The Richards Foundation concentrates its giving on place-based conservation and community resilience projects, with a secondary emphasis on science/education and regional philanthropic infrastructure. Grants skew toward sizable operating and capital gifts that support land and coastal protection campaigns, local community foundations and civic institutions, and a few targeted disaster-relief or faith-based responses. Recipients are often established regional nonprofits and institutions rather than very small grassroots groups, and the foundation makes repeat and multi-purpose gifts (capital, operating, campaign) to select partners.
A defining pattern in The Richards Foundation’s recent giving is its concentration on place-based conservation, especially coastal protection and Appalachian land campaigns, alongside support for community institutions that anchor regional life. One of its largest recent grants went to Coastal Community Foundation in Charleston for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Family Justice Center and the South Carolina Poetry Society, tying social services and literary arts into a single award. Another major commitment supported the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s 50th anniversary campaign, signaling long-horizon support for land conservation. The foundation also backed One Hundred Miles twice, with gifts in 2023 and 2025 for operating, capital, and donation support, and it made a substantial award to Telluride Science Research Center for the Telluride Science Depot project. Across its grants, the foundation favors established nonprofits, campaigns, operating funds, and capital projects rather than short-term program-only awards. Its recent records also show support for universities, local community foundations, faith institutions, and regional disaster response.
Environmental and land conservation appear in multiple grants. The foundation gave $300,000 to One Hundred Miles Inc for operating and capital campaign support, and another $70,000 to Coastal Conservation League for general support. It also awarded $5,000 to Manomet Inc for the Georgia Bight Shorebird Conservation Initiative. In community infrastructure, it provided $20,000 to Community Foundation of West Georgia for the Lurleen Holland Memorial Fund for Church Improvement, and $100,000 to Covenant Presbyterian Church for Hurricane Helen flood relief in Avery County. Science and informal learning are present through $250,000 to Telluride Science Research Center for the Telluride Science Depot project and $25,000 to High Mountain Institute for the Everyone Scholarship Endowment. The foundation also supported higher education with $225,000 to The University of Virginia for donation support.
The Richards Foundation’s typical grant size sits at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $32,500 at the median, and $71,705 at the 75th percentile. The recent record includes both very large campaign gifts and small restricted awards, showing a wide spread in check size. Several recipients appear more than once across years, including One Hundred Miles Inc, The University of Virginia, Care, Hopeway Foundation, and Covenant Presbyterian Church, which points to repeat support rather than one-time-only giving. The foundation is a grantmaking foundation, and it also funds individuals. The pattern in the recent grants list suggests operating support, capital support, campaign gifts, general support, and restricted project donations are all part of the mix.
$2.4M
$8.9M
$1.9M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $5K and $72K, with a median of $33K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$33K
75th Percentile
$72K
About 21% of grants go to recipients in NC.
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Concentrated, relatively large grants (many $100k–$600k) across a small number of recipients; mixes capital campaign gifts and operating/general support; demonstrates repeat funding to select organizations and a geographic focus on coastal Southeast and mountain/Appalachian communities with occasional national/international donations.
Notable grantees: One Hundred Miles Inc, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, Coastal Community Foundation, Telluride Science Research Center, The University of Virginia
Grants are spread across the Southeast and mountain West, with Virginia appearing most often by recipient count. Georgia recipients include Carrollton, Atlanta, Brunswick, and Dahlonega, and the foundation gave 25% of its grants to recipients in Georgia. Charleston appears repeatedly through Coastal Community Foundation, Coastal Conservation League, Preservation Society of Charleston, MUSC Foundation, and the Combahee Raid project. North Carolina recipients include Charlotte and Asheville, while Colorado awards reached Telluride, Grand Junction, and Leadville. All recent grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients.
Its recent grants emphasize place-based conservation, especially coastal and Appalachian land work, plus community infrastructure, science education, higher-education support, disaster relief, and some faith-based or cultural projects. Examples include a $500,000 campaign gift to Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and a $250,000 project grant to Telluride Science Research Center.
Yes. The recent record shows repeat support for One Hundred Miles Inc in 2023 and 2025, The University of Virginia in 2023 and 2025, Care in 2023 and 2025, Hopeway Foundation in 2023 and 2025, and Covenant Presbyterian Church in 2023 and 2025.
Its grant-size distribution is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $32,500 at the median, and $71,705 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes larger campaign and operating gifts above $250,000, showing that it funds both mid-sized and major awards.
Virginia is the top state by grant count. Georgia recipients account for 25% of its grants, and the recent list also includes multiple awards to organizations in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Colorado.
