Darla Moore And Richard Rainwater Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $25,400,000 (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $1,000 - $12,100,000
Geographic Focus: Primarily South Carolina (especially Pee Dee region), with grants also in New York and Virginia
Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: Lake City, SC
Website: Not publicly available
Phone: Not publicly available
Email: Not publicly available

Note: The foundation does not have a public website or published contact information for grant inquiries. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Darla Moore And Richard Rainwater Foundation was established in 2011 as a South Carolina private foundation. With assets of approximately $623.6 million, the foundation distributed over $25.4 million in grants across 34 organizations in 2024. The foundation is chaired by Darla Moore, a prominent investor and philanthropist who was formerly president and partner of private investment firm Rainwater Inc., founded by her late husband Richard Rainwater (d. 2015).

The foundation's mission centers on enhancing the lives of residents in South Carolina's Pee Dee region and across the state, with a strategic focus on education, historic preservation, community revitalization, and human services. Moore's philanthropic approach reflects her business background—she views charitable giving as requiring the same rigor and follow-through as business investments. The foundation has played a transformative role in revitalizing Lake City, South Carolina, Moore's hometown, investing an estimated $100 million in downtown infrastructure and community projects over a decade.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with grants ranging significantly in size:

Major Transformational Grants: $1,000,000 - $12,100,000 (for significant institutional partnerships and infrastructure projects)
Medium Program Grants: $100,000 - $500,000 (for established program support)
Smaller Project Grants: $1,000 - $100,000 (for specific initiatives)

Median Grant Size: $75,000

Application Method: Invitation only - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications

Priority Areas

Education

Higher education institutional support, particularly in South Carolina
Scholarship programs for underserved students, especially in the Pee Dee region
Workforce development and technical education centers
K-12 educational enhancement

Recent example: $25 million commitment to establish a center for education and workforce development in Lake City; $5 million gift to Francis Marion University for The Darla Moore Scholarship (2021)

Historic Preservation & Battlefield Conservation

Revolutionary War battlefield preservation
Historic site interpretation and education
South Carolina Liberty Trail projects

Recent example: $300,000 grant to American Battlefield Trust for battlefield site preservation and interpretation statewide; $147,000 to American Battlefield Trust (2022)

Community Development & Revitalization

Arts and cultural initiatives
Parks and public spaces enhancement
Downtown infrastructure in rural communities
Quality of life improvements

Recent example: Founded ArtFields festival in Lake City (2013) offering over $100,000 in annual cash prizes; $150,000 to Charleston Parks Conservancy (2022)

Human Services & Brain Science Research

Applications of brain science to maximize human potential
Voluntarism and grantmaking infrastructure

Recent example: $125,000 to BrainFutures Incorporated (2022)

Geographic Focus: While the foundation makes grants across South Carolina, New York, and Virginia, there is a strong emphasis on the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, reflecting Moore's commitment to her hometown area.

What They Don't Fund

Organizations outside their preselected network
Unsolicited grant proposals
Projects outside their core focus areas (education, historic preservation, community development, human services)

Governance and Leadership

Darla Moore serves as Chair of the foundation. She is a renowned investor and philanthropist who served as president and partner of Rainwater Inc., and is widely recognized for her transformational gifts to education and community development in South Carolina.

Moore's Philanthropic Philosophy

Moore approaches philanthropy with the same strategic rigor she applied in finance and banking. Key quotes reveal her philosophy:

On Strategic Giving: "This is an investment, and with investments, you not only expect a return, you do your homework up front to ensure you get a solid return. This is what I desire with my investment—the opportunity to open the door to success to as many young people as possible." (Claflin University gift announcement)

On Active Engagement: "You get to a point where you have enough—where you say, 'You know, I really want to give it away now.' It's the hardest work you will ever do. The check writing is not the end. You've got to follow through and be attentive."

On Impact Measurement: She focuses on "Where your interest lies. Where you can have the most impact. What's the most gratifying." Her answer to what's most gratifying: "Seeing the lives affected. Individual lives."

