The Reams Foundation Inc
The Reams Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Charleston, South Carolina. Established in 1994, it operates as a non-operating foundation with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt designation. The foundation maintains total assets of $36.4 million and focuses on general charitable giving across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$36.4M
+3.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-13.7% YoY
Grant Count
20
+11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$77K
-22.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Reams Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds general giving with a focus on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Human Rights
- Social Justice
- Social Science & Humanities
Grantmaking
The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $565,000
Average Grant
amount: $86,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation distributes funding across multiple states, with primary focus on:
- Virginia
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Arizona
These three states account for approximately 53% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 10 states total.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $36,371,012
- Total Revenue: $1,313,450
- Total Expenses: $2,113,693
- Net Income: -$800,243
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Breakdown (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $1,309,184
- Total grants and contributions: $0
Historical Asset Growth:
- 2011: $16.9 million
- 2023: $35.1 million
- 2024: $36.4 million
Annual Giving Trends:
- 2020: $1.1 million
- 2022: $1.8 million (highest grantmaking activity with 19 grants)
- 2023: $1.8 million
- 2024: $1.548 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $36,371,012 | $35,081,251 | $31,925,892 |
| Revenue | $1,313,450 | $3,148,460 | $1,442,124 |
| Expenses | $2,113,693 | $2,383,402 | $2,396,013 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,866,133 | $2,170,520 | $2,009,818 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,746,622 | $3,238,942 | $2,398,610 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,379,323 | $2,043,738 | $2,016,440 |
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
90 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Stand Together Chamber of Commerce Inc ($400,000), Ed Choice ($210,000), Mackinac Center for Public Policy ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ed Choice Indianapolis, IN | General | $210,000 |
| Goldwater Institute Phoenix, AZ | General | $80,000 |
| CATO Institute Washingon, DC | General | $50,000 |
| Institute for Justice Arlington, VA | General | $90,000 |
| Healthy LifeStars Phoenix, AZ | General | $2,000 |
| State Policy Network Arlington, VA | General | $80,000 |
| Reason Los Angeles, CA | General | $50,000 |
| College of Charleston Foundation Charleston, SC | General | $5,000 |
| Foundation for Economic Education Atlanta, GA | General | $90,000 |
| Acton Institute Grand Rapids, MI | General | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Principal Officer: Fred W Reams
- The foundation is governed by 6 officers and trustees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRED W REAMS | PRES/DIR | 1 | — |
| KAREN A REAMS | VP/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KAREN E SABOE | SECRETARY/DIR | 15 | — |
| MATTHEW D REAMS | DIRECTOR | 20 | — |
| KRISTEN A CARTER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KIMBERLY A COLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Phone: (843) 303-0621
- Location: Charleston, South Carolina
- EIN: 35-1933846
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Reams Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation primarily funds general giving with a focus on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Human Rights • Social Justice • Social Science & Humanities
How do I apply for a grant from The Reams Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $1,000 to $565,000 • Average grant amount: $86,000 • Median grant amount: $50,000 • Historical grant activity: 58 grants totaling $4.7 million across available records **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $1,548,000 • Notable recent grants include: • Stand Together: $400,000 • Mackinac Center for Public Policy/Mackinac Center Legal Foundation: $100,000 • Libertas Network: $100,000 **Application Process:** The foundation only makes contribut…
Where does The Reams Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation distributes funding across multiple states, with primary focus on: • Virginia • Indiana • Michigan • Arizona These three states account for approximately 53% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 10 states total.
What size grants does The Reams Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Reams Foundation Inc awarded 20 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $77K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Reams Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Reams Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Reams Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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