The Simpson Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation says it primarily makes contributions to worthy organisations in Greenville County, so a Greenville County organisation fits its stated priority most clearly, though its governing document does not limit giving to that area and its grants also go beyond it.
- Most of its grants are modest: half of its 86 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $5,000 and $200,000, so a request in that range is the realistic size, although its largest grant was $1,100,000.
- Submit a letter or written proposal before the April 1 or October 1 deadline, enclosing an IRS determination letter, a list of current board members and officers, and an operating budget.
- Its giving is heavily repeat: 97% of its grant dollars to organisations in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in one of its two earlier filings, so a first-time applicant should expect most of the money to go to returning recipients.
- Its grant record chiefly supports daily operations, with some scholarships, a small amount of general support and crisis disaster relief, so a request framed around operating needs matches that pattern best.
Overview
The Simpson Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, Comerica Bank, in Detroit, MI.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 13 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation says that contributions are primarily made to worthy organisations in the Greenville County community, while its governing document does not limit giving to that area. The grant record chiefly describes support for recipients’ daily operations, alongside scholarships and a small amount of general support and crisis disaster relief. The recipients include educational institutions and scholarship programmes, health providers, religious and charitable bodies, cultural and historic organisations, and community services. These records show a broad range of organisational recipients rather than a single named charitable field. The stated local emphasis sits alongside grants recorded for organisations beyond Greenville County.
Geographic Focus
Priority: Greenville County.
How to apply
Organisations may submit a request by letter or written proposal. The submission should include an IRS determination letter, a list of current board members and officers, and an operating budget.
Deadlines: April 1 and October 1 annually.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 97% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 86 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation primarily makes contributions to worthy organisations in Greenville County.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
2 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 35% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to organisations The Simpson Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 33 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Samaritans Purse · Support of daily operations$450,0002024 tax year
- Miracle Hill Ministries · Support of daily operations$400,0002024 tax year
- Brookgreen Gardens · Support of daily operations$250,0002024 tax year
- Converse College · Scholarship$170,0002024 tax year
- Presbyterian College Bonnie Blue Scholarship · Scholarship$150,0002024 tax year
- Anderson University · Support of daily operations$110,0002024 tax year
- Bon Secours Saint Francis Health Systems · Support of daily operations$100,0002024 tax year
- Law Enforcement Chaplaincy for South Carolina · Support of daily operations$65,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Clifton Schmitt — Board of Advisors
- William Kuhne — Board of Advisors
- Nell Rice — Board of Advisors
- Wilma Johnson — Board of Advisors
- Lucy S Kuhne — Board of Advisors
- Caroline Schmitt — Board of Advisors
- John Kuhne — Board of Advisors
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,252,665 | $1,876,000 | $32,981,452 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,950,555 | $1,671,000 | $36,551,759 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,399,702 | $2,070,000 | $37,201,755 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Simpson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (248) 732-6756
- Detroit, MI (office of its trustee, Comerica Bank)
Applying to The Simpson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (248) 732-6756
- Detroit, MI (office of its trustee, Comerica Bank)