The South Carolina Bar Foundation
The South Carolina Bar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Columbia, South Carolina. Founded in 1971, the Foundation operates as a subordinate organization under the South Carolina Bar. The Foundation promotes justice by funding legal access and education through grants to law-related nonprofit organizations across South Carolina.
Key facts about The South Carolina Bar Foundation
- EIN
- 23-7181552
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,775,908
- Grants made (2025)
- 40
- Average grant
- $94,398
- Median grant
- $51,500
- Total assets
- $34,087,132
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated June 2026.
Who The South Carolina Bar Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The South Carolina Bar Foundation's 40 itemized 2025 grants were South Carolina (96%). The most frequent recipient cities were Columbia, SC (18 grants), Charleston, SC (6 grants) and Greenville, SC (6 grants). 98% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$34.1M
+23.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.8M
+44.1% YoY
Grant Count
40
+21.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$94K
+18.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To promote justice by funding legal access and education.
Vision: For every person in South Carolina to recognize and secure legal rights.
The Foundation provides funding across three primary categories:
- Administration of Justice — Programs that improve the administration of justice system
- Civil Legal Aid — Services providing legal assistance to indigent populations
- Law-Related Education — Programs educating students about the legal system and public service
The Foundation supports organizations serving South Carolinians living in poverty, facing homelessness, navigating the legal system without representation, impacted by the criminal justice system, domestic violence survivors, and youth interested in legal careers. Grantee partners also address issues including victims of discrimination, children needing special education, targets of consumer fraud, and elderly populations.
Grantmaking
The Foundation created an Impact Fund in its inaugural year, allocating almost $1.5 million of the FY 2026 total. According to the Foundation's Board President, this Impact Fund "provided grants to offset the current and anticipated federal funding losses for many grantee organizations while also empowering innovative and impactful programs and projects."
Average Grant
amount and median grant amount data available but specific figures not disclosed in sources
Ready to take the next step with The South Carolina Bar Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds law-related nonprofits throughout South Carolina, with grantmaking primarily focused in South Carolina, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2025):
- Total assets: $34,087,132
- Total revenues: $8,261,267
- Total expenses: $4,356,724
- Annual income: $9,000,000
- Annual revenue: $8,300,000
Historical Giving: Since 1971, the Foundation has granted over $60 million to law-related organizations across South Carolina.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $34,087,132 | $27,646,306 | $19,584,347 |
| Revenue | $8,261,267 | $9,079,829 | $7,760,512 |
| Expenses | $4,356,724 | $3,102,529 | $3,081,015 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $812,067 | $620,189 | $395,311 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
143 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The South Carolina Bar Foundation
DuRant Distinguished Public Service Award
THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ronnie M. Cole CLE Scholarship
THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR FOUNDATION
Amount
Sliding scale: 100% (≤$35,000), 75% ($35,001-$45,000), 50% ($45,001-$60,000), 25% (>$60,000)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
SC Bar Foundation Grant Program
THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Sc Legal Services ($1,496,890), Sc Bar Law Related Education ($201,108), Sc Access to Justice Commission ($164,961).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SC LEGAL SERVICES COLUMBIA, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,496,890 |
| SC BAR LAW RELATED EDUCATION COLUMBIA, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $201,108 |
| SC ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION COLUMBIA, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $164,961 |
| LOWCOUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS BLUFFTON, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $131,000 |
| ONE80 PLACE CHARLESTON, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,018 |
| SC COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC COLUMBIA, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $120,750 |
| EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $112,000 |
| PROJECT REST SPARTANBURG, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $108,737 |
| CENTER FOR HEIRS PROPERTY CHARLESTON, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OFFICE OF MT PLEASANT, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $96,548 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Olivia Stafford Jones — Executive Director
- Native of Columbia, South Carolina
- B.A. in Spanish from South Carolina Honors College (2001)
- Associate's Degree in Public Administration from Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (2002)
- J.D. from University of South Carolina School of Law (2007)
- Licensed to practice law in South Carolina and federal court
- Served as president of the Pro Bono Program during law school
Tom Gressette — President of the Foundation's Board of Directors
Staff Size: 3 employees
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS P GRESSETTE JR | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JOHN ROXON | PRESIDENT-EL | 1 | — |
| MARGARET BLUESTEIN | SECRETARY-TR | 1 | — |
| JOHN DELOACHE | IMMED PAST P | 1 | — |
| CHERIE BARTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RYAN BEASLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARYANN BLAKE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NASHIBA BOYD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN COX | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DOWARD HARVIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAKESHA JEFFRIES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LINDSAY A JOYNER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GEORGE MORRISON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CYNTHIA SPIETH MORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NEKKI SHUTT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CARMEN HARPER THOMAS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TRUC TRAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| OLIVIA JONES | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $108,333 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Fiscal Year 2026 Grant Awards:**
The South Carolina Bar Foundation announced awards totaling over $5.2 million for Fiscal Year 2026 to more than 50 nonprofit organizations. The inaugural Impact Fund allocation of nearly $1.5 million represented the single largest grant allocation in the Foundation's more than 50-year history.
SC Bar Foundation Awards $5.2M in Grants for Fiscal Year 2026 | SC Bar Foundation**Current Initiatives:**
Return-on-value assessment of the Upstate Medical Legal Partnership, which integrates legal services into healthcare settings to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare utilization, and enhance quality of life
Feasibility study to expand sliding-fee-scale services offered by Charleston Legal Access to other parts of the state
**Organizational Rating:**
The Foundation holds a Four-Star rating with a 97% score based on Accountability & Finance metrics.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The South Carolina Bar Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To promote justice by funding legal access and education. **Vision:** For every person in South Carolina to recognize and secure legal rights. The Foundation provides funding across three primary categories: • **Administration of Justice** — Programs that improve the administration of justice system • **Civil Legal Aid** — Services providing legal assistance to indigent populations • **Law-Related Education** — Programs educating students about the legal system and public service T…
How do I apply for a grant from The South Carolina Bar Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Fiscal Year 2026: Awarded over $5.2 million in grants to more than 50 nonprofit organizations across the state • Total giving (2025): $3,818,895 • Typical award range: $7,000–$1,496,890 • Average grant amount and median grant amount data available but specific figures not disclosed in sources **Recent Major Grants (2025):** • South Carolina Legal Services: $1,496,890 (General Support) • South Carolina Bar: $201,108 (General Support) **Special Initiatives:** The Foundation …
Where does The South Carolina Bar Foundation make grants?
The Foundation funds law-related nonprofits throughout South Carolina, with grantmaking primarily focused in South Carolina, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The South Carolina Bar Foundation award?
In 2025, The South Carolina Bar Foundation awarded 40 grants totaling $3.8M — an average of about $94K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The South Carolina Bar Foundation's EIN?
The South Carolina Bar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7181552. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The South Carolina Bar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
CLEVELAND, OH
Assets
$85.9M
Grants
104
Total Given
$2.2M
Central Carolina Community
COLUMBIA, SC
Assets
$229.7M
Grants
481
Total Given
$21.0M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Network for Good
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$96.2M
Grants
4,733
Total Given
$216.2M
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Coastal Community Foundation of South
N CHARLESTON, SC
Assets
$435.6M
Grants
459
Total Given
$26.0M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Truist Foundation Inc
ORLANDO, FL
Assets
$547.9M
Grants
447
Total Given
$67.0M
The Bessemer Giving Fund
WOODBRIDGE, NJ
Assets
$948.2M
Grants
1,653
Total Given
$138.5M
The Joanna Foundation
SULLIVANS ISLAND, SC
Assets
$3.5M
Grants
41
Total Given
$163K
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$485.8M
Grants
14,494
Total Given
$556.0M
Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation
RICHMOND, VA
Assets
—
Grants
773
Total Given
$16.4M
More Funders in South Carolina
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.