The Ivester Foundation concentrates philanthropic resources in Georgia on education across the spectrum—from K–12 innovation and early college pathways to university scholarships and academic program strengthening—while also supporting children’s informal learning through civic cultural institutions. Their grants are predominantly capital and program support gifts that create access to higher education and experiential learning opportunities for youth, often tied to specific facilities or named initiatives.
A defining feature of Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation Inc is its long-running support for the Howard E. Ivester Early College effort in Hall County, including a $1,300,000 grant in 2024 and a $1,000,000 grant in 2025 for the North Campus. That pattern points to a funder that commits heavily to education programs with named facilities, partnerships, and school-to-college pathways. The foundation’s giving also reaches beyond K–12 into higher education and campus-based learning. Brenau University received multiple large grants, including $550,000 in 2025 for the Ivester College of Health Sciences and $250,000 in 2024 for the athletic department. The University of Georgia Foundation also appears repeatedly through scholarship and study abroad support. In addition, the foundation backs children’s informal learning and local educational access through institutions such as the Atlanta Botanical Garden and the Northeast Georgia History Center. Across the recent grants list, the pattern is centered on Georgia and on gifts that strengthen specific programs, facilities, and student opportunities rather than broad unrestricted support.
In early college and dual-enrollment work, the foundation gave $100,000 in 2025 to Hall County School District for the Howard E. Ivester Early College/UGA Partnership, alongside other Hall County school investments tied to learning commons and teacher recognition. That focus shows sustained support for K–16 pathways in Gainesville and Hall County. Higher education is another clear theme. The University of Georgia Foundation received $524,000 in 2024 for University of Georgia Scholarships and Study Abroad Programs, followed by $145,000 in 2025 for the same general purpose and an additional $8,000 in 2025 for Scholarship-CAES Massey/Ivester Foundation. Brenau University received $140,000 in 2025 for an endowed scholarship and $112,500 in 2025 for Brenau University Scholarships. The foundation also supports health sciences and informal learning. Brenau University received $550,000 in 2025 for the Ivester College of Health Sciences, while the Atlanta Botanical Garden received $700,000 in 2025 for Childrens Garden and Orchard Parking.
$2.9M
$78.6M
$17.8M
$3.7M
Most grants fall between $40K and $524K, with a median of $58K.
25th Percentile
$40K
Median
$58K
75th Percentile
$524K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving with a small number of large multi-year or repeat grants; mix of capital/facility funding and program support; strong geographic focus on Georgia (notably Hall County and Atlanta) and recurring support to a handful of preferred institutions.
Notable grantees: Hall County School District, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Brenau University, University of Georgia Foundation
Typical grant size sits at $40,000 at the 25th percentile, $58,200 at the median, and $524,000 at the 75th percentile, showing a mix of mid-sized awards and occasional large capital or program gifts. The recent grants list shows repeat recipients across multiple years, especially Hall County School District, Brenau University, the University of Georgia Foundation, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The foundation gives as a private foundation with a local geographic scope, and the available data shows grants only in Georgia. The profile also indicates that it funds individuals, alongside institutions.
Grantmaking is concentrated in Georgia, with 100% of recent grants going to recipients in the state. Gainesville appears often through Hall County School District, Brenau University, Gainesville City School System, Northeast Georgia History Center, Theatre Wings Endowment Fund, Sisu of Georgia, and Lake Lanier Olympic Park Foundation. Athens appears through the University of Georgia Foundation, and Atlanta appears through the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The pattern is strongly local rather than multi-state.
The foundation supports school districts, universities, cultural institutions, and local nonprofit programs. Recent grants went to Hall County School District, Brenau University, the University of Georgia Foundation, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Northeast Georgia History Center, and Gainesville City School System.
Education is central, especially early college and dual-enrollment programs, scholarships and study abroad, health sciences program strengthening, teacher recognition, and informal learning for children. The recent grants also include facility and campus investments tied to parking, learning commons, and athletic or recreation spaces.
Yes. The recipient country distribution shows all 30 recent grants in the US, and the state-level pattern is entirely Georgia, with 100% of grants going to recipients in GA.
Yes. Hall County School District, Brenau University, the University of Georgia Foundation, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden each appear more than once across the recent grants list, including gifts in both 2024 and 2025 for some recipients.
