The Milliken & Company Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on sustainability/recycling initiatives and local higher-education and arts programming tied to its corporate community. Most dollars flow to a small set of repeat recipients — notably a major national recycling nonprofit and Converse University (including its Milliken Center for the Arts) — reflecting both a corporate sustainability priority and investment in the Spartanburg-area college and cultural assets.
Highly concentrated giving: few, large grants with multiple repeat awards to the same organizations; mix of a large national/environmental grantee and substantial local institutional support.
The Milliken & Company Charitable Foundation’s giving is defined by a sustained tie to recycling and to Spartanburg-area institutions. The largest recent award in the file is a $750,000 grant to The Recycling Partnership in 2024, followed by another $500,000 grant to the same organization in 2025, showing a continuing national sustainability partnership. At the local level, the foundation has also made large general operating grants to Converse University and to Converse University Milliken Center for the Arts, linking corporate philanthropy to higher education and cultural facilities in Spartanburg. Across the recent grants list, much of the support is unrestricted general operating support rather than project-only funding. That pattern extends beyond these flagship recipients to community organizations such as United Way of the Piedmont, Spartanburg County Foundation, Chapman Cultural Center Inc, and Onespartanburg, all of which appear among the recent awards. The foundation also runs employee-dependent scholarship programs and school-matching support, adding an education-related channel to its community grantmaking. Overall, the file shows a funder balancing national environmental giving with a strong local commitment to Spartanburg institutions and community infrastructure.
In environmental work, the foundation has backed municipal recycling through The Recycling Partnership with $750,000 in 2024 and $500,000 in 2025, both as general operating support. In higher education, it gave Converse University $250,500 in 2024 and the same amount in 2023, indicating sustained support for the university itself. Arts and culture are another visible lane: Converse University Milliken Center for the Arts received $500,000 in 2025, while Chapman Cultural Center Inc received $100,000 in 2023, $90,000 in 2024, and $80,100 in 2025. The foundation also funds scholarship infrastructure through Scholarship America, with grants of $151,231 in 2025 and $98,810 in 2024. These awards show a mix of environmental, educational, and cultural support delivered largely through unrestricted grants.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the largest awards: the p25 is $500, the median is $2,500, and the p75 is $13,750. The recent grants list shows repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, including The Recycling Partnership, Converse University, Scholarship America, and several Spartanburg-area organizations, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-off gifts. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not make program-related investments. Several active programs are structured as employee-dependent scholarships or matching support, while community grants and community gifts can be unsolicited in at least one program stream.
$2.2M
$13.4M
$7M
$2.4M
Most grants fall between $500 and $14K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$14K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Milliken & Company Charitable Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 295 | $5.9M | 99.7% |
| 2 | United Kingdom |
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Notable grantees: The Recycling Partnership, Converse University, Converse University Milliken Center for the Arts
Grantmaking is heavily centered in South Carolina: 56% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and many recent awards land in Spartanburg. Other frequent recipient cities include Washington, DC; Minneapolis, MN; Columbia, SC; and Charleston, SC. The country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 295 grants in the United States and 1 grant in the UK. The recent grants file also shows support across local Spartanburg institutions and a smaller number of nonlocal national partners.
The recent grants and active programs show support for recycling partnerships, higher education, arts and culture, community development, education, STEAM, health and human services, and scholarship programs. Recent grantees include The Recycling Partnership, Converse University, Chapman Cultural Center Inc, and Scholarship America.
The grant-size distribution is relatively small at the center: p25 is $500, median is $2,500, and p75 is $13,750. At the same time, the recent grants list includes much larger general operating awards, including six-figure gifts and a $750,000 grant.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated support across multiple years for several recipients, including The Recycling Partnership in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Converse University in 2023 and 2024; and Scholarship America in 2024 and 2025.
Some program streams are open to unsolicited requests. The active Community Gifts program is marked as accepting unsolicited applications, while the scholarship, employee match, and disaster-relief programs are not. The community gifts program is also described as supporting nonprofits in Spartanburg and local communities where Milliken associates live and work.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $10K |
0.3% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Current and upcoming funding from Milliken & Company Charitable Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations in Spartanburg, SC aligned with the foundation's purpose, values, vision, and giving pillars.
Deadline: Applications accepted annually between November 1 and January 31.