On Education's Centrality: Moore believes "The foundation of anyone's success is their education."

On Business Foundation for Philanthropy: "Having been in finance and banking, done the things I've done business-wise, has been a marvelous foundation for me to hopefully be better and more thoughtful about the way I do engage in philanthropy now."

Additional trustee and officer information is maintained in the foundation's Form 990 filings but is not publicly disclosed in detail.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to organizations that align with the foundation's strategic priorities. Organizations that receive funding are typically:

Identified through the foundation's existing networks and relationships
Operating in South Carolina, particularly the Pee Dee region
Aligned with education, historic preservation, community development, or human services
Demonstrating potential for measurable impact

Getting on Their Radar

Note: The following strategies are specific to this foundation based on documented patterns:

Lake City and Pee Dee Region Connection: The foundation has demonstrated a strong commitment to Lake City and the broader Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Organizations working in this geographic area that align with community revitalization, education, or cultural development may be more likely to come to the foundation's attention.

ArtFields Participation: Since 2013, Moore founded the annual ArtFields festival in Lake City. Organizations or artists involved in this festival and the broader arts revitalization of the region demonstrate alignment with the foundation's community development priorities.

Educational Institutions: The foundation has established major partnerships with South Carolina educational institutions including the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, Francis Marion University, and Claflin University. Institutions with clear educational impact in underserved South Carolina communities fit the foundation's documented giving patterns.

Partnership with Existing Grantees: Organizations working in partnership with the foundation's known beneficiaries (Charleston Parks Conservancy, Meeting Street Scholarship Fund, American Battlefield Trust) may have increased visibility.

Board and Civic Connections: Moore serves on various boards including the Charleston Parks Conservancy (which she founded and chairs). Organizations connected to her civic engagements may have increased opportunity for relationship building.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only nature, timelines are determined on a case-by-case basis by the trustees.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. With only 34 grants awarded in 2024 from a foundation that does not accept unsolicited applications, the foundation operates with a highly selective, invitation-based model.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, there is no traditional application process. However, the foundation's documented giving patterns reveal clear priorities:

Strategic, Results-Oriented Projects: Moore's business background influences her philanthropy. She states: "This is an investment, and with investments, you not only expect a return, you do your homework up front to ensure you get a solid return." Projects should demonstrate:

Clear, measurable outcomes
Thoughtful planning and due diligence
Sustainability beyond the initial grant
Impact on "individual lives" (Moore's stated measure of what's most gratifying)

South Carolina Focus, Especially Pee Dee Region: The foundation has invested an estimated $100 million in Lake City revitalization alone. Projects serving South Carolina, particularly rural and economically challenged areas of the Pee Dee region, align with documented priorities.

Education as Foundation: Moore believes "The foundation of anyone's success is their education." Recent grants demonstrate support for:

Scholarship access for underserved students (Meeting Street Scholarship Fund expansion to Pee Dee counties)
Workforce development ($25 million tech education center commitment)
Institutional capacity building at SC colleges and universities
K-12 through higher education continuum

Community Revitalization Through Culture: The ArtFields festival demonstrates Moore's belief in arts and culture as economic development tools. The festival required prize winners to leave their work in Lake City to build a contemporary art collection, showing a strategy of permanent community asset building.

Historic Preservation with Educational Component: Grants to American Battlefield Trust and South Carolina Liberty Trail projects combine preservation with interpretation and education, not just conservation alone.

