Inspiring purposeful living and fostering thriving communities through learning, creativity, and innovation.
A large share of Furman University’s recent giving supports Greenville institutions through operating support and event sponsorships, with repeated grants to local cultural, civic, and athletic organizations. The university’s grantmaking also mirrors its academic mission: it funds student research, sustainability fellowships, teaching fellowships, entrepreneurship programs, and scholarships tied to admission and merit. In the recent-grants list, Upcountry History Museum received $100,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for operating support, showing a multi-year relationship rather than a one-time award. Greenville Arena District also received $75,000 in both years for sponsorship, while The Greenville Drive LLC received $50,000 in 2023 and $55,000 in 2024. Beyond those visible anchor grants, Furman University backs campus-based programs such as Summer Research Fellowships, the Shi Institute Summer Sustainability Fellowships, and the Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition. The pattern points to a funder that uses grants to reinforce the university’s academic environment and its connection to Greenville’s community life.
Furman University’s education-related giving includes student conference support for undergraduate research presentations, with awards of up to $2,000 per conference, and Summer Research Fellowships that provide stipends starting at $3,500 plus a housing discount. It also supports merit-based scholarships that are awarded automatically with admission. On the sustainability side, the Shi Institute Summer Sustainability Fellowships fund 10-week student projects on campus or with local businesses, nonprofits, or local governments in Upstate South Carolina. The entrepreneurship portfolio includes the Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition, which provides training, mentorship, and potential grant funding to founders and student ventures, and GVL Starts, which supports non-Furman founders through training and connections to seed or grant funding opportunities. Leadership development appears in the White-Riley-Peterson Fellows program, focused on afterschool, expanded learning, and education policy.
Furman University’s recent grants cluster around mid-sized awards: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $11,000, and the 75th percentile is $51,250. The top end is shaped by a small number of larger local awards, while many other grants sit at sponsorship-level amounts. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Upcountry History Museum, Greenville Arena District, The Greenville Drive LLC, Empire Mock Trial Association Inc, Greenville Arts Festival, Upstate Sc Alliance Inc, and Fall for Greenville. The foundation has a program-heavy structure, with active fellowships, scholarships, and competitions alongside sponsorship and operating support. Some opportunities accept unsolicited applications, including student conference support, the White-Riley-Peterson Fellows, the Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition, the Shi Institute Summer Sustainability Fellowships, Summer Research Fellowships, Teaching Fellowships, and GVL Starts.
$307K
$1.4B
$296.9M
$280.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $51K, with a median of $11K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$11K
75th Percentile
$51K
SUSAN MADDUX
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Furman University gives locally, with 90% of grants going to recipients in South Carolina and the top grant count in SC. Greenville, SC is the main recipient city in the recent grants list, appearing for Upcountry History Museum, Greenville Arena District, The Greenville Drive LLC, M Judson Booksellers, South Carolina Charities Inc, Upstate Sc Alliance Inc, Greenville Arts Festival, Our Upstate Sc, Fall for Greenville, and United Ministries Inc. Newberry, SC appears once through Venture Carolina, and Washington, DC appears through Empire Mock Trial Association Inc. All recent grants in the provided list went to U.S. recipients.
Recent grants show a strong mix of operating support and sponsorships, alongside program support for fellowships, scholarships, research, and entrepreneurship. The recent-grants table includes $100,000 operating support to Upcountry History Museum and multiple sponsorship awards to Greenville-area organizations.
Yes. It supports student conference presentations with travel and registration funding up to $2,000 per conference, Summer Research Fellowships with stipends starting at $3,500, and a 10-week sustainability fellowship that pays $4,000.
Active programs include undergraduate research, sustainability, entrepreneurship, leadership development in afterschool and education policy, teaching and mentorship, and student aid through merit-based scholarships. The Hill Institute and the Shi Institute appear in multiple program descriptions.
It is highly local: 90% of grants go to recipients in South Carolina, and the provided recent-grants list shows only U.S. recipients. Greenville, SC appears repeatedly as the recipient city across cultural, civic, and community organizations.
Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including Student Conference Support, White-Riley-Peterson Fellows, the Rinker Paladin Pitch Competition, Shi Institute Summer Sustainability Fellowships, Summer Research Fellowships, Teaching Fellowships, and GVL Starts. Merit-Based Scholarships are awarded automatically with admission.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Furman University that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Targets community founders and early-stage ventures in the Greenville area. Specific eligibility and any funding opportunities are defined by program cycles and partner organizations.
