← Back to US Funders Directory

Jean T And Heyward G Pelham Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.7M
Grant Range
Up to $3.0M00
00

Jean T And Heyward G Pelham Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,722,925 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Varies (average approximately $35,491)
  • Geographic Focus: National (multiple states across the U.S.)
  • Total Assets: $40,017,348 (2024)

Contact Details

Address: Wilmington, Delaware
EIN: 20-3291660

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or published contact information. This is a private independent foundation.

Overview

The Jean T And Heyward G Pelham Foundation was established in 2006 by Jean and Heyward Pelham of Greenville, South Carolina, who were strong advocates and supporters of education and the arts and very active in the Greenville community. The foundation is now managed by their family members, with total assets exceeding $40 million as of 2024. The foundation focuses primarily on education (particularly higher education and architecture programs), religious activities within Christianity and Protestantism, and the arts. The foundation has demonstrated significant growth since its inception, with assets growing from approximately $4.4 million in 2008 to over $40 million by 2024. In 2024, the foundation distributed approximately $1.7 million in charitable grants. A notable beneficiary has been Clemson University's School of Architecture, which has received cumulative gifts exceeding $5.8 million from the Pelham family through their foundation since 2007, including a landmark $3 million gift in 2021.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a private independent foundation making grants across multiple focus areas:

  • Education: Support for higher education institutions, particularly architecture programs and study abroad opportunities
  • Religious Organizations: Grants to Protestant Christian organizations and churches
  • Arts and Culture: Support for arts education and cultural initiatives

Based on 2023 data, the foundation awarded 43 grants totaling approximately $1.5 million. The foundation showed 61 awards in 2022, indicating variable annual grant activity.

Priority Areas

Higher Education: The foundation has a strong demonstrated commitment to architectural education and study abroad programs. Support has been particularly focused on:

  • Architecture school programs
  • International study opportunities (notably programs in Genoa, Charleston, and Barcelona)
  • Need-based scholarships for students
  • Leadership development programs
  • Research support

Religious Activities: Support for Protestant Christian organizations and religious education

Arts and Cultural Programs: Funding for arts education initiatives, particularly those connected to educational institutions

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private family foundation with trustee discretion, grants appear to be made based on the trustees' interests in education, religion, and the arts rather than through open competitive processes.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by three family member trustees who serve without compensation:

  • Ann P Cullen - Chairperson/Trustee
  • Richard T Pelham - Trustee
  • William H Pelham - Trustee

William H. "Bill" Pelham, AIA, is president of Pelham Architects, LLC in Greenville, South Carolina. He is a Clemson University alumnus (B.A. in pre-architecture, 1977; M.A. in architecture, 1981) who studied abroad in Genoa, Italy in 1978—an experience that significantly shaped his worldview and the foundation's charitable priorities. Bill Pelham has stated that the foundation uses a combination of "annual unrestricted gifts and endowments" to balance immediate impact with long-term sustainability, noting that unrestricted gifts provide "flexibility" while "endowments usually take longer to fund...and are intended to last in perpetuity."

The foundation's giving reflects the values of its founders, Jean and Heyward Pelham, who were known for their commitment to education, the arts, and global travel. They exposed their children to different cultures through annual summer trips, beginning with Italy and expanding globally.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Jean T And Heyward G Pelham Foundation does not have a public application process.

As a private independent foundation, grants appear to be made through trustee discretion rather than through open competitive application cycles. The foundation does not maintain a website, published application guidelines, or publicly available contact information for grant seekers.

Grants are typically awarded to organizations with which the trustees have existing relationships or knowledge. Based on the foundation's giving history, the majority of support has been directed to:

  • Educational institutions (particularly Clemson University)
  • Religious organizations aligned with Protestant Christianity
  • Arts and cultural organizations in communities where the family has connections

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grants are made through trustee discretion, with giving concentrated among organizations with personal connections to the Pelham family. Specifically:

  • Clemson University connections: The foundation has a long-standing relationship with Clemson University, particularly the School of Architecture. Bill Pelham's experience as a Clemson architecture alumnus who studied abroad in Genoa has directly influenced the foundation's support for architecture education and international study programs.

  • Greenville, South Carolina community: Jean and Heyward Pelham were very active in the Greenville community, suggesting the foundation may be receptive to organizations in this geographic area.

  • Architecture and design sector: Given Bill Pelham's professional role as president of Pelham Architects, LLC, organizations in the architecture, design, and built environment fields may align with trustee interests.

Organizations seeking support would need to establish relationships with the trustees through professional networks, community connections, or institutional affiliations rather than through a formal application process.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private foundation operating through trustee discretion, decision timelines are not published.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation awarded 43 grants in 2023 and 61 grants in 2022, but does not publish data on application volumes or success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Jean T And Heyward G Pelham Foundation operates through trustee discretion without a public application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of the foundation's giving patterns reveals these alignment factors:

Mission Alignment: Organizations most likely to receive support demonstrate clear alignment with the foundation's core interests:

  • Higher education, particularly architecture and design programs
  • Study abroad and international educational experiences
  • Protestant Christian religious organizations
  • Arts and cultural education initiatives

Geographic Connections: The foundation supports organizations across multiple U.S. states, but appears to have strongest ties to:

  • South Carolina (particularly Greenville area, where the founders were active community members)
  • Institutions with architecture programs
  • Organizations in communities where the Pelham family has personal or professional connections

Sustained Impact Philosophy: Bill Pelham's stated approach to philanthropy combines "annual unrestricted gifts and endowments" to create both immediate flexibility and long-term sustainability. Organizations that can articulate both short-term program needs and long-term institutional benefits may align with this philosophy.

Educational Excellence: The foundation's flagship support of Clemson University's School of Architecture (exceeding $5.8 million since 2007) demonstrates commitment to:

  • High-quality educational programs
  • International educational experiences (the founders' world travel influenced their philanthropy)
  • Need-based student support
  • Programs that create lasting institutional capacity

Relationship-Based Giving: As a private family foundation, grants flow through personal knowledge and relationships rather than competitive processes. Organizations connected to the architecture profession, Clemson University network, or Greenville, SC community have natural pathways to trustee awareness.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation awards grants through trustee discretion; there is no application portal, deadline, or published guidelines. Traditional grant-seeking strategies do not apply.

  • Relationship-Driven: Grants are made to organizations with which trustees have direct knowledge or connection. Building relationships with the Pelham family or their professional/community networks is essential.

  • Architecture Education Focus: The foundation's largest and most sustained commitment is to Clemson University's School of Architecture, reflecting Bill Pelham's professional identity and personal study abroad experience. Organizations in architecture education have the clearest alignment.

  • Greenville, SC Connections: The founders were active in the Greenville community, suggesting local organizations may have an advantage if they can establish trustee connections.

  • Protestant Christian Values: Religious grants focus on Protestant Christianity, indicating theological alignment matters for faith-based organizations.

  • Global Education Priority: The family's history of world travel and support for study abroad programs (Genoa, Charleston, Barcelona) indicates strong interest in international educational experiences.

  • Long-Term Partnership Approach: The foundation's multi-million dollar, multi-year support of Clemson demonstrates preference for sustained partnerships over one-time grants. Organizations should think in terms of long-term relationships rather than single projects.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory