The Reams Foundation Inc
The Reams Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Charleston, South Carolina. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations working in areas including educational choice, free-market economics, individual liberty, and public policy.
The Reams Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Reams Foundation Inc gave $2.0M across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $102K), top state Virginia. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,031,000
- +31.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $101,550
- +31.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $60,000
- Total assets
- $37,601,025
- +3.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (42% 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 Reams Foundation Inc
- 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: 216 Confederate Circle, Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: (843) 303-0621
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Reams Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ed Choice ($460K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 33 grants of 92 (36%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest reported shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia (42%), Indiana (26%), Michigan (7%), Washington, DC (6%), and Georgia (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Reams Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 20 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $1.1M (2020) to $2.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ed Choice Indianapolis, IN | General | $460,000 |
| Stand Together Chamber of Commerce Inc Arlington, VA | General | $460,000 |
| Institute for Justice Arlington, VA | General | $130,000 |
| Foundation for Economic Education Atlanta, GA | General | $120,000 |
| Goldwater Institute Phoenix, AZ | General | $100,000 |
| State Policy Network Arlington, VA | General | $100,000 |
| Mackinac Center for Public Policy Midland, MI | General | $100,000 |
| Libertas Network Lehi, UT | General | $100,000 |
| Fund for American Studies Washington, DC | General | $70,000 |
| Certell Inc Indianapolis, IN | General | $60,000 |
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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 | $37,601,025 | $6,195,417 | $2,730,203 | $2,031,000 | 20 | $2,398,241 | $2,083,842 | $2,472,385 |
| 2024 | $36,371,012 | $1,313,450 | $2,113,693 | $1,548,000 | 20 | $1,866,133 | $2,746,622 | $2,379,323 |
| 2023 | $35,081,251 | $3,148,460 | $2,383,402 | $1,793,000 | 18 | $2,170,520 | $3,238,942 | $2,043,738 |
| 2022 | $31,925,892 | $1,442,124 | $2,396,013 | $1,836,000 | 19 | $2,009,818 | $2,398,610 | $2,016,440 |
| 2021 | $30,526,715 | $2,686,254 | $1,524,048 | $1,180,000 | 15 | $1,312,070 | $6,297,087 | $2,011,167 |
| 2020 | $25,042,756 | $829,231 | $1,348,174 | $1,115,000 | 18 | — | $701,157 | $1,302,635 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Reams Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.5M 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 2025 grants include organizations whose stated missions concern education, liberty, and public policy. For example, the Institute for Justice says it uses litigation, training, communication, activism, and research to advance individual liberties, including economic liberty and educational choice. The Foundation for Economic Education says it educates students about free-market economics, entrepreneurship, individual freedoms, self-responsibility, and high moral character. State Policy Network describes its mission as catalyzing freedom movements in every state, anchored by independent think tanks.
Other grantees describe their work as promoting a freer future through education and policy research (Libertas Network), preparing people to participate in government, politics, and media (Leadership Institute), and educating and empowering future leaders of liberty (Students for Liberty).
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $2,031,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $460,000, with a median of $60,000. Among the largest were $460,000 to Ed Choice and $460,000 to Stand Together Chamber of Commerce Inc; $130,000 to the Institute for Justice; $120,000 to the Foundation for Economic Education; and $100,000 each to the Goldwater Institute, State Policy Network, Mackinac Center for Public Policy, and Libertas Network.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Fred W Reams as president and director; Karen A Reams as vice president and director; and Karen E Saboe as secretary and director. It also lists Matthew D Reams, Kristen A Carter, and Kimberly A Cole as directors.
The Reams Foundation Inc is led by Fred W. Reams, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Fred W. Reams
President & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen A. Reams
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen E. Saboe
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly A. Cole
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristen A. Carter
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew D. Reams
Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/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 Reams Foundation Inc
How much does The Reams Foundation Inc give each year?
The Reams Foundation Inc gave $2.0M across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 20 grants.
What is The Reams Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Reams Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $60,000, and its average grant was $101,550, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Reams Foundation Inc give grants?
The Reams Foundation Inc's top state is Virginia, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Indiana (26%) and Michigan (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Arlington, VA (5 grants), Indianapolis, IN (2 grants) and Phoenix, AZ (2 grants).
Does The Reams Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Reams Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Reams Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Reams Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Ed Choice ($460,000), Stand Together Chamber of Commerce Inc ($460,000) and Institute for Justice ($130,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Reams Foundation Inc?
The Reams Foundation Inc reported $37.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Reams Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include organizations whose stated missions concern education, liberty, and public policy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Reams Foundation Inc?
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 Reams Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Reams Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-1933846. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Reams Foundation Inc 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Reams Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Reams Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-reams-foundation-inc-morg_ce8fd8cd63a3479692ecd463732ac76d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_351933846_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Reams Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-reams-foundation-inc-morg_ce8fd8cd63a3479692ecd463732ac76d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Reams Foundation Inc'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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