Who can apply: Public and private universities, colleges, community colleges, and private elementary, middle, and high schools receiving matched employee gifts.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE RECYCLING PARTNERSHIP | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CONVERSE UNIVERSITY MILLIKEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS | SPARTANBURG, SC | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $151,231 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ONESPARTANBURG | SPARTANBURG, SC | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF THE PIEDMONT INC | SPARTANBURG, SC | $110,575 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHAPMAN CULTURAL CENTER INC | SPARTANBURG, SC | $80,100 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WOMENS RIGHTS AND EMPOWERMENT NETWORK | COLUMBIA, SC | $65,080 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PARTNERS FOR ACTIVE LIVING | SPARTANBURG, SC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SPARTANBURG ACADEMIC MOVEMENT | SPARTANBURG, SC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTHSIDE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | SPARTANBURG, SC | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER SPARTANBURG | SPARTANBURG, SC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WOFFORD COLLEGE | SPARTANBURG, SC | $23,850 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE CHARLES LEA CENTER FOUNDATION INC | SPARTANBURG, SC | $20,510 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SPARTANBURG COUNTY FOUNDATION | SPARTANBURG, SC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL INC | SPARTANBURG, SC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JUMPSTART | SPARTANBURG, SC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SPARTANBURG AREA CONSERVANCY INC | SPARTANBURG, SC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GREENVILLE SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION | GREENVILLE, SC | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE SPARTANBURG COUNTY LIBRARY INC | SPARTANBURG, SC | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SPARTANBURG PHILHARMONIC | SPARTANBURG, SC | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY-SOUTH CAROLINA | KENNESAW, GA | $10,103 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UPSTATE FOREVER | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MINDS MATTER | CLEVELAND, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ILLUMINATE JUSTICE INC | WEST POINT, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ANGELS CHARGE MINISTRY | SPARTANBURG, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS | MEDFORD, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SC SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND FOUNDATION INC | SPARTANBURG, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CONESTEE FOUNDATION INC | CONESTEE, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UPSTATE WARRIOR SOLUTION INC | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ROPER MOUNTAIN SCIENCE CENTER ASSOCIATION | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNORS SCHOOL FOR SCI & MATH FOUNDATION INC | COLUMBIA, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FAVOR UPSTATE | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| 864PRIDE | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOAPSTONE PRESERVATION ENDOWMENT | MARIETTA, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SPARTANBURG SCIENCE CENTER | SPARTANBURG, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY WORKS | GREENVILLE, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WIGAN BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | WIGAN | $10,000 | 2025 | TREATED AS EQUIVALENT TO A U.S. PUBLIC CHARITY UNDER REG. 53.4945-5(A)(5). SUPPORT FOR AT RISK CHILDREN. |
| SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INC | COLUMBIA, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WARRIORS ONCE AGAIN | SPARTANBURG, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE | CLINTON, SC | $8,348 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF GREATER SOUTH CAROLINA | COLUMBIA, SC | $8,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION INC | DALLAS, TX | $7,880 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF THE UPSTATE INC | GREENVILLE, SC | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HUB CITY ROOTS | SPARTANBURG, SC | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SPARTANBURG ART MUSEUM | SPARTANBURG, SC | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BALLET SPARTANBURG INC | SPARTANBURG, SC | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FURMAN UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE, SC | $6,320 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BENEDICT COLLEGE | COLUMBIA, SC | $5,657 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GIRLUP GVL | GREENVILLE, SC | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
CONVERSE UNIVERSITY MILLIKEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$500,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA
$151,231GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ONESPARTANBURG
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
UNITED WAY OF THE PIEDMONT INC
$110,575GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF GREATER SPARTANBURG
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE CHARLES LEA CENTER FOUNDATION INC
$20,510GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL INC
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
JUMPSTART
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF THE SPARTANBURG COUNTY LIBRARY INC
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY-SOUTH CAROLINA
$10,103GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ILLUMINATE JUSTICE INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CONESTEE FOUNDATION INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ROPER MOUNTAIN SCIENCE CENTER ASSOCIATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNORS SCHOOL FOR SCI & MATH FOUNDATION INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
864PRIDE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SOAPSTONE PRESERVATION ENDOWMENT
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SPARTANBURG SCIENCE CENTER
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WIGAN BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
$10,000TREATED AS EQUIVALENT TO A U.S. PUBLIC CHARITY UNDER REG. 53.4945-5(A)(5). SUPPORT FOR AT RISK CHILDREN.
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WARRIORS ONCE AGAIN
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE
$8,348GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF GREATER SOUTH CAROLINA
$8,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HUB CITY ROOTS
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BALLET SPARTANBURG INC
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BENEDICT COLLEGE
$5,657GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT