About Citadel Foundation
Support The Citadel's strategic plan and student success by raising funds for academics, scholarships, leadership programs, athletics and areas of greatest need.
Focus Areas
Higher educationScholarshipsLeadership developmentAthleticsCampaign fundraising
Who They Fund
The Citadel (military college)cadets / students of The CitadelThe Citadel campus community
Funding Style
restricted/institution-specific supportcapital project fundingscholarship fundingdirect institutional support
About Citadel Foundation
The Citadel Foundation’s recent giving is defined by direct support for The Citadel itself, with very large awards that fund scholarships, grants, and capital expenditures. In the latest grants list, the foundation gave $25,596,285 in 2024 and $17,562,985 in 2025 to The Citadel in Charleston, each described as financial assistance and support exclusively for the college. That pattern points to a funder organized around institutional priorities rather than a broad external portfolio. The foundation also backed The Citadel Real Estate Foundation with $7,007,367 in 2025 for construction of Bastin Hall and the purchase of properties, showing that campus expansion and facilities are part of its grantmaking as well. Across the active programs, support is organized around academics, leadership, athletics, scholarships, and greatest needs, all within the college community. The result is a foundation profile centered on a military college campus, with grantmaking that connects campaign fundraising, student support, and physical infrastructure.
What Citadel Foundation Funds
Academic support is a clear lane for The Citadel Foundation. Through the Academic Enhancement Fund, it supports academic initiatives, programs, and resources across The Citadel’s schools and departments, including curriculum enhancement, faculty development, and research support. Student aid is another core area: the Scholarships giving category is used to administer awards that help cadets and students with tuition, academic support, and related costs. Leadership development is supported through a dedicated giving category and through leadership programs for cadets and students. The foundation also funds athletics, including student-athlete resources and facilities, and it uses campaign fundraising through Our Mighty Citadel Campaign, which is tied to academics, athletics, leadership, scholarships, and greatest needs.
How Citadel Foundation Gives
The listed grant-size distribution is wide: p25 is $114,412, the median is $8,452,092, and p75 is $18,964,708. That spread reflects a mix of smaller institutional awards and very large capital or operating support grants. The recent grants list shows repeated support to The Citadel across 2023, 2024, and 2025, alongside multiple awards to The Citadel Real Estate Foundation, so the pattern is recurring rather than one-off. The foundation is structured as an institution-specific funder serving the college’s priorities. It also accepts unsolicited requests in some giving categories, including academics, leadership, scholarships, and greatest needs.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$24.6M
Total Assets
$332.3M
Total Revenue
$37.9M
Total Expenses
$35.6M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $114K and $19M, with a median of $8.5M.
25th Percentile
$114K
Median
$8.5M
75th Percentile
$19M
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
SHANNON MEASE
Accepts unsolicited proposals
Unlock Deep Analysis
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 FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Citadel Foundation?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime