The Ward Foundation
The Ward Foundation is a private foundation based in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Established in 2006 by Jack and Jean Ward, it supports children and families in need, with a particular focus on children with serious illnesses or who are educationally or financially disadvantaged.
The Ward Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ward Foundation gave $200K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), top state South Carolina. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $200,000
- +1.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- +4.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,091
- -3.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $3,694,072
- -2.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (2 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ward Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
Applications are by invitation only. The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 22 Oyster Catcher Road, Hilton Head, SC 29928
Phone: (843) 671-5491
Website: https://www.ward-foundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ward Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project ($30K). Together the top 10 received $146K.
Grant Size Distribution
100 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 100 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it concentrates giving in Atlanta, Georgia; Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; and Jacksonville, Florida. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina (44%), Georgia (35%), Florida (16%), and North Carolina (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ward Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 22 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 77% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $169K (2019) to $204K (2023). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $200K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project Hilt Head Island, SC | Circles Program | $30,000 |
| Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation Inc Atlanta, GA | Child Life Program | $25,000 |
| Kipp Metro Atlanta Atlanta, GA | Kipp Forward Ambassadors Program | $20,000 |
| Honduras Agalta Valley Education Foundation (Have) Atlanta, GA | Teacher STEM Training | $15,000 |
| Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Winston-Salem, NC | Endowment Fund | $10,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida Jacksonville, FL | Triple Play-Healthy Habits | $10,000 |
| Children's Center Inc Hilton Head Island, SC | Summer Fun & Development Program | $10,000 |
| Volunteers in Medicine (Vim) Clinic Hilton Head Island, SC | ECG Spiro Machine, Pharmacy IVR System | $10,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry Hilt Head Island, SC | Reading Program | $8,000 |
| Memory Matters Hilton Head Island, SC | Fee Assistance for Low-Income Clients | $7,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ward 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 | $3,694,072 | $169,004 | $255,975 | $200,000 | 22 | $227,152 | $145,063 | $236,526 |
| 2024 | $3,781,043 | $269,682 | $244,041 | $197,700 | 21 | $217,387 | $242,528 | $217,405 |
| 2023 | $3,755,402 | $204,200 | $247,828 | $204,200 | 17 | $222,842 | $174,719 | $215,045 |
| 2022 | $3,798,998 | $119,762 | $252,431 | $200,400 | 21 | $218,722 | $98,447 | $221,214 |
| 2021 | $3,938,692 | $523,954 | $230,123 | $181,000 | 19 | $203,128 | $463,809 | $236,258 |
| 2020 | $3,645,241 | $56,656 | $213,004 | $171,000 | 21 | — | $75,504 | $187,355 |
| 2019 | $3,801,591 | $226,401 | $210,894 | $169,000 | 21 | — | $203,256 | $195,903 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ward Foundation reported a distributable amount of $237K 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 mission is to help children and families in need overcome obstacles for a successful life. Its 2025 grants included support for children’s health, education, reading, summer programming, food access, and services for people with memory loss.
Among its grantees, Memory Matters describes its work as providing community-based dementia and brain health programs for people living with memory loss and their caregivers. ArtsBridge Foundation says it enriches the lives of Georgia pre-K–12 students through arts education. KIPP Jacksonville says it operates public charter schools and prepares students for success in college and life.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $200,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $30,000, with a median grant of $6,000. Grants included $30,000 to Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project for its Circles Program; $25,000 to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation for its Child Life Program; $20,000 to KIPP Metro Atlanta for its KIPP Forward Ambassadors Program; and $15,000 to Honduras Agalta Valley Education Foundation for teacher STEM training. Other grants included $10,000 to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist for an endowment fund, $10,000 to Volunteers in Medicine Clinic for equipment and a pharmacy system, and $7,500 to Memory Matters for fee assistance for low-income clients.
The foundation’s website says it makes grants for ongoing and project-based support, with preferences for new and innovative programs that help achieve its mission. Invited applicants can use the online application form; the website also provides a process to review or complete an unsubmitted application.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2025 filing lists John F. Ward and Susan Kelly as trustees. Its website names Jack Ward, Jean Ward, Susan Ward Kelly, and Laura Ward Knebusch as members of the grant approval committee.
The Ward Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John F. Ward
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Kelly
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Ward Foundation
How much does The Ward Foundation give each year?
The Ward Foundation gave $200K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $198K across 21 grants.
What is The Ward Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ward Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,000, and its average grant was $9,091, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ward Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does The Ward Foundation give grants?
The Ward Foundation's top state is South Carolina, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Georgia (35%) and Florida (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Jacksonville, FL (7 grants), Atlanta, GA (5 grants), Hilton Head Island, SC (4 grants) and Hilt Head Island, SC (2 grants).
Does The Ward Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of The Ward Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ward Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ward Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project ($30,000), Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation Inc ($25,000) and Kipp Metro Atlanta ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ward Foundation?
The Ward Foundation reported $3.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $227K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $237K (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.
What does The Ward Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to help children and families in need overcome obstacles for a successful life. Its 2025 grants included support for children’s health, education, reading, summer programming, food access, and services for people with memory loss. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ward Foundation?
Applications are by invitation only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ward Foundation's EIN?
The Ward Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6440277. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Ward Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 9, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ward Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ward Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ward-foundation-morg_27922a38c7a3417fa4a2c7a9f0c765e6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_586440277_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ward Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ward-foundation-morg_27922a38c7a3417fa4a2c7a9f0c765e6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Ward 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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