The Robert B. and Ruth K. Lee Foundation was established on May 3, 2000, by Ruth K. Lee, a resident of Greenville County, South Carolina. The trust was created exclusively for charitable, religious, scientific, literary, educational, or cultural purposes. The foundation is administered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., through its Trust Philanthropic Services Private Foundations division. The foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for residents of Greenville County and to make a direct impact on the community.
The foundation provides grant funding across a range of program areas, including arts, culture, and humanities; education; health; human services; public/society benefit; and religion. While there are no official limitations on program areas, the foundation has articulated primary fields of interest. These include programs for the elderly, higher education, children's music and arts programs, churches, and literary endeavors. Grants primarily benefit Greenville County, South Carolina, though there are no explicit geographic limitations.
The foundation accepts grant applications year-round, with a firm deadline of July 1 for consideration at the annual grant meeting. Applicants will receive an automated confirmation email upon submission of their applications. Funded projects may be subject to periodic progress reporting and a final report requirement.
To be eligible for funding, organizations must qualify as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The foundation typically makes around seven grants per year, with average award sizes ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. The foundation’s total annual giving averages approximately $30,000.
All applications must be submitted online via the foundation's application portal. For assistance, applicants can contact the grant administration support team at 1-888-235-4351 or via email at grantadministration@wellsfargo.com. Educational scholarships are not offered through this foundation; individuals seeking scholarships should instead visit csascholars.org.
