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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fullerton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
s:**
Ready to take the next step with The Fullerton Foundation?
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
Cities
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.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
209 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Greenwood Genetic Center ($100,000), Limestone University ($100,000), Project Hope Foundation ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CHARLESTON, SC | TRANSPORTATION | $32,200 |
| ANDERSON UNIVERSITY ANDERSON, SC | NURSE PRACTITIONER SCHOLARSHIP | $20,000 |
| BE MAYS FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER PACOLET, SC | EMERGE FAMILY THERAPY | $30,000 |
| CHEROKEE COUNTY FAMILY YMCA GAFFNEY, NC | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $25,000 |
| CITY OF GAFFNEY GAFFNEY, SC | ESTABLISH A REVOLUTIONARY WAR DISCOVERY CENTER | $75,000 |
| CLEMSON UNIVERISTY (ICAR) CLEMSON, SC | DRIVING SIM PILOT PROJECT | $76,051 |
| DECISIONSORG AVENTURA, FL | THE WINGMAN INITIATIVE | $50,000 |
| EDWARD VIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE CAROLINA CAMPUS SPARTANBURG, SC | MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP | $10,000 |
| EDWARD VIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE CAROLINA CAMPUS SPARTANBURG, SC | MEDICAL GRADE PRINTER | $31,699 |
| EMERGE FAMILY THERAPY GREENVILLE, SC | EXPANDING TRAINING FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS | $24,000 |
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
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRIS M STEED | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $159,523 |
| HELEN B ATWOOD | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $4,000 |
| A WARDLAW HAMRICK | DIRECTOR | 1 | $4,000 |
| ELAINE H SHIELDS | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $4,000 |
| THOMAS J BADEN | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $4,000 |
| MARY CARLISLE BENSON | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $3,000 |
| ANSLEY H CHEATHAM | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $4,000 |
| CATHERINE H HAMPTON | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $4,000 |
| CHARLES F HAMRICK III | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | $4,000 |
| CHARLES F HAMRICK II | CHAIRMAN | 1 | $4,000 |
| LYMAN W HAMRICK | SECRETARY | 1 | $4,000 |
| W CARLISLE HAMRICK | TREASURER | 1 | $4,000 |
| CAMERON HAMRICK | DIRECTOR | 1 | $4,000 |
| SARAH KIRSCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | $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'sSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Fullerton Foundation fund?
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
How do I apply for a grant from The Fullerton Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 51 grants in its most recent reporting year. Recent grants include: • Greenwood Genetic Center: $100,000 for Video Studio (2024) • Limestone University: $100,000 for Framework Recovery Plan (2024) • Gardner-Webb University: $83,500 for Capital Funding for Equipment (2024) **Grant Ranges:** Typical awards range from $500 to $125,000. **Total Giving:** $1,558,800 in total giving reported in the most recent fiscal year.
Where does The Fullerton Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, with a particular emphasis on the Carolinas region.
What size grants does The Fullerton Foundation award?
In 2024, The Fullerton Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $41K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Fullerton Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Fullerton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Fullerton Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Friends of Callawassie Island Inc
OKATIE, SC
Assets
$566K
Grants
5
Total Given
$38K
Cw and Dorothy G Love Foundation
MCCOLL, SC
Assets
$70.3M
Grants
57
Total Given
$2.3M
Lenhardt Foundation
CHARLESTON, SC
Assets
$616K
Grants
5
Total Given
$67K
One Two a Few Dance
LANDRUM, SC
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Mcfadden Foundation Inc
CHARLESTON, SC
Assets
$2K
Grants
1
Total Given
$436
World Wide Harvest Ministriesinc
GREENVILLE, SC
Assets
$3K
Grants
5
Total Given
$7K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Fullerton Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Fullerton Foundation to a real strategy.