W. W. Burgiss Charities Grant

The W. W. Burgiss Charities Grant supports initiatives focused on religion, education, and assistance for the needy in Greenville County, South Carolina. Established by W. W. Burgiss in 1925, the foundation prioritizes capital needs and one-time special projects, aiming to create measurable impacts. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) exempt and demonstrate financial sustainability. With an average grant size of $12,000, the foundation aims to uplift the sick and underprivileged, ensuring local community enhancement through targeted funding.

NOTE: Applications are accepted year-round, but must be submitted by September 15 to be reviewed at the annual grant meeting that generally occurs in October.
Burgiss had established the county’s first charitable foundation with approximately $1 million in assets, including stocks, bonds, and land in both Greer and Florida.
The first major project of Burgiss Charities was covering the cost of land and construction ($300,000) of Shriners’ Hospital for Crippled Children, which opened on Rutherford Road in 1927 and was the first integrated charitable orthopedic hospital in the South. The foundation also immediately committed $10,000 to help build a mountain camp for the YWCA, which led to the establishment of Camp Burgiss Glen.
Types of support
The foundation prefers to focus its grantmaking on capital needs or one-time special projects, rather than ongoing programs or operating expenses.
Funding
Average grant size: $12,000Average number of grants per year: 12Average total giving per year: $150,000

Eligibility

Requirements:
To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The benefits of the grant must have a measurable impact within Greenville County, South Carolina.
The programs and services of the applicant must be consistent with the Foundation’s mission and values.
All applicants must have the financial ability to sustain the funded program or project on a continuing basis.
Applications must be submitted through the online grant application form or alternative accessible application designed for assistive technology users.
If available, applicants must provide an audited financial statement for the most recent complete fiscal year. The audited financial statement must be uploaded within the online grant application form. Otherwise, please upload copies of your organization’s balance sheet and income statement for the last two years of operation, along with your organization’s budget for the current year. Please do not attach a copy of your IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Ineligibility

The foundation typically does not fund requests for:

Annual operating funds or membership drives Unrestricted endowment funds
Grants to individuals
The same charitable organization more than once during a three-year period