The Guffey Family Foundation concentrates on a small number of large, unrestricted gifts, primarily to independent K–12 schools, colleges/universities, and a few civic/cultural and children’s health institutions. Much of the support appears focused on Charleston-area independent schools and cultural institutions, but the foundation also makes substantial one-off grants to higher education and major health nonprofits. Grants are provided as general operating or unrestricted support, signaling trust in grantee leadership and interest in long-term institutional stability.
A clear pattern in Guffey Family Foundation grantmaking is its willingness to make very large unrestricted gifts to a small set of institutions over multiple years. The foundation’s largest recent awards went to Porter-Gaud Foundation, William Marsh Rice University, and Ashley Hall Foundation, each receiving seven-figure support in 2025. That mix points to a funder that backs independent schools and higher education alongside a handful of civic, cultural, and youth-serving nonprofits. The Charleston area stands out in the recent record. Porter-Gaud Foundation, Ashley Hall Foundation, Compass Collegiate Academy, Charleston Promise Neighborhood, and the International African American Museum all received support, often as general operating or unrestricted grants. Those gifts sit alongside substantial support for institutions outside South Carolina, including Rice University in Houston and The Nemours Foundation in Jacksonville. The foundation’s approach appears institutional rather than individual or project-based. Most awards are described as unrestricted general support, with occasional support for a benefit event and faith-based programming. Recent grantees also include schools, museums, child advocacy groups, and children’s health organizations, showing a preference for organizations with durable operating needs and long-term missions.
Independent education is a major theme. In 2025, Guffey Family Foundation gave $1,321,450 to Porter-Gaud Foundation and $1,120,000 to Ashley Hall Foundation, both in Charleston, and also supported Compass Collegiate Academy with $75,000. Higher education appears as another distinct lane. The foundation awarded $1,200,000 to William Marsh Rice University for unrestricted general support and gave $333,333 to College of Charleston Foundation. It also backs cultural and youth-serving work. The International African American Museum received $250,000 in both 2023 and 2025, while Charleston Promise Neighborhood received $40,000 in 2025 and Communities in Schools of South Carolina received $20,000. Children’s health and child welfare show up too, including $163,914 to The Nemours Foundation and $50,000 to Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center.
Typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent record also includes several much larger institutional gifts. The pattern suggests a mix of smaller awards and a few outsized commitments. Grants appear to recur for some recipients across years, including multiple awards to organizations such as the International African American Museum, The Nemours Foundation, Ashley Hall Foundation, Porter-Gaud Foundation, and Compass Collegiate Academy. The foundation gives as a family foundation and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Most awards are unrestricted general support, with one recent grant described as support for a fall benefit.
$5M
$7.3M
$820K
$5.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in SC.
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving: a few large, unrestricted grants per year with repeat support to select institutions. Funding is relationship-driven and institutional (not project-specific), with several multi-grant recipients.
Notable grantees: Porter-Gaud Foundation, Ashley Hall Foundation, International African American Museum, William Marsh Rice University, The Nemours Foundation
Guffey Family Foundation gives nationally, and all recent grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients. Charleston, South Carolina is the clearest hub, with multiple awards going to organizations there and nearby North Charleston. New York City also appears repeatedly as a grant recipient location, alongside Houston, Jacksonville, Virginia Beach, San Diego, Columbia, and Carrollton. Although the foundation is headquartered in Pennington, New Jersey, none of the recent grants in the data were made to recipients in New Jersey.
The recent grants show support for independent schools, colleges and universities, museums and cultural organizations, child advocacy groups, children’s health nonprofits, and a small number of faith-based program grants. Examples in the data include schools in Charleston, higher education institutions in Texas and South Carolina, and children’s health and advocacy organizations in Florida and South Carolina.
The grant-size distribution is centered at $10,000 for the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes much larger gifts, including seven-figure awards to schools and a university.
Yes. The recent grant list shows repeat support across years for several organizations, including the International African American Museum in 2023 and 2025, The Nemours Foundation in 2023 and 2025, Ashley Hall Foundation in 2023 and 2025, Porter-Gaud Foundation in 2023 and 2025, and Compass Collegiate Academy in 2023 and 2025.
