Joseph J. Miller Foundation Grant

The Joseph J. Miller Foundation was established in 1973 by Joseph J. Miller, a resident of Elloree, South Carolina, under a trust agreement with the purpose of supporting organizations engaged in charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational work. The foundation operates as a private philanthropic entity and is administered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. through its Trust Philanthropic Services division. It has a long-standing tradition of supporting a variety of nonprofit and community-based organizations that align with its mission to enhance societal well-being across multiple domains. The foundation provides grants to both Jewish and non-Jewish organizations, allocating 50% of its annual funding to each group. Its philanthropic scope includes a broad range of program areas such as arts, culture, humanities, education, environmental and animal-related causes, health, human services, international or foreign affairs, public and societal benefits, and religion. While there are no strict geographic limitations for applicants, the foundation strongly prioritizes organizations based in South Carolina, especially those located in or around Elloree. Applicants must be qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to be considered for funding. Applications are accepted year-round, but to be eligible for consideration during the annual review cycle, they must be submitted online by July 31. The foundation’s grantmaking process includes an annual review meeting held in August, and applicants typically receive decisions by September. After submission, applicants will receive an automated confirmation email. Periodic and final reports may be required for funded projects, depending on the scope and nature of the grant awarded. The average annual grant size ranges from $1,000 to $3,000, with the foundation awarding approximately 20 grants per year. The total average annual distribution is around $30,000. There are no stated matching fund requirements. Funding may be used for various organizational needs, provided they align with the foundation’s supported program areas and tax-exempt purposes. Grant inquiries or technical questions related to the application process can be directed to Wells Fargo’s grant administration support at 1-888-235-4351 or via email at grantadministration@wellsfargo.com. Applicants are encouraged to consult the foundation’s guidelines and ensure their proposals are well-aligned with the foundation's mission, funding priorities, and geographic focus. The foundation does not offer scholarships to individuals through this grant program. Individuals seeking scholarships are referred to the Central Scholarship Application (CSA) platform at csascholars.org. More information about Wells Fargo’s broader philanthropic initiatives is available on their Philanthropy and Community Impact page.