The Watterson Family Foundation
The Watterson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Bluffton, South Carolina. It partners with nonprofit organizations to expand access to resources and opportunities for marginalized and vulnerable people, with a stated focus on South Carolina’s Lowcountry.
The Watterson Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Watterson Family Foundation gave $98K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in South Carolina. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $97,880
- +5.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- +4.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,449
- +0.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $338,158
- -15.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (7 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (70% 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 Watterson Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its website says the application opens each fall by invitation, allocations are determined at the board’s Q4 meeting, and distributions are made by December 31. The website states that the 2025 request for proposals has closed; it does not specify application materials.
- Contact
Mailing address: 10 Buck Island Road Suite 101, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone: (843) 757-2957
Website: https://wattersonfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Watterson Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Opfob ($13K). Together the top 10 received $70K.
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 110 grants of 110 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated geographic focus is South Carolina’s Lowcountry, primarily Beaufort and Jasper Counties. Its 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina (70%), Ohio (27%), and Tennessee (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Watterson Family Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 22 grantees (32%) 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 $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−10%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 632% 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 $93K (2023) to $117K (2022). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $98K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Opfob Hilton Head Island, SC | Veteran Assistance | $12,500 |
| Ada Exempt Village Schools Ada, OH | Education | $10,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of the LC Toledo, OH | Social Service | $7,500 |
| Bluffton Community Soup Kitchen Bluffton, SC | Social Service | $6,600 |
| Deep Well Project Hilton Head Island, SC | Social Service | $6,600 |
| Real Champions Ridgeland, SC | Poverty Alleviation | $6,250 |
| University of Findlay Findlay, OH | Education | $6,000 |
| Antioch Educational Center Ridgeland, SC | Education | $5,000 |
| Blacquity SC Bluffton, SC | Empowering Minority Businesses | $5,000 |
| Changing Our Image Now Project Hilton Head Island, SC | Community Welfare | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Watterson Family 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $338,158 | $102,399 | $124,858 | $97,880 | 22 | $124,531 | $32,207 | $19,693 |
| 2023 | $400,792 | $54,835 | $128,694 | $92,630 | 21 | $128,426 | $9,677 | $18,406 |
| 2022 | $375,868 | $145,448 | $146,035 | $116,780 | 22 | $145,196 | $7,945 | $19,593 |
| 2021 | $417,941 | $183,332 | $167,376 | $108,880 | 25 | $166,155 | $10,297 | $21,229 |
| 2020 | $381,740 | $23,163 | $238,021 | $96,300 | 20 | — | $7,958 | $22,048 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Watterson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20K 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 provide equitable access to resources, knowledge, and networks so individuals can thrive and positively affect future generations. Its website also identifies education, health, and economic empowerment as areas of focus.
The 2024 grants show support for organizations with a range of purposes, including social services, education, veteran assistance, poverty alleviation, community welfare, and empowering minority businesses. For example, Bluffton Community Soup Kitchen says it assists underserved families through programs addressing hunger, job insecurity, child development, senior wellness, housing, education, and community engagement. The Children’s Center says it provides affordable, high-quality education and childcare for working families in the Lowcountry. Sandalwood Community Food Pantry says it feeds people experiencing hunger on Hilton Head Island. Hopeful Horizons describes its work as protecting, treating, and preventing harm for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. KORE Foundation says it offers people experiencing poverty sustainable alternatives through micro-industries, agriculture, and micro-finance.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave 22 grants totaling $97,880. Grant amounts ranged from $300 to $12,500, with a median of $5,000. The foundation’s website says grants are $10,000 or less; the 2024 filing nevertheless lists one $12,500 grant.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $12,500 to OPFOB for veteran assistance; $10,000 to Ada Exempt Village Schools for education; $7,500 to Boys and Girls Club of the LC for social service; $6,600 each to Bluffton Community Soup Kitchen and Deep Well Project for social service; and $6,250 to Real Champions for poverty alleviation. Other listed awards included $6,000 to the University of Findlay for education and $5,000 each to Antioch Educational Center, Blacquity SC, Changing Our Image Now Project, The Children’s Center, and Bluffton MLK Observance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Billy J. Watterson, Brenda S. Watterson, Jeff Baxter, Gary Harden, Ryan Kaczmarek, and Marcia Sloan Latta as trustees, and Cynthia Martin as manager. The foundation’s website identifies Billy and Brenda Watterson as its founders.
The Watterson Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 7 officers; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Baxter Jeff
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harden Gary
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kaczmarek Ryan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Latta Marcia Sloan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Watterson Billy J.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Watterson Brenda S.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martin Cynthia
Manager
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Louw Katherine (2020–2021) — Manager
- Former: Cynthisa Primo Martin (2020) — 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.
Frequently asked questions about The Watterson Family Foundation
How much does The Watterson Family Foundation give each year?
The Watterson Family Foundation gave $98K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $93K across 21 grants.
What is The Watterson Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Watterson Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,449, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Watterson Family Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Watterson Family Foundation give grants?
The Watterson Family Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Ohio (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were Hilton Head Island, SC (5 grants), Hilton Head, SC (4 grants), Bluffton, SC (3 grants) and Toledo, OH (3 grants).
Does The Watterson Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on The Watterson Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Social Service" (7 grants), "Education" (4 grants) and "Discretionary" (3 grants).
Who are The Watterson Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Watterson Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Opfob ($12,500), Ada Exempt Village Schools ($10,000) and Boys and Girls Club of the LC ($7,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Watterson Family Foundation?
The Watterson Family Foundation reported $338K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $125K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Watterson Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to provide equitable access to resources, knowledge, and networks so individuals can thrive and positively affect future generations. Its website also identifies education, health, and economic empowerment as areas of focus. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Watterson Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Watterson Family Foundation's EIN?
The Watterson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1704737. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Watterson Family 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Watterson Family Foundation funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Watterson Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Watterson Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-watterson-family-foundation-morg_ce8e4177d4f44158b7378070320ddf1c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_831704737_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Watterson Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-watterson-family-foundation-morg_ce8e4177d4f44158b7378070320ddf1c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Watterson Family 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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