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The Savannah Community Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$7.3M
Grant Range
$2K - $2.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,250,000+
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Immediate Needs grants typically under $1,500 (maximum $5,000); other grants range from $5,100 to $2,034,477
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily coastal Georgia, with some grants to organizations in North Carolina and Texas
  • Assets: $85,581,064

Contact Details

Website: https://www.savfoundation.org

Email: Grants@SavFoundation.org

Fax: 912-921-7700

Location: Savannah, GA

Overview

The Savannah Community Foundation was founded in 1956 as a "sister" corporation to the local United Way and reorganized in 1986 as a community foundation. With assets exceeding $85 million, the foundation distributes over $7.25 million annually to more than 250 charitable organizations. Operating as a Section 501(c)(3) public charity, the foundation invests in solutions to the area's civic, educational, health and human services, religious, and cultural challenges. The foundation's mission is to benefit donors, donees, and the community by providing a safe, simple, inexpensive, and tax-efficient vehicle for philanthropic capital formation, investment, and distribution to public charities. Much of the foundation's grant-making occurs through donor-advised funds, allowing donors to remain actively involved in charitable giving decisions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Immediate Needs Fund (Rolling basis)

  • Grant Range: Typically under $1,500; maximum $5,000 per grant
  • Maximum per organization: $5,000 total within any 12-month period
  • Application Method: Email, fax, or postal mail submissions accepted on rolling basis
  • Focus: Emergency needs and other unanticipated expenses

Other Grant Programs

  • Grant Range: $5,100 to $2,034,477 (based on recent awards)
  • Distribution: The foundation made 102 awards in 2024 and 88 awards in 2023
  • Application Method: Varies by fund; many grants distributed through donor-advised funds

Scholarship Programs

  • Multiple scholarships available for students in southeastern Georgia
  • Geographic focus: Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Bullock, Jasper, Liberty, Glynn counties in Georgia and Beaufort County (likely South Carolina)
  • Awards range from $1,000 to $2,500 annually
  • Examples include the Judge Phyllis Kravitch Scholarship ($2,500) and Junior League of Savannah Kids Who Care Scholarships (five $1,000 awards)

Priority Areas

  • Education: Scholarships for postsecondary education for southeastern Georgia residents; educational program support
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking: Supporting the infrastructure of charitable giving
  • Human Services: Programs addressing community needs and social services
  • Civic Engagement: Solutions to civic challenges in the community
  • Health: Healthcare access and health-related programs
  • Religious Organizations: Support for faith-based initiatives
  • Cultural Programs: Arts, culture, and historical preservation

What They Don't Fund

The Immediate Needs Fund specifically excludes:

  • Capital expenditures
  • Capital campaigns
  • Routine recurring expenses
  • Normal program expenses

Governance and Leadership

Officers

  • Robert L. McCorkle, III, Esq. - Chairman of the Board
  • K. Russell Simpson - President/Assistant Secretary
  • Kacey K. Ray - Vice President
  • Michael C. Traynor - Secretary
  • Jenny L. Gentry - Treasurer
  • John C. Helmken II - Assistant Treasurer

Board of Directors

  • Linda J. Evans
  • Jenny L. Gentry
  • John C. Helmken II
  • Ben Jones, Jr.
  • Stephen S. Leonard, CPA
  • Gennie G. Long, Esq.
  • Robert L. McCorkle, III, Esq.
  • James C. McCurry, Jr.
  • Kacey K. Ray
  • Stephen R. Rilee
  • Joyce M. Roche'
  • Philip Solomons, Jr.
  • Michael C. Traynor
  • R. Atys Mills, Esq. (Ex-officio - ELC President)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Savannah Community Foundation operates primarily through donor-advised funds, which means many grants are distributed based on donor recommendations rather than through a public competitive application process. However, the foundation does accept applications for certain programs:

Immediate Needs Fund Applications: Grant requests should be submitted via:

  • Email (preferred): Grants@SavFoundation.org
  • Fax: 912-921-7700
  • Postal mail: The Savannah Community Foundation, Inc., Savannah, GA

Scholarship Applications: Available through the foundation's scholarship portal at savfoundation.org/scholarships

Other Grant Opportunities: Many of the foundation's grants are distributed through donor-advised funds where individual donors or fund advisors recommend grant recipients. Organizations seeking funding beyond the Immediate Needs program may benefit from building relationships with community donors and fund advisors.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed and likely vary depending on the specific fund or grant program. The Immediate Needs Fund accepts rolling applications.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. The foundation made 102 awards in 2024 and 88 awards in 2023, supporting more than 250 charitable organizations annually with over $7.25 million in total grants.

Reapplication Policy

For the Immediate Needs Fund, organizations may receive up to $5,000 total within any 12-month period. Beyond this restriction, reapplication policies are not publicly specified.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's structure as a community foundation with significant donor-advised fund activity, success factors include:

Alignment with Foundation Mission: Projects should address civic, educational, health and human services, religious, or cultural challenges in coastal Georgia. The foundation seeks to invest in solutions to community needs.

Immediate Needs Fund Applicants: Focus on genuine emergency or unanticipated needs rather than routine expenses or capital projects. Keep requests modest (typically under $1,500) and clearly demonstrate why the need is immediate and couldn't have been anticipated.

Geographic Focus: Priority is given to organizations serving the southeast (coastal) area of Georgia, though the foundation has made grants in North Carolina and Texas.

501(c)(3) Status: Organizations must be qualified public charities eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

Clear Communication: Applications should be straightforward and submitted through the appropriate channel (email preferred for Immediate Needs grants).

Building Relationships: Since much of the foundation's grant-making occurs through donor-advised funds, organizations may benefit from building relationships with community donors and raising awareness of their work within the foundation's donor network.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Savannah Community Foundation distributes over $7.25 million annually, making it one of the largest philanthropic entities in coastal Georgia
  • Much of the foundation's grant-making occurs through donor-advised funds rather than competitive applications, so relationship-building with donors is valuable
  • The Immediate Needs Fund offers accessible small grants (typically under $1,500) for emergency or unanticipated expenses on a rolling basis
  • Geographic focus is primarily coastal Georgia, though the foundation has flexibility to fund beyond this area
  • The foundation supports a broad range of causes including education, human services, health, civic engagement, religious, and cultural programs
  • With 102 awards in 2024 and support to 250+ organizations annually, the foundation has significant reach in the community
  • Application processes vary by fund; the Immediate Needs Fund accepts applications via email, fax, or mail on a rolling basis

References

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