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The Graham Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.4M
Grant Range
$13K - $0.6M

The Graham Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,356,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $13,000 - $640,000
  • Geographic Focus: Upstate South Carolina (primarily Greenville County), with some grants in North Carolina and Florida

Contact Details

  • Address: PO Box 26179, Greenville, SC 29616-1179
  • EIN: 57-0805774
  • Website: www.thegrahamfoundation.org
  • Phone: Not publicly listed
  • Email: Not publicly listed

Overview

The Graham Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1985 in South Carolina and tax-exempt since June 1986. Founded by Greenville native Alan J. Graham and his family, the foundation has grown to hold assets of approximately $47.3 million as of 2023. The foundation serves upstate South Carolina by investing in initiatives that inspire, nurture, and empower people to pursue growth and improvement in their own lives and within their families, neighborhoods, and communities. The foundation operates with a distinctive model, working with a small number of select grantees on intensive, long-term capacity-building projects rather than accepting unsolicited applications. In 2023, the foundation distributed $2,356,000 across 12 grants to organizations working in the arts, children's welfare, community development, education, the environment, and religion.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Graham Foundation makes directed grants only, with amounts varying significantly based on project needs:

  • Operational Support Grants: Range from $13,000 to $640,000
  • Capital/Endowment Campaigns: Preferred grant type for specific, contained needs
  • Temporary/Restricted Operating Support: Available for supplemental budget support

The foundation awards approximately 12 grants annually with a median grant size of approximately $85,000.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on six primary areas:

  • Arts: Supporting cultural institutions and arts programming
  • Children: Programs benefiting children's welfare and development
  • Community Welfare: Initiatives that strengthen communities
  • Education: Educational programs and institutions
  • Environment: Environmental conservation and sustainability projects
  • Religion: Faith-based community initiatives

The foundation prefers grants focused on needs that are specific and contained, such as capital or endowment campaigns, and temporary or restricted supplemental support to operating budgets.

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly documented. However, the foundation's focus on upstate South Carolina means organizations outside this geographic area are unlikely to be considered.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of most recent filings):

  • William A. Bridges
  • Susan R. Lambert
  • Stephen Lambert

The foundation operates as a private family foundation established by Alan J. Graham and his family, maintaining close oversight of its grantmaking through a small board of trustees.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Graham Foundation makes directed grants only and does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees based on their strategic priorities and relationships with organizations making a significant difference in upstate South Carolina.

Getting on Their Radar

The Graham Foundation has a very deliberate approach to identifying grantees, working with a small number of select organizations on intensive, long-term capacity-building projects. Based on their grant history, the foundation appears to:

  • Build long-term relationships with organizations already making significant impact in Greenville and upstate South Carolina
  • Focus on organizations with established track records in their priority areas (arts, children, community welfare, education, environment, and religion)
  • Support organizations where strategic, multi-year investments can produce substantial community impact

Grant recipients have included well-established regional organizations such as Metropolitan Arts Council, Peacehaven Community Farm, and Second Breath Center, suggesting the foundation seeks out proven organizations with strong community ties.

Decision Timeline

The foundation's decision-making timeline is not publicly disclosed, as grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than a formal application cycle.

Success Rates

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

Reapplication Policy

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

Application Success Factors

Since the Graham Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on their documented grantmaking patterns, organizations that receive funding from the Graham Foundation share these characteristics:

  • Established Community Presence: Grant recipients are typically well-known organizations with proven track records in Greenville and upstate South Carolina
  • Alignment with Priority Areas: All funded organizations work within the foundation's six focus areas (arts, children, community welfare, education, environment, religion)
  • Capacity for Long-term Partnerships: The foundation explicitly works on "intensive, long-term capacity-building projects," suggesting they seek organizations ready for sustained engagement
  • Specific, Contained Needs: The foundation prefers to support "needs which are specific and contained," such as capital campaigns or restricted operating support
  • Significant Community Impact: Recipients are organizations "that make a significant difference for the betterment of residents of Greenville and upstate South Carolina"

Recent grant recipients (2023) include Metropolitan Arts Council ($250,000), Peacehaven Community Farm ($500,000), Second Breath Center ($640,000), The Long Walk Home ($234,000), Conestee Foundation ($71,000), Upstate Circle of Friends ($35,000), and Artisphere ($13,000).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: The Graham Foundation operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry
  • Long-term, Strategic Partnerships: The foundation focuses on intensive, multi-year capacity-building relationships rather than one-off grants
  • Substantial Grant Sizes: With a median grant of $85,000 and grants ranging up to $640,000, this is a significant funder when they do engage
  • Geographic Focus: Strong preference for Greenville County and upstate South Carolina, with occasional grants to NC and FL
  • Limited Portfolio: With only 12 grants annually from $2.4 million in giving, the foundation maintains a very focused grantee portfolio
  • Trustee-Directed: Funding decisions are made by a small board of trustees based on strategic priorities rather than competitive application processes
  • Diverse but Focused: While covering six priority areas, all funding aims to inspire, nurture, and empower people in their local communities

References

All sources accessed January 2026.

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