Recent non-conservation grants include Coastal Community Foundation for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Family Justice Center and South Carolina Poetry Society, The University of Virginia for donation and general support, and The Charlotte Neuroscience Foundation for Memory and Movement Charlotte.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $505,000 | 2025 | CHARLOTTE MECKLINBURG FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER & SC POETRY SOCIETY |
| SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY | ASHEVILLE, NC | $500,000 | 2025 | 50TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN |
| ONE HUNDRED MILES INC | BRUNSWICK, GA | $300,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| THE TELLURIDE FOUNDATION | TELLURIDE, CO | $270,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| TELLURIDE SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | $250,000 | 2025 | TELLURIDE SCIENCE DEPOT PROJECT |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $225,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| CARE | ATLANTA, GA | $100,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | CHARLOTTE, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | HURRICANE HELEN FLOOD RELIEF AVERY COUNTY |
| DEPLOYUS INC | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | AMPLIFI STRATEGY |
| HOPEWAY FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTE, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| HIGH MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE | LEADVILLE, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | EVERYONE SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WEST GEORGIA | CARROLLTON, GA | $20,000 | 2025 | LURLEEN HOLLAND MEMORIAL FUND FOR CHURCH IMPROVEMENT |
| TELLURIDE MOUNTAIN CLUB | TELLURIDE, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| MUSC FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $1,000 | 2025 | FUND #05322 |
| THE CHARLOTTE NEUROSCIENCE FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTE, NC | $1,000 | 2025 | 2024 CHARITABLE GIFT: MEMORY AND MOVEMENT CHARLOTTE |
| CRISIS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY | CHARLOTTE, NC | $1,000 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $1,000 | 2025 | DONATION TO THE COMBAHEE RAID PROJECT FOR THE COMBAHEE RAID EXHIBIT |
| MOUNTAINFILM | TELLURIDE, CO | $500 | 2025 | 2024 DONATION |
| ONE HUNDRED MILES INC | BRUNSWICK, GA | $300,000 | 2024 | OPERATING & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $125,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WEST GEORGIA | CARROLLTON, GA | $118,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $100,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| THE MILKEN INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $70,000 | 2024 | BLUEFIELD PROJECT |
| COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE | CHARLESTON, SC | $70,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| THE TELLURIDE FOUNDATION | TELLURIDE, CO | $50,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| CARE | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| THE MILKEN INSTITUTE | SANTA MONICA, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | BLUEFIELD PROJECT |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA, SC | $25,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| GEORGIA FORESTWATCH | DAHLONEGA, GA | $15,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| HOPEWAY FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTE, NC | $15,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| HOPEWAY FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTE, NC | $10,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| MANOMET INC | MANOMET, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | GEORGIA BIGHT SHOREBIRD CONSERVATION INITIATIVE |
| COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | CHARLOTTE, NC | $2,000 | 2024 | STAINED GLASS WINDOW FUND |
| ONE HUNDRED MILES INC | BRUNSWICK, GA | $300,000 | 2023 | OPERATING & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FUND |
| SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FUND |
| COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | CHARLOTTE, NC | $75,000 | 2023 | STAINED GLASS WINDOW FUND |
| JOURNALISM FUNDING PARTNERS | SACRAMENTO, CA | $70,607 | 2023 | ONE EARTH FUND PROJECT |
| COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE | CHARLESTON, SC | $70,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FUND |
| CARE | ATLANTA, GA | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FUND |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FUND |
| HOPEWAY FOUNDATION | CHARLOTTE, NC | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FUND |
| GEORGIA FORESTWATCH | DAHLONEGA, GA | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FUND |
| THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF CHARLESTON | CHARLESTON, SC | $12,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FUND |
| CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN THE DIVINE | ETNA, NH | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FUND |
| MANOMET INC | MANOMET, MA | $5,000 | 2023 | GEORGIA BIGHT SHOREBIRD CONSERVATION INITIATIVE |
| MOUNTAINFILM | TELLURIDE, CO | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FUND |
| CATAWBA LANDS CONSERVANCY | CHARLOTTE, NC | $500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FUND |
| WOODWARD ACADEMY | COLLEGE PARK, GA | $250 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FUND |
COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$505,000CHARLOTTE MECKLINBURG FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER & SC POETRY SOCIETY
TELLURIDE SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER
$250,000TELLURIDE SCIENCE DEPOT PROJECT
THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
DONATION
COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$100,000HURRICANE HELEN FLOOD RELIEF AVERY COUNTY
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WEST GEORGIA
$20,000LURLEEN HOLLAND MEMORIAL FUND FOR CHURCH IMPROVEMENT
MUSC FOUNDATION
$1,000FUND #05322
THE CHARLOTTE NEUROSCIENCE FOUNDATION
$1,0002024 CHARITABLE GIFT: MEMORY AND MOVEMENT CHARLOTTE
DONATION TO THE COMBAHEE RAID PROJECT FOR THE COMBAHEE RAID EXHIBIT
MOUNTAINFILM
$5002024 DONATION
THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$125,000DONATION
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WEST GEORGIA
$118,000DONATION
THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$100,000DONATION
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$50,000DONATION
GEORGIA FORESTWATCH
$15,000DONATION
COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$2,000STAINED GLASS WINDOW FUND
THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT FUND
COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$75,000STAINED GLASS WINDOW FUND
COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE
$70,000GENERAL SUPPORT FUND
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT FUND
GEORGIA FORESTWATCH
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT FUND
THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF CHARLESTON
$12,500GENERAL SUPPORT FUND
CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN THE DIVINE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT FUND
MOUNTAINFILM
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT FUND
WOODWARD ACADEMY
$250GENERAL SUPPORT FUND