The Springs Close Foundation Inc
The Springs Close Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Its mission is to support and improve communities in Chester, Lancaster, and York Counties that once housed Springs Industries textile mills.
The Springs Close Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Springs Close Foundation Inc gave $2.0M across 101 grants in 2024 (avg $20K), mostly in South Carolina. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,982,714
- +25.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 101
- +23.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $19,631
- +1.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $36,288,428
- +2.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (44 of 94, 2024)
- 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 October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Springs Close Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Submit a letter of intent explaining the project, its implementation, and who will be involved; first-time applicants should send it before applying. Provide a project-specific budget with expenses and current and potential funding sources, rather than the organization’s annual budget. Applications are considered year-round.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are considered year-round.
- Deadline
- Applications are considered year-round.
- Contact
Application contact: Schedule 3
Mailing address: 168 Skipper St, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Phone: (803) 548-2002
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Springs Close Foundation Inc
Who The Springs Close Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chester County School District ($271K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($16,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
528 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 494 grants of 528 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated service area is Chester, Lancaster, and York Counties in South Carolina. Its website says applicants must serve one or more of these counties. Its 2024 filing reports that all grant dollars were directed to recipients in South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 101 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Springs Close Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 44 of 94 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 32% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 70% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 156% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2020) to $6.6M (2021). In 2024 it made 101 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chester County School District Fort Mill, SC | PUBLIC EDUCATION and EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT | $270,720 |
| Lancaster County First Steps Fort Mill, SC | Emergency Need Based Grants | $136,000 |
| Fort Mill School District Fort Mill, SC | PUBLIC EDUCATION and EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT | $121,125 |
| Children's Attention Home Fort Mill, SC | Emergency Need Based Grants | $110,000 |
| Winthrop University Fort Mill, SC | PUBLIC EDUCATION and EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT | $70,000 |
| Children's Attention Home Fort Mill, SC | Emergency Need Based Grants | $65,000 |
| Carolina Community Care- Charity Care Program Fort Mill, SC | Emergency Need Based Grants | $52,800 |
| Battered But Not Broken Fort Mill, SC | COMMUNITY SERVICE and HEALTH | $50,000 |
| 2023 Retiring Board Members (5 Members) - Grant of Choosing Fort Mill, SC | Emergency Need Based Grants | $46,000 |
| Kare Fort Mill, SC | Emergency Need Based Grants | $41,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Springs Close Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $36,288,428 | $1,574,368 | $2,388,430 | $1,982,714 | 101 | $2,636,824 | $1,451,189 | $1,690,171 |
| 2023 | $35,293,118 | $2,037,735 | $1,827,929 | $1,582,410 | 82 | $1,989,453 | $1,934,473 | $1,633,730 |
| 2022 | $34,254,738 | $807,625 | $2,109,485 | $1,537,805 | 94 | $1,758,647 | $693,120 | $1,685,414 |
| 2021 | $40,896,237 | $10,062,453 | $6,918,301 | $6,614,157 | 117 | $1,865,705 | $3,443,140 | $1,927,664 |
| 2020 | $38,552,484 | $558,505 | $1,841,609 | $1,522,834 | 134 | — | $446,898 | $1,623,564 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Springs Close Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — 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 mission is to help support and improve the communities that once housed the textile mills of Springs Industries in Chester, Lancaster, and York Counties of South Carolina. It considers projects addressing basic critical needs such as food, shelter, or emergency medical assistance, as well as education initiatives that directly affect students in the Chester County, Lancaster County, and Fort Mill school districts.
Its 2024 grants included awards designated for public education and early childhood development, emergency need-based grants, and community service and health. Among the grantees, Children’s Attention Home describes its mission as providing nurturing care and life-changing services for youth and families in need. Battered But Not Broken says it provides housing and resources for women previously incarcerated who have experienced substance abuse or violent crimes, with the aim of supporting growth, reducing recidivism, and strengthening families. Christian Services describes work to prevent childhood deprivation in Lancaster County through nutritional needs, Christmas assistance, workplace training, and literacy.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 101 grants totaling $1,982,714. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $270,720, with a median of $10,000. Its largest reported awards included $270,720 to Chester County School District for public education and early childhood development; $136,000 to Lancaster County First Steps for emergency need-based grants; and $121,125 to Fort Mill School District for public education and early childhood development. Other notable awards included $110,000 and $65,000 to Children’s Attention Home, and $70,000 to Winthrop University.
The Foundation describes itself as a project-based funder. Applicants must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and serve Chester, Lancaster, and/or York Counties. Its website asks applicants to submit a letter of intent describing the specific project and how it will be carried out. The application calls for a breakdown of project expenses and a list of current and potential funders; applicants should not submit an organization’s annual budget as a project budget. The Foundation also asks applicants to explain whom the project serves, how it operates, relevant collaborations and volunteers, and how any grant received in the prior year was used. First-time applicants are asked to send their letter of intent before applying. County consultants assist applicants, and county community boards review applications and make final decisions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists H. William Close Jr. as Chairman of the Board; D. Peyton Worley as Vice President/Treasurer; and R. Alexander Sullivan as Vice President/Secretary. It also lists Elliott S. Close, Frances A. Close, W. Dehler Hart, Greg Close, Nikki Godfrey-Hill, Avery S. Bivens, and Claude P. Close as directors.
The Foundation’s website identifies Michele Lineberger as Executive Director. It also lists Lucille Mackey as Chester County Consultant and Tammy Woods as Lancaster County Consultant.
The Springs Close Foundation Inc is led by Michele Lineberger, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michele Lineberger
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$49K (2020) → $70K (2024)
H William Close Jr.
Chairman of the Board
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Claude P Close
Director
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elliott S Close
Director
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frances A Close
Director
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Close
Director
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
W Dehler Hart
Director
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Avery S Bivens
Director
On filings since 2021
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nikki Godfrey-Hill
Director
On filings since 2021
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fred Witherspoon
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Georgette Boulware
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
D Peyton Worley
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
R Alexander Sullivan
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Crandall C Bowles (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Sara B Hancock (2020–2023) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Catherine Huggins (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Richard Miller (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Angela McCrae (2020) — President
- Former: Anne S Close (2020) — Chairman Emeritus
- Former: Avery S Close (2020) — Director
- Former: Butch Cowart (2020) — Director
- Former: J C Rainey (2020) — Director
- Former: Lucille Mackey (2020) — Director
- Former: Otis Lathan (2020) — Director
- Former: Robert L Holcombe (2020) — Director
- Former: Tammy Woods (2020) — Director
- Former: Wallace Thompson (2020) — Director
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $70K, to Michele Lineberger (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Springs Close Foundation Inc
How much does The Springs Close Foundation Inc give each year?
The Springs Close Foundation Inc gave $2.0M across 101 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 82 grants.
What is The Springs Close Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Springs Close Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $19,631, across 101 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Springs Close Foundation Inc that year got $13K on average.
Where does The Springs Close Foundation Inc give grants?
The Springs Close Foundation Inc gives mostly in South Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Mill, SC (99 grants).
Does The Springs Close Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 101 grants with a stated purpose on The Springs Close Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Emergency Need Based Grants" (77 grants), "COMMUNITY SERVICE and HEALTH" (13 grants) and "PUBLIC EDUCATION and EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT" (11 grants).
Who are The Springs Close Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Springs Close Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Chester County School District ($270,720), Children's Attention Home ($175,000 across 2 grants) and Lancaster County First Steps ($136,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($16,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Springs Close Foundation Inc?
The Springs Close Foundation Inc reported $36.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Springs Close Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to help support and improve the communities that once housed the textile mills of Springs Industries in Chester, Lancaster, and York Counties of South Carolina. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Springs Close Foundation Inc?
Submit a letter of intent explaining the project, its implementation, and who will be involved; first-time applicants should send it before applying. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Springs Close Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Springs Close Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-0426344. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Springs Close Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-springs-close-foundation-inc-morg_c5f5894e20da431d8a6ced83f5c6f305
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_570426344_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Springs Close Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-springs-close-foundation-inc-morg_c5f5894e20da431d8a6ced83f5c6f305},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Springs Close 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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