The foundation gives nationally, and every grant in the provided dataset went to a U.S. recipient. Charleston, South Carolina appears frequently in the recent grants, with New York City also showing up multiple times, along with Houston, Jacksonville, Virginia Beach, San Diego, Columbia, Carrollton, and North Charleston.
Most of the recent grants are labeled unrestricted general support, indicating a preference for operating support. One grant is described as support for a fall benefit, and another as support for FBO PS 91X programs.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PORTER-GAUD FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $1,321,450 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY | HOUSTON, TX | $1,200,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| ASHLEY HALL FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $1,120,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON FOUNDATION | CARROLLTON, TX | $333,333 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM | CHARLESTON, SC | $250,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| THE NEMOURS FOUNDATION | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $163,914 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| COMPASS COLLEGIATE ACADEMY | CHARLESTON, SC | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| WINGS FOR KIDS | CHARLESTON, SC | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| METANOIA | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DEE NORTON CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER | CHARLESTON, SC | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| THE JAHANGIR RAHMAN AND LAUREN SHAFFER FDN | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | FBO PS 91X PROGRAMS IN |
| KIDS ON POINT | CHARLESTON, SC | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHARLESTON PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD | CHARLESTON, SC | $40,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF SOUTH CAROLINA | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| NEW MORNING | COLUMBIA, SC | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF CHARLESTON | CHARLESTON, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA INC | CHARLESTON, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GAILLARD PERFORMANCE HALL FDN | CHARLESTON, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| FRESH AIR FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT 2018 FALL BENEFIT |
| HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DOORS TO FREEDOM | SUMMERVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE | MONTGOMERY, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHARLESTON LIBRARY SOCIETY | CHARLESTON, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MIDDLETON PLACE FDN | CHARLESTON, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| DRAYTON HALL PRES TRUST | CHARLESTON, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| WOMENS RIGHTS AND EMPOWERMENT NETWORK | COLUMBIA, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CAROLINA ART ASSOCIATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CAROLINA ABORTION FUND | DURHAM, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CAPE HENRY COLLEGIATE SCHOOL | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHARLESTON PARKS CONSERVANCY | CHARLESTON, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHARLESTON WATERKEEPER | MOUNT PLEASANT, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM | CHARLESTON, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | NORFOLK, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SOUTH CARLONIA COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE INC | CHARLESTON, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHARLESTON LITERARY FESTIVAL | CHARLESTON, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| LOW COUNTRY LAND TRUST INC | CHARLESTON, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| BIRTHDAY BUDS | SULLVIVANS ISLAND, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| OCEAN PARK VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | CHARLESTON, SC | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| VILLAGE GROUP | GEORGETOWN, SC | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHARLESTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CHARLESTON, SC | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MT PLEASANT SOCCER BOOSTER CLUB | MT PLEASANT, SC | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| CHARLESTON STAGE COMPANY | CHARLESTON, SC | $1,720 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| WARRIORS HEALING NETWORK | RAVENEL, SC | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM | CHARLESTON, SC | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
PORTER-GAUD FOUNDATION
$1,321,450UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON FOUNDATION
$333,333UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
COMPASS COLLEGIATE ACADEMY
$75,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
THE JAHANGIR RAHMAN AND LAUREN SHAFFER FDN
$50,000FBO PS 91X PROGRAMS IN
SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA INC
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
GAILLARD PERFORMANCE HALL FDN
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
FRESH AIR FUND
$10,000SUPPORT 2018 FALL BENEFIT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
DRAYTON HALL PRES TRUST
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CAROLINA ART ASSOCIATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CHARLESTON PARKS CONSERVANCY
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
SOUTH CARLONIA COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
CHARLESTON LITERARY FESTIVAL
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
LOW COUNTRY LAND TRUST INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
BIRTHDAY BUDS
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
OCEAN PARK VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
MT PLEASANT SOCCER BOOSTER CLUB
$2,500UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
WARRIORS HEALING NETWORK
$1,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL