The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation
The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation is a private foundation based in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. In its 2025 filing, it reported 63 grants totaling $39,201 to charitable organizations.
The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation at a glance
In short: The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation gave $39K across 63 grants in 2025 (avg $622.238), mostly in South Carolina. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $39,201
- +8.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 63
- -6.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $622
- +15.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $200
- Total assets
- $106,840
- -25.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (8 of 63, 2025)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (64% 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 Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 51 Mountain Oak Lane, Travelers Rest, SC 29690
Phone: (864) 836-7596
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Buncombe St Um Church ($12K). Together the top 10 received $26K.
Grant Size Distribution
317 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 317 grants of 317 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, South Carolina received 64% of grant dollars. Other leading recipient states were Virginia (6%), the District of Columbia (5%), North Carolina (5%), and Georgia (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 63 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 63 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $316; repeat grants $667. How we count
Medians: $200 first-time, $200 repeat.
- 84% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 590% 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 $34K (2023) to $46K (2021). In 2025 it made 63 grants totaling $39K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Buncombe St Um Church Greenville, SC | Charitable | $12,040 |
| Greenville Choral Greenville, SC | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Greenville Symphony Greenville, SC | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Epworth Childrens Columbia, SC | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Greenville Art Museum Greenville, SC | Charitable | $1,500 |
| Heifer International Little Rock, AR | Charitable | $1,080 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | Charitable | $1,020 |
| Habitat for Humanity Americus, GA | Charitable | $1,000 |
| National Parks Cons Association Washington, DC | Charitable | $1,000 |
| St Jude Memphis, TN | Charitable | $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 | $106,840 | $6,198 | $42,367 | $39,201 | 63 | $39,201 | $2,669 | $6,642 |
| 2024 | $143,009 | $9,146 | $39,092 | $36,110 | 67 | $36,110 | $7,771 | $8,158 |
| 2023 | $172,955 | $30,054 | $36,170 | $33,705 | 69 | $33,705 | $15,579 | $8,642 |
| 2022 | $178,871 | $60,207 | $40,422 | $38,455 | 56 | $38,545 | $12,965 | $9,199 |
| 2021 | $159,086 | $55,949 | $47,623 | $45,710 | 62 | $45,710 | $16,299 | — |
| 2020 | $150,760 | $22,425 | $45,591 | $43,508 | 64 | — | $12,425 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7K 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 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Samaritan’s Purse describes itself as providing spiritual and physical aid to people affected by war, poverty, disasters, disease, and famine. Habitat for Humanity describes its work as partnering with sponsors and volunteers to build homes with low-income families. Upstate Warrior Solution says it coordinates support for warriors and their families in areas including housing, employment, healthcare, and family support.
Other 2025 recipients include arts and cultural organizations such as Greenville Choral, Greenville Symphony, and Greenville Art Museum. Miracle Hill Ministries describes its work as supporting children and adults experiencing homelessness, while Alice Lloyd College describes a mission to educate mountain students and prepare them for leadership.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 63 grants totaling $39,201. Grants ranged from $25 to $12,040, with a median grant of $200.
The largest reported grants included $12,040 to Buncombe Street UM Church in Greenville, South Carolina; $2,500 each to Greenville Choral and Greenville Symphony; $2,000 to Epworth Children’s in Columbia; and $1,500 to Greenville Art Museum. Other notable grants included $1,080 to Heifer International, $1,020 to Samaritan’s Purse, and $1,000 each to Habitat for Humanity, the National Parks Conservation Association, St. Jude, and Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Paul L. Schaefer as president/treasurer and Karen A. Schaefer as secretary.
The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation is led by Paul L. Schaefer, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul L. Schaefer
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen A. Schaefer
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation
How much does The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation give each year?
The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation gave $39K across 63 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $36K across 67 grants.
What is The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation's typical grant size?
The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $200, and its average grant was $622, across 63 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation that year got $316 on average.
Where does The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation give grants?
The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Greenville, SC (12 grants), Washington, DC (7 grants), Columbia, SC (3 grants) and Arlington, VA (3 grants).
Does The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 63 grants with a stated purpose on The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (63 grants).
Who are The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation's largest grantees?
The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Buncombe St Um Church ($12,040), Greenville Choral ($2,500) and Greenville Symphony ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation?
The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation reported $107K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $39K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Samaritan’s Purse describes itself as providing spiritual and physical aid to people affected by war, poverty, disasters, disease, and famine. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation's EIN?
The Karen and Paul Schaefer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1879639. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Karen and Paul Schaefer 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 2020 (received by the IRS July 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 30, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 26, 2026)
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Figures come from The Karen and Paul Schaefer 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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