Ware Shoals Community Foundation
An individual recipient COMMUNITY FOUNDATION is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, South Carolina. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in an individual recipient, including schools and community groups.
Ware Shoals Community Foundation at a glance
In short: Ware Shoals Community Foundation gave $30K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in South Carolina. 55% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $30,368
- +115.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +140.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,531
- -10.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $611,274
- -0.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (6 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (100% 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 Ware Shoals Community Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Post Office Box 509, Ware Shoals, SC 29692
Phone: (864) 992-8740
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ware Shoals Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ware Shoals School District 51 ($12K). Together the top 10 received $26K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($4,750), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 34 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ware Shoals Community Foundation open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 11 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 27% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 142% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 204% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $3K (2019) to $35K (2021). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $30K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ware Shoals School District 51 Ware Shoals, SC | To Support 100 Year Celebration | $12,000 |
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $4,750 |
| Ware Shoals High School Ware Shoals, SC | To Support Christmas Is for Kids | $4,000 |
| Young Park Ware Shoals, SC | To Provide Monument Signage | $3,718 |
| Ware Shoals Catfish Feastival Ware Shoals, SC | To Promote Tourism in Ware Shoals | $2,500 |
| Ware Shoals Cemetery Fund Ware Shoals, SC | To Support Upkeep of Cemetary | $1,500 |
| Ware Shoals Schools Hall of Fame Ware Shoals, SC | To Support Hall of Fame | $1,000 |
| Back Step Strays Ware Shoals, SC | To Support Charitable Activities | $500 |
| Children's Escape Zone Ware Shoals, SC | To Support Summer Camp | $200 |
| Ware Shoals Youth Association Ware Shoals, SC | To Support Youth Athletics | $100 |
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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 | $611,274 | $41,332 | $43,859 | $30,368 | 12 | $39,016 | $34,052 | $19,115 |
| 2024 | $613,801 | $32,744 | $23,841 | $14,105 | 5 | $19,173 | $28,310 | $18,150 |
| 2023 | $605,074 | $12,755 | $38,835 | $27,857 | 5 | $33,629 | $7,962 | $17,977 |
| 2022 | $631,154 | $34,395 | $24,357 | $12,550 | 5 | $18,241 | $28,743 | $19,707 |
| 2021 | $617,616 | $57,430 | $46,355 | $35,066 | 7 | $40,395 | $52,040 | $21,011 |
| 2020 | $606,541 | $36,437 | $44,315 | $24,550 | 8 | — | $27,223 | $20,453 |
| 2019 | $614,419 | $23,395 | $15,318 | $2,557 | 3 | — | $18,443 | $18,563 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ware Shoals Community Foundation reported a distributable amount of $19K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $30,368 through 12 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $12,000, with a median grant of $1,250. Its largest grants were $12,000 to Ware Shoals School District 51 for a centennial celebration; $4,500 to an individual recipient Middle School for student activities; $4,000 to an individual recipient High School for “Christmas Is for Kids”; $3,718 to Young Park for monument signage; and $2,500 to an individual recipient Catfish Feastival to promote tourism in an individual recipient
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert Drake as chairman; Tommy Odell, Carole McKee, Walter Thompson, and Katie Pulley as board members; and Paula Taylor as controller.
Ware Shoals Community Foundation is led by Robert Drake, Chairman since 2025 (on filings since 2019); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert Drake
Chairman
Vice President → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Carole McKee
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Tommy Odell
Board Member
Controller → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Walter Thompson
Board Member
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Katie Pulley
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Paula Taylor
Controller
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Dan Branyon (2019–2024) — President
- Former: Don Jackson (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Janet Miller (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Phillip Ballentine (2019–2024) — Board Member
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 Ware Shoals Community Foundation
How much does Ware Shoals Community Foundation give each year?
Ware Shoals Community Foundation gave $30K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $14K across 5 grants.
What is Ware Shoals Community Foundation's typical grant size?
Ware Shoals Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,250, and its average grant was $2,531, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ware Shoals Community Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Ware Shoals Community Foundation give grants?
Ware Shoals Community Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ware Shoals, SC (10 grants).
Does Ware Shoals Community Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Ware Shoals Community Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Ware Shoals Community Foundation's largest grantees?
Ware Shoals Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ware Shoals School District 51 ($12,000), Ware Shoals High School ($4,000) and Young Park ($3,718), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($4,750), which are not listed by name. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ware Shoals Community Foundation?
Ware Shoals Community Foundation reported $611K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $39K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
How do I apply for a grant from Ware Shoals Community 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 Ware Shoals Community Foundation's EIN?
Ware Shoals Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-6003414. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Ware Shoals Community 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 May 21, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ware Shoals Community Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Figures come from Ware Shoals Community 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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