Skip to content
Plinth

· Private foundation

The Self Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$1.2M
Granted FY2020
45
Grants FY2020
3
States reached
$100k
Largest
01What you fund
0197% classified

What you funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year — across FY20172024.

Science & Tech$5.9MEducation$412kHealth$350kHuman Services$333kCommunity Improvement$241kArts & Culture$169kYouth Development$150kPhilanthropy$102kOther$0
02FY2020 · 45 grants

Where the money goes

Your grants by size, and where they go.

The 45 grants below total $938,296 — the rows itemised in this filing. The $1,157,296 headline is the total grant expense reported on the return, so the remaining $219,000 is giving the schedule does not break out: grants under the $5,000 itemisation floor, grants to individuals, and grants reported on other schedules. Every figure below describes the itemised rows only.

By grant size · FY2020

  • Under $10k21 grants · $80k
  • $10k–50k18 grants · $424k
  • $50k–250k6 grants · $434k
$10,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$26M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Boys And Girls Clubs of the Crescent Region$100,000
Greenwood Genetic Center$100,000
Greenwood Family YMCA$74,000
ETV Endowment of SC Inc.$60,000
Boys And Girls Clubs of the Crescent Region$50,000
Project Hope Foundation Inc$50,000
United Center for Community Care$45,000
Community Initiatives, Inc.$43,500
Healthy Learners$40,000
University of South Carolina$39,332
Clemson University Foundation$39,000
MEG's House$30,000
Greenwood County Community Foundation$27,000
Medical University of SC$20,368
Wofford College$20,000
02Your edge
repeat funding

Who you back again

Which organizations you funded more than once, and which you funded a single time. Each grantee is matched to its own filings.

59%of every dollar goes to organizations you’ve funded before.
$1.0M · 21 repeat orgs$706k to everyone else

And the relationships you keep tend to grow: grantees you re-up on have seen median revenue of +64% since the first grant, against +33% for the ones you funded once.

21 repeat relationships — 21 still active in FY2020, 0 since wound down; 13 grantees were first funded in FY2020 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

21
14

Total granted

$1.0M
$334k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+64%
+33%

Still filing today

67%
29%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2020, 59% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $372k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’20
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’18’20
Human ServicesPhilanthropyArts & CultureEducationHealthAnimalsOther

First-time = a grantee’s first year in your filing window; renewed = funded in an earlier year too. As a portfolio matures the renewed share naturally climbs — once funded, an org stays “renewable” — so the signal is the years that buck it (a new-grantee intake wave). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as “new.” Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • PH
    PROJECT HOPE FOUNDATION INC
    2× · 2018–2020 · $100k · revenue +34%
  • EE
    ETV Endowment of South Carolina Inc
    2× · 2018–2020 · $90k · revenue +64%
  • CI
    COMMUNITY INITIATIVES INC
    2× · 2018–2020 · $79k · revenue +127%

Funded once

  • HS
    HUMANE SOCIETY OF GREENWOODgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $100k · revenue +33%
  • GS
    Greenwood School District 50
    one grant, 2018 · $100k
  • GC
    GREENWOOD COMMUNITY THEATRE INC
    one grant, 2018 · $25k · revenue +6%

Repeat = funded in two or more distinct years; growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

03Your field

The map has a center of gravity: the average direction from the rest of the sector toward the organizations the foundation funds — the shape of its giving. Scoring every nonprofit along that direction surfaces the ones that look most like the portfolio. These are the closest matchesthat aren’t grantees — a resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
South Carolina Public Interest Foundation
Crime & Legal
2
Greenville College

Greenville college d/b/a greenville university empowers students for lives of character and service through a transforming christ-centered education in the liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies.

Education
3
Greenville Area Development Corporation

Promoting and enhancing the economic growth and development of greenville county south carolina; gadc was formed by greenville county council.

Community Improvement
4
Sc Chamber of Commerce

Enhancing the quality of life for all south carolinians, achieving global competiteveness and ultimately increasing prosperity for sc citizens.

5
South Carolina Christian Foundation

South carolina christian foundation exists to disciple the hearts of individuals toward biblical stewardship and proactive philanthropy in order to transform communities and advance the kingdom of god.

Religion
6
South Carolina Council On Competitiveness

The south carolina council on competitiveness is a nonpartisan, business-led non-profit organization committed to advancing the long term competitiveness of south carolina through actionable research, support of industry clusters and…

Community Improvement
7
University of South Carolina Educational Foundation

To support the University of South Carolina in its academic, research and charitable endeavors by promoting a culture of philanthropy, managing and stewarding donor gifts, and providing financial resources to support students and faculty…

Education
8
Leadership South Carolina

To provide South Carolinians an opportunity to advance their leadership skills while broadening their understanding of issues and opportunities facing the State.

Education
9
South Carolina Council On Economic Education

Sc economics is the only sc non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to improving economic education and financial literacy by preparing teachers and students to be active, successful, and prosperous members of our global economy.

10
Foundation for the Carolinas

Inspiring philanthropy and strengthening our region through innovative community initiatives and quality services to donors and constituents.

Philanthropy
11
South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities

Scicu seeks to advance higher education in south carolina through fundraising, scholarships, research, as well as facilitating collaborative activities among the member institutions. scicu also enhances a positive public image and…

Education
12
Greenville Area Community Fnd

The mission of the Greenville Area Community Foundation is to enhance the quality of life in the greater Greenville area. To do this it will attract and hold permanent endowment funds from a wide range of donors, it will manage these funds…

Philanthropy

For reference, the grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Greenwood County Community Foundation Inc and the most unlike its peers is Emerald City Rotary Club Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.

For each theme you fund, this compares how the sector’s money is shifting with how your own giving is shifting.

← shrinkinggrowing →↓ leaning in → pulling backsteadyYouth Development CentersCommunity Hospital SystemsCollege Foundation SupportSenior Support ServicesPregnancy Support CentersDevelopmental Disabilities …Community Literacy TutoringUnited Way AffiliatesFaith-Based Liberal Arts Co…Local History MuseumsCivil Legal ServicesHospice and Palliative CareFood Pantries and AssistanceCommunity Theater CompaniesAffordable Housing Construc…Animal Rescue and ShelterCommunity Foundations
the sector your giving your giving is ahead of the sector the sector’s ahead of you· dot size = how much the theme matters to each side
Ordered by the change in your giving — leaning in on top, pulling back at the bottom. The bar between the two dots is how out of step you are with the sector. Hover any row for detail.

Sector change and giving change are each shown relative to their own range, growing (right) or shrinking (left); both normalized, so inflation isn’t mistaken for growth.

Your grantees are a median of 51 years old; the field is 21. You back the established end — and your money leans older still.

THE FIELDby orgYOUR GRANTEESby number21%4%<5yr12%0%5–10yr15%12%10–20yr24%19%20–35yr9%27%35–55yr19%39%55yr+
THE FIELDby orgYOUR MONEYby value21%0%<5yr12%0%5–10yr15%6%10–20yr24%19%20–35yr9%28%35–55yr19%47%55yr+

The field is 21% startups (under 5 years old) — 4% of your grantees by number, and just 0% of your money.

Closures · last 5 years

The orgs you fund almost never close 0.0% lost their exemption, against 12% of the field you don’t fund.

orgs you fund
0.0%0/36
the rest of the field
12%
3,449/28,753

Age = years since IRS exemption (a founding proxy). “Closed” = auto-revocation for 3 years of non-filing — a floor on closure, not proof, and bigger established orgs lapse least. Association, not causation.

03the grantee network

34 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each one resolved to its own IRS returns and tracked year by year — your grant beside their revenue from every source. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

Counted here: distinct organizations you funded across 20172025, not grant rows in a single year — so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 34 of the 52 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile; the rest are funded organizations whose filings we could not track year by year.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
11
Early backer (in before they grew)
31/34
Grantees still filing
24/34
Grew since you first funded

Where your money sits — by cause, then by grantee

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Crescent Region — $150,000 · OtherBoys and Girls Clubs of the Crescent RegionGreenwood Family YMCA — $124,000 · OtherGreenwood Family YMCAUniversity of South Carolina — $101,332 · OtherUniversity of South CarolinaGreenwood School District 50 — $100,000 · OtherGreenwood School District 50United Center for Community Care — $75,000 · OtherUnited Center for Community CareTHE LANDER FOUNDATION — $54,150 · OtherTHE LANDER FOUNDATIONMedical University of SC — $40,200 · OtherWOFFORD COLLEGE — $40,000 · OtherGREENWOOD COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC — $50,500 · OtherGREENWOOD AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY — $41,000 · Other+21 more — $223,184 · Other+21 morePROJECT HOPE FOUNDATION INC — $100,000 · Human ServicesPROJECT HOPE FOUN…COMMUNITY INITIATIVES INC — $79,000 · Human ServicesCOMMUNITY INITIAT…HEALTHY LEARNERS — $66,500 · Human ServicesHEALTHY LEARNERSMEG'S HOUSE — $50,000 · Human ServicesMEG'S HOUSEPIEDMONT AGENCY ON AGING INC — $15,600 · Human ServicesFOUNDATION FOR A GREATER GREENWOOD COUNTY INC — $225,000 · PhilanthropyFOUNDATION FOR …Philanthropy Southeast Inc — $11,140 · PhilanthropyNATIONAL CENTER FOR FAMILY PHILANTHROPY INC — $10,000 · PhilanthropyNEW MORNING — $10,000 · PhilanthropyCommunity Foundation of the Lowcountry — $10,000 · PhilanthropyCENTRAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — $10,000 · Philanthropy+1 more — $5,000 · PhilanthropyETV Endowment of South Carolina Inc — $90,000 · Arts & CultureGREENWOOD COMMUNITY THEATRE INC — $25,000 · Arts & CultureINTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM — $20,000 · Arts & CultureARTS COUNCIL OF GREENWOOD COUNTY INC — $11,275 · Arts & CultureCLEMSON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION — $64,000 · EducationCONVERSE UNIVERSITY — $34,000 · Education+1 more — $3,000 · EducationHUMANE SOCIETY OF GREENWOOD — $100,000 · AnimalsGREENWOOD GENETIC CENTER INC — $100,000 · Health
Other$999,366Human Services$311,100Philanthropy$281,140Arts & Culture$146,275Education$101,000Animals$100,000Health$100,000

