-morg_13603c227b8f4453be9f2b98d99d5194},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Fullerton Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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