The McAlister Foundation
The McAlister Foundation is a private foundation based in Laurens, South Carolina. Its reported giving includes higher education scholarships and support for local organizations and services, including a church, YMCAs, hospice care, and housing assistance.
The McAlister Foundation at a glance
In short: The McAlister Foundation gave $445K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in South Carolina. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $444,740
- +4.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $24,708
- -6.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $7,469,346
- +8.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (100% 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 McAlister Foundation
- Contact
Application contact: A Dial Mcalister Jr
Mailing address: 330 Church Street, Laurens, SC 29360
Phone: (864) 984-0581
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The McAlister Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Scholarships - See Attached Sch ($190K). Together the top 10 received $420K.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 73 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in South Carolina. Listed awards included organizations in Laurens and Clinton.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The McAlister Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 18 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $28K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 89% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 37% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 129% 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 $325K (2022) to $445K (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $445K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarships - See Attached Sch Laurens, SC | Higher Education Scholarships | $190,240 |
| First United Methodist Church Laurens, SC | For Church Operations | $65,000 |
| Laurens Family YMCA Laurens, SC | Financial Support for Local YMCA Operations | $65,000 |
| Hospice of Laurens County Clinton, SC | Quality of Life for Dying Patients | $30,000 |
| Laurens Co Memorial Home Laurens, SC | Housing for Low Income Seniors | $20,000 |
| Clinton Family YMCA Clinton, SC | Financial Support for Local YMCA Operations | $20,000 |
| Laurens County Future Scholars Clinton, SC | To Assist Needy Students with Tuition | $10,000 |
| Laurens County Museum Laurens, SC | County Museum Operations | $7,500 |
| Straight Street Laurens, SC | Youth Outreach and Recreations | $7,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Laurens, SC | Affordable Housing for Low Income Families | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The McAlister Foundation?
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 | $7,469,346 | $222,918 | $482,228 | $444,740 | 18 | $450,840 | $194,179 | $350,501 |
| 2024 | $6,873,804 | $130,866 | $457,438 | $424,337 | 16 | $430,937 | $126,492 | $343,538 |
| 2023 | $6,608,348 | $266,843 | $435,047 | $400,585 | 15 | $406,985 | $242,598 | $335,757 |
| 2022 | $7,163,368 | $730,410 | $375,720 | $324,685 | 13 | $330,385 | $694,681 | $359,944 |
| 2021 | $7,845,771 | $-282,863 | $360,933 | $326,429 | 11 | — | $85,134 | $341,879 |
| 2020 | $6,090,731 | $172,848 | $447,019 | $414,576 | 9 | — | $147,277 | $311,482 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The McAlister Foundation reported a distributable amount of $351K 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
The foundation’s own filings identify scholarships for higher education, support for First United Methodist Church of Laurens’s general budget, and public recreation through the Laurens Family YMCA as charitable activities.
Its 2025 grants also supported organizations addressing other needs. Hospice of Laurens County describes its mission as providing physical, spiritual, and emotional comfort to patients and families dealing with terminal illness. Straight Street describes a focus on the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of poor and homeless people. Habitat for Humanity says it seeks to eliminate poverty housing and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. The Children’s Museum says its mission is to broaden children’s awareness and teach problem-solving through creative and scientific exploration.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $444,740. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $190,240, with a median grant of $6,000. The largest awards included $190,240 for higher education scholarships, $65,000 to First United Methodist Church for church operations, and $65,000 to Laurens Family YMCA for local YMCA operations. Other notable grants included $30,000 to Hospice of Laurens County, $20,000 to Laurens Co Memorial Home for housing for low-income seniors, and $20,000 to Clinton Family YMCA for local YMCA operations.
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications should be submitted in writing and specify the type of need. The filing lists no restrictions on awards and names no application deadline.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Albert D McAlister Jr Trustee, Albert D McAlister Sr Trustee, James A Coleman Trustee, Katie M Forsyth Trustee, and Camille McAlister as directors.
The McAlister Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; 3 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James A. Coleman Trustee
Director
On filings since 2020
$500 (2020) → $500 (2025)
Katie M. Forsyth Trustee
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$500 (2020) → $500 (2025)
Camille McAlister
Director
On filings since 2023
$500 (2024) → $500 (2025)
Albert D. McAlister Sr Trustee
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Donald D. McAlister Trustee (2020–2024) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $500, to James a Coleman Trustee (Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The McAlister Foundation
How much does The McAlister Foundation give each year?
The McAlister Foundation gave $445K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $424K across 16 grants.
What is The McAlister Foundation's typical grant size?
The McAlister Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,000, and its average grant was $24,708, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The McAlister Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The McAlister Foundation give grants?
The McAlister Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Laurens, SC (13 grants) and Clinton, SC (4 grants).
Does The McAlister Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on The McAlister Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The McAlister Foundation's largest grantees?
The McAlister Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Scholarships - See Attached Sch ($190,240), First United Methodist Church ($65,000) and Laurens Family YMCA ($65,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The McAlister Foundation?
The McAlister Foundation reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $451K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $351K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The McAlister Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own filings identify scholarships for higher education, support for First United Methodist Church of Laurens’s general budget, and public recreation through the Laurens Family YMCA as charitable activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The McAlister Foundation?
The McAlister Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The McAlister Foundation's EIN?
The McAlister Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-1112302. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The McAlister Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mcalister-foundation-morg_e0fc77a7fda442b29db90b3f0793c2f8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_571112302_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The McAlister Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mcalister-foundation-morg_e0fc77a7fda442b29db90b3f0793c2f8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The McAlister 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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