The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc logo

The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Charleston, SC EIN: 27-0013752 Website

The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Charleston, South Carolina. Its planned grantmaking focuses on improving the health, education, and welfare of children and young adults in the Charleston community, with grants also possible outside the community.

Key facts about The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc

In short: The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc gave $200K across 47 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in South Carolina. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
27-0013752
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$200,000
Grants made (2025)
47
Average grant
$4,255
Median grant
$2,500
New grantees (estimate)
17% first-time grantees (8 of 47, 2025)
Total assets
$2,063,162
Primary geography
South Carolina (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
Qualified charities should submit a proposal in letter form, including an organizational description, purpose, programs, staffing, governing board, latest financial statements, evidence of IRS tax-exempt status and… Full details ↓
Deadline
Applications should generally be received by March 1.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). 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

$2.1M

-2.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$200K

+4.9% YoY

Grant Count

47

+30.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$4K

-19.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $179K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

17%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 8 of 47 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+13%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s stated planned activity is grantmaking to organizations focused on children’s and young adults’ health, education, and welfare. Its 2025 grants included support for education, food access, child welfare, disability services, and programs for children.

Among its 2025 grantees, Pattison’s Academy describes its mission as improving the quality of life for children with multiple disabilities through education and rehabilitation. Lowcountry Food Bank describes its mission as pursuing equitable, dignified, and consistent access to food. Lowcountry Orphan Relief says it provides basic necessities to children who have been abused or neglected. Camp Rise Above describes its programs as serving children and adults with serious illnesses, disabilities, and life challenges.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 47 grants totaling $200,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, with a median of $2,500.

Review Cycle

Applications should generally be received by March 1.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s planned activity centers on the Charleston, South Carolina community, while its filing also states that grants may be made outside the community. In 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina, 4% to California, 2% to Connecticut, and less than 1% to North Carolina.

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.

Cities

CharlestonN CharlestonMt PleasantJohns IslandColumbiaSummervilleAwendawSullivans IslandBirmingtonSpartanburgGoose CreekReddingCharlotteLos AngelesOakland

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K42 grants2021 42 grants2022 40 grants2023 36 grants2024 47 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $166K (2021) to $200K (2025). In 2025 it made 47 grants totaling $200K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Charleston County Parks Foundation: $10KCharleston County ParksFoundation$10KLowcountry Food Bank: $10KLowcountry Food Bank$10KLowcountry Orphan Relief: $10KLowcountry Orphan Relief$10KPattison's Academy: $10KPattison's Academy$10KFlorence Crittenton Home: $9KFlorence Crittenton Home$9KVisions to Learn: $9KVisions to Learn$9KCamp Rise Above: $8KCamp Rise Above$8KCamp Happy Days Inc: $8KCamp Happy Days Inc$8KCharleston Area Therapeutic: $8KCharleston Area Therapeutic$8KLifeline Children's Services Inc: $8KLifeline Children's ServicesInc$8K

The largest 2025 recipient was Charleston County Parks Foundation ($10K). Together the top 10 received $88K.

Grant Size Distribution

207 grants across all recorded years

207<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 207 grants of 207 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Charleston County Parks Foundation Charleston, SCKids Education Programs$10,000
Lowcountry Food Bank Charleston, SCProvide Food to Families$10,000
Lowcountry Orphan Relief N Charleston, SCWelfare Programs$10,000
Pattison's Academy Charleston, SCKids Education Program$10,000
Florence Crittenton Home Charleston, SCChild Welfare Programs$8,500
Visions to Learn Los Angeles, CAKids Welfare Programs$8,500
Camp Rise Above Charleston, SCImprove Disabled Adult and Children's Quality of Life$8,000
Camp Happy Days Inc Charleston, SCCamp for Kids$7,500
Charleston Area Therapeutic Johns Island, SCTherapy Center$7,500
Lifeline Children's Services Inc Mt Pleasant, SCChild Welfare Programs$7,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $2,063,162 $169,115 $216,779 $200,000
2024 $2,110,826 $182,127 $201,779 $190,700
2023 $2,130,478 -$104,903 $207,422 $195,000
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K$400K2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$2,063,162$2,110,826$2,130,478
Revenue$169,115$182,127$-104,903
Expenses$216,779$201,779$207,422
Qualifying Distributions$200,000$190,700$195,000
Net Investment Income$156,994$165,325$39,747
Distributable Amount$179,283$166,193$162,008

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Jennifer M. Lee as chairman, William E. Craver III as president and treasurer, and Jennifer Alphonse as vice president and secretary. The application instructions identify William E. Craver III as the contact for proposals.

The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc is led by William E. Craver III, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • William E. Craver III

    President & Treasurer

    On filings since 2021

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer M. Lee

    Chairman

    On filings since 2021

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Alphonse

    Vice President & Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Application contact: William E Craver Iii President
Mailing address: PO Box 1014, Charleston, SC 29402
Phone: (843) 577-7557
Website: https://motleyfoundation.org

Frequently asked questions about The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc

How much does The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc give each year?

The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc gave $200K across 47 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $191K across 36 grants.

What is The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $4,255, across 47 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.

Where does The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc give grants?

The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc gives mostly in South Carolina: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, SC (22 grants), N Charleston, SC (7 grants), Mt Pleasant, SC (4 grants) and Johns Island, SC (2 grants).

Does The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 47 grants with a stated purpose on The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Kids Education Programs" (11 grants), "Kids Welfare Programs" (6 grants) and "Child Welfare Programs" (4 grants).

Who are The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Charleston County Parks Foundation ($10,000), Lowcountry Food Bank ($10,000) and Lowcountry Orphan Relief ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc?

The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $200K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $179K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation’s stated planned activity is grantmaking to organizations focused on children’s and young adults’ health, education, and welfare. Its 2025 grants included support for education, food access, child welfare, disability services, and programs for children. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc?

Qualified charities should submit a proposal in letter form, including an organizational description, purpose, programs, staffing, governing board, latest financial statements, evidence of IRS tax-exempt status and… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Mark Elliott Motley Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0013752. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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