Each org by its size and your share of it — top-left is where you’re load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ your share of their budgetFOUNDATION FOR A GREATER GREENWOOD COUNTY INC — $225,000 over 1y, 28% of budgetBoys and Girls Clubs of the Crescent Region — $150,000 over 1y, 44% of budgetHUMANE SOCIETY OF GREENWOOD — $100,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetPROJECT HOPE FOUNDATION INC — $100,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetGREENWOOD GENETIC CENTER INC — $100,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetETV Endowment of South Carolina Inc — $90,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetCOMMUNITY INITIATIVES INC — $79,000 over 2y, 7.5% of budgetUnited Center for Community Care — $75,000 over 2y, 23% of budgetHEALTHY LEARNERS — $66,500 over 2y, 3.4% of budgetCLEMSON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION — $64,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE LANDER FOUNDATION — $54,150 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetGREENWOOD COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC — $50,500 over 2y, 3.1% of budgetMEG'S HOUSE — $50,000 over 1y, 4.3% of budgetGREENWOOD AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY — $41,000 over 2y, 2.9% of budgetWOFFORD COLLEGE — $40,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCONVERSE UNIVERSITY — $34,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetHOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE OF THE PIEDMONT INC — $33,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetGREENWOOD COMMUNITY THEATRE INC — $25,000 over 1y, 5.2% of budgetINTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM — $20,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetFOOD BANK OF GREENWOOD COUNTY — $17,525 over 2y, 2.6% of budgetPIEDMONT AGENCY ON AGING INC — $15,600 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetBoys Farm Inc — $12,600 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetARTS COUNCIL OF GREENWOOD COUNTY INC — $11,275 over 2y, 3.0% of budgetPhilanthropy Southeast Inc — $11,140 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetNATIONAL CENTER FOR FAMILY PHILANTHROPY INC — $10,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetCommunity Foundation of the Lowcountry — $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCENTRAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGREENWOOD TOROS SOCCER CLUB INC — $7,959 over 1y, 5.0% of budgetUNITED WAY OF THE LAKELANDS — $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetSouth Carolina Future Minds Inc — $4,500 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetTHE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR FOUNDATION INC — $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Go grantee by grantee — a decade per org, and how each moved after you funded them

A decade per grantee — revenue shaded, your grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

The grantmakers whose grantees overlap with yours far more than size alone predicts. Each orbits closer the stronger the alignment; the arcs between them show where they also fund each other. Here it reads as a tightly interlocked camp — most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Countybank FoundationSC32.7× affinity13 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Countybank Foundation · Davis Family Foundation Inc · Duke Energy Foundation · Greenwood County Community Foundation Inc · Central Carolina Community Foundation · Ascend Cares Foundation · Wilbur S Smith and Margaret P Smith Foundation Inc · Cy Thomason Foundation of Greenwood · Kauffmann Family Foundation Inc · First Citizens Foundation Inc Co First · Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation · The Bowers-Rodgers Home Foundation

Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. A research starting point: overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

04Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to The Self Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Self Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read directly from IRS e-file XML — your own 990/990-PF and the multi-year returns of the 52 grantees we resolved across every year we hold, several hundred filings in all (a different count from the grant rows on the cover, which are one fiscal year)— each linked to its source. Grantee achievements and outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III); we read these as association with sustained funding — the foundation is one of several forces — suppress low-confidence name matches rather than guess, and say so where a figure rests on a single grant or filing. Not everything on this page is a filed figure, and the difference matters. Filed is what you reported on your return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears. How we build these →

Generated from your IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2020, released 2020. Filings run roughly 12–24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2024) is on record and reports $1.2M of grant expense with no grantee named in the published copy. A private foundation itemizes every grant it makes, so a return carrying none has filed its list as an attachment that the public copy does not include. The figures above are therefore from FY2020, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

Source object · view filing

More from the funding graph