Long-Term Engagement: Moore emphasizes that "The check writing is not the end. You've got to follow through and be attentive." The foundation appears to favor:

Multi-year commitments
Organizations willing to engage in ongoing partnership
Projects where the foundation can see sustained impact

Examples of Recently Funded Projects:

American Battlefield Trust: $147,000 for saving America's battlefields and $300,000 for South Carolina Liberty Trail preservation and interpretation
BrainFutures Incorporated: $125,000 for applications of brain science advances
Charleston Parks Conservancy: $150,000 for improving quality of life in Charleston County through park facilities and services
Meeting Street Scholarship Fund: Partnership expansion to Pee Dee region counties
Francis Marion University: $5 million for The Darla Moore Scholarship

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Traditional grant seeking approaches will not work. Focus instead on building authentic relationships within South Carolina's philanthropic community and demonstrating impact in the foundation's priority areas.
Geographic Alignment is Critical: While the foundation makes some grants outside South Carolina, the vast majority of funding—and the foundation's strategic focus—centers on South Carolina, particularly the Pee Dee region and Lake City. Organizations outside this geography face significant barriers unless addressing statewide issues.
Think Like an Investor: Moore approaches philanthropy with an investor's mindset, requiring "homework up front" and expecting measurable returns. Projects should be presented with clear metrics, sustainability plans, and demonstrated impact on individual lives.
Education Opens Doors: Education is described as "the foundation of anyone's success" by Moore. Educational projects—from K-12 through workforce development—align most closely with the foundation's documented giving, especially those serving underserved South Carolina students.
Long-Term Relationship Building: Moore emphasizes that giving requires being "attentive" and following through beyond the initial check. The foundation appears to favor sustained partnerships over one-time project grants, suggesting relationship building over years rather than transactional requests.
Community Revitalization Through Multiple Levers: The Lake City transformation demonstrates Moore's comprehensive approach—combining arts (ArtFields), infrastructure, education, and cultural initiatives. Projects that fit into broader community development strategies may be more compelling than isolated programs.
Quality Over Quantity: With only 34 grants made in 2024 despite assets exceeding $623 million, the foundation is highly selective. Each grant represents a strategic decision aligned with trustee priorities rather than responsive grantmaking to many applicants.

References

Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater Foundation profile, Cause IQ. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/darla-moore-and-richard-rainwater-foundation,273130736/ (Accessed December 2025)
Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater Foundation, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/273130736 (Accessed December 2025)
"Darla Moore," Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darla_Moore (Accessed December 2025)
"Darla Moore Foundation Commits $25 Million to Tech Education Center," Philanthropy News Digest. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/darla-moore-foundation-commits-25-million-to-tech-education-center (Accessed December 2025)
"Meeting Street Scholarship Fund Announces Expansion and Partnership with The Darla Moore Foundation," Meeting Street Scholarship Fund. https://meetingstreetscholarshipfund.org/meeting-street-scholarship-fund-announces-expansion-and-partnership-with-the-darla-moore-foundation/ (Accessed December 2025)
"Darla Moore Foundation Embraces South Carolina's Revolutionary War History," American Battlefield Trust. https://www.battlefields.org/news/darla-moore-foundation-embraces-south-carolinas-revolutionary-war-history (Accessed December 2025)
"South Carolina Liberty Trail receives $300,000 grant from the Darla Moore Foundation," SCNow. https://scnow.com/news/local/south-carolina-liberty-trail-receives-300-000-grant-from-the-darla-moore-foundation/article_d72b02c2-8291-11eb-a723-572663eaa0ef.html (Accessed December 2025)
"Darla Moore Uses Gardening and Art to Bring Artfields to Lake City," Discover South Carolina. https://discoversouthcarolina.com/articles/darla-moore-uses-gardening-and-art-to-bring-artfields-to-lake-city (Accessed December 2025)
"Darla Moore Speaks to Greenville Women Giving," Greenville Women Giving. https://www.greenvillewomengiving.org/darla-moore-speaks-to-greenville-women-giving/ (Accessed December 2025)
Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater Foundation, Foundation Directory (Candid). https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=DARL019 (Accessed December 2025)
Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater Foundation, GuideStar Profile. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/27-3130736 (Accessed December 2025)
"Darla Moore: From Lake City to Wall Street—And Back," Garden & Gun. https://gardenandgun.com/articles/darla-moore-lake-city-wall-street-back/ (Accessed December 2025)