The Michael J Mungo Foundation concentrates large, local gifts in the Midlands of South Carolina, prioritizing community infrastructure and institutions. Its funding emphasizes operating and program support for regional community foundations, United Way, and higher education (notably USC), plus investments in local parks/green-space projects such as Saluda Shoals Park/Michael's Garden. Grants are substantial and repeat to a small set of organizations, indicating long-term relationships with community anchor institutions.
A recurring pattern defines the Michael J Mungo Foundation: large local gifts to Midlands institutions that anchor community services, education, and public green space. The most distinctive example is its Saluda Shoals Park/Michael's Garden support, which appears in multiple years through the Central Carolina Community Foundation, including a $791,000 grant in 2023 and a $350,000 grant in 2024. That same long-term style shows up in operating support for Central Carolina Community Foundation and the United Way of the Midlands, plus funding for the University of South Carolina Educational Foundation. The foundation’s recent activity also reaches into health and housing, with gifts to American Cancer Society, Lexington Medical Center Foundation, Providence Home, and Midlands Housing Alliance. Grants in the file are substantial rather than token awards, and several recipients recur across years, suggesting sustained relationships with a small group of local anchors. Its giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in South Carolina, with Columbia-area organizations appearing often in the recent grant list. The pattern points to a foundation that favors institutional support, community infrastructure, and projects with visible local impact.
In community infrastructure, the foundation backed Saluda Shoals Park/Michael's Garden through Central Carolina Community Foundation with $791,000 in 2023 and $350,000 in 2024. For broad community services, it gave $410,000 in 2024 and $360,000 in 2025 to United Way of the Midlands, including a 2024 grant labeled Humanitarian of Year/Operating Costs. Education is another clear thread: the USC Educational Foundation received $430,000 in 2025 for operating costs and $280,000 in 2024 for teaching awards. Health-related grants also appear in the recent record, including $150,000 in 2025 to American Cancer Society for operating costs and $100,000 in 2025 to Lexington Medical Center Foundation for operating costs.
Typical awards sit in the mid five figures: p25 is $5,000, median is $15,000, and p75 is $30,000. The recent grant list shows a much larger cluster of institutional gifts above that range, reflecting a separate set of anchor relationships rather than one-off small awards. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Central Carolina Community Foundation, USC Educational Foundation, United Way of the Midlands, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Providence Home, and Hammond School. The foundation funds organizations rather than individuals and does not make program-related investments. The file shows local giving with a strong repeat-grantee pattern.
$2.6M
$34.4M
$5.2M
$3M
Most grants fall between $5K and $30K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$30K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants with repeat funding to a small number of local anchor organizations; primarily multi-year or recurring operating/program support rather than many one-off small gifts.
Notable grantees: Central Carolina Community Foundation, USC Educational Foundation, United Way of the Midlands, Saluda Shoals Park / Michael's Garden (project funded through local foundation)
Grant activity is concentrated in South Carolina, which accounts for 98% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Columbia is the main recipient city in the recent list, with grants also reaching West Columbia, Cayce, Blythewood, and Irmo. Outside South Carolina, the recent record includes Charlotte, North Carolina, and Boone, North Carolina. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 138 grants in the United States.
The recent record centers on community foundations, United Way-style social service organizations, higher education, parks and green space, housing, and health-related nonprofits. Examples include Central Carolina Community Foundation, United Way of the Midlands, USC Educational Foundation, and Providence Home.
It funds both. The recent grants include operating costs for Central Carolina Community Foundation, USC Educational Foundation, United Way of the Midlands, and several health and housing nonprofits, along with project-based support such as Saluda Shoals Park/Michael's Garden and capital campaign gifts to Providence Home and Our Place of Hope.
The distribution is relatively modest at the lower end, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $15,000, and a p75 of $30,000. Recent awards also include much larger institutional grants, showing that the foundation makes both smaller and substantial commitments.
Nearly all recent grants go to South Carolina recipients: 98% of grants are in the foundation’s HQ state, and South Carolina is also the top state by grant count. Columbia appears repeatedly, alongside West Columbia, Cayce, Blythewood, and Irmo.
