The Graham Foundation
The Graham Foundation is a private family foundation based in Greenville, South Carolina, funded by Greenville native Alan J. Graham and his family. It works with a small number of select grantees, typically on intensive, long-term capacity-building projects, and makes directed grants only.
Key facts about The Graham Foundation
In short: The Graham Foundation gave $3.4M across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $179K), top state South Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 57-0805774
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,394,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- Average grant
- $178,632
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $46,871,944
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (49% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes directed grants to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$46.9M
-2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.4M
+9.6% YoY
Grant Count
19
+35.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$179K
-19.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Graham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.9M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How The Graham Foundation gives
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 36% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 133% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its grantmaking approach as supporting select grantees through intensive, long-term capacity-building projects. Its 2024 grants were identified as operational support.
Among the grantees, Peacehaven Farm describes its mission as connecting people of all abilities through inclusive living, learning, work, and play. The Metropolitan Arts Council says it supports artistic expression and appreciation in Greenville County. Conestee Foundation describes its work as stewardship of an ecological resource and providing opportunities for connection, discovery, and nature education. Upstate Circle of Friends says it expands opportunities and supports at-risk children and their families through educational, recreational, and social programs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 14 grants totaling $3,096,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $750,000, with a median grant of $53,750. Each of the itemized 2024 grants was listed for operational support. The largest awards included $750,000 to Peacehaven Farm, $700,000 to Peace Center, $600,000 to Second Breath Center, and $500,000 to Metropolitan Arts Council.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 50% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 43% to recipients in South Carolina, and 6% to recipients in Florida. One percent was assigned to an unspecified state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2020) to $3.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $3.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Peace Center ($825K). Together the top 10 received $3.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 73 (52%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Peace Center Greenville, SC | Operational Support | $825,000 |
| Peacehaven Farm Inc Whitsett, NC | Operational Support | $750,000 |
| Second Breath Center Greensboro, NC | Operational Support | $600,000 |
| Metropolitan Arts Council Greenville, SC | Operational Support | $500,000 |
| The Community Foundation of Greenville Greenville, SC | Operational Support | $205,000 |
| Miami Technical Institute Foundation Miami, FL | Operational Support | $170,000 |
| Samaritans Purse Boone, NC | Operational Support | $100,000 |
| Upstate Circle of Friends Greenville, SC | Operational Support | $65,000 |
| Positive Works Inc | Operational Support | $55,000 |
| Heritage Hills Baptist Church Winston-Salem, NC | Operational Support | $30,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $48,047,463 | $4,883,052 | $3,960,424 | $3,096,000 | 14 |
| 2023 | $47,257,757 | $2,110,122 | $3,076,797 | $2,356,000 | 12 |
| 2022 | $49,827,704 | $1,928,351 | $3,447,155 | $2,503,128 | 28 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $46,871,944 | $48,047,463 | $47,257,757 |
| Revenue | $3,203,048 | $4,883,052 | $2,110,122 |
| Expenses | $4,403,110 | $3,960,424 | $3,076,797 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,919,905 | $3,615,182 | $2,789,181 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,837,060 | $4,580,727 | $1,822,506 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,937,491 | $2,729,569 | $2,629,046 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 15, 2021)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 10, 2021)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website lists Susan R. Lambert as Trustee Chair and CEO; Steve Lambert and Bill Bridges as trustees; and Laura Caligan-Gilliam as Chief Strategy Officer.
The Graham Foundation is led by Susan R Lambert, Trustee Chair & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2019); all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan R Lambert
Trustee Chair & CEO
Trustee → Trustee Chair & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2019
15 hrs/week
$24K (2019) → $26K (2025)
Bill Bridges
Trustee
On filings since 2022
15 hrs/week
$32K (2022) → $60K (2025)
Laura Caligan-Gilliam
Chief Strategy Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$190K (2022) → $268K (2025)
Former officers (5)
- Former: Steve Lambert (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Eleanor Dunlap (2019–2021) — Chief Impact
- Former: Laura Caligan Gilliam (2019–2021) — Chief Strate
- Former: Stephen Lambert (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: William A. Bridges (2019–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $268K, to Laura Caligan-Gilliam (Chief Strategy Officer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 26179, Greenville, SC 29616
Phone: (404) 966-6149
Website: https://thegrahamfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Graham Foundation
How much does The Graham Foundation give each year?
The Graham Foundation gave $3.4M across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.1M across 14 grants.
What is The Graham Foundation's typical grant size?
The Graham Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $178,632, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Graham Foundation give grants?
The Graham Foundation's top state is South Carolina, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Carolina (44%) and Florida (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Greenville, SC (10 grants).
Does The Graham Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Graham Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Graham Foundation's largest grantees?
The Graham Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Peace Center ($825,000), Peacehaven Farm Inc ($750,000) and Second Breath Center ($600,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Graham Foundation?
The Graham Foundation reported $46.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Graham Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its grantmaking approach as supporting select grantees through intensive, long-term capacity-building projects. Its 2024 grants were identified as operational support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Graham Foundation?
The foundation makes directed grants to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Graham Foundation's EIN?
The Graham Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-0805774. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Graham 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.
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