The Knox Foundation
The Knox Foundation is a private foundation established in 1981 and based in Thomson, Georgia. The organization holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and operates as a family foundation with significant assets dedicated to philanthropic work across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$102.0M
+9.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.4M
+12.1% YoY
Grant Count
83
-22.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$53K
+44.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Knox Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities focus on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation demonstrates active grantmaking with the following characteristics:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Georgia
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $101,962,463
- Total Revenues: $7,486,469
- Total Expenses: $5,889,408
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Financial Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $93.3M
- Revenue: $4.54M
- Expenses: $5.12M
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $101,962,463 | $93,299,465 | $86,751,427 |
| Revenue | $7,486,469 | $4,544,131 | $6,955,344 |
| Expenses | $5,889,408 | $5,120,390 | $5,801,768 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,512,456 | $4,041,574 | $4,697,845 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,203,135 | $3,555,823 | $5,825,813 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,954,255 | $4,480,521 | $4,659,168 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Augusta Players Inc ($600,000), Frederica Academy ($250,000), American Red Cross ($212,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTIVITIES COUNCIL OF THOMSON THOMSON, GA | ARTS | $30,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY - SSI AUGUSTA, GA | MEDICAL | $1,250 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS AUGUSTA, GA | SOCIAL SERVICES | $212,000 |
| APPARO ACADEMY AUGUSTA, GA | MEDICAL | $35,000 |
| AQUINAS HIGH SCHOOL AUGUSTA, GA | EDUCATION | $17,000 |
| AUGUSTA CHORAL SOCIETY AUGUSTA, GA | ARTS | $30,000 |
| AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN EVANS, GA | SOCIAL SERVICES | $32,000 |
| AUGUSTA MUSEUM OF HISTORY AUGUSTA, GA | HISTORY | $50,000 |
| AUGUSTA PLAYERS INC AUGUSTA, GA | ARTS | $600,000 |
| AUGUSTA PREPARATORY DAY SCHOOL MARTINEZ, GA | EDUCATION | $7,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jefferson Knox - Director (compensation: $160,000 as of 2025)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFERSON B A KNOX | DIRECTOR | 40 | $160,000 |
| ELIZABETH KNOX HOPKINS | DIRECTOR | 10 | $36,000 |
Contact Information
- Address: 3133 Washington Road, Thomson, GA 30824-5451
- Phone: 706-597-7907
- EIN: 58-6163728
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Knox Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities focus on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Knox Foundation?
The foundation demonstrates active grantmaking with the following characteristics: **Grant Activity:** • Made 108 grants in the most recent reporting year • Total giving of $4,368,500 (2024 fiscal year) • Typical award range: $1,000–$1,001,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Augusta Players (Arts): $600,000 • Frederica Academy (Education): $250,000 • Turn Back the Block (Social Services): $220,000
Where does The Knox Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Georgia • South Carolina • Tennessee
What size grants does The Knox Foundation award?
In 2024, The Knox Foundation awarded 83 grants totaling $4.4M — an average of about $53K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Knox Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Knox Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Knox Foundation's EIN?
The Knox Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6163728. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Knox Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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