Yes. Multiple organizations show up across more than one year, including Central Carolina Community Foundation, USC Educational Foundation, United Way of the Midlands, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Providence Home, and Hammond School. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY FOUNDATI | COLUMBIA, SC | $500,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| USC EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA, SC | $430,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| UNITED WAY OF THE MIDLANDS | COLUMBIA, SC | $360,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | CHARLOTTE, NC | $150,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| HOMELESS NO MORE | COLUMBIA, SC | $135,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| FREE MEDICAL CLINIC | COLUMBIA, SC | $125,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE | BOONE, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | WEST COLUMBIA, SC | $100,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| PROVIDENCE HOME | COLUMBIA, SC | $75,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| HAMMOND SCHOOL | COLUMBIA, SC | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| PALMETTO PROJECT | COLUMBIA, SC | $45,500 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| COLUMBIA URBAN LEAGUE | COLUMBIA, SC | $35,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| UNIVERSAL COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT | IRMO, SC | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| WELVISTA | COLUMBIA, SC | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| MISSION LEXINGTON | LEXINGTON, SC | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF THE MIDLANDS | COLUMBIA, SC | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| OUR PLACE OF HOPE | CAYCE, SC | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| MIDLANDS HOUSING ALLIANCE | COLUMBIA, SC | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| OLIVER GOSPEL MISSION | COLUMBIA, SC | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| HOMEWORKS OF AMERICA | COLUMBIA, SC | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| PALMETTO FDTN FOR PREV AND RECREATI | CHAPIN, SC | $20,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD | COLUMBIA, SC | $20,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| THE WOMEN'S SHELTER | COLUMBIA, SC | $15,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| PAWMETTO LIFELINE | COLUMBIA, SC | $15,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| COLUMBIA MUSEUM OF ART | COLUMBIA, SC | $15,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| SHARING GOD'S LOVE | IRMO, SC | $15,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| IRMO FUTURE GROWTH CORP | IRMO, SC | $12,500 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| CAROLINA WILDLIFE CARE | COLUMBIA, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | COLUMBIA, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| RIVERBANKS SOCIETY | COLUMBIA, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| EDVENTURE | COLUMBIA, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| CHAPIN LITTLE THEATER | CHAPIN, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| CMFA | COLUMBIA, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| MADELYN'S FUND | CHARLOTTE, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| LEEZA'S CARE CONNECTION | COLUMBIA, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| YOUNGS CHAPEL AME CHURCH | IRMO, SC | $7,800 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| IRMO ARBOR DAY | WEST COLUMBIA, SC | $7,275 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| MIDLANDS TECH COLLEGE FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| ST MARY'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH | COLUMBIA, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| SISTERCARE | CAYCE, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| DICKERSON CHILDREN'S ADV CTR | LEXINGTON, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| RECONCILIATION MINISTRIES | COLUMBIA, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| PARKS AND RECREATION FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA, SC | $1,500 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| TRI-CITY VISIONARIES | GADSDEN, SC | $1,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| LEXINGTON DISTRICT 1 ED FOUNDATION | LEXINGTON, SC | $1,000 | 2025 | OPERATING COSTS |
| UNITED WAY OF THE MIDLANDS | COLUMBIA, SC | $410,000 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN OF YEAR/OPERATING COSTS |
| CENTRAL CAROLINA COMM FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA, SC | $350,000 | 2024 | SALUDA SHOALS PARK/MICHAEL'S GARDEN |
| USC EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA, SC | $280,000 | 2024 | TEACHING AWARDS |
| HARVEST HOPE FOOD BANK | COLUMBIA, SC | $125,000 | 2024 | OPERATING COSTS |
| THE FREE MEDICAL CLINIC | COLUMBIA, SC | $100,000 | 2024 | OPERATING COSTS |
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$150,000OPERATING COSTS
OPERATING COSTS
PROVIDENCE HOME
$75,000OPERATING COSTS
PALMETTO PROJECT
$45,500OPERATING COSTS
UNIVERSAL COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
$30,000OPERATING COSTS
MISSION LEXINGTON
$30,000OPERATING COSTS
FAMILY PROMISE OF THE MIDLANDS
$30,000OPERATING COSTS
OUR PLACE OF HOPE
$30,000OPERATING COSTS
HOMEWORKS OF AMERICA
$25,000OPERATING COSTS
PALMETTO FDTN FOR PREV AND RECREATI
$20,000OPERATING COSTS
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
$20,000OPERATING COSTS
THE WOMEN'S SHELTER
$15,000OPERATING COSTS
COLUMBIA MUSEUM OF ART
$15,000OPERATING COSTS
SHARING GOD'S LOVE
$15,000OPERATING COSTS
IRMO FUTURE GROWTH CORP
$12,500OPERATING COSTS
CAROLINA WILDLIFE CARE
$10,000OPERATING COSTS
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$10,000OPERATING COSTS
RIVERBANKS SOCIETY
$10,000OPERATING COSTS
EDVENTURE
$10,000OPERATING COSTS
CHAPIN LITTLE THEATER
$10,000OPERATING COSTS
CMFA
$10,000OPERATING COSTS
MADELYN'S FUND
$10,000OPERATING COSTS
LEEZA'S CARE CONNECTION
$10,000OPERATING COSTS
YOUNGS CHAPEL AME CHURCH
$7,800OPERATING COSTS
IRMO ARBOR DAY
$7,275OPERATING COSTS
MIDLANDS TECH COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$5,000OPERATING COSTS
ST MARY'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$5,000OPERATING COSTS
SISTERCARE
$5,000OPERATING COSTS
DICKERSON CHILDREN'S ADV CTR
$5,000OPERATING COSTS
PARKS AND RECREATION FOUNDATION
$1,500OPERATING COSTS
TRI-CITY VISIONARIES
$1,000OPERATING COSTS
LEXINGTON DISTRICT 1 ED FOUNDATION
$1,000OPERATING COSTS