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GREENVILLE ARENA DISTRICT | GREENVILLE, SC | $78,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| THE GREENVILLE DRIVE LLC | GREENVILLE, SC | $60,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| UPCOUNTRY HISTORY MUSEUM | GREENVILLE, SC | $50,000 | 2026 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GREATER GREENVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | GREENVILLE, SC | $35,350 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| EMPIRE MOCK TRIAL ASSOCIATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| PRISMA HEALTH - UPSTATE | ATLANTA, GA | $13,397 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| UPSTATE SC ALLIANCE INC | GREENVILLE, SC | $11,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| CITY OF GREENVILLE SC | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| GREENVILLE ARTS FESTIVAL | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| OUR UPSTATE SC | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| FALL FOR GREENVILLE | GREENVILLE, SC | $7,500 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| UNITED MINISTRIES INC | GREENVILLE, SC | $6,650 | 2026 | SPONSORSHIP |
| UPCOUNTRY HISTORY MUSEUM | GREENVILLE, SC | $75,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GREENVILLE ARENA DISTRICT | GREENVILLE, SC | $75,000 | 2025 | SPONSORSHIP |
| THE GREENVILLE DRIVE LLC | GREENVILLE, SC | $60,000 | 2025 | SPONSORSHIP |
| EMPIRE MOCK TRIAL ASSOCIATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | SPONSORSHIP |
| VENTURESOUTH CAPITAL LLC | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | SPONSORSHIP |
| GREENVILLE ARTS FESTIVAL | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | SPONSORSHIP |
| OUR UPSTATE SC | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | SPONSORSHIP |
| FALL FOR GREENVILLE | GREENVILLE, SC | $7,500 | 2025 | SPONSORSHIP |
| UPSTATE SC ALLIANCE INC | GREENVILLE, SC | $5,500 | 2025 | SPONSORSHIP |
| UPCOUNTRY HISTORY MUSEUM | GREENVILLE, SC | $100,000 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GREENVILLE ARENA DISTRICT | GREENVILLE, SC | $75,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP |
| THE GREENVILLE DRIVE LLC | GREENVILLE, SC | $55,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP |
| EMPIRE MOCK TRIAL ASSOCIATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP |
| SOUTH CAROLINA CHARITIES INC | GREENVILLE, SC | $12,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP |
| OUR UPSTATE SC | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP |
| GREENVILLE ARTS FESTIVAL | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP |
| UPSTATE SC ALLIANCE INC | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP |
| FALL FOR GREENVILLE | GREENVILLE, SC | $7,500 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP |
| UNITED MINISTRIES INC | GREENVILLE, SC | $6,695 | 2024 | SPONSORSHIP |
| UPCOUNTRY HISTORY MUSEUM | GREENVILLE, SC | $100,000 | 2023 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GREENVILLE ARENA DISTRICT | GREENVILLE, SC | $75,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP |
| THE GREENVILLE DRIVE LLC | GREENVILLE, SC | $50,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP |
| EMPIRE MOCK TRIAL ASSOCIATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $30,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP |
| M JUDSON BOOKSELLERS | GREENVILLE, SC | $25,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP |
| UPSTATE SC ALLIANCE INC | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP |
| GREENVILLE ARTS FESTIVAL | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP |
| VENTURE CAROLINA | NEWBERRY, SC | $10,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP |
| FALL FOR GREENVILLE | GREENVILLE, SC | $7,500 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP |
| SOUTH CAROLINA CHARITIES | GREENVILLE, SC | $6,000 | 2023 | SPONSORSHIP |
GREENVILLE ARENA DISTRICT
$78,000SPONSORSHIP
THE GREENVILLE DRIVE LLC
$60,000SPONSORSHIP
GREATER GREENVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$35,350SPONSORSHIP
EMPIRE MOCK TRIAL ASSOCIATION INC
$15,000SPONSORSHIP
SPONSORSHIP
UPSTATE SC ALLIANCE INC
$11,000SPONSORSHIP
CITY OF GREENVILLE SC
$10,000SPONSORSHIP
OUR UPSTATE SC
$10,000SPONSORSHIP
FALL FOR GREENVILLE
$7,500SPONSORSHIP
GREENVILLE ARENA DISTRICT
$75,000SPONSORSHIP
THE GREENVILLE DRIVE LLC
$60,000SPONSORSHIP
EMPIRE MOCK TRIAL ASSOCIATION INC
$15,000SPONSORSHIP
VENTURESOUTH CAPITAL LLC
$10,000SPONSORSHIP
OUR UPSTATE SC
$10,000SPONSORSHIP
FALL FOR GREENVILLE
$7,500SPONSORSHIP
UPSTATE SC ALLIANCE INC
$5,500SPONSORSHIP
GREENVILLE ARENA DISTRICT
$75,000SPONSORSHIP
THE GREENVILLE DRIVE LLC
$55,000SPONSORSHIP
EMPIRE MOCK TRIAL ASSOCIATION INC
$15,000SPONSORSHIP
SOUTH CAROLINA CHARITIES INC
$12,000SPONSORSHIP
OUR UPSTATE SC
$10,000SPONSORSHIP
UPSTATE SC ALLIANCE INC
$10,000SPONSORSHIP
FALL FOR GREENVILLE
$7,500SPONSORSHIP
GREENVILLE ARENA DISTRICT
$75,000SPONSORSHIP
THE GREENVILLE DRIVE LLC
$50,000SPONSORSHIP
EMPIRE MOCK TRIAL ASSOCIATION INC
$30,000SPONSORSHIP
M JUDSON BOOKSELLERS
$25,000SPONSORSHIP
UPSTATE SC ALLIANCE INC
$10,000SPONSORSHIP
VENTURE CAROLINA
$10,000SPONSORSHIP
FALL FOR GREENVILLE
$7,500SPONSORSHIP
SOUTH CAROLINA CHARITIES
$6,000SPONSORSHIP
