The Self Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Greenwood, SC EIN: 57-0400594

The Self Foundation is a private foundation, based in Greenwood, SC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $26.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.2M. Net investment income was $1.8M.

The Self Foundation at a glance

In short: The Self Foundation gave $1.2M across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $1.2M), mostly in South Carolina. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$1,207,355
+2.0% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
1
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$1,207,355
+2.0% vs 2023
Median grant
$1,207,355
Total assets
$26,042,759
+2.1% vs 2023
Primary geography
South Carolina (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

How to apply to The Self Foundation

Who The Self Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Grant Size Distribution

4 grants across all recorded years

<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M4$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 4 grants of 4 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

Cities

Greenwood

How The Self Foundation gives

  • In 2024 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M1 grant2020 1 grant2022 1 grant2023 1 grant2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2020) to $1.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $1.2M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
See Statement 9 Greenwood, SCSee Stmt 9$1,207,355
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$26,042,759$2,424,952$2,169,151$1,207,3551$1,576,378$1,832,178$1,709,523
2023$25,497,390$2,285,580$2,263,409$1,183,3431$1,546,211$1,598,382$1,557,682
2022$23,823,251$-108,039$2,239,556$1,334,5101$1,685,600$189,079$1,606,240
2020$22,764,889$-1,177,439$2,124,399$1,157,2961—$30,639$1,430,774

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Self Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Self Foundation is led by Mamie W Nicholson, President & Program since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 13 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Mamie W Nicholson

    President & Program

    Pro. Director & President → President & Program, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $77K (2020) → $177K (2024)

  • Ginger Self Goldsmith

    Chairman & Tte

    Tte Vice Chair → Trustee, 2023

    Trustee → Chairman & Tte, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Cade Brennan Jackson

    Trustee

    Tte Chairman → Secretary & Tte, 2023

    Secretary & Tte → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Furman C Self

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • JC Self III

    Trustee

    Trustee → Chairman & Tte, 2023

    Chairman & Tte → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Laurie Self Pulver

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Helen Jensie Burton

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    No compensation reported

  • Priya Kumar

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    No compensation reported

  • Christi Louden

    Trustee

    New on the 2024 filing

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Andrews Self Whittington

    Secretary & Tte

    Tte Secretary → Trustee, 2023

    Trustee → Secretary & Tte, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Sally E Self

    Tte Emeritus

    Tte Emeritus → Vice Chair & Tte, 2023

    Vice Chair & Tte → Tte Emeritus, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • William M Self Jr.

    Tte & Trs

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • WM Self

    Tte Emeritus

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Former officers (3)
  • Former: Frank J Wideman (2020–2023) — Past President
  • Former: Jerry Stevens (2020–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Matthew Logan (2020–2023) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Mamie W Nicholson — President, Pro.: $177KMamie W NicholsonPresident, Pro.$177K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $177K, to Mamie W Nicholson (President, Pro.).

Frequently asked questions about The Self Foundation

How much does The Self Foundation give each year?

The Self Foundation gave $1.2M across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 1 grant.

How large is The Self Foundation?

The Self Foundation reported $26.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (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.

Where does The Self Foundation operate?

The Self Foundation has awarded grants in South Carolina.

What is The Self Foundation's EIN?

The Self Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-0400594. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Browse active grant opportunities in The Self Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The Self 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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