The grant-size distribution is $40,000 at the 25th percentile, $58,200 at the median, and $524,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from small $2,500 grants to six-figure and seven-figure gifts for schools, universities, and facilities.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hall County School District | Gainesville, GA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Howard E. IvesterEarly CollegeNorth Campus |
| Atlanta Botanical Garden | Atlanta, GA | $700,000 | 2025 | Childrens Gardenand Orchard Parking |
| Brenau University | Gainesville, GA | $550,000 | 2025 | Ivester CollegeOf Health Sciences |
| University of Georgia Foundation | Athens, GA | $145,000 | 2025 | UGA Scholarhipsand Study AbroadPrograms |
| Brenau University | Gainesville, GA | $140,000 | 2025 | Endowed Scholarhship Barnett/Skleder |
| Brenau University | Gainesville, GA | $112,500 | 2025 | Brenau UniversityScholarships |
| Hall County School District | Gainesville, GA | $100,000 | 2025 | Howard E. IvesterEarly College/UGA Partnership |
| Hall County School District | Gainesville, GA | $100,000 | 2025 | Learning Commons |
| Hall County School District | Gainesville, GA | $25,000 | 2025 | Hall County SchoolDistrict Teacherof Year Program |
| Gainesville City School System | Gainesville, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | City of GainesvilleTeacher ofYear Program |
| University of Georgia Foundation | Athens, GA | $8,000 | 2025 | Scholarship-CAESMassey/Ivester Foundation |
| Theatre Wings Endowment Fund | Gainesville, GA | $3,500 | 2025 | Production Sponsorship |
| Lake Lanier Olympic Park Foundation | Gainesville, GA | $2,500 | 2025 | Lake Lanier OlympicPark ProjectInvestments |
| Hall County School District | Gainesville, GA | $1,300,000 | 2024 | Howard E. IvesterEarly College |
| University of Georgia Foundation | Athens, GA | $524,000 | 2024 | University of Georgia Scholarships and Study Abroad Programs |
| Brenau University | Gainesville, GA | $250,000 | 2024 | Brenau UniversityAthletic Department |
| Hall County School Disrict | Gainesville, GA | $110,000 | 2024 | Learning Commons &Emotional Distress |
| Hall County School District | Gainesville, GA | $58,200 | 2024 | Hall County SchoolDistrict Teacherof Year Program |
| Northeast Georgia History Center | Gainesville, GA | $50,000 | 2024 | AMI Education Center |
| Brenau University | Gainesville, GA | $50,000 | 2024 | Endowed Scholarhship |
| Brenau University | Gainesville, GA | $40,000 | 2024 | Darby Scholars Program |
| Gainesville City School System | Gainesville, GA | $13,400 | 2024 | City of GainesvilleTeacher ofYear Program |
| Theatre Wings Endowment Fund | Gainesville, GA | $3,500 | 2024 | Production Sponsorhip |
| Sisu of Georgia | Gainesville, GA | $2,500 | 2024 | Integrated Early Learning |
| Hall County School District | Gainesville, GA | $706,000 | 2023 | Howard E. IvesterEarly College |
| Atlanta Botanical Garden | Atlanta, GA | $650,000 | 2023 | Vineyard andOrchard Parking |
| Brenau University | Gainesville, GA | $550,000 | 2023 | Strengthen University'sHealth Sciences programs |
| University of Georgia Foundation | Athens, GA | $76,000 | 2023 | University of Georgia Scholarship |
| Hall County School District | Gainesville, GA | $50,000 | 2023 | Hall County SchoolDistrict Teacherof Year Program |
| Gainesville City School System | Gainesville, GA | $20,000 | 2023 | Gainesville CitySchool System TeacherOf Year Program |
Hall County School District
$1,000,000Howard E. IvesterEarly CollegeNorth Campus
Hall County School District
$100,000Howard E. IvesterEarly College/UGA Partnership
Hall County School District
$100,000Learning Commons
Hall County School District
$25,000Hall County SchoolDistrict Teacherof Year Program
Gainesville City School System
$10,000City of GainesvilleTeacher ofYear Program
Theatre Wings Endowment Fund
$3,500Production Sponsorship
Lake Lanier Olympic Park Foundation
$2,500Lake Lanier OlympicPark ProjectInvestments
Hall County School District
$1,300,000Howard E. IvesterEarly College
University of Georgia Foundation
$524,000University of Georgia Scholarships and Study Abroad Programs
Hall County School Disrict
$110,000Learning Commons &Emotional Distress
Hall County School District
$58,200Hall County SchoolDistrict Teacherof Year Program
Northeast Georgia History Center
$50,000AMI Education Center
Gainesville City School System
$13,400City of GainesvilleTeacher ofYear Program
Theatre Wings Endowment Fund
$3,500Production Sponsorhip
Sisu of Georgia
$2,500Integrated Early Learning
Hall County School District
$706,000Howard E. IvesterEarly College
Hall County School District
$50,000Hall County SchoolDistrict Teacherof Year Program
Gainesville City School System
$20,000Gainesville CitySchool System TeacherOf Year Program