The Watson-Brown Foundation concentrates its giving on undergraduate scholarship support at major public universities in the Southeast, primarily in Georgia and South Carolina. Grants are large and directed to a small set of repeated institutional recipients, indicating a strategy of deep, programmatic scholarship investment rather than broad community giving. The foundation appears to prioritize long-term relationships with flagship state universities to fund student scholarships.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of repeat university grantees (multiple large scholarship awards to the same institutions rather than many small or one-off grants).
Watson-brown Foundation Inc’s largest recent scholarship grant went to Clemson University, which received $684,659 in 2025, followed by another $672,000 award in 2024. That repeated pattern is the clearest signal in the foundation’s grantmaking: it directs substantial scholarship support to a small group of public and private colleges rather than spreading funds broadly across many organizations. The foundation’s recent awards also show sustained support for the University of Georgia and the University of South Carolina-Columbia, both of which received multiple six-figure scholarship grants in consecutive years. Beyond those flagship recipients, the foundation’s giving includes Augusta University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Wofford College, and Georgia Southern University, all funded through scholarship awards. The organization funds individuals as well as institutions, and its scholarship program sits alongside separate grants for education and historic preservation. Recent grant activity points to a funder that uses recurring, programmatic awards to support undergraduate access and college attendance, especially at institutions in Georgia and South Carolina.
Scholarship support is the foundation’s core pattern. Clemson University received $684,659 in 2025 for awarded scholarship grants, and the University of South Carolina-Columbia received $573,000 in 2024 for the same purpose. The University of Georgia also appeared with $570,000 in 2025 for awarded scholarship grants, showing continued support for large public-university scholarship programs. The foundation’s education funding is not limited to one campus type. Augusta University received $256,416 in 2025 for awarded scholarship grants, while Georgia Institute of Technology received $225,000 in 2024 for the same category. Historic preservation is another active area. The Milledgeville Chapter of the Junior Board makes local grants for historic preservation projects, and the Thomson Chapter supports preservation work in the Central Savannah River Area of Georgia and South Carolina.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the foundation’s large scholarship program: the reported distribution is p25 $5,000, median $7,000, and p75 $15,000. That said, the recent grants list shows many institutional awards far above that range because scholarship allocations are made in large programmatic blocks. The data also points to repeat funding over multiple years: Clemson University, the University of Georgia, and the University of South Carolina-Columbia each appear in more than one year. Watson-brown Foundation Inc accepts unsolicited applications, and its published grant pages include how-to-apply guidance. The foundation funds individuals as well as organizations, with scholarship awards and chapter-level grants sitting alongside institutional grantmaking.
$5.2M
$143.4M
$13.9M
$8.1M
Most grants fall between $5K and $15K, with a median of $7K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$7K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Notable grantees: Clemson University, University of South Carolina–Columbia, University of Georgia
Grant activity is national in scope, but it is heavily concentrated in the Southeast. Georgia is the top state by grant count, and 30% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipient cities include Clemson, Columbia, Athens, Augusta, Atlanta, Statesboro, Aiken, Spartanburg, Anderson, and Milledgeville. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 486 grants going to U.S. recipients.
It funds students through scholarship awards and also makes grants to schools, educational organizations, and historic preservation projects. The foundation also supports individual scholarship recipients, with scholarship awards listed alongside institutional grants.
The reported grant-size distribution is p25 $5,000, median $7,000, and p75 $15,000. Scholarship awards in the recent grants list are much larger because they are made in institutional blocks to colleges and universities.
Yes. The grant program descriptions state that several of its programs accept unsolicited applications, and the grants pages include guidelines and how-to-apply information.
Its giving is national, but grant activity is concentrated in Georgia and South Carolina, with Georgia as the top state by grant count and 30% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state.
Its main areas are undergraduate scholarship support, higher education support for schools and students, and historic preservation. The data also ties some grants to educational institutions and historic educational sites in the American South.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Watson-Brown Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations and schools engaged in educational work in the foundation's geographic focus; applicants should review the foundation's grant guidelines for full eligibility requirements.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEMSON UNIVERSITY | CLEMSON, SC | $684,659 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA | ATHENS, GA | $570,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA-COLUMBIA | COLUMBIA, SC | $564,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY | AUGUSTA, GA | $256,416 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA-AIKEN | AIKEN, SC | $228,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| WOFFORD COLLEGE | SPARTANBURG, SC | $219,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | ATLANTA, GA | $210,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY | STATESBORO, GA | $180,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| ANDERSON UNIVERSITY | ANDERSON, SC | $120,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON | CHARLESTON, SC | $120,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY | KENNESAW, GA | $120,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY | MILLEDGEVILLE, GA | $111,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| LANDER UNIVERSITY | LANDER, SC | $99,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| FURMAN UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE, SC | $92,967 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA-UPSTATE | SPARTANBURG, SC | $90,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| CONVERSE COLLEGE | SPARTANBURG, SC | $72,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| WINTHROP UNIVERSITY | ROCK HILL, SC | $63,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $54,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY | GREENSBORO, NC | $54,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| MERCER UNIVERSITY | MACON, GA | $50,978 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE | CLINTON, SC | $48,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA | DAHLONEGA, GA | $48,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| ABRAHAM BALDWIN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE | TIFTON, GA | $48,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY | CHARLESTON, SC | $42,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY | ATLANTA, GA | $39,305 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN | SAVANNAH, GA | $36,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| EMORY UNIVERSITY | ATLANTA, GA | $33,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| SAVANNAH STATE | SAVANNAH, GA | $24,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| NORTH GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE, SC | $24,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY | TUSKEGEE, AL | $24,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $24,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| ERSKINE COLLEGE | DUE WEST, SC | $21,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $21,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE | TOCCOA FALLS, GA | $20,206 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY | LEXINGTON, VA | $18,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY | PROVO, UT | $18,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY | ORANGEBURG, SC | $17,168 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $15,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY | CULLOWHEE, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE | DECATUR, GA | $15,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| COVENANT COLLEGE | LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, GA | $15,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY | CONWAY, SC | $15,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY | BOILING SPRINGS, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA-CHAPEL HILL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $12,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY | ALBANY, GA | $12,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $12,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | $12,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $12,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| SOUTHERN WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | CENTRAL, SC | $12,000 | 2025 | AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
$684,659AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
$570,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA-COLUMBIA
$564,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY
$256,416AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$210,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
$180,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
$120,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
$120,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
GEORGIA COLLEGE & STATE UNIVERSITY
$111,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
LANDER UNIVERSITY
$99,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA-UPSTATE
$90,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
CONVERSE COLLEGE
$72,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
WINTHROP UNIVERSITY
$63,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY
$54,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
MERCER UNIVERSITY
$50,978AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE
$48,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA
$48,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
ABRAHAM BALDWIN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
$48,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
$39,305AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN
$36,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
EMORY UNIVERSITY
$33,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
SAVANNAH STATE
$24,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE
$20,206AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
$18,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$15,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
$15,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE
$15,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
$15,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY
$15,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA-CHAPEL HILL
$15,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$12,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY
$12,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
$12,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$12,000AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
