The Roe Foundation
The Roe Foundation is a private foundation based in Greenville, South Carolina. Its stated purpose is to assist nonprofit educational institutions that promote understanding and appreciation of human and economic freedom within a moral framework.
The Roe Foundation at a glance
In short: The Roe Foundation gave $600K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $600K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $600,000
- +92.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -88.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $600,000
- +1630.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $600,000
- Total assets
- $7,268,069
- -6.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Roe Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 301 N Main Street 1735, Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 242-5007
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Roe Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fidelity Charitable Trust ($600K).
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 40 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to a recipient in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How The Roe Foundation gives
- Giving fell 87% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 182% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $312K (2024) to $6.4M (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $600K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Charitable Trust Cincinnati, OH | To grant money based on the donor's preferred charities | $600,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Roe 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 | $7,268,069 | $300,807 | $816,181 | $600,000 | 1 | $731,497 | $218,293 | $401,772 |
| 2024 | $7,774,573 | $285,584 | $485,577 | $312,000 | 9 | $406,849 | $213,834 | $396,967 |
| 2023 | $7,970,644 | $44,528 | $6,602,919 | $6,441,143 | 11 | $6,546,807 | $274,114 | $488,833 |
| 2022 | $14,531,426 | $-168,071 | $4,837,869 | $4,697,600 | 9 | $4,774,425 | $257,601 | $755,796 |
| 2021 | $19,539,999 | $271,040 | $5,772,605 | $5,639,604 | 10 | $5,714,329 | $209,668 | $1,105,606 |
| 2020 | $25,040,580 | $3,451,660 | $2,496,067 | $2,267,265 | 88 | — | $3,347,255 | $1,176,469 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Roe Foundation reported a distributable amount of $402K 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 stated purpose centers on supporting nonprofit educational institutions. Its stated principles include individual freedom, concern about intrusive government, and the Judeo-Christian tradition as an underpinning of a just society.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported giving $600,000 in one grant in 2025. In 2024, it reported nine grants totaling $312,000; in 2023, it reported 11 grants totaling $6,441,143. The single reported 2025 grant was $600,000 to Fidelity Charitable Trust in Cincinnati, Ohio, for “to grant money based on the donor’s preferred charities.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Amy R. Willcox as chairman, Thomas L. Willcox as vice-chairman, and Carl O. Helstrom as secretary.
The Roe Foundation is led by Amy R. Willcox, Chairman since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Amy R. Willcox
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$500 (2021) → $25K (2025)
Carl O. Helstrom III
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Thomas L. Willcox
Vice Chairman
Director → Vice Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Shirley W. Roe (2020–2024) — Chairman
- Former: Byron S. Lamm (2020) — Director
- Former: Edwin J. Feulner Jr. (2020) — Vice Chairman
- Former: Tracie Sharp (2020) — 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 $25K, to Amy R Willcox (Chairman).
Frequently asked questions about The Roe Foundation
How much does The Roe Foundation give each year?
The Roe Foundation gave $600K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $312K across 9 grants.
How large is The Roe Foundation?
The Roe Foundation reported $7.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $731K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $402K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Roe Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose centers on supporting nonprofit educational institutions. Its stated principles include individual freedom, concern about intrusive government, and the Judeo-Christian tradition as an underpinning of a just society. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Roe Foundation?
The foundation 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 ↑
Where does The Roe Foundation make grants?
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to a recipient in Ohio.
What is The Roe Foundation's EIN?
The Roe Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7011541. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Roe Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Other open foundation grants in South Carolina
South Carolina Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Roe Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Donors Trust Inc
Alexandria, VA
Donors Trust supports charities and programs in social welfare, health, the environment, economics, governance, foreign relations, and arts and culture, with a strong emphasis on conservative and libertarian policy and education groups. Its 2024 grants had a median of $50,000, though awards ranged from $5,038 to $35 million, and recipients were concentrated in Washington, D.C., Virginia, New York, Texas, and California. It does not accept unsolicited requests; donor-advisors recommend grants through their accounts.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
919
Total Given
$282.1M
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation funds nonprofits advancing constitutional principles, free markets, civil society, and informed citizens, including work in education, culture, and public policy. Its 2024 median grant was $100,000, and it funds in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the United States; it accepts letters of inquiry on an ongoing basis through its online system.
Assets
$993.4M
Grants
361
Total Given
$56.5M
Adolph Coors Foundation
Denver, CO
The Adolph Coors Foundation funds youth development, adult job training and economic opportunity, and public policy aligned with self-reliance and personal responsibility, primarily in Colorado, with special consideration for rural areas; it considers out-of-state requests in public policy. Its 2025 grants ranged from $4,500 to $500,000, with a median of $40,000; it does not accept letters of inquiry, but uses an online application process.
Assets
$204.0M
Grants
128
Total Given
$10.3M
State Policy Network
Arlington, VA
State Policy Network funds state think tanks and affiliated organizations for policy research, education, issue campaigns, and policy opportunities across the states. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $166,625, with a median of $52,500; grants are based on reviewed proposals, but the profile does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$24.6M
Grants
46
Total Given
$3.2M
Bradley Impact Fund Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Bradley Impact Fund supports people and nonprofits advancing conservative ideas and public policy through research, public education, advocacy, and implementation, with grants ranging from $100 to over $10 million and a 2024 median of $14,250. It funds locally, regionally, and nationwide; prospective recipients are directed to the Bradley Foundation’s two-step application process, but the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$200.3M
Grants
402
Total Given
$47.9M
Diana Davis Spencer Foundation Inc
Bethesda, MD
The Diana Davis Spencer Foundation funds national security, public policy, education, entrepreneurship, and other areas including health, arts, and environmental preservation, with much of its 2024 giving going to organizations in Virginia and Washington, D.C. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $5 million, with a median of $187,500. It does not accept unsolicited requests; grants are by invitation only.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
138
Total Given
$79.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in South Carolina
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Roe 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.
The Roe Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?