The Fullerton Foundation
Gaffney, SC · EIN 57-0847444. Reported 164 grants totalling $6,226,605 to 76 organizations across tax years 2020-2023. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Fullerton Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $33,333. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $50,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $125,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson University | Anderson, SC | $415,500 | 11 | 4 | 2023 |
| Project Hope Foundation | Spartanburg, SC | $300,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Limestone University | Gaffney, SC | $275,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Medical University of Sc | Charleston, SC | $226,500 | 5 | 3 | 2023 |
| University of North Carolina School of Medicine (chapel Hill) | Chapel Hill, NC | $206,139 | 4 | 2 | 2023 |
| Wake Forest School of Medicine | Winstonsalem, NC | $204,784 | 3 | 2 | 2021 |
| Greenwood Genetic Center | Greenwood, SC | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| USC School of Medicine Greenville | Greenville, SC | $163,333 | 11 | 4 | 2023 |
| City of Gaffney | Gaffney, SC | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Mary Sunshine House | York, SC | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Presbyterian College | Clinton, SC | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation | Spartanburg, SC | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Clemson Univeristy (icar) | Clemson, SC | $149,994 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Uofsc College of Pharmacy | Columbia, SC | $147,876 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| USC Arnold School of Public Health | Columbia, SC | $142,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Regenesis & Ccsd | Spartanburg, SC | $133,101 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Duke University Som | Durham, NC | $133,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cleveland County YMCA | Shelby, NC | $118,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Wake Forest Bowman Gray School of Medicine | Winstonsalem, NC | $111,000 | 10 | 3 | 2023 |
| Unc Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | $110,440 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| North Greenville University | Tigerville, SC | $108,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Cherokee County Meals-on-Wheels | Gaffney, SC | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Duke University Medical Center | Durham, NC | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Upstate Warrior Solutions | Greenville, SC | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| American Cancer Society | Charleston, SC | $96,600 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolina Campus | Spartanburg, SC | $83,604 | 4 | 2 | 2023 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs, NC | $83,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cleveland County Family YMCA | Shelby, NC | $80,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Healthy Smiles | Spartanburg, SC | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Unc Chapel Hill School of Medicine | Chapel Hill, NC | $80,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| University of South Carolina Upstate | Greenville, SC | $80,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gaffney & Cherokee County | Gaffney, SC | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Luke's Hospital | Spartanburg, SC | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Western Carolina University | Asheville, NC | $75,000 | 7 | 4 | 2023 |
| Duke University School of Medicine | Durham, NC | $67,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| USC Som - Greenville | Greenville, SC | $66,284 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Sc Foundation | Columbia, SC | $65,589 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs, SC | $64,500 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| University of South Carolina | Columbia, SC | $61,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville | Greenville, SC | $53,333 | 2 | 1 | 2020 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of the Upstate Cherokee County | Gaffney, SC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Cherokee County Family YMCA | Gaffney, NC | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Cherokee Historical and Preservation Society Inc | Gaffney, SC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Decisionsorg | Aventura, FL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Healthy Learners | Greenwood, SC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Kids Upstate | Spartanburg, SC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Guiding Reins | Campobello, SC | $47,875 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| USC Comm Health Align | Columbia, SC | $46,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Blue Ridge Health | Morganton, NC | $43,200 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Via College of Osteopathic Med | Blacksburg, VA | $40,905 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cherokee County School District | Gaffney, SC | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Healthy Smiles of Spartanburg | Spartanburg, SC | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Children's Advocacy Center | Spartanburg, SC | $39,150 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Children's Advocacy Center of Spartanburg Cherokee and Union Counties | Spartanburg, SC | $39,150 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| USC Genetic Counseling | Columbia, SC | $32,950 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Be Mays Family Resource Center | Pacolet, SC | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Impact America South Carolina | Greenville, SC | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Nc Baptists on Mission | Cary, NC | $27,600 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas | Spartanburg, SC | $27,198 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Cc Senior Centers | Gaffney, SC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Cherokee County | Gaffney, SC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Prisma Health Upstate Foundation | Greenville, SC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Emerge Family Therapy | Greenville, SC | $24,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| USC School of Medicine Columbia | Columbia, SC | $21,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cherokee County Schools | Gaffney, SC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lions Vision Services | Columbia, SC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Clemson University | Clemson, SC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Medical University of South Carolina | Charleston, SC | $13,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| The Salvation Army | Charleston, SC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Clemson University Foundation | Clemson, SC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Wake Forest University Health Sciences | Winstonsalem, NC | $2,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Duke Divinity School | Durham, NC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus | Spartanburg, SC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Hospice of the Piedmont | Charlottesville, VA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Medical University of Sc Foundation | Columbia, SC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
33 of 76 (43%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 54%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Anderson University
ESTABLISHMENT OF A MASTER OF MEDICAL SCIENCE IN PATHOLOGISTS' ASSISTANT PROGRAM - Cherokee County Meals-on-Wheels
SUPPORT OF A $1.4 MILLION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW FACILITY FOR THE ORGANIZATION ON ITS EXISTING SITE. - Duke University Medical Center
PILOT BRIDGES TO EXCELLENCE PROGRAM THAT WILL FACILITATE DIVERSE STUDENTS' TRANSITION BETWEEN COLLEGE AND MEDICAL SCHOOL. - University of North Carolina School of Medicine (chapel Hill)
DEVELOPMENT OF A SCALABLE DIGITAL PROGRAM TO TREAT YOUTH ANXIETY - Gardner-Webb University
CAPITAL FUNDING FOR EQUIPMENT - University of South Carolina Upstate
PILOTING AN RN PIPELINE PROGRAM
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 60 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 37 | $1,565,535 | $49,292 |
| 2021 | 51 | $1,684,853 | $20,000 |
| 2022 | 38 | $1,417,417 | $35,250 |
| 2023 | 38 | $1,558,800 | $30,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. The Fullerton Foundation has 73 of them, worth $5,052,635. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson University | Anderson, SC | $200,000 |
| Anderson University | Anderson, SC | $200,000 |
| Project Hope Foundation | Spartanburg, SC | $200,000 |
| City of Gaffney | Gaffney, SC | $150,000 |
| Cleveland County YMCA | Shelby, NC | $146,000 |
| Duke University Som | Durham, NC | $134,000 |
| Medical University of Sc | Charleston, SC | $131,000 |
| Limestone University | Gaffney, SC | $125,000 |
| Presbyterian College | Clinton, SC | $115,500 |
| Unc Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | $110,441 |
| Limestone University | Gaffney, SC | $100,000 |
| Mary Sunshine House | York, SC | $100,000 |
| Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation | Shelby, SC | $100,000 |
| Anderson University | Anderson, SC | $100,000 |
| Project Hope Foundation | Spartanburg, SC | $100,000 |
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 75% of this one's giving went to organizations in South Carolina. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $33,333. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in South Carolina.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Fullerton Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2020-2023). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 2208, Gaffney, SC, 29342. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 